Tips for Selling the Handmade Way
Aug. 17 10
One of my favorite things to talk about here on the blog is small business. Unfortunately, I don’t give as many tips or write as many advice columns as I would like to. BUT fortunately there are plenty of other people out there who write about small business on a daily basis. Like Bonnie Forkner for example, who you may already know from her popular craft blog, Going Home to Roost, or perhaps from her three adorable Etsy shops. Bonnie has just launched a wonderful e-book and e-course that is sure to satisfy your need for a crafty business fix. Here’s the info…
New Seller in Need of some Guidance? GHTR just launched a new e-course, Selling the Handmade Way. It’s for beginner/intermediate sellers of handmade goods to learn more about their indie biz and how to make a name for themselves. The class will start on September 6th and will last 7 weeks. The class will cover everything from product photography to website SEO.
Click here to view more details about Selling the Handmade Way.
Just looking for some free advice? Bonnie has also compiled a free e-book called Best of the Shop Help Series. It’s chalk full of the best tips from Going Home to Roost’s weekly biz articles over the past year, and free for anyone to download. So, head on over and check it out.
Weekend Links: crafty business edition
Jul. 23 10
Since we’ve been discussing crafty business tips and advice here a lot more lately, I thought I’d make a special weekend links this time. Featuring only crafty business articles from around the web. I read a lot of these kinds of posts over the weekend, when I have free time, and I thought you might too…
-Three rules for setting prices on your products (with a conscience).
-A BIG crafty reading round-up with lots of great biz tip articles.
-Need a website, but don’t have the money to pay someone else. Build it yourself in one weekend with this Website in a Weekend article.
-A great podcast for marketing your craft online.
-Three tips for promoting your work to galleries (found thanks to Megan).
-Thinking of hiring a helping hand? Eight tips for choosing and working with an intern.
That’s it for this week. Enjoy your weekend everyone! See you Monday.
*image credit: house & garden found on pinterest via decor8
Top Ten Tips for Better Product Photography
Jun. 21 10
The number one problem with handmade and artist shops online are the product shots. Bold statement, I know. But its true. Photos are number one when trying to convince someone to buy your work online, because they cannot see it in person. Your buyers aren’t able to pick up the item, look at it from all angles, try it on, etc. So, you have to help them out by bringing them your absolute best product shots.
Here are some tips to help you improve your digital product shots…
1. Use natural light whenever possible. Ideally, shooting your photos during the day is best. Shoot near a window if your home or studio space is especially dark.
2. Show the product in its natural environment. If you are selling a coffee table book for example, consider taking a shot of the opened book nestled on an actual table with a little vase of flowers for example. If you are selling jewelry, accessories, or clothing having at least one picture of your product on a model is ideal. This gives potential buyers an idea of how it will look on them, the way it will hang, etc. And also could show the “type” of woman you are catering too.
3. Develop your own style. This tip is an oldie but goodie from past pns contributor Brenda. Making your product shots uniquely yours is important, but it does not mean you should simply copy exactly what you see somewhere else in a successful shop. So be careful with this one. Being inspired by the way someone else does things is wonderful, but try to do something original. Pull one thing you like (if that) from an inspiration photo, not the whole kit and caboodle.
Shop of the Day
Jul. 24 09
Earlier in the week, Holly of Decor8 posted about her new business cards (which are absolutely lovely) and it got me thinking about my own business cards. As I was searching around, one of the shops I looked at was Happygirl Greetings. Laura Beth’s vintage-modern fusion is quite sweet. Wouldn’t these be cute for a vintage shop owner? And very affordable I might add…a set of 50 custom cards start as low as $12.50! Visit Laura Beth’s shop, Happygirl Greetings for more info.
Questions and Answers
May. 14 09
I wanted to say thanks to everyone for the kind words about my recent BHG feature. And in the spirit of shameless promotion, I just did an interview with Rebecca of Made By Hand for papernstitch and it is now up. We talked about a lot of things. And I would love for you to check it out if you have a minute. Visit Made by Me here.
Craft Venture: marketplaces and exhibitions
Apr. 20 09
Welcome to Craft Venture! Last week, we started laying the foundation for your handmade business. This week, we’ll talk about the types of websites that you will use to show your wares.
You may be considering opening up shop for numerous reasons, and I’m confident that at least one of those reasons is related to money. Maybe you need additional income to pay your way through school or to feed your family. Perhaps this is your sole source of income. You might be building your business from the ground up, with plans for future expansion or in preparation for early retirement (your “retirement career”). or you may have stumbled on one of the innumerable online venues for handmade creations and thought, “How hard can that be?”
Visiting even a few of these online venues may be overwhelming. Which website is best for you? Which sites are reputable? How much work do they entail? Are you looking for a marketplace or an exhibition? And what the heck is the difference?
Not all websites are created equal. Some sites are juried; others are not. Some are only for handmade goods; others also accept vintage and supplies. Some are brand new and not widely known yet; others are more established. Today’s column won’t realistically cover every single thing you need to know about marketplaces and exhibitions, but we will cover a couple of basics meant to help you understand the difference.
I sell my handmade creations online at Etsy (a marketplace!). I’ve participated in online exhibitions and gift guides, including Paper N Stitch. I advertise on blogs. I link every online presence back to my Etsy shop. When I was brand new to online selling, I didn’t fully understand the difference between a marketplace and an exhibition, and the timing for each.
So which comes first: the marketplace/ecommerce site or the exhibition sites and advertising?
Answer: the marketplace/ecommerce site! If you don’t have a website from which to sell your wares or services, you won’t be able to participate in the exhibition venues. Think of exhibition sites and gift guides as marketing your website.
Most exhibition sites are “juried,” meaning you apply for acceptance to the site. You will submit photos of your goods and your shop’s web address, the site administrators will review your application and notify you about acceptance. If accepted, you will likely pay a participation fee, which helps defray the exhibition site’s expenses. (The exhibition site administrator(s) spend significant energy, time and other resources promoting the site, including your goods!) These sites are a great way to obtain, maintain or increase exposure to your shop and wares.
Juried sites do not accept all applicants. Increasing your chances for acceptance is crucial! The very first thing you need is an online shop or website, so let’s talk about online marketplaces.
Online marketplaces are plentiful! Some sites are juried. Some charge an upfront or a monthly fee, others a percentage of your sales. Before you take the plunge with a new marketplace, do some research! Check out the community or forum sections. Read the About and FAQ pages. Google the site. Talk with sellers! Join as a buyer and then buy something – how easy or difficult was the process?
Be sure that your style is consistent with the marketplace’s style. I’m not suggesting that you change your style to fit a marketplace; instead, find sites that are a natural fit for your own particular style! Upcycled, recycled, organic, eco-friendly goods are a great fit for Cosa Verde: “a new marketplace connecting independent and emerging artists with environmentally-conscious consumers.” Watch Etsy’s front page for several days for a good sense of the site administrators’ aesthetic. Handmade marketplaces are hot right now – there seems to be a new one every day. Do your research before joining a site that you might later regret.
After you finish your research, set up your shop on just one site, rather than multiple sites. Setting up a new shop, takes significant time and energy! Learn from your experience with the first shop, which will make setting up subsequent shops easier (we’ll discuss multiple venues in a future column!).
Setting up shop is just the beginning. Acceptance into a juried exhibition site, requires not just good, but great photos! You also want clear and well written descriptions. Include dimensions, using inches and the metric system – many of your buyers use the metric system! (Here’s a great conversion link: http://www.worldwidemetric.com/metcal.htm) We’ll talk about photos and descriptions next week.
Remember, you need a site, your own website or an online marketplace, from which to sell your wares. You will link your online exhibition site and gift guide listings, as well as banner ads, to your website. So, your website comes first, then the marketing and other promotional activities to support your business.
Image credits: Do-Nothing Print by Matte Stephens, Concrete Flowers Necklace by Lulu Bug Jewelry, Lunastrella Camera by John W. Golden
Next week: photography, descriptions, policies …
