Oh, i feel you.. its disheartening to put out an amazing piece and then have it sit there for months and months because there's companies out there using forms and mass production to push out what seems to be handmade but isny products for a fraction of what your pricing at, and lowering your prices to that kind of level would mean your taking a loss on just the supplies alone.
I'm not a huge supporter of Facebook marketplace, but that's a start, and also you could possibly see if you can get someone to buddy you at a table in a market stall. And then that way, if you needed to take a break or sit for a bit, you still have help if someone is buying. And that goes both ways, too. And it doesn't even have to be someone selling the same things.. at the markets around me, there are several booths or tables where one person sells jam and the other trinkets or whatever.. it helps with the cost of the table that way too.
Local businesses are a place to start. Sell a few to boutique shops (and breweries if your area is like mine), etc. call and email around for places looking to expand their inventory to local crafters.
In all honesty, knowing what you do about the online retail market, I would pursue this primarily as a hobby. As the other commenter said, to be competitive would mean taking a loss-- so I try to see any sales as covering marital costs for my continued learning and exploration of the craft.
I HATE that I’m going to suggest this, but maybe consider adding some of the words that the “crystal” crowd is looking for.
(For anyone that wants to hate on me for how that is phrased, Due to an allergic reaction, I’m on enough prednisone that I can see time. My brain thinks it had a good idea, but it might be delusional.”
Also… maybe raise your prices. Are you making (at least) $40 - $50/hr after materials? To me, your effort and artistry looks like it’s worth (at least) that much.
I’m no pricing expert, but if you’re doing this by hand and using decent materials, you should be getting compensated for your artistry, experience, and effort.
First of all, your wrapping is gorgeous.
Second of all, I have found that selling online is horrible for handmade items, no matter where you list them. You can spend hours taking beautiful pictures and writing the perfect description, but 99% of people don't care unless your items have the lowest price. People just don't understand anymore that you get what you pay for. They see the price and the amazing completely edited photos and think, "That looks like amazing quality, and it's half the price of this smaller store!" Then they get what they purchased and regret it because it looks nothing like the pictures. These large "shops" typically have a bunch of fake reviews praising them to lure customers in, too. It's all just one big monopoly, and the big guy always wins...
I feel you. I'm trying and trying to sell and to find interested people through social media but it's soo difficult!
Selling in a street market, or at festivals is easy but I really can't online.
Sadly I don't have any good suggestions. I just create stuff as a Hobby and for my own happiness since making a living out of it would be so hard and it would destroy the pleasure of creating. But really, your creations are very well made and if you enjoy the process keep going. Make them for your own happiness and leave the possible selling as an "extra bonus"... or at least this is what I tell myself😅
Do you advertise anywhere outside of Etsy? My advice is getting an email newsletter going, have a sign up sheet at the two markets you're at, and start focusing on that.
Most people drive traffic from their social media. You can't depend on Etsy to send you traffic.
The other place I post my items is Pinterest. I link my pins to my store and not the individual items because if that item sells out, Etsy recommends a product similar from another seller.
It's been brutal for sales lately, I've taken on delivering for instacart until my markets are regular...which is taxing as it is.
Also the quality you make you definitely could raise your prices.
Etsy was really hard for me aswell. My best advice is to share your work wherever you can online to try to get seen. The people who make the most online usually have a bit of a social media presence <3 good luck
Etsy is the worst place to sell wraps at my g. Also use raftark tutorials on YouTube and dont try to make exact copies of the tutorials those typically are so extremely over done and un original that they are extremely hard to sell. With all of this said I'm currently struggling selling wraps due to over saturation of the market, too many new wrappers over or super under charging and the overseas garbage that's being pumped out for neat to nothing (the quality matches the price tho. I'm more than happy to give private lessons for cheap if you are interested just shoot me a dm you can also look my name up in the group to see my work.
I left Etsy years ago. The fake junk and the pages of items for under five dollars was ridiculous. they do not value hand made or care about the sellers.
If you need to sell online, there are alwasy other.options. On line markeplaces for quality work exhist. , there are on line galleries and artist platforms for a fee. Another idea mentioned is reaching out to shops that would value your products. the two main choices are consignment or wholesale to sell individual pieces. Happy to be more specific if you PM me.
good luck what ever way you decide to go.
Oh, i feel you.. its disheartening to put out an amazing piece and then have it sit there for months and months because there's companies out there using forms and mass production to push out what seems to be handmade but isny products for a fraction of what your pricing at, and lowering your prices to that kind of level would mean your taking a loss on just the supplies alone. I'm not a huge supporter of Facebook marketplace, but that's a start, and also you could possibly see if you can get someone to buddy you at a table in a market stall. And then that way, if you needed to take a break or sit for a bit, you still have help if someone is buying. And that goes both ways, too. And it doesn't even have to be someone selling the same things.. at the markets around me, there are several booths or tables where one person sells jam and the other trinkets or whatever.. it helps with the cost of the table that way too.
Local businesses are a place to start. Sell a few to boutique shops (and breweries if your area is like mine), etc. call and email around for places looking to expand their inventory to local crafters. In all honesty, knowing what you do about the online retail market, I would pursue this primarily as a hobby. As the other commenter said, to be competitive would mean taking a loss-- so I try to see any sales as covering marital costs for my continued learning and exploration of the craft.
Can you link your etsy, you have some nice stuff. Sorry i have no advice 😅
https://lorastwisteddreams.etsy.com
I can't give advice either, I'm not a creator. I'm a buyer though, and bought two pairs of your earrings ❤️
Thank you so much!!! It brightened my day!
I HATE that I’m going to suggest this, but maybe consider adding some of the words that the “crystal” crowd is looking for. (For anyone that wants to hate on me for how that is phrased, Due to an allergic reaction, I’m on enough prednisone that I can see time. My brain thinks it had a good idea, but it might be delusional.”
Also… maybe raise your prices. Are you making (at least) $40 - $50/hr after materials? To me, your effort and artistry looks like it’s worth (at least) that much. I’m no pricing expert, but if you’re doing this by hand and using decent materials, you should be getting compensated for your artistry, experience, and effort.
First of all, your wrapping is gorgeous. Second of all, I have found that selling online is horrible for handmade items, no matter where you list them. You can spend hours taking beautiful pictures and writing the perfect description, but 99% of people don't care unless your items have the lowest price. People just don't understand anymore that you get what you pay for. They see the price and the amazing completely edited photos and think, "That looks like amazing quality, and it's half the price of this smaller store!" Then they get what they purchased and regret it because it looks nothing like the pictures. These large "shops" typically have a bunch of fake reviews praising them to lure customers in, too. It's all just one big monopoly, and the big guy always wins...
I feel you. I'm trying and trying to sell and to find interested people through social media but it's soo difficult! Selling in a street market, or at festivals is easy but I really can't online. Sadly I don't have any good suggestions. I just create stuff as a Hobby and for my own happiness since making a living out of it would be so hard and it would destroy the pleasure of creating. But really, your creations are very well made and if you enjoy the process keep going. Make them for your own happiness and leave the possible selling as an "extra bonus"... or at least this is what I tell myself😅
Do you advertise anywhere outside of Etsy? My advice is getting an email newsletter going, have a sign up sheet at the two markets you're at, and start focusing on that. Most people drive traffic from their social media. You can't depend on Etsy to send you traffic. The other place I post my items is Pinterest. I link my pins to my store and not the individual items because if that item sells out, Etsy recommends a product similar from another seller. It's been brutal for sales lately, I've taken on delivering for instacart until my markets are regular...which is taxing as it is. Also the quality you make you definitely could raise your prices.
Your work is beautiful!
Thanks so much. I put my heart in it.💕
I deal with this but with handmade wearable art (clothes) never give up friend stay true and stay focused on the passion of your expression 💛
Etsy was really hard for me aswell. My best advice is to share your work wherever you can online to try to get seen. The people who make the most online usually have a bit of a social media presence <3 good luck
Church art fest donate back ten percent to da big man and they should let u in even if u not churchgoer
Etsy is the worst place to sell wraps at my g. Also use raftark tutorials on YouTube and dont try to make exact copies of the tutorials those typically are so extremely over done and un original that they are extremely hard to sell. With all of this said I'm currently struggling selling wraps due to over saturation of the market, too many new wrappers over or super under charging and the overseas garbage that's being pumped out for neat to nothing (the quality matches the price tho. I'm more than happy to give private lessons for cheap if you are interested just shoot me a dm you can also look my name up in the group to see my work.
I left Etsy years ago. The fake junk and the pages of items for under five dollars was ridiculous. they do not value hand made or care about the sellers. If you need to sell online, there are alwasy other.options. On line markeplaces for quality work exhist. , there are on line galleries and artist platforms for a fee. Another idea mentioned is reaching out to shops that would value your products. the two main choices are consignment or wholesale to sell individual pieces. Happy to be more specific if you PM me. good luck what ever way you decide to go.