Make overFollow

I haven't browsed much, but immediately after opening, but you should re-do all the photos on that gray background with the items either on forms or just a plain black or white background, depending on what color will provide the most contrast. Some of the photos of product on forms is a bit out of focus. I don't know that I'd go with a contrasting background on those. I'd probably do a black form with a black background, personally. The bracelets would pop more on a black background, as well.

The items themselves look pretty nice. The biggest problem with Etsy is that it's far too easy to find comparable items, in my opinion. I don't know how their shopping basket works, or how coupons work, but you should really offer quantity discounts. Pick a price that you absolutely want to sell an item for at minimum. Say it's $20 for a necklace. Then you price your necklaces at $25/ea or two for $45, three for $60. Something along those lines. even if they were two for $40, you need to make people feel like they'll be saving money or getting a bargain for purchasing multiple items. If you can make a coupon for $5 off $40 or more, or something along those lines, that works too.

When you take pictures of your product, take as much time as it takes you to finish and be happy with a product. Take 20 pictures of each item if you have to. Don't be satisfied with just snapping a quick picture of each item; your presentation is every bit as important in selling the items as the products themselves are.

Where do you live, again? I don't remember and am too lazy to do a search. Try making some local-flavor items. Seaglass, if you live near a coastal area. Lie and say all the seaglass is collected from the local beach. Find a souvenir shop who will take the items on consignment . A retail store will need to make around 2x what they pay in order to stock an item. So, if a necklace will sell for $30, you'll need to sell it to a retailer for $15. Many small gift shops will be willing to give you a small amount of counter space.

Edited, Sep 8th 2012 7:57pm by Spoonless

Can you see how many hits you're getting on your Esty page?

There is SO much stuff on that site that unless someone is specifically looking for your stuff very few will chance upon it. Even with a search specific for hand-made jewelry they might not see your stuff.

A couple of things I see immidiatly. You are using high quality materials for your wares, real copper, nice pieces of jade, etc. But your lighhting and preperation in the photos is really bad. Semi translucent gemstones need proper lighting when you are photographing them. First thing you can, get a lighting kit and a soft box similar to this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/JS-Photo-Studio-in-a-Softbox-Tent-Light-Lighting-Cube-Photography-Kit-JTK103-/251095144664?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a766fd8d8 for $35. Then read up on three point photography lighting. Also consider buying a really good flash for your camera with the ability to slave additional strobe lights so they go off when you take the picture. Sounds complicated, but it really isn't bad to set up or use, and you should be able to pick up some decent strobes with reflectors for around $50 or so, and a really good flash for around $200ish. Display semi-translucent stones on a black or dark blue matte background that doesn't reflect. Prefferably pick a fabric that doesn't pick up any dust. For the copper work, remember that the camera is going to pick up every little flaw there could possibly be. I'd reccommend taking one sample and polishing it with a dremel tool and some copper polish and a soft wheel until it gleams and has no visible scratches, and take a picture of that one. Also, it's a SLR camera, for Single Lense Reflex.

I would also reccommend you get a largish rock tumbler and some plastic or ceramic tumbling pellets and experement with putting some of your finished metalwork pieces in there for 6 or so hours (metal, pellets, a bit of soapy water. Shouldn't need any grit for that. It should give you a nice even tumbled patina without detracting from the hand qrought quality of the work and will match the polished stones really well. Plus when you aren't using it for that you can tumble your own rocks.

The other thing that you need on your store is background. The About page is a good start, but it needs some better pictures. Though that one sphere pendant picture you have there is the best picture you have on the entire thing so far. Thats what you want for all of them. , maybe some pictures of people modeling the necklaces and pendants, possibly maybe target the traditional rennisance jewlry market and have a few ren fiare people wear them in period garb. I dunno. Something to show people Huh, that looks good with X, and it's about Y. big.

Also, you might want an "I will make you a custom piece" option of some sort. I don't know if it would work logistically with how the site is set up, but it would be a draw.

I dunno, some things to consider.

I made my first Esty sale

The necklace Forest of Threes sold for $20 plus shipping. I ran the copper wire clasps and bail under my polishing cloth and have it in box with note on receipt thanking the buyer. First thing in the morning I'll walk around the corner and get it in the mail.


can you see how happy I am?

Using old photo set up the pictures I took next to a coin didn't turn out very well. I been reading up on the subject of jewelry photography and just got light box Kao suggested in the mail today so hope to have better photos up soon.

Not too soon though, as I just spent 2 days in the hospital due to bad reaction to medication and dehydration. They also found that I have UTI infection so I plan on taking care of my self for the next few days.