In my business matters posts over the last couple of months, I've given you my point of view and experience with a variety of artisan marketplaces where you can sell your creations. Each one is different, they have their own rules and their own styles. If you want to look at back at my posts, here are the links:
Boundless Gallery
Smashing Darling
Dawanda
Nest
Etsy
Not on the High Street
Zibbet
ArtFire
I hope what you have garnered from my discussion is that you get different things from different places. And while you may think the only place you want to be is where you get good sales, I encourage you to not let that restrict you. These marketplaces offer many things as well as sales - such as exposure, networking, friends, inspiration, connections, ideas for marketing, publicity, support,......
So if you are just using them for selling, I think you are missing out! Try somewhere new and see what you get and also what you can give to others. It's rewarding - and some of our most precious rewards aren't financial.
Here's some links to other sites I haven't mentioned that may be worth considering and there are plenty of others too:
1. http://www.ecrater.com/
2. http://www.bigcartel.com/
3. http://www.rubylane.com/
4. http://www.silkfair.com/
5. http://www.yessy.com/
6. http://www.supermarkethq.com/
7. http://www.elsewares.com/
8. http://www.indiepublic.com/
9. http://www.shophandmade.com/
10. http://www.1000markets.com/
11. http://www.trunkt.com/
12. http://www.winkelf.com/
13. http://www.folksy.com/
14. http://www.artsefest.com/
15. http://www.madeitmyself.com/
16. http://www.lollishops.com/
17. http://www.icraft.ca/
18. http://www.lov.li/
19. http://www.handmadecatalog.com/
20. http://www.coriandr.com/
21. http://www.youcraft.org/
22. http://www.youcraftylot.com/
23. http://www.fuzzb.com/
24. http://www.pinkdoodle.com
25. http://www.americanhandmadecrafts.com
26. http://crafthaus.ning.com
27. http://www.artfulhome.com
28. http://www.wholesalecrafts.com
29. http://www.craftmall.com
If you sell somewhere else and have a good experience - do please let us know in the comments section.
I'll be starting a new theme of "business matters" next Wednesday. Look forward to seeing you then.
Showing posts with label artisan marketplaces. Show all posts
Showing posts with label artisan marketplaces. Show all posts
Monday, May 25, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Business Matters - Marketplaces - Smashing Darling
So far, I have given my impression on the following artisan marketplaces : Zibbet; Etsy; Not on the High Street; Nest; Dawanda; and Boundless Gallery.
Today it's Smashing Darling!
Now, I like SD! It a fun site. It is an independent fashion marketplace where you can sell clothing, jewelry, accessories, vintage.....with items designed for men, women and children.
The fee structure for sellers is that it costs nothing to set up a store or as many stores as you like and there is no listing charge - ever. (Listing is really easy and fast too!). So you only pay when you sell something - and then they charge an 18% commission charge. Yes, that's higher than other artisan marketplaces - but then SD is different from those places too.
Payment doesn't come through directly to you - so paypal is not used. Instead, SD accepts the payment and then takes their commission percentage and deposits the rest directly in your bank within 2 weeks of the sale.
The thing I like best about Smashing Darling is the management. It just feels like they are real people and people who take an interest. It was started by Julie Rorrer and Trish Ginter -- fashion designers. I have had a store there a few years and to be honest, I really don't sell much on the store - but I stay there because I like it. I think the store isn't really a good fit for my products. My jewelry isn't "fashion" jewelry per se - it's a bit too whimsy for that - so why do I bother? Well, for one, it doesn't cost anything to stay and two, I like being a part of it. I see Trish and Julie on their blogs, reading my blog, on facebook etc - it just feels inclusive and that they are interested. This morning I just got an email from Julie informing me that I had listed a pair of earrings for sale as "men's earrings" and obviously they aren't - so she let me know so I could change it. It's those little things - personalized - that they do so well.
There are over 300 stores there and they get a good number of viewers/potential buyers. A couple of years they submitted two of my necklaces to Elle magazine to use in an advertisment! How cool is that - and where else do you get that opportunity?
I recently introduced a friend to SD - Lora Hart - as I felt her jewelry might work there. Maybe Lora will comment on her experience so far. Here is her store:
They have a blog and newsletter and just today, my two latest items are listed on the side bar of the blog.
So while I don't think it's the best match for my style of jewelry - I stay and enjoy it. Do go take a look. You'll like it too. It's different from the other marketplaces - refreshingly different. Keep it up Trish and Julie.
Today it's Smashing Darling!
Now, I like SD! It a fun site. It is an independent fashion marketplace where you can sell clothing, jewelry, accessories, vintage.....with items designed for men, women and children.
The fee structure for sellers is that it costs nothing to set up a store or as many stores as you like and there is no listing charge - ever. (Listing is really easy and fast too!). So you only pay when you sell something - and then they charge an 18% commission charge. Yes, that's higher than other artisan marketplaces - but then SD is different from those places too.
Payment doesn't come through directly to you - so paypal is not used. Instead, SD accepts the payment and then takes their commission percentage and deposits the rest directly in your bank within 2 weeks of the sale.
The thing I like best about Smashing Darling is the management. It just feels like they are real people and people who take an interest. It was started by Julie Rorrer and Trish Ginter -- fashion designers. I have had a store there a few years and to be honest, I really don't sell much on the store - but I stay there because I like it. I think the store isn't really a good fit for my products. My jewelry isn't "fashion" jewelry per se - it's a bit too whimsy for that - so why do I bother? Well, for one, it doesn't cost anything to stay and two, I like being a part of it. I see Trish and Julie on their blogs, reading my blog, on facebook etc - it just feels inclusive and that they are interested. This morning I just got an email from Julie informing me that I had listed a pair of earrings for sale as "men's earrings" and obviously they aren't - so she let me know so I could change it. It's those little things - personalized - that they do so well.
There are over 300 stores there and they get a good number of viewers/potential buyers. A couple of years they submitted two of my necklaces to Elle magazine to use in an advertisment! How cool is that - and where else do you get that opportunity?
I recently introduced a friend to SD - Lora Hart - as I felt her jewelry might work there. Maybe Lora will comment on her experience so far. Here is her store:
They have a blog and newsletter and just today, my two latest items are listed on the side bar of the blog.
So while I don't think it's the best match for my style of jewelry - I stay and enjoy it. Do go take a look. You'll like it too. It's different from the other marketplaces - refreshingly different. Keep it up Trish and Julie.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Business Matters - Marketplaces - Zibbet
Zibbet is a relatively new artisan marketplace (the name Zibbet comes from the word 'exhibit'!). It only started in February this year and is still in Beta phase. There was a lot of publicity about it's opening - but the start was then delayed, and then delayed, and then delayed.....
My friend Fabienne from Turkey told me about the site. She was quite enthusiastic about all the run up to the opening and I too was looking forward to seeing somewhere new and what they would offer. We exchanged quite a few emails about it.....but I have to say that out excitement has abated somewhat since it started!
Zibbet was created by two guys from Sydney, Australia. It makes no charges for an artist to open a store, no listing fees and then charges 7.5% commission for any items that you sell. There is no maximum on the number of items you can list.
You then have the option to pay a small fee ($1-2) to show pieces in the showroom, to increase your exposure.
The whole look of Zibbet is clean, open and quite minimalist - quite different from a lot of the other marketplaces. As it has turned out, in my opinion, it seems to be a popular site for buying and selling paintings and prints and the like. That seems to be the most common type of seller on there - so maybe it will develop into that niche....a bit like Boundless gallery?.
They have had a few problems with scams - ie people trying to "purchase" things out of the system but really trying to scam the artists and not pay anything. That's unfortunate when a marketplace is so new.
The other problem with the site is that it is so new and thus doesn't get that many visitors....yet... But who knows - maybe that will change. Go take a look.
Here's a snapshot of Fabienne's store there - Easterya
Let me know what you think.
My friend Fabienne from Turkey told me about the site. She was quite enthusiastic about all the run up to the opening and I too was looking forward to seeing somewhere new and what they would offer. We exchanged quite a few emails about it.....but I have to say that out excitement has abated somewhat since it started!
Zibbet was created by two guys from Sydney, Australia. It makes no charges for an artist to open a store, no listing fees and then charges 7.5% commission for any items that you sell. There is no maximum on the number of items you can list.You then have the option to pay a small fee ($1-2) to show pieces in the showroom, to increase your exposure.
The whole look of Zibbet is clean, open and quite minimalist - quite different from a lot of the other marketplaces. As it has turned out, in my opinion, it seems to be a popular site for buying and selling paintings and prints and the like. That seems to be the most common type of seller on there - so maybe it will develop into that niche....a bit like Boundless gallery?.
They have had a few problems with scams - ie people trying to "purchase" things out of the system but really trying to scam the artists and not pay anything. That's unfortunate when a marketplace is so new.The other problem with the site is that it is so new and thus doesn't get that many visitors....yet... But who knows - maybe that will change. Go take a look.
Here's a snapshot of Fabienne's store there - Easterya
Let me know what you think.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Business Matters - Marketplaces - Not on the High Street
As I'm in England right now visiting family, I thought my marketplace for review this week should be based in England too - so I've chosen "Not on the High Street". I don't sell there - one reason being you need to live in England full time to even apply but I love it as a site. If someone reading this is a seller there, do please let us know your experience in the comment section.
It is not open to everyone to sell on and in fact, they say they accept only 5% of the people who apply. They launched in April 2006 and have received quite a few awards.
They have an application fee, an annual fee (which varies depending on how much you sell - from 49 - 249 pounds), a transaction fee of 2.9% and commission charges - which all seems to mount up!
Then they have clause that says you can't sell on any other marketplace that could be a competitor to Not on the High Street. They say it is OK to sell on your own website and ebay but no other marketplace.
Periodically I get an email with their specials or seasonal gifts, as shown below - which I like. They also produce printed catalogs for the different seasons that you can request in the mail.
(love the look of that personalized swing!)
They do seem to have some lovely items and great gift ideas. I'd love to hear how sellers are finding the site...... I guess if you are looking for an exclusive place to sell in addition to your own website, it may be good. Anyone have inside experiences?
Anyhow, I love it as a site to browse and shop - go take a look .
It is not open to everyone to sell on and in fact, they say they accept only 5% of the people who apply. They launched in April 2006 and have received quite a few awards.They have an application fee, an annual fee (which varies depending on how much you sell - from 49 - 249 pounds), a transaction fee of 2.9% and commission charges - which all seems to mount up!
Then they have clause that says you can't sell on any other marketplace that could be a competitor to Not on the High Street. They say it is OK to sell on your own website and ebay but no other marketplace.
Periodically I get an email with their specials or seasonal gifts, as shown below - which I like. They also produce printed catalogs for the different seasons that you can request in the mail.
(love the look of that personalized swing!)Anyhow, I love it as a site to browse and shop - go take a look .
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