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Etsy Insights: Creating a cohesive shop aesthetic
Hi there! My name is Danielle and I’m the owner and primary curator at Dani Bee Vintage. My shop focuses on incorporating vintage pops of colour into modern spaces, utilizing materials like brass, onyx, glass, and wood. I started my shop in 2019 and quickly navigated to the Etsy platform in 2020. On account of the wide array of pieces I curate, the importance of cohesion in my listings has become increasingly relevant as Dani Bee Vintage continues to grow. I’m thrilled to share a few tips that have facilitated in the creation of a cohesive shop aesthetic, which I hope will, in turn, help you produce a wonderful buyer experience!
- Stick to your core product materials: Although I offer a wide variety of products, I tend to stick to the same four to five materials that I love playing with in my own home, as I recognize that they work well together. Find product materials you love that also complement one another.
- Rotate between a few key staging locations: Whether it’s a specific table, unique wallpaper, or even a vibrant painting, keeping the background of your listings somewhat consistent is important. It’s okay to switch it up from product-to-product, but identifying a few key spots that work for showcasing your products is important; It will help tie your shop together even if the types of materials are varied.
- Keep your lighting and photo-editing consistent: The overarching blanket of cohesiveness is achieved by utilizing similar lighting. Trust me. It makes a big difference if you use a warm, sunlit room for some listings and a cool, dark room for the rest. You can try to replicate lighting conditions through photo-editing techniques, making use of the brightness, contrast, and warmth features.
What techniques have worked well for you in creating a cohesive vintage shop aesthetic?
OrionelleArt
·4 years agoIt took me almost an entire day to get things right in terms of my shop aesthetic. I knew exactly what I wanted to go for but sometimes it's easier said than done. Things may look just right in terms of your photo shoot arrangement but lighting may be wrong etc. I got positive feedback from friends and family, but when you know something's off to you then you just know. Eventually I found the sweet spot in my apartment, the right props etc. I have no idea how my photos look to other people and potential buyers but to me personally they're pretty much what I was aiming for
SaucecityUSA
·4 years agosuper helpful! Would you suggest hiring a photgorapher? It's so expensive! Any suggestions?
MaritynDog
·4 years agoThanks for your great tips!!
BlackberryDesigns
·4 years agoMy jewelry is bright and colorful with lots going on...so I photo on a plain white background with nothing else. I have tried to stage the jewelry and it never has worked for my brand. My models are in solid colors, no prints, of bright sweaters to match the jewelry. I work only in stainless and no plated metals so silver colors are what pulls everything together. I stay with charm themed retro style jewelry. So far this simple approach has worked well. Every time I vary in a different direction it has not bode well. Cuff bracelets and rings in 2018 and stainless gold plated in 2015. It helps that google likes our products on plain white backgrounds that way their AI can read what it is.
Rummage4Retro
·4 years agoInteresting concept, bet you find the way I photograph and my write ups somewhat alien
rabbylol
·4 years agoI love market place and all sales come from search and not from buyers going to a shop first
7Kilim
·4 years agoevet hakkı
i8gtfurj
·4 years agoThanks for the tips. I've been struggling with getting the lighting right from day one. I tried a white background and I am not in love with it. I tested a new peach/pink background and I'm not loving that either. So I think I'll be retaking the pics to that one listing soon and use the bland white background I already have... for now.
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoI often find that I default to the white background since it’s simpler, quicker for me to photograph and highlights the details of the item more.
That said, I’m trying to stray away from this more by incorporating other backgrounds/scenes. There is a way to jazz up the plain white background though! I will sometimes use faux greenery or books to help stage my items. That way it adds a pop of colour!
OliviaLandArt
·4 years agoTip #2 is a gem!
I'm going to work on that over the next few weeks because although my paintings are all cohesive, my staged photos are all in very different backgrounds. lol
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoIt definitely makes a difference! It also makes it easier on us as the shop owners if we have set spots to photograph multiple items at a time.
I have about 3-4 backgrounds I like to use and I try to mix them up in my shop so that there's almost like a pattern in the listing order, versus 3 in a row with a white background, 4 in a row on a wooden table, etc.
OliviaLandArt
·4 years agoAgreed! I feel like the set staging spots and rotation will make photographing quick and no none sense too.
Thanks again @DaniBeeVintage!
AmeeGondkar
·4 years agoThank you! for your tips. They are really helpful and very specific. One's shop really needs to look united and whole visually, only then do people tend to enter your shop. Your shop really needs to look welcoming!
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoI couldn't agree more! Thank you for your kind words!
SignandLetterShop
·4 years agoGreat shop @DaniBeeVintage
Thanks for sharing your tips!
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoThanks so much! It's my pleasure - happy to offer any tips I can to help the community!
EarlyThousands
·4 years agoVery well said, you have an incredibly beautiful shop.
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoThank you so much! I appreciate you taking the time to say that
RetrospectiveHome
·4 years agoHi Danielle,
These are all great tips and especially timely for me and my eclectic vintage shop. Offering all types of vintage decor does pose a cohesive challenge. The only insight I can offer is to keep trying until you find what works. I’m still on that journey! Ellen
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoThanks so much for tuning in! I completely agree - ultimately we need to find what works for us and stick with it. The recipe for success in a cohesive aesthetic will probably vary from shop to shop, so it's key to find what works with each of our individual styles and products.
Wishing you all the best with your journey! I'm still consistently working on mine as well!
RetrospectiveHome
·4 years agoUpdate: I have recently grouped my vintage items by color in the shop and LOVE the way it presents! For me, it is a great way to have a cohesive look for my eclectic mix of vintage decor/fashion offerings.
Crochetlovemelbourne
·4 years agoThanks so much such useful tips and love your shop. I try to do photos all on a similar white background, however my colours are all over the place so I feel I do really need to work on cohesiveness a bit more so I will try to put your tips into practice!
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoI'm so glad you found my tips to be useful!
If you love having colour in your shop (which I suspect you do, and I do as well!), I'd recommend keeping other aspects of your photography somewhat consistent from listing to listing to bring it all together. You could even consider organizing listings by colour group on your shop page, or even thoughtfully spreading them out so that you have a mix of colour throughout!
TradiHandmadeFamilly
·4 years agoI love that. thank you for sharing!
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoIt's my pleasure - thanks for tuning in!
Bibolde
·4 years agoThank you for sharing ! And I love your banner ++++
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoIt's my pleasure! And thanks a bunch - it doesn't take much to make Indiana Glass look beautiful!
PALEANDFADE
·4 years agoThat makes sense and looking at the successful sites on here it does seem to work.
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoTotally! I've noticed the same thing.
CALLIGRAPHYSTO
·4 years agoI make an effort to integrate colors in a store. but that sometimes limits me. because some lists simply don't fit in a mold by nature.
DreamGreatDreams
·4 years agoin the last earnings report etsy tells us that 64% of all sales come from search and not from buyers going to a shop first. that first photo is crucial to getting a buyer to click and read more about the item that caught their interest, and hopefully buy!
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoAbsolutely - that's such a good point and crucial for us, as sellers, to be in tune with the stats we're provided! And hopefully from the attraction of that first listing photo, the buyer may go on to view other items in our shops.
I've been trying to focus more and more on the individual customer experience in an attempt to encourage repeat buyers, whether that be through the cohesiveness of my shop or the one-on-one interactions with customers pre- and post-purchase. I've seen a small increase in repeat buyers but am striving to improve it!
TRMacrameStudio
·4 years agothank you so much for your advice, it's really helpful especially for the new seller like us!
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoIt's absolutely my pleasure, and welcome to the Etsy Community!
hopeandjoystudios
·4 years agoI feel there are buyers that shop the store and then those that just shop a listing (majority) they never see your shop to even know it is "cohesive". The trick is getting them to click on your other items via live links. Always have a category link to similar items or your shop front page in your listing. Yes having a group of similar items helps. They may have landed on your brass crane but may buy your brass candle sticks...or both! Don't assume they will just click through to your shop. Most shop via a device. Some don't even read or have trouble finding the description!
hopeandjoystudios
·4 years agoPlus having similar items gets your items at page bottom instead of only other sellers items.
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoYou make a good point - not all buyers will look at our shops as a whole and often times might only be looking at one particular listing from their search results. I love your idea to include links to similar items in the shop! It's definitely important to try to encourage activity beyond that initial listing view.
Based on my personal experience from a buyer perspective, I do feel that shops which provide a "cohesive image" or a similar feel among their listings tend to have me coming back more often if it's a style that's really appealing to me. More often than not, these are the shops that I have in my favourites list and I've become a repeat buyer from.
To your point though, I feel that it's especially important to recognize that not all buyers follow the same patterns, which is where I think that your category/listing link idea becomes especially beneficial. Thanks for sharing your insight!
therootfolks
·4 years agothis is so true! thank you for pointing this out again! It helped me to get focused on the special character of my items and photos again!
Thank you ! Your shop and your items look very beautiful! xo Eva
NuriartDeko
·4 years agoThank you for sharing your tips, I totally agree that when entering a store, the store has to have a unique and homogeneous character. I try to ensure that my paintings always have an angle with which relief and shadows can be appreciated. Other items like wind chimes I like to photograph them in nature as my items are based on it and made with natural materials. I'm still trying to improve the overall look of my store.
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoIt's my pleasure! Your shop is beautiful - I really love how you've focused on the angles to show the depth in your work.
I'm always trying to improve the look of my shop as well, and sometimes that means refreshing some of my listing photos for items that have been for sale for awhile. I try to scroll through my listings regularly to pick out ones that don't quite fit in terms of the photos. Continuous improvement is definitely important!
UppNorthEh
·4 years agoI admire people that can be so focused. If I find something I can make money on I buy it, list it and sell it.
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoThat's truly an art in itself, to be able to have an eye for a variety of items that you know your customers will enjoy!
EmboldenLifeBoutique
·4 years agoThanks for these tips. Definitely helpful to this new seller.
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoYou're very welcome! I'm glad you found my tips to be helpful.
Welcome to the Etsy Community!
pHashIONpassION
·4 years agoDBV,
Lovely vintage shop! I really like your first suggestion. In my shop, I specialize in deadstock, or unworn, or NOS/NWT vintage items.
MM
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoThank you! I have a lot of respect for vintage shops like yours which specialize in deadstock. These pieces seem to be few and far between these days, so you must have a lot of patience to curate your items!
SacredMoonARTifacts
·4 years agoAgreed! Many people forget how important photo editing is. I always photograph my mixed media collage products in bright sunlight and then I do the photo editing. Since I use alot of metallic paints, the shimmering brillance of the glazed paint can get lost without the proper lighting. Needless to say, I am adding more listings now since SPRING HAS SPRUNG & the sun is finally shining here in Germany. Thanks for your tips.
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoAbsolutely - sometimes it's tough to replicate lighting conditions when the sun is hiding, especially with the Canadian winters over here! You've done a really beautiful job of showcasing your work
therootfolks
·4 years agoI agree 100 percent with the setting! I think it is important as the customer feels as she or he entries in a specific room... In your shop room.
What I suppose also that the same colours in the first capture may be important to match. Or ~ I like to work with flowers within the settings ` matching the same flower colours.
What do you think about this colour aspect?
Thank you for sharing, xo Eva
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoI love the idea of working with flowers! I tend to use faux greenery in some of my photos, and I really like how flowers tend to bring in more of a spring/summer feel.
I definitely agree that having a similar flow of colours and tones is important. It's similar to tip #3 to keep lighting consistent (bright sunny rooms versus cooler and darker rooms).
AmeeGondkar
·4 years ago@therootfolks Thanks for the tip on flowers/nature. I want to add some new photos and this tip will surely help. Thank you!
abbylamdanstudios
·4 years agoI love tip #2! Thank you for sharing!!
DaniBeeVintage
OP4 years agoIt’s my pleasure!