jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 12, 2018 7:10:19 GMT -5
Started tinkering with an Etsy shop. I make a living selling another product on Etsy. But it is about 1/10,000th as competitive as Etsy jewelry. I am fully aware I may never get found on Etrsy. ***BUT it is an easy home base to load inventory onto and perform customer purchases from other references like a website or business card.*** Thinking about the product category 'glass cabs' since my glass melt tumbles are approaching flat back cab like dimensions. Must perform detailed research on this 'glass cab' category thing. I will use an app called Marmalead to assist Etsy SEO. Selling jewelry on Etsy is no other than overwhelming. 1st order of business is fooling with photos and backgrounds. Descriptions, categories and titles too. Add search words. SEARCH WORDS A couple of screen shots, here we go. I do not feel confident at all because of the huge Etsy competition. Fine craftsman selling cheap too. My strength in glass is color/pattern variety and polish. Inside light shows polish Sunlight lights up color and brilliance. Brighter background would help Note penny is used for size reference. Effective and allows less measuring. Must reduce camera pixel density to speed up the awful Etsy photo upload times grrr. Must figure out white balance on easy to use iPad. Not liking the auto mode.
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Apr 12, 2018 7:13:19 GMT -5
I wish you well. Agree about being realistic and just using the shop as a posting ground. But, if orders start coming in, that would be great.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 12, 2018 7:19:46 GMT -5
LOL, glass cabs - 32,700 results. But lots of crap. Lots of imports. I can compete with the $10 to $20/cab beadwork folks. At $10/cab I would get rich @ 100 units per day production. The problem is getting on the first 25 pages.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 12, 2018 7:26:21 GMT -5
I wish you well. Agree about being realistic and just using the shop as a posting ground. But, if orders start coming in, that would be great. The business would have to be brought in from other sources Beth. The roulette wheel may roll in your favor on Etsy but probably not. But I got nothing but time. In time people will buy. It takes years in most cases. Even enough sales to pay the hobby bills would be fine. I don't want people to buy from me as a favor, I want to appeal to the masses.(despise charity lol) To have a treasured product that fits the needs of repeat customers gets no better.
|
|
|
Post by rockjunquie on Apr 12, 2018 7:55:45 GMT -5
I hate to say this, but I don't like either background. Because glass is so translucent, I think white or black would be better. The glass has so much going on- no need to compete or distract. Also, I would save the penny picture for one of the pictures in the ad not the first gallery picture. Let the glass be center stage for the gallery stage, then they can click over and see the scale. I know you will do well. No doubt in my mind. eta- Will you be doing longer titles?
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 12, 2018 9:02:51 GMT -5
I agree with rockjunquie about having a single color background. I think I might like white better than black, but would have to actually see a picture with both to make a decision. Also, if you're going to include a penny in the pictures for size comparison, use a nice, clean penny. It's amazing how something like a grungy penny can affect how somebody will look at something. Agree on using a penny-less picture for the main one, too. You have to use whatever tricks you can to attract people.
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Apr 12, 2018 9:08:16 GMT -5
Agree about the back ground. It distracts from the designs. When you posted the glass on the white background they really popped. Robin is correct about the penny as well. Make it a shiny one.
|
|
|
Post by fantastic5 on Apr 12, 2018 9:15:50 GMT -5
What they all said. My first reaction to the picture with the towel background was not a good one. Clean white or black background is a must. Glass front and center stage. I like the ruler pictures better than the penny. But I'm distance challenged according to my husband.
|
|
|
Post by MrP on Apr 12, 2018 9:21:16 GMT -5
Started tinkering with an Etsy shop. I make a living selling another product on Etsy. But it is about 1/10,000th as competitive as Etsy jewelry. I am fully aware I may never get found on Etrsy. ***BUT it is an easy home base to load inventory onto and perform customer purchases from other references like a website or business card.*** Thinking about the product category 'glass cabs' since my glass melt tumbles are approaching flat back cab like dimensions. Must perform detailed research on this 'glass cab' category thing. I will use an app called Marmalead to assist Etsy SEO. Selling jewelry on Etsy is no other than overwhelming. 1st order of business is fooling with photos and backgrounds. Descriptions, categories and titles too. Add search words. SEARCH WORDS A couple of screen shots, here we go. I do not feel confident at all because of the huge Etsy competition. Fine craftsman selling cheap too. My strength in glass is color/pattern variety and polish. Inside light shows polish Sunlight lights up color and brilliance. Brighter background would help Note penny is used for size reference. Effective and allows less measuring. Must reduce camera pixel density to speed up the awful Etsy photo upload times grrr. Must figure out white balance on easy to use iPad. Not liking the auto mode. I don't want to be an a$$ James but when the H LL are you going to put the links to your sites on the bottom of your posts? Us people with poor minds can't remember how you are listed on other sites so please put the links to ALL your sites on your posts. Thanks?............................MrP
|
|
unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
|
Post by unclesoska on Apr 12, 2018 9:27:48 GMT -5
I agree- the background should be white or black. You might also consider dropping the word "tumble" from the phrase "tumble polished". IMHO, it cheapens your artwork and suggests mass production, which takes away from all the work you put into these by hand. You could still mention it in the description, but not in the title. Just a thought .
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Apr 12, 2018 9:43:23 GMT -5
I agree- the background should be white or black. You might also consider dropping the word "tumble" from the phrase "tumble polished". IMHO, it cheapens your artwork and suggests mass production, which takes away from all the work you put into these by hand. You could still mention it in the description, but not in the title. Just a thought . I agree about dropping the "tumble" in the title. I would also make up an "About the Owner" page that mentions that a lot of the glass you use is custom blown by glass artists that you have a relationship with. The fact that a glass artist created the original glass will be a good "snob" factor for selling. Also mention your own work in creating those cabs: How you hand grind each one to shape, etc. before polishing. Don't give away your methods, of course, but knowing they are more of a hand made cab rather than just glass thrown in a tumbler will be advantageous, I think.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 12, 2018 10:37:29 GMT -5
unclesoska hummingbirdstonesOne of the most demanding parts of this process is the tumbling because glass is tricky to tumble but more so the timing and combining the categories that need to be tumbled together. But tumbling DOES count as a mass production process. And in this case it is like sitting behind a cab machine for a long workout grinding a load and then tumble polishing your cabs. The work and creativity was in the grind and not the tumble. I never really thought about the very most difficult accomplishment(tumble polishing) is the word that reeks mass production !! Not only does tumbling do the polishing but it often reveals layering and feathering that can not be duplicated in any glass process. Does not matter, tumbling is a cuss word. I see that now. At least from a first opinion viewpoint. And tumbled is a large part of the initial theme. When I pull these tumbles out of my pocket and show them to a professional glass blower or bead maker they are totally perplexed. They are quickly aware that something is a foul and perplexed. As soon as the phrase 'tumble shaped' pops up their light comes on and they get it. Glass blowers have a cold work shop(as they call it) where they use our lapidary equipment on their glass. They are well aware of the effects of grinding. As far as a marketing word I am in complete agreement with you guys, it is a negative. These are the points I want to consider. Thanks too much. It really takes months to get close to the best marketing terminology. And this product is very new to me. Super constructive leap, I will be loosing the emphasis on tumbling. hummingbirdstones, the "about the owner" area is still in infancy. I am too proud and work to hard to not go into detail about my shop efforts. I will be sure to play that point like a fiddle. It is a big player in home made products and super-vogue to buy from local fabricators and artists. I see it in my fire pit business, people get a buzz off of buying from us locals. It's amazing, they leave with a buzz on and done their 'deed' for the month. unclesoska - white/cream background, IMO better than 'too busy':
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 12, 2018 10:48:57 GMT -5
Started tinkering with an Etsy shop. I make a living selling another product on Etsy. But it is about 1/10,000th as competitive as Etsy jewelry. I am fully aware I may never get found on Etrsy. ***BUT it is an easy home base to load inventory onto and perform customer purchases from other references like a website or business card.*** Thinking about the product category 'glass cabs' since my glass melt tumbles are approaching flat back cab like dimensions. Must perform detailed research on this 'glass cab' category thing. I will use an app called Marmalead to assist Etsy SEO. Selling jewelry on Etsy is no other than overwhelming. 1st order of business is fooling with photos and backgrounds. Descriptions, categories and titles too. Add search words. SEARCH WORDS A couple of screen shots, here we go. I do not feel confident at all because of the huge Etsy competition. Fine craftsman selling cheap too. My strength in glass is color/pattern variety and polish. Inside light shows polish Sunlight lights up color and brilliance. Brighter background would help Note penny is used for size reference. Effective and allows less measuring. Must reduce camera pixel density to speed up the awful Etsy photo upload times grrr. Must figure out white balance on easy to use iPad. Not liking the auto mode. I don't want to be an a$$ James but when the H LL are you going to put the links to your sites on the bottom of your posts? Us people with poor minds can't remember how you are listed on other sites so please put the links to ALL your sites on your posts. Thanks?............................MrP Shoot Michael, this Etsy shop is very much in it's infancy. It takes me months to dial in an internet shop. In past couple of days I have been taking photos w/different cameras/conditions and loading the photos on to Etsy to see the effect. I have a long long way to go before having a presentable shop. I was pleased to find the category "glass cabs" in Etsy is clearly differentiated from China trash and true lamp work glass. There is about 2 listings per 24 on each page by true glass artists. Lots and lots of junk. A good thing. Just like fire pits, lots of fire pit signage and poker listings, and then the fire pit listings.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 12, 2018 10:53:15 GMT -5
Hey you guys,I did not see the background comments. I will post this screen shot again. Can not have a busy background - agreed. rockjunquie(don't be sorry, I need you) fantastic5 thanks MsAli thanks hummingbirdstones thanks My Daddy told me like it was, my engineering professors told me like it is, my bosses told me like it is, my wife is continually telling me how it's going to be Thanks to the whole lot of you. Reality counts more than anything.
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Apr 12, 2018 10:58:58 GMT -5
Hey you guys,I did not see the background comments. I will post this screen shot again. Can not have a busy background - agreed. MUCH BETTER! Do you have a whiter background to try out? Try a black one as well just to see Lose the penny and try a ruler next to them
|
|
unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
|
Post by unclesoska on Apr 12, 2018 11:10:05 GMT -5
"unclesoska - white/cream background, IMO better than 'too busy':" I would recommend the purest white you can get- maybe a bright white printer paper. Reason being if you use white, you can adjust the color as needed to produce a pure white in your photos- ie. no tints or "off" white. A neutral background will give you the "truest" color reproduction of your glass pendents.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 12, 2018 11:29:14 GMT -5
Hey you guys,I did not see the background comments. I will post this screen shot again. Can not have a busy background - agreed. MUCH BETTER! Do you have a whiter background to try out? Try a black one as well just to see Lose the penny and try a ruler next to them
Ha, I have a little vintage 6 inch wood ruler sitting here in line for the photos. And a very vintage metal Lufkin machinist's 3 inch ruler/scale. Brilliant minds.
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,555
|
Post by jamesp on Apr 12, 2018 11:37:12 GMT -5
unclesoska MsAliAbsolute white makes great sense. With so many viviid colors Alison. Masking white balance adjustments - wow, never thought about that one. Been fussing about the various levels of cream.(many years fooling w/white balance) That might be what rockjunquie does with her fine photos. Over exposure becomes less of an issue too. white is white is white... Getting smart today. You guys are setting me off rocket in right direction !
|
|
|
Post by fernwood on Apr 12, 2018 11:47:22 GMT -5
I would say something simple for size reference. I have seen dice type cubes marked 1 cm used as a size reference by some. Clean and simple. Also sometimes the size reference is just a plain white background, small ruler, with black markings. Another thought is to have one corner of the photos be a ruler, per say. Just a ruler type border, again simple, white/black. I agree with the others on the clean backgrounds.
|
|
|
Post by MsAli on Apr 12, 2018 11:48:09 GMT -5
You've got a bunch of us that want to see you succeed.
The wood ruler looks nicer than the vintage metal one
Think "Clean" and feminine
I know you have to have some "girly" stuff around to pretty them up
|
|