The Art of Parenting Art

Each artist and crafter comes to Etsy with, at the very least, a wonderfully creative idea. 

We are so excited and, at the same time, terrified, to open our “doors” and let the world see what we have to offer.  Our precious little “newborn” shop. It’s scary and thrilling all at the same time. It’s overwhelming at the beginning and a steep learning curve. Then, once you are here for little awhile, you can look back at those first awkward months and smile.

One of the first things many do (as I did) is browse the Etsy forums looking for tips and advice. I will never forget one of the first user comments I read on an Etsy forum went something like this: “Well, I’ve done every single thing I am supposed to do to be successful here and still no sales. . . now what Etsy?” 

I took, from that, the number one tip I still follow . . . I do not rely on or expect anyone elses advice or help to get me where I want to be!  If there are 250,000 sellers on Etsy then there are surely as many pathways to, and definitions of, success.  There are factors that work, to a degree, across the board. I’d count professionalism, excellent product photography, genuine warmth, realistic expectations and self-critque, uniqueness, impulse appeal, and a certain degree of Etsy network savvy among them.

At the beginning, with time and so much energy that we are willing to invest online, we are drawn to the community of a place such a Etsy. It’s teams, treasuries. helpful blogs, our social media forays and seeking out good and solid advice. It’s a necessary series of steps we climb to get ourselves going. It feels great to be “connected” in a supportive environment.  It gets us noticed and, without that help, we could quickly drown in obscurity.

There are amazing upsides to the community but ultimately, as with many things in life, I believe we do better and become stronger when we are forced to venture out on our own.  To invent our own way. As an example, I’d offer the number of parents I have known (my own mother included) who have said, “No book or other mother’s advice could’ve prepared me for what parenting was going to be like.” 

I, for the record, see my mother as an absolute hero.

I take their word for it since I decided long ago I was not going to have children. My creative world has always beckoned so deeply and, not to take anything from the reality and immediacy of actual parenting, I’d say that my creative world IS my child.  And I treat it as such.

It comes first 
I can say that if it needs “fed” I feed it.
If it needs attention, I lavish it.
If it’s having a bad day, I sit with it patiently. 

My own learning curve this past year has been greatly expedited with the running of three shops that I curate and create for. Each of them is completely unique and different in their content and I can tell you that anything that has worked for me, sales and  marketing wise, in any one of them has not necessarily worked in the other two. 

Three different shops.
Three completely different paths.
Three different "kids"

The key, for every seller, is always based in finding one’s own unique path. There are, in this web-crazy age, so many possibilities as to where to invest your time and how to build your own base and customer network. New ideas and outlets are popping up every day it seems. 

I learned years ago, as all parents do, that I had to prioritize my time and energy and a lot of things would have to be weeded out of my life to make the room required for my art. The rewards for “going without” are, as I expect they are for any parent, immeasurable and often undefinable to others. 

So we come here to the Etsy playground . . .  with our “children”, and it’s really nice to see others raising such fine young shops too. I admire many and sometimes I wonder “Now what were they thinking?” about others. But it’s a community with a common thread, hopes and goals. We are all raising our little shops as best we can and it helps to just not feel so alone. 

In that regard though, I’d like to share something my Zen teacher would often repeat, 
“Anything that you truly love to do will feel lonely.” 

If you are or have been a parent I believe you have an advantage. Just treat you art, your craft, your shop as you would/did your child. Give it that same unconditional love and undivided attention. Prioritize it with the same immediacy. You will find success in that.

The time will hopefully come when your Art-baby outgrows the toddler stages. It will begin to get around on it’s own. You’ll need to devote even more energy to follow up and care for it then. You’ll need to decide what is really important for continued success and growth.  There is no right or wrong answer . . . but these questions all create an infinite lot of possibilities. Leaving us further out on our solitary paths.

There will be more time required. It’s at this crucial stage that I see a lot of people apologizing for the lack of time they then have to invest here. Lack of time for treasuries or comments. Lack of time for blogs or blitzes. Lack of time for chats or keeping up.

There’s no need. . . you’re an art parent. Not to mention you may also have a significant other. Human or animal kids. Another job. etc etc It should be understood that it all comes first.

It should be understood that everything has a time and place and then it too must pass. 

Trust your parental instincts. Love what you do. It’s a long term commitment.
Take pride in, and celebrate, that success along the way.
And if moving down that path to success brings about a feeling of loneliness,well,  my Zen teacher had a saying for that too. . .

“It’s just loneliness.”

Oh, %@#%$ ZEN! :)

Do you feel a struggle to find time for everything in your life as your business grows?
Do you feel community has to take a back seat to your individual and shops needs for growth?
Do you feel the commitment to ANY life success requires commitment similar to parenting?
Does your art/craft create an experience of loneliness at times?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on any of these!

And thank you for reading. . . 

nicolas

Time's Catching Up: making big changes

Everything has to change at some point. We rearrange furniture, move, meet new friends, watch old ones move away--even our bodies change, we grow, cells die, new ones are born. In the end, it's all the work of that ticking crocodile from Peter Pan as time catches up with us.

The Cardinal -- retiring on April 6th

 Time has caught up with my little business. Since beginning in May, 2010, I have made many changes to the way I present my work and sell it, but not much to the actual work itself. For the last year, things have been pretty static. I even sold most of the same designs I have been carrying from the beginning! Customers who had bought a cardinal necklace from me in November of 2010 could buy it from me again and it would look almost identical. Because every single one of my pieces is an original tiny painting this meant I was often painting the same things I had been painting for far too long. The feeling of stagnation was starting to creep in and get to me, but I didn't really do anything about it.

My husband and I in the Appalachians shortly before we moved to Asheville

Early this month, my husband--who had been a huge help in my business by keeping the books, shipping, and boosting the morale--left for basic training in the US Air Force. Before he left, I thought, "No big deal, I can handle this--easy." Once he was gone, though, it hit me like a bomb had gone off in my life. It didn't help that our lease had ended and I was having to leave beautiful Asheville, North Carolina at the same time. I was a mushy mess for about a week.

When the dust settled, however, I was left reflecting on how I had gotten here and where I wanted to go now. My husband's career would now occupy most of his time and though I can count on him in the future to help with little things, there's no knowing how much time he'll be able to devote--certainly not what he used to. I took a couple of days really thinking about what I wanted and where I saw my art going. I didn't think about it from a business standpoint, but from the standpoint of a creative person who was ready for the new and tired of the old.

Last week, I set to work picking out designs to retire. I began listing old designs with free shipping and prepared to get them out and make way for newer things. I began looking more thoroughly into precious metal options and I began to paint the more detailed pieces like I like even though I can't replicate them as well as the simpler pieces. This means that rather than being able to duplicate the majority of my work, most of it will now be one of a kind. I really like the thought of that and how much that uniqueness will enhance the pieces. To add to this, I've started to really focus on how my photographs are styled rather than just snapping a shot of the piece against white. I wanted to tell even more of a story with my images. 

Cherry Blossoms -- limited edition necklace with new photo styling

Have you taken a look at your work recently and felt like it's time for a change, or are you completely happy with where things are? I say, there's no better time than the present to shake off the old and look ahead. 

Good luck!

Telling A Story

There are countless helpful advice blogs and tutorials for every aspect of online selling and I think sometimes, in the middle of that how-to cacophony,  a few aspects of the marketing world tend to get slighted. One that I believe is extremely underrated and under-explored is the use of storytelling.

Here, in the world of e-commerce, potential customers are more inclined to take their time and peruse a sellers works and creations. Or, as the case may be, many sellers and their work. There is no rush or feeling of a salesperson looking over their shoulder.  If they are intrigued by the visual aspect they are likely to dig a little deeper. This, I believe, offers a great opportunity and the more you have for a buyer to discover, the more they can come to feel connected to you despite being in the faceless realm of cyberspace.

And this is where I see many people shortchanging themselves in their presentation.

The buyers I have met, through all of my Etsy shop, art gallery and commercial brick and mortar pursuits almost always comment on the story I offer for every item I create. I have heard it time and again that a poem made someone want my imagery, that the story I provided of an Egyptian Goddess steered them to purchase a gift for themselves and I lost count long ago how many people have written me about the Barry Lopez story I mention in my Etsy profile “Where can I find that?”  or “Can you recommend anything else?”

If they are reading that, I know they are likely reading my item descriptions too.

The story we provide can come from many places. If, for example, you make jewelry, you can talk about why you feel drawn to designing it or how you got started with it. You can write about the origins of the stones or beads you use or the inspiration that you had for creating a certain piece.

It doesn’t have to reveal a lot. 
It doesn’t have to be poetic or meet a standard set by anyone else.
But it MUST be from within

In the case of an item like my new Miniature Moai Statues I have pictured below, I came at the story from two perspectives. On one hand I shared the way the mystery of the ancient Moai statues affected me as a child and two, I offered a bit of the history behind the large monoliths that inspired these.

In building the description from both angles I feel it allows several opportunities to connect and it lends a bit of personal backdrop to the item. I sold two sets in the first week and both customers wrote to me commenting on the story I had provided. It turns out they both feel very much as I do about them. That made me happy because, while I certainly am here to sell my work, I also want people to know there is a reason behind everything I make. A connection somewhere along the way from within my own life.  I believe that has been a large part of why customers have been so willing to share a bit of themselves in return as well as to purchase my work.

The perception we should impart is one of loving what we do and an inkling of why we do it. It doesn't  matter how simple or how difficult the craft is. We should express when it is coming from the heart, inspired by nature, culled from our experiences or representative of our surroundings, our travels or our life.

Just remember to pull it from inside yourself.
I believe it matters.

Do you feel storytelling is an important part of your creative work and sales? Do you find it enjoyable to share the inspirations or the details behind what you create?  Please share you thoughts with me and with our group! We’d love to hear from you. :)

Thank you for reading. . .

nicolas

Here are links to a few other views on the subject :
Viktoria from Donauluft
 Pure Pixie's Blog
One Clay Bead: Storyteller or Boring Seller?

To share or not to share

handmade journal - black feather - blue wood book by TreeTreesBindery

When I started my Internet Adventure and decided to sell my jewelry online three years ago, I was asked by one of my bead suppliers, "Aren´t you afraid of being copied then"?

Well, the positive fact: if you show your products to everyone, everyone can see them!

.........the negative fact: if you show your products to everyone, everyone can see them!

But this is going to be a post about sharing, not about copying!

I'm really happy and thankful that so many brilliant people in the past decided to share their knowledge, wisdom and experiences with me! Before the Internet revolution, to acquire knowledge you had to read lots of books, visit exhibitions, attend workshops..... I remember when I saw an exhibition of a very famous beader ages ago, I went home and started to experiment trial by error. It took me years to find out things that today you can learn on the internet in a few hours! (I really was blown away by this discovery!)

As an artist you like to show your work. You want people to buy your work. You want to show how your work comes into being, and engage peoples interest. So you start to share things people might want to know about you and your work,  about your motivations and your working processes!

I love to blog about crafting! I share working processes and experiences with all kinds of materials.

But I have to admit there are some secrets I keep. I don´t share my beadwork patterns and special solutions for beadwork problems, which I found out by trying again and again.

One of my "pattern books" hand drawn and colored.

I´m sure you all have some secrets about your work you don´t want to share. What do you find you like to share and what do you like to keep to yourself?

Artisans and Social Media Sites

As retail sales move increasingly online, commerce in the arts is rapidly shifting. Marketing tips for handmade artisans are so pervasive that marketing your marketing tips is now also a mushrooming phenomenon. While there are a few stellar sites offering quality advice for free, such as Handmadeology, which has, overall, the best, most up-to-date articles, much of the advice is about how to establish link farms on every available social media site. While this grows Etsy’s business by increasing page views, and may result in some sales, it won’t grow your business. Why? Because you really don’t need individual sales. What you need is True Fans.  It takes a lot more effort to sell 1 thing to 1,000 people than to sell 1,000 things to 1 person.  A True Fan is a loyal, repeat buyer. You establish this relationship by offering a genuine connection, a way to engage people who are interested in you. One of the best ways to do that is to look at social media sites as a way to virtually entertain, to throw a big party, to have an intimate dinner, to open your studio to a weekly discussion.

So, your Pinterest boards could create a virtual space serving  your favorite treats to eat, decorated in your own style, with bookcases of your favorite books.  Just like your home, the things that you make are there, but your entire house is not a billboard. And there aren’t price tags all over, either.

Your blog is a peek into your workspace, with a chance to see how you work, and what you think about.

Your Facebook business page could be a cafe where you meet friends for a quick chat.

Once I understood this, using social media sites became as natural for me as telling a kindred spirit to “stop on by” when you are in my neighborhood.

by Lee Wolfe

People and Planet First- a call for entries

earrings from tuckooandmoocow

Every dollar you spend is a vote for how you want the world to be, and who you want to control it. The intention of People and Planet First is to identify small indie businesses who offer quality gifts for the holiday season that create just, sustainable, and joyful livelihoods. We will encourage these artisan and vintage sellers to tell their individual stories, and spread the word about how we offer alternatives to the perpetuation of Wall Street greed.

Our goal is to raise awareness that indie businesses offer a profound alternative to the Wall Street corporate structure that must produce quarterly profit for stockholders who do no actual work to make any tangible goods. Our businesses support individuals, families, and communities who care about the planet that must support our children and their children.

organic baby hat from SewnNatural

We would like to invite other Etsy teams to join us! This is a season when we can look past our differences and celebrate the ideals we hold in common. ArtisansGalleryTeam is a group of studio artisans with advanced skills and professional business practices who came together to share our support for the Handmade Movement. Although our team is small and exclusive, we recognize that our values are shared by many other Etsy sellers and teams.

So here is the plan:

1) We will use our team blog as a place to coordinate and promote our own interpretation of People and Planet First. We invite all interested Etsy teams to participate!
2) From 11/21 – 12/18, we will link to other teams who post on their own team blog about how they support People and Planet First. Leave a comment on our blog (here) to get on our calendar. Ideally, we want a post every single day for the duration!
3) We ask that participating teams add the People and Planet First widget to the team blog, so that others can find the other participants, and follow the series. This should be in place from 11/21-12/18. It will link to our blog, with the calendar for all participating team blogs.
4) We ask each participating team to make special gift guides on their blog post day that celebrate People and Planet First. These should be tagged Peopleandplanetfirst, etsyteamtreasury, and also with your own team tag.
5) We ask that no coupon codes, discounts, or donations to charitable causes be offered in conjunction with People and Planet First. Unless you are making corporate CEO pay, you deserve full price for your hard work! If your team is doing that, please just keep the promotion separate.

What can you write about? You can pick one team member or several to discuss your indie business lifestyle, what the money you earn pays for or allows you to do, and how eco friendly practices are part of your business model and personal life. If you would like to write a researched piece on the power of supporting small businesses, that is fine also.

Want to join us? Just leave a comment saying so below. Sarah of TuckooandMooCow will contact you with your day to blog, our People and Planet First button, and instructions to post it on your blog. This will allow your readers to find the other posts, and let others find you as well. If your team wants to publicize our awareness campaign, let us know that, too.
Thank you for your consideration. We wish you a joyful and prosperous holiday season.

The Don’t Do List, pt 3: Don’t Play Small

Creating a successful business with your talent and skills is not for the timid, the petty, nor the shallow mind. It takes guts to put yourself out there each day and offer up something made with heart. It takes being in a perpetual creative flow of innovation, which means not allowing yourself to get dragged down into negative or fear based perspectives.

Our Don’t Do List is offered by Artisans Gallery Team members from the lessons we’ve learned by making and observing mistakes. Sometimes the best advice is about what not to do!

1) Don’t take it personally!

It’s a given that you won’t like every communication from buyers, or comments posted in the Forums. But if you approach every-day workspace communications with too much personal passion and enthusiasm, your day can get eaten up with worry and resentment. You may also lose opportunities by misreading someone’s intentions.

As Eve of EvesLttleEarthlings observes:

Don't get annoyed when customers ask for a discount. The forums are full of sellers who think this is an insult. I personally never give discounts, but usually when I politely explain why, they purchase at full price anyway.

Custom made doll from EvesLittleEarthlings

Renee from DecorateTheDiva advises:

Don't tell customers you are having a bad day, or your life problems. Keep it upbeat and joyful especially around the holidays. Stay focused on the topic and keep it simple.

glass and brass woodland acorn necklace from DecoratetheDiva

2) Don’t stand still.

Keep moving and progressing in your work. It’s fun for you, and good for business, too.

As Lauren of lapisbeach says:

Don't be afraid to try new things. When I first opened my Etsy shop I only had soft knit items in my shop. With a friend's encouragement- I started experimenting with wire.....now the wire line dominates my shop listings. Who knows what is next!

Black Pearl necklace from lapisbeach

3) “Don't copy someone else's work - even if you can, even if they are selling like mad.” – from Genevieve of jibbyandjuna

handmade original polymer clay necklace from jibbyandjuna

It’s not fair, it’s not legal, and it’s not good businesswise to copy someone’s original designs. If an image inspires you, your final product must deviate from the inspiration piece by at least 30% in order to be legally defensible as your own work.

I hope you’ve enjoyed our series!

The Don’t Do List part 1- Shipping

The Don’t Do List part 2- to Avoid Negative feedback

by Lee Wolfe/ OneClayBead

Your comments, questions, and ideas are welcome!

The DON’T DO list, pt 2, to avoid negative feedback

In order to have a successful transaction in internet sales, you need to deliver a great product in a timely fashion, but that is not enough. You must also understand the expectations of your buyers. It is critical to know PayPal’s policies for both buyer and seller protection as well. There are many ways in which good sellers with great products incur negative feedback on Etsy. Some of it is unavoidable, but keeping a high score overall greatly helps your success. As a team of successful sellers with good feedback, we’ve learned how to resolve or avoid most of the situations that result in an unhappy buyer. Here are our best tips to avoid negative feedback:

1) Always reply quickly, and communicate with thorough details and respect. As Estella from Staroftheeast  (feedback score 2333, 100%) says,

Don't keep a question of a buyer or potential buyer unanswered, no matter how bad, negative or annoying the question/problem is. Not answering is the worst you can do, and will only make a buyer very angry :)
p.s. I have seen lots of sellers who got their neg. or neutral feedback because of lack of communication and/or not answering convo's.

handmade necklace entitled Dragon’s Skin from Staroftheeast

2) Give precise details in each listing. Buyers are unhappy when something is larger or smaller than they imagined.

Diane of SignsByDiane (feedback score 855, 100% positive) says:

Please don't leave me guessing just how large or small something is....and since this is a US based site please have measurements posted in inches too.

This Shabby Chic Wedding Sign by SignsByDiane shows the scale of her piece in the listing photo as well as in the listing copy.

3) Take responsibility for your part in the transaction problem. Don’t get overly defensive or blaming- that just polarizes the situation.

As Sarah-Lambert Cook from TuckooandMooCow (feedback score 855, 100%)says:

Don't be afraid to own your mistakes. Customers appreciate knowing and you can often win a fan for life by owning your own mistakes and fixing them right away.

hand painted watercolor earrings from TuckooandMooCow

4) Understand a Buyer’s Rights as interpreted by both PayPal and Etsy.

As Lee of OneClayBead (feedback score 1482, 100%)  has learned:

Don't tell a buyer whose package has just gone missing that they are flat out of luck. Whether you think it is fair or not, you will be held liable for non-delivery in most cases. PayPal will side with a buyer unless you have delivery confirmation and a confirmed address. And even if PayPal sides with you, the buyer can appeal to their credit card holder for a chargeback. So the best approach with a buyer who hasn't received their package is to respond immediately with any info that you have, and a concerned and friendly tone. Make efforts to track down the package. And be prepared to refund all or part of their money if necessary, with courtesy. Having insurance for expensive pieces helps!

ceramic wine goblets, wheel thrown from OneClayBead

5) Actively work towards a win/win resolution. Refrain from unprofessional insults to unhappy buyers.

Heather of HeatherKent (feedback score 691, 100%) wisely advises:

Don't burn any bridges - You don't know which customers will come back and order dozens more items from you! Treat every customer as if they are your only customer.

personalized original art necklace from HeatherKent

Pt 1 of this series is here: http://artisansgalleryteam.blogspot.com/2011/10/dont-do-list-pt-1-shipping.html

Pt 3 coming Monday, 11/24/11

We welcome comments and further suggestions!

The DON’T DO list, pt 1, Shipping

As seasoned Etsy sellers, we’ve learned what you need to do to succeed and thrive. Our most valuable lessons have come from making and observing costly mistakes, so don’t not read this list, as members share the best  from their personal DON’T DO lists.

When you are SHIPPING:

1) DON’T leave a buyer guessing about how and when their package will be arriving.

Jen of SewnNatural advises:

Don't silently take in orders. Once someone places an order, we send them a note (ideally within a few hours) to thank them, confirm their order, the shipping method and timeframe, and let them know we will send them another message as soon as their order ships out. We go over details and shipping info that might not have been noticed by the buyer.

Here is an organic baby hat for sale at SewnNatural, modeled by the cutest baby ever!

2) DON’T assume that a buyer has read all of your shop policies, listing copy, and shop announcement where you’ve specified  vital shipping info.

As Yael of TheJoyofColor says:

Don't take for granted that buyers read all the information in your listing. In your thanks you note to buyer specify again the time it takes for an item to arrive. Especially if you are an international seller, this can save lots of embarrassment.

Pumpkin Hill archival print by TheJoyofColor

3) DON’T “gestimate” postage. You will lose repeat business if you inconvenience a buyer.

Toni of TheBuckToothedBunny related:

Ugh, I had to go to the post office today and wait in line to pay the $.43 postage due on an item that I ordered.

4) DON’T save money with inferior packing material. Reused materials are fine as long as they aren’t ragged and dirty.

This is also from Toni:

Don't skimp on shipping materials, I appreciate when my items arrive clean and in good condition.

Here is a new hand screened bag from TheBuckToothedBunny

This series will continue tomorrow with the Don’t Do list to avoid negative feedback.

Have you found these tips helpful? Have you learned other shipping Don’t Do’s?

By Lee Wolfe of OneClayBead

Intellectual Property Rights for Artisans

An artist owns the copyright to his/her work, even if the work is not registered, according to US law. While this is fairly common knowledge, many of us are a bit murky about what copyright protects, exactly. We also are generally unsure about how to protect our rights as artists.

As an artist, when you sell a piece of work, you retain the copyright to that work, unless stated otherwise. A buyer cannot purchase your work and then reproduce it. A photograph is considered a reproduction- so no one can use photographs of your work for their own publicity and promotional intents without your permission, even if they own, or plan to buy, the piece itself.

There are many instances where it is beneficial to us to grant permission, as getting our work seen, especially with a link back so that viewers can buy our work, is great publicity. Click on these images to see the piece in the artisan’s shop! But sometimes it isn’t. Here’s how I dealt with this situation:

A blogger asked if she could use my bowl for a giveaway on her blog. I declined her offer. She decided to proceed anyway, planning to purchase the bowl herself and then give it away. She used my photographs from my Etsy store to do so.

I researched my legal rights and sent her a communication that praised her blog, acknowledged that she may not be aware of the legal infringement, and directed her to remove the photos. I also let her know, firmly and respectfully, that even if she purchased my bowl and took her own photos, that I did not grant permission for my work to be used in a giveaway. Nothing against those of you who choose to participate in giveaways! I don’t, and am using this as an example of the right we have, as artists, to control how and where, our work is used.

I received an immediate and respectful compliance and apology. The blogger also thanked me for helping her understand the legalities involved. Most people, I believe, want to honor the rights of artists, and prefer to be law abiding. These honest souls will do the right thing as soon as they understand their accidental violation.

I hope that you are empowered to assert your rights as an artist. have a bold and creative day!

Lee Wolfe/ OneClayBead

Pinterest and TumblR Strategies for Promotion

To successfully use Pinterest and TumblR to promote your own work and that of our team, you must first attract a following. That following is most effective when it consists of as many non- Etsy shops as possible, since just trading pins with those who already know your work is useless. Yes, you can fill your team promo points by opening a Pinterest or TumblR account and filling your quota of team submissions, but it won’t help your teammates, and most importantly, it won’t help you!

To be effective, create boards and posts with unusual and narrowly focused content, especially when you are beginning. Plan to spend hours the first week finding great content that fits your own chosen themes.

On my Tumbleblog, I gained a following early on  by posting unusual content. Over time I added some of my own and that of our team. Although I don’t add team submissions every day, when I do, they are seen by people who aren’t already familiar with your work, and that’s the goal!

I am just getting a handle on Pinterest but find it highly promising. I am getting more views from there than TumblR now. If you see my boards on Pinterest, you will find team work, and my own, scattered throughout. One kiss of death is to have a pinboard named “AGTeam” or “Etsy”, as people will unfollow just that board. It is better to place your promotions strategically throughout your other boards, and surround them with powerful, moving, engaging imagery.

Since Pinterest gets more views for our shops, I am now using TumblR to find great content for my pin boards, and pinning team work among that. This became clear when my own bird plates were chosen on TumblR as a featured tag for #crafts, and were endlessly reblogged. The traffic to my Etsy shop was minimal. The same plates on Pinterest, were only repinned a handful of times, but are generating up to 10 views in my Etsy shop/ week.

I’d love to hear your Pinterest and TumblR experiences!

by Lee Wolfe/ OneClayBead

Are Artists Natural Born Con Artists?

Consider this: According to Ian Leslie, “there is a gushing river of verbal creativity in the normal human mind, from which both artistic invention and lying are drawn. We are born storytellers, spinning narrative out of our experience and imagination, straining against the leash that keeps us tethered to reality.”

As artists and artisans we imagine, we invent, we reinterpret reality. We inarguably use the same skill set as cons. Evidence of the intermarriage of art and con can be found in numerous Etsy shops, and as we are encouraged to tell colorful anecdotes about ourselves to capture buyers, you have to wonder how many profiles are true vs. intentional fabrications.

In my observation, there are two distinctly different paths into the arts, two separate motivations. One is primarily driven by the need for praise, for an audience, for money and status, for beating out one’s competition. The other is a path traveled by those who have discovered the joy of mastery and discovery. Artisans Gallery Team was conceived as an alliance of the latter. When we are functioning at our highest and best, we are able to praise and promote the new works of other artisans because we take joy in discovery whether it is from others’ or our own.

One way to spot a con is that every story they tell glorifies themselves, often denigrating others in the process. Whereas an artist on the second path tells a universal story that reaches for insight, using personal facts as illustrations.  When we vet and jury for this team we are looking for that type of commitment to authenticity.

editorial by Lee Wolfe

Etsy’s Activity Feed Serves up Some Sales

baby bib by SewnNatural

In this post, I questioned the power of social commerce to help artisans connect with our buyers. I wondered if this move was visionary or vastly stupid. Since then I've received several conversations from buyers that have moved me to take a stand. I now think that Etsy’s move towards social commerce is brilliant.

My first evidence was in my notes to seller from a buyer:

"Oh my, I nearly swooned! I came to Etsy looking a piece of sea glass when this delicious tidbit popped up on the opening page. I love it when I find exactly what I wasn't looking for. I have the perfect spot ready and waiting for this little beauty!"

photo by Raceytay

Exactly what I wasn’t looking for is precisely what most artists make! So this looked promising. Images that fit a person’s taste, but don’t exactly match what they are intentionally searching for, result in sales.

Next, I received a message from someone who added me to their Circle, so what I heart shows up in their Activity Feed. The message thanked me profusely for hearting something that she purchased instantly upon sight. It was a perfect gift for her husband.

Only a few days later, it happened to me. I saw something in my Activity Feed and had to have it! Sold. It was exactly what I wasn’t looking for. And I’ve been thinking that perhaps art is that which pulls us like a gravitational force, commanding our attention. How perfect that we find art in capricious and nonlinear ways.

Custom message fork by monkeysalwayslook

Have you bought or sold things online via treasuries, the Activity Feed, TumblR, Pinterest, etc? Are you encountering more buyers who discover your work without using a conventional search?

editorial by Lee Wolfe

Social Commerce - Does it Work for Us?

by BonjourPoupette

Etsy is on the social commerce bandwagon big time. In theory, this should help the buyer who wants fine art and indie artisan work to find what they are looking for, by following the tastemakers of their choice in Etsy’s circles and activity feeds. Although it is too early to tell if Etsy’s move is visionary or vastly stupid, it is not too early to form an opinion and duke it out in Etsy’s forums!

I decided to do a bit of research on how social shopping is doing in general. here’s what I've found.

1) Social commerce works by allowing shoppers access to advice and recommendations from past buyers. Etsy’s feedback system is quite effective in this regard. I’m less convinced that following a person’s favorites or treasury lists is as effective.

2) Although 72% of retailers plan to spend more on social media marketing, less than 2% of orders among the retailers surveyed were the result of shoppers coming from a social network, according to  The Purchase Path of Online Buyers report 2010, Forrester Research and GSI Commerce.

What does this tell us? That 98% of buyers are making up their own minds about what to buy, independent of what is posted on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. Maybe this is because we don’t essentially rely on what is posted on the internet. Or maybe this this trend is still new and will grow in time.

3) The big winners so far in the social shopping arena are Groupon and Facebook. Both of these depend largely on sharing info about “deals” and discounts. This isn’t useful for art or artisan work.

4) The upside of social shopping is that it is engaging. People may stay on Etsy’s site longer in order to channel surf through all the various links to circles and favorites. Unfortunately this is all  about as random as browsing new listings. Until our potential buyers are shown concentrated lists of the high quality artisan works that interest them, I’m not convinced that social shopping on Etsy is effective for us.

What do you think? Is social commerce working for you, as a buyer or seller? I’d love to know about your experience!

editorial by Lee Wolfe

Understand Market Value or Fail!

ikabags

If you are using a formula such as cost of materials x 3 + labor = retail price to set the price of art or artisan work, you are dooming yourself to failure.  This formula can tell you whether your business is theoretically profitable, but it won’t guarantee that your work will sell successfully at those prices. All artists and artisans need to understand how the market value of art and craft is determined.

Market value is the price at which an asset would trade in a competitive auction setting. In investments, market value is:  the current quoted price at which investors buy or sell a share of common stock or a bond at a given time.

This distinction is critical! The value of your work is not determined by your costs nor your labor! It is determined solely by what others are willing to pay for it in a competitive market. You must get into the heads of your potential buyers and find out what they value, and why they choose one piece of work over another.

EvesLittleEarthlings

Here’s the game plan for success:

1) Get out of the most broadly competitive genres. Make work that is as unique as possible. Style and present it in your photos in a highly original way. Deliver something fresh and new frequently. Try to narrow your competition from thousands of similar shops on Etsy to just a few.

2) Stock prices rise and fall depending on supply and demand, but never forget that you are in charge of your own declared worth. You set your prices! It is better to offer low, introductory prices on new work than to discount old work that did not sell. Raise your prices on your most popular pieces as they become popular, and voila! Your stock just went up. This is far more strategic than having a high introductory price that deflates over time. When you do that, you are making your own stock go down!  Offering a low price that increases as demand increases is a reflection of your understanding of market value.

3) When you are stretching and growing, don’t list everything you produce for sale. Make sure that every listing in your shop has your unique touch, and a degree of mastery in its making. The high quality overall helps establish your brand as worthy of top dollar.

I hope this sheds some light on pricing for success. What works for Target and Macy’s will doom you to failure and disappointment as an artisan.

editorial by lee Wolfe

Why Deep Discounts Don’t Benefit Your Artisan Business

bag from Iragrant

The Handmade Revolution was founded to support indie artisans in making a fair wage living by selling retail without a middleman or working for a corporate chain. As part of the New Economy, “a fair economy that works for people and the planet”, artisans have unprecedented opportunities to connect with an avid and growing sector of buyers who want to change the world by changing their spending habits; by voting with their wallets. As part of the New Economy, I buy free range organic eggs from a local farm. I buy luxury quality handmade bags from an indie designer, one of a kind individually made jewelry, and hand stitched home decor.

Jewelry from PoleStar, hearts from SewnNatural

These things are not selected because they are the cheapest available. Each of these small business owners has a family to support, and, just as I buy fair trade coffee, I expect to pay a price for these quality goods that supports the modest lives of the makers and allows their dreams to grow.

As artisans, we can compete on price or quality, and competing on price is a losing proposition, as factories can always sell their soulless goods for less. Discount shoppers and bargain chasers are not our target market. And this is why Heartsy, which is a Groupon version for Etsy shoppers, cannot deliver on their promise to grow your indie artisan business.

If people want to support indie handmade businesses but want 65% off in order to do it, they are highly unlikely to  return for more at full price. They are far more likely to simply use the next Heartsy coupon available, which is what happens with Groupon shoppers overall.

It is infinitely more worthwhile to advertise and promote the quality of our work, and to reach out to buyers who are looking for that. 70% of my Etsy buyers return for more, and I offer no discounts. I give the best that I have at the fairest price to everyone, and this is building the kind of customer base that allows me to make a living wage. Offering a modest (10%- 15%) discount is all a good indie business needs to do when an incentive seems necessary. This business model works for me, and I recommend it to other artisans. When you put your heart and soul into making an honest and conscientious business, you deserve to profit from it, and slashing profits drastically isn’t necessary to gain attention.

editorial by Lee Wolfe

Inspiration or Copy: Where is the Line?

If you see someone's work, and you’d like to make an exact duplicate of it for sale, describing and listing it exactly the same way, is that good business instinct, following a popular trend and therefore fair game, or a compliment to the artisan who made the original? Emphatically, no. It is intellectual property theft. That’s right, theft.

The person you are mimicking is a business person as well as a creator. They intend to make a profit from their own designs, as they should. As you should not. After all, if you admired someone’s taste, and broke into their house to steal their stuff, would you expect them to be flattered? Praise your business acumen? I think not!

Being a copycat derives from one of 2 things (and sometimes both):

1) a malicious intention to make a profit with unethical practices

2) entering a marketplace as a seller without having spent the time to develop a body of work of your own

To recap, it is never “inspiration” to look at someone’s work and decide to do one like it, even if you add very minor tweaks.

MerrittHyde and I see the world through a similar lens, and it shows in our work. She recently said that she admired this piece of mine:

Here is Merrit’s current work:

We already have 2 similar elements, the wood body (even though mine is faux bois), and the leaves.  While looking at my piece, she envisioned using her metal leaves as a canopy, similar to mine. This is inspiration. Merritt is mentally progressing something in her own body of work. Her new piece will have elements similar to mine, but it will not be a copy.

Have you had your work copied? How does it feel?

Are you ever tempted to copy a top selling Etsy artisan? What stops you?

Do you make something similar to another artisan? What do you do to avoid copying?

editorial by Lee Wolfe

Selling Wholesale: Make a Successful Presentation

necklace by Anakim

You’ve made an appointment with a gallery buyer to show your work. Now it’s time to make a face to face presentation. Here are 6 tips that will make it successful:

1) First impressions count! Wear clean business casual clothing, with a bit of artisan boho jewelry, and closed toe shoes. Dress the way that you would if you were interviewing for a job at that gallery.  Solids are better than prints, and a color palette that goes with the pieces you are showing works. When in doubt, black always works.

2) Have several copies of your wholesale price list and hand them to everyone attending your meeting. Then unwrap your pieces, telling them where to find that item on your list.

3) Pay attention to what is said about your work and answer all questions. Never argue or rebut anything! If you don’t agree, say something like “That’s an interesting observation.” Be very gracious when complimented.

print by GretchenMist

4) Make a pitch for your work but don’t be an infomercial. Less is more.  Make sure that you include these 2 points- “I’d like to be in your gallery because….” and “I think that my work could offer your buyers…” This makes your presentation personal.

5) Offer clear and flexible terms. Most gallery sales are net 30, meaning that payment is due 30 days after delivery. I sometimes offer net 30/60, which means that half is due in 30 days and the remainder in 60 days. If you want more immediate payment, you can also offer 2/10/net 30, which means that you will offer a 2% discount if the bill is paid within 10 days, or they may pay in full in 30 days. I also offer a trade back policy, which means that they can trade back unsold pieces for other ones with each new purchase. That lets buyers try new things without feeling like they will get stuck with them. All of my terms are printed on my wholesale price list.

6) This is most important: be yourself. Be natural and authentic. Most buyers are also artisans, or have studied art. They love art and are interested in you, so don’t be afraid!

bowls by PaulandKateStudio

Also keep in mind that the buyer will make a business decision for that gallery, and that it is just one person’s judgment call. If that isn’t the right place to sell your work, it doesn’t mean that your Aunt Millie was right when she said that you can’t make a living doing THAT and should go to beautician school. It just means that this 1 gallery out of a gazillion galleries isn’t going to buy your work right now. You have to be willing to hear some no’s if you want to get to yes!

by Lee Wolfe/ OneClaybead

Selling Wholesale: How to Approach Galleries

Set of Glacial Stone Tealight holders by Brooksparrow

If you’ve never sold wholesale before, and the thought of asking a gallery to represent your work sounds akin to dental surgery with no anesthetic, you are not alone. We all have strong feelings of vulnerability when it comes to our art. Keep in mind that it is free to ask, and that a gallery buyer will make a business decision, not a personal decision, regarding your work. Take a notebook with you to your presentation, and record all feedback, positive and negative. It helps to keep accurate notes on what each gallery is looking for.  Both rejections and acceptances are valuable learning tools.

The best way to begin is locally. Make visits to all your area’s galleries. Don’t introduce yourself as an artist at first- just look around at price points, style, and the amount of work in your media. Make notes.

When your gallery tour is complete, eliminate the galleries that are obviously not a good fit for you. Then rate the rest- first pick, second pick, etc. Remember that galleries in a mid sized town will want exclusive representation for that city, so if your work is in one, the rest will not want you. In a large city, the exclusivity is by neighborhood. Approach your first pick and get a reply from them before moving down the list.

Next, call the gallery, and ask to speak to the buyer, or get contact info for the buyer. Call or email that person. Ask if they are willing to view some images of your work, and tell her the name on your email account. Most people are reluctant to open images from unknown sources. If this is okay, email 3-5 images with info on the pieces, including wholesale price, size, name of collection.

 

Grapevine Cowl by Tickled Pink Knits

Follow up in a few days with a phone call if you don’t hear back, to make sure that your images arrived. If the buyer likes your images, ask for an appointment to show your portfolio in person, even if they are not buying in your media at this time. Let the gallery buyer know that you are willing to make a presentation anyway, and that you value her opinions and insights. I can’t tell you how many sales I’ve made to galleries who said they were not buying at that time! Buyers are generally very cautious with money, but will spend for something they are excited about.

sterling silver and gemstone necklace by polestar

Next Wednesday I will cover how to make a successful in person presentation. I am happy to help you succeed at wholesale marketing to galleries, so ask me anything and I’ll reply in the comments.

Lee Wolfe/ OneClayBead