I think my Etsy store is lovely and shows off my work well. You can take a look and see if you agree:
www.etsy.com/shop/miniaturesbynanette
Not only that, here is my email address. Write me what you think, I'd love to hear from your corner of the planet about my store but more importantly about your challenges as an artist:
nanettedesigns@earthlink.net
I've never had trouble at a fair or farmer's market.
But on Etsy, I'm so discouraged.
I went on the Etsy Forum the other day and posted the question about what might be causing my lack of sales. Most people who so kindly offered to help gave me strokes and kudos and told me to be patient. "Sales will come".
One lady seemed annoyed that my store is Miniatures By Nanette because she expected to see dollhouse miniatures when she opened my store. This comment had me utterly stricken.
Why would my store be viewed 3200 times and have only one sale? Could it be for the simple fact that my store name misleads dollhouse miniature buyers?
I'm obsessed, I know. I hope I'm not a bore.
I can't help it. I'm falling into the same trap I so lovingly warn other up-and-coming artists to avoid: not to take it personally if people don't "groc" or "get" your work.
I got a call a couple of days ago asking me to come and teach a course in January (The Art Of Selling Your Arts And Crafts) at a very upscale social club up in Portland (Oregon). The recruiter was so complimentary and I was flattered. It helped my bruised ego. I will teach the course on my birthday as a present to myself. And I will get paid.
I'm also teaching next month at The Bay Area Bead Extravaganza (B.A.B.E. for short) in San francisco.
So, dear readers, I would love to hear from you...comment here or shoot me an email. Maybe I can help you. I'd love the opportunity.
I notice a sprinkling of readers in South Africa yesterday. Who knew? I'd love to see your work. All of you.
Love,
Nanette
no you're not a bore :)
ReplyDeleteI like reading your blog because you're speaking what I'm feeling about etsy. I truly feel that your lack of sales has nothing to do with quality of product, or demand. I think it has to do with marketing. I read a book on marketing for the creative person, and the main advice is that the time you spend creating should be equal to the time you spend marketing. Crazy!!
Once my hubby and I were at a stoplight and he said, "Why do dealers put so many balloons up? Like THAT would actually create a sale!" And I said, "You LOOKED didn't you?"
that is the first step. Looking!
Marketing makes people pay more for the same things. I was reading the Omnivore's Dilemma, and the author pointed out that lots of products make you pay more for the same thing by selling you a STORY. For example, milk (grass fed, happy cows!), eggs (free range! cage free!)
Pan handlers are actually pretty incredible at this. They sell you a story and you feel so bad you pay them (Not that that's how you should market your store!)
Well, I can go on and on. I wish I can offer you better advice to get more sales, unfortunately I'm not selling great myself. I can only offer my thoughts :)
Good Luck!
Tiffanny
I'm sure...you're not a bore!
ReplyDeleteAnd I really love your shop but unfortunately I do not have an explanation!
I have the same problem...last sale was on march!
I also got discouraged
Good luck
Ile