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Post by Tela on Nov 7, 2011 11:01:53 GMT -5
you HAVE to sell? Since my household has expanded, I need to sell to keep up my habit. What I used to spend on supplies, now helps to feed 2 preteens. I can't tell you how much I loath selling. I am perfectly happy with my big bin full of completed jewelry to just sit and be admired once in a while. I'm in such a bad mood, right now. Does selling make you nuts, too? Wish I had a better head for it. Or, someone who could do it for me. That would be awesome!
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Post by glenda on Nov 7, 2011 14:13:10 GMT -5
Sorry to hear you are having to do that, Tela.  There is nothing worse than having a decision taken away from  you is there (I'm a TOTAL control freak! ;D) The silver lining is of course that the rest of use are able to get our grubby mits on your Work's of Art!!!  Who ever buys your work will surely treasure it so I am positive it will all go to 'good homes'! If you decide to go the website route let me know and I will surely help if I can. I find it very theraputic and satisfying!! (sick aren't I?) Now, go and give them grandkids a hug that will banish the bad mood!  |
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Post by Tela on Nov 7, 2011 16:37:39 GMT -5
Thank you, Glenda- for everything and your offer  I was thinking Artfire, but now I'm leaning towards my own website. My son is getting into online marketing and my future son in law works doing it, so.... Plus, I'm a bit of a control freak, too. It would be much nicer to have all the control over it. Then it would be up to me to fail or succeed. |
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Post by Renate on Nov 8, 2011 10:01:12 GMT -5
Tela, what is worse for you? (of course these are rethorical questions)
Letting go of a piece?
The longwinding technical process of selling (starting with photographs and not ending with shipping)?
Or the marketing, the reluctance to sell something you made, and to have to push yourself to promote your product?
If you've figured that out maybe you can tackle it one by one, or hand over to somebody else where possible. Of course it would be absolutely great if you could make your own website!
Though it cannot hurt to start with Artfire or Etsy, no? I guess they are the first places where people go when they are looking for something handmade or a gift. In particular with the holiday season approaching.
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Post by Tela on Nov 8, 2011 10:05:51 GMT -5
Renate- can I say all of the above? LOL! I just hate the whole process. There are some pieces I won't sell. I have enough that I really don't have to sell something if I really love it too much to do so. The process from the point after the pictures are processed is what I hate the most. I know hate is a strong word, but I really do hate it.
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Post by Renate on Nov 8, 2011 10:26:10 GMT -5
May I remind you of a good advice you gave me a while ago? "Wait until the paycheck comes in." ;D It *does* help.
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Post by Tela on Nov 8, 2011 10:40:51 GMT -5
DOH! You got me! The money would be nice Guess I should concentrate on all the yummy cabs I could buy! |
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Post by marytucker on Nov 8, 2011 12:04:23 GMT -5
I agree with Renate, making money does get exciting!
I know artists who hate to sell, because they put their heart and soul into it and they feel they are losing a piece of themselves. Whenever I sell my best pieces I always quitely comfort myself with this thought "the ability to make that design still lies within me and noone can take that away from me". I also try to look at selling my best pieces as a gift and a gnerous joy rather than a pain.
That said, I do keep a few pieces back for my family and potential grandchildren to one day inherit. It woud be wrong to give to all the world and not think of them:)
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Post by Renate on Nov 8, 2011 13:13:35 GMT -5
Whenever I sell my best pieces I always quitely comfort myself with this thought "the ability to make that design still lies within me and noone can take that away from me". I also try to look at selling my best pieces as a gift and a gnerous joy rather than a pain. That said, I do keep a few pieces back for my family and potential grandchildren to one day inherit. It woud be wrong to give to all the world and not think of them:) What a beautiful and comforting way to think, Mary. Your words should be framed and hang over each work bench. ;-) |
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Post by christine on Nov 8, 2011 17:05:19 GMT -5
Mary, Your words are an inspiration and comfort. Thank you!
I like to feel a piece of my spirit or the good energy I have woven into the piece will be felt by the new owner.
For me, I wish I could just turn the finished piece over to someone who would do the pricing and inventory and most of all the selling.
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Post by marytucker on Nov 8, 2011 18:27:10 GMT -5
For me, I wish I could just turn the finished piece over to someone who would do the pricing and inventory and most of all the selling.
Amen to that Christine!!!
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Post by Tela on Nov 8, 2011 18:34:02 GMT -5
There aren't many pieces that I have to keep. After I stopped selling before (on eBay) I realized that there were very few pieces that I wished I hadn't sold. Mostly because of the rocks that I just couldn't replace. I have pics of almost everything. I felt good about where my pieces were going and had a devoted clientele who, I felt, really treasured their new pieces.
It's not really about losing the pieces- it's more about tackling the whole selling thing. I mean, there are so many choices. Even limiting myself to online, there are a ton of choices. I feel like the learning curve is steep and that it will take so much time away from making jewelry. AND, I have to invest in boxes, mailers, etc before I can even start. See, I'm already overwhelmed just thinking about it. Making jewelry is fun, selling jewelry is hard work. Arrgghh!
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Post by marytucker on Nov 8, 2011 23:13:13 GMT -5
Yes Tela, I do hate all those things . It is overwhelming. I misunderstood where your reluctance came from!!
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laura
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Posts: 177
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Post by laura on Nov 9, 2011 7:45:36 GMT -5
I actually like to sell / give away my pieces, it feels good to know that your creations can live their lives, travel and be loved instead of gathering virtual dust in a display case or a jewelry box It's the process of selling that I hate - all that stuff that comes prior to the actual separation from the piece. The moment of separation brings mixed feelings, however most of them are good But I'm shy and not any good at shouting out loud "fresh buns, nice buns, buy em while they're fresh!" ;D It's not really about losing the pieces- it's more about tackling the whole selling thing. I mean, there are so many choices. Even limiting myself to online, there are a ton of choices. I feel like the learning curve is steep and that it will take so much time away from making jewelry. AND, I have to invest in boxes, mailers, etc before I can even start. See, I'm already overwhelmed just thinking about it. Making jewelry is fun, selling jewelry is hard work. Arrgghh! Not only the choices - I believe that this is the easiest part.. And learning this online stuff is a piece of cake compared to the everyday WORK and maintenance after that.. All the time and energy that it needs. Working on SEO, becoming visible and findable, trying to "think like a customer", guessing what words they'd use to find your pieces, and promotion, promotion, promotion.. And if you are like me and would rather sit quietly and wait for them to come, all that twittering/facebooking/pinning/stumbling/kaboodling is a f-ing challenge. I spend hours trying to tweak SEO/keywords, but all that screaming out loud and social networking just doesn't come naturally to me and it's a constant struggle Also, jewelry is a horribly competitive category - with so many lovely handcrafted and handmade pieces (and even more "junk"), and millions of mass produced "cookie cutter" jewelry pieces it's a real challenge to gain visibility (at the very least).
(replace "work" with "promotion" in my avatar.. ) |
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Post by Tela on Nov 9, 2011 7:57:16 GMT -5
Yes, Laura, that's exactly what I mean. I'm aware that I will have to do all THAT, too. None of it comes naturally to me, either. I'm NOT a born sales person. |
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Post by janaita on Nov 19, 2011 8:58:44 GMT -5
The whole process is tiring for me too. Ughhhh... Taking good pictures, editing them, write a description... And worst for me, the pricing. Yes, I have downloaded many a document to help me figure out pricing, know about the wholesale vs. retail prices, what my market will bear, the calculations that need to be made for overhead etc... yet I end up "eyeballing" the price most of the time... I'm a bit too unorganized, I forget prices I paid for some of the items in my stock, I'm too lazy to look for the invoice, or I just don't find it. Bear with me, I have been hoarding, errrr, meant building up a stock of beads and cabs for about 10 years now, many things I don't remember what I paid for. Another thing I have a horrible time with is naming a piece and writing up descriptions for my pieces. While I know that my AAA grade amethyst brio is extremely yummy and well cut and worth what I'm asking for, it is difficult for me to write that in a description that sounds like "I carefully wrapped an extremely gorgeous amethyst briolette with fine silver wire and attached it to a handmade wire woven frame that will grace your lobes in an elegant way" or something like that uggggh, it doesn't sound like me, yet I like to read that on other people's work. And last but not least, I'm such a persnickety person when it comes to reaching as much people as possible... I am fluent in 3 languages, so my brain has made me believe that I need to have everything in my shop/blog/facebook/whateverIdecidewillworkforme in 3 languages, from descriptions to titles and such... You can try to talk me out of that one if you think you'll be able  but... Enough, soz... I really oly wanted to share a little trick: Whenever I make something "just to try and see what happens" and it ends up looking good, I want to keep it. IF I work on a custom order, or on presents or on thinks "for sale" (with the thought "NOT FOR ME" firmly planted in my little brain) I don't seem to have such a hard time to part with my creations... Weird, huh? |
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Post by Tela on Nov 23, 2011 13:54:53 GMT -5
Janaita- I hear what you are saying. It has taken me what- 2 weeks- to do it, but I finally got done with 100 pieces in the store. I thought I would never get done. Some descriptions are better than others, but at least they all have a description of the measurements if not how yummy it is. They all have what I think are plenty of good pictures, too. BTW How do you pronounce your name? Is it like Juanita? Or, Jan-a-ta? I've never seen it before, but it is lovely |
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Post by janaita on Nov 24, 2011 15:56:38 GMT -5
Tela, will have a look at your shop/blog in a moment. Do you plan to sell tutorials there as well? My name is Jana. You pronounce it Iana. And the -ita suffix in Spanish means little/ small in feminine. For instance: a little box would be "caja + ita = cajita" or the Juanita: that is Juana + ita. Small Juana. So to say little Jana you would really say "Janita" but the friend with whom I started making jewellery (we were 15! I'm now 28, guess time really flies!) used to call me Janaita. I stuck with that name in the jewellery world Jana |
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Post by Tela on Nov 25, 2011 7:56:19 GMT -5
@ Jana, gotcha- I never took any "foreign" languages in school.
My store still isn't open- but almost. And, yes, if it goes well, I will sell tutes there, as well. Right now, with the free store version, I'm only allowed 100 items. My store is full with no room for new tutes, yet.
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Kate
Full Member
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Post by Kate on Nov 25, 2011 8:09:46 GMT -5
I'm looking forward to seeing it and the tutes!
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There is nothing worse than having a decision taken away from 
you is there (I'm a TOTAL control freak! ;D)
I was thinking Artfire, but now I'm leaning towards my own website. My son is getting into online marketing and my future son in law works doing it, so.... Plus, I'm a bit of a control freak, too. It would be much nicer to have all the control over it. Then it would be up to me to fail or succeed. 
but...