Where is the best place?

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Where is the best place?

by Zelia
(London)

Where is the best place for you to sell your jewellery online? There are so many ,but what gives the best results?

Zelia

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Where is the best place?

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re: best place
by: Joan

Hi Zelia-
I think we'd all love to have the answer to that question!:)
I only have experience with Etsy but what I've learned so far is that with the extremely saturated jewelry market out there you need to be able to carve out a niche for yourself to set yourself apart. But that's only part of the battle - then you have to find a way to get noticed! It's helpful to use social networking for this - Facebook, Twitter, blogging, etc. The more links you can create to your shop, the better. The way Etsy is set up, unless you are prolific enough to list new items each day you'll need to "renew" some items each day to stay close to the top for searches. Etsy is also big on artsy,professional looking photos, which was something I wasn't prepared for and am still working on! On the plus side, Etsy provides tons of instruction and the process of setting up shop is easy and fun. There is a lot of support provided through Etsy's blog and also from their community of sellers.
Of course, Rena's newsletters and tips are also very helpful!

Online Venues
by: Tracy Dawn May

I use Artisan's Accomplice, which is a small venue, but very user friendly and the help is there if you need it. You do pay upfront, but whatever you sell is yours to keep!
The key, of course, is that you have to market yourself, no online host will do the selling for you... nice as that would be!!
I have had success advertising on facebook, you set what you will pay each day and go from there.
I also find that selling at craft shows etc, and giving out cards, helps, as does having a style all of your own, reasonable pricing and thick skin!
As far as I can determine, and I have been doing this since 2007, there are no short cuts and it is not easy, BUT, in the past year, I am actually seeing things start to heat up as my name/face/company/style have become"known"

The Best Secret FREE Online Venue
by: Maryanne Murphy

Hi!

I have my own .com website, a shop on Etsy and a shop on ArtFire.

As already stated, jewelry is a very saturated market, especially on Etsy. I like to keep some items on Etsy, but because of cost keep more items on ArtFire. HOWEVER I have found the best place to sell is through Facebook....where it's FREE. That's where I have my BIKER CHIC line.

If you don't have a Facebook page, you need to create one. The first page you will create is your personal page, from there you can create a Fan Page for your jewelry. On your Jewelry page you can set up a FREE SHOP NOW store. To do this, type in Payvement into facebooks search bar. Payvement is what the set up for the store is called. Paypal is accepted, so if you don't have a Paypal account you need to set one up.

I love my Facebook store because I can interact with my customers. You can check out how this works at http://www.facebook.com/bikerchicjewelry.

Good luck. I hope this helps!

Online Venues to Sell Handcrafted Jewelry
by: Chula Camp

Dear Zelia,

I asked myself that very question last week. Etsy's site was down for four consecutive days last week. Not just for a few minutes, but for hours at a stretch each day. I sent numerous emails asking Etsy for a candid answer. Got none. Just a script. Many sites conduct maintenance and it's okay, but after nine hours straight on thursday and not site access and no honest response, I thought, hmmm...

So, Saturday early morning I spent five hours researching other online venues for handcrafted jewelry and such. There are many in the USA to select from.

I narrowed it down to ten, then two then one. How did I base my decision? Important to me was:

1. An American company based in the USA
2. A company that comprehends that, without my business, they don't have a business.
3. Prompt, honest Customer Care
4. Reasonable fees/rates.
5. Super easy to to set up my shop/booth
6. Super easy for my customers to locate me.

Wow. There are many options for venues where one can sell their jewelry and other handcrafted finery.

I settled on Bonanza.com based in Washington State. I should be "Open" for business in the next few days. Yay!

Just remember that you are ultimately responsible for driving customers to your booth/shop. Send out an email blast at least once a month to friends, family and customers. An email type newsletter is best. Let your customers know that you have posted new inventory, are featuring a new design, or having a monthly special, offer some jewelry cleaning and storage tips, offer coupons for customers that buy over a certain dollar amount. Offer perks for repeat customers. These are just a few ideas on marketing your jewelry.

P.S. My second venue choice was Art Fire dot com. AND I noted many etsy shops at these other sites/venues.

Happy Venue Hunting,

Chula Camp
Noble Jewels
San Francisco CA
chula@chulaproductions.biz

Get Your Own! :)
by: Dianne Culbertson

I used to do well on Etsy several years ago but not so much any more. When they began allowing mass producing companies to sell on Etsy the prices dropped way down, I cannot(nor do I want to)compete with "made in China". I, like Tracy use Artisans Accomplice. They are extememly affordable and very easy to work with. My site is very user friendly and the reports are stunning. Facebook and Twitter have both brought me a lot of traffic and new customers."Follow" other designers and don't forget those designers that make women's clothing, hats, lingerie, etc...

I thought I had it . . .
by: GGC

I thought I had a site that was terrific - it allowed me to create and they did all the work; took all the photos, listed my items, did the financial transactions and mailed the items - all for 30%. Yaehhhhh! However, a few days after I sent off my first shipment the site went into "maintenance" and I have no idea where my pieces are. I insured it but that won't help if they have absconded with it. They still have a notice up that they are doing maintenance on their site but that has been a couple of weeks now. And they are not responding to my emails. They never did list a phone number to call - only a mailing address. They even came recommended in a well known magazine's newsletter. So I'm just praying they have a glitch with their system and they received my box of goodies and all is well. My gut tells me different! I guess the old adage is true; if it seems to good to be true. . . .

Location Location Location
by: Patricia C Vener

The best place to be? Wherever your target market hangs out.

For me, it does not seem to be etsy or ArtFire or even my own web site (yet). My work is generally high end, and the two best words to describe it are audacious and distinctive. Not trendy, not inexpensive (although I do have some less expensive pieces that are not selling either despite how many people ogle them).

There is, of course, the marketing aspect and so far I'm not doing great with that either. I will figure it out.

Any day now.

Any moment....

Artfire, Zibbet, Needles Haystack
by: Cathy

I have had the most sucess on Artfire with 20 sales and Zibbet receiving a couple of sales. I tried Etsy for about 6 months and had no sales and minimal traffic. I got on both Artfire and Zibbet when they were still "young" and just getting started and was able to get my accounts at a very reasonable rate. With that said, most of my sales have been at Craft Shows/Fairs.

Needle's Haystack is a "high-end" sales venue out of Dallas TX and I have a couple of items listed there but no sales yet.

where to sale
by: PackratPattyart

I have only sold jewelry on ebay that said I have most of my sales in person at shows where people can see for them selves the jewelry. I also make and sell clothes that helps my sell's. NOTE: ebay is not good for high end jewelry because most shoppers are looking for a deal.You would have to start your min. bid lowest price(cost)and hope for lots of bids. I have an etsy and an artfire shop. I am going to get a pro account at flicker and start a fan page on facebook.

less annoyances
by: Greencat

HI!
I have been missing in action for a few weeks now, busy busy summer.
I found this conversation to be very helpful, however, I do wonder which site have the less annoyances.
I know about last Etsy's issues, but what about our fees for selling on websites? Insignifant traffic?...
Thank you,
Greencat

How Annoying...!
by: Patricia C Vener

All of them will have things that annoy all of us at some time or another and different things annoy different people. The bottom line is, well, the bottom line. I liked ArtFire. But in a year I had not even one single sale. So I've closed my selling account there.

Etsy has more annoyances (to me) than ArtFire, but at least there I've had some sales. Not enough and I'm not sure if I will stay there either, though for now I'm in no rush to close shop. It is, after all, more or less pay as you go. I'm giving it another chance. I'm trying to renew or list new three times a day. I'm also trying to edit my listings to be more SEO aware. While etsy has given me a couple high end sales, I'm not sure that it's not a better marketplace for work at the other end of the scale - say under $50.00 (USD). Which I don't have a lot of and after I sell what I do have I'm not likely to make more of. (I find the labor intensive sculpture to wear work much more fulfilling.)

eBay has never been a good place for high end finished work unless you are already collectible.

I looked into Ruby Lane many years ago and didn't like the look or the cost.

My own website - yes, this is where I want to put a lot more effort. It's under my control. I have a lifetime hosting account (already paid for) with a fabulous company (originally Draknet now A Small Orange), I do my own coding and maintaining of the site and peripherals (my WP blog for example). I'd love to have someone else watching the stats of course (I'm using Piwik).

Ok, this is getting long!

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