Critique the shop above you--team lesson number 1

[#1]

Many thanks to Studio11 for the great first lesson on making your shop more professional! It seems like a lot of people who have spent time giving their shop a makeover are getting lost in the shuffle of the gigantic thread, though. So I have an idea! If everyone critiques the person who posts before them, than everyone will both get and give critiques.

I propose the critique include the following: 1) What is the shop above you doing really well? and 2.) what can they improve to make their shop better?

[Former_Member]

I think I have everything in place in my shop. Now let the critique begin :) And thank you to whomever is next in line for honest input!

PEARLSBIJOU I am headed your way!

[recrudescence]

Pearls Bijoux-
Great work on your photos! Your shop is very clean and almost soft. Good use of pastel backdrops.
Love your avatar. It's eye catching.
Your shop policies are very buttoned up-good job.
On U.S. shipping, are you sending first-class, priority, etc? What is your "standard" shipping method?
In your profile-Who are you? I have an in-depth idea of your materials and process, what about you?

These are minor things ;) You have done a thorough job. Congrats!

[PEARLSBIJOUX]

EvLien
I like the leaves. Have you thought of offering a personalized message. Have customer tell you what they want, like family name .... Your photographs are clear. I like the idea of showing them in frame. I would like to see more of your felt sewn projects. I think people know what the leaves look like and to offer what different phrases would be available might be better than having many photos of same item just with different phrases, As for price point, I think your prices are reasonable. I always try to think if I would pay a price for my work when I do my pricing. I have lowered some of my prices based on that I would not pay price for a particular item if I were the consumer. Pricing is a difficult thing, especially for an expendable item. Nice job overall, good luck with your shop.


April

[MarlenasArtSilks]

I love the huge variety of handmade jewelry you list.

Most of the photos look great and shows the jewelry well. One of 2 of the circle earrings showed scratches, I am sure they are perfect when ordered.
I like the all white head mannequin and background you used.

I also like the short descriptions you have and that you use white space in your text to make reading easier.

I can't find much that I don't like about your shop.

[Former_Member]

RECRUDESCENCE:

Your items are exquisite! The close-up detail in your photos is excellent. There is no question about what your customers are getting, and I know they appreciate that! The pictures you paint in your descriptions are very enticing, and put a personal feel to the listings, which is something I personally like. I like to feel like I am purchasing from SOMEONE, not just a website.
If there were one thing you might add on just a couple of your listings, it would be the length of a couple of your necklaces.

I enjoyed my tour of your shop, and wish you much success! Jolene

[Former_Member]

DarnCuteCrafts - what a great shop! Your bags are very nice! I can't wait to tell someone about them :)

One suggestion might be to use a person in your pictures. I think that it would really add a great touch and make someone excited to buy one.

What great creations you have...much luck to you!

[Former_Member]

i was missed on page 13... anyone care to critique?

[Former_Member]

pippiclippis:

Your shop is SO CUTE! I favorited it because I seriously adore all of your creations. Your banner and avatar are very good and most of your pictures are excellent. I looked over a handful of your descriptions and they all seemed great, and your policies were clear and concise. I only have a few suggestions: For some of your hair clips, maybe use a different picture as the one that shows in your shop. For example, the Vintage Button Hair Clip, I like the picture you have because it shows your "packaging" but if you had one of the close up shots as your first one (meaning the one people saw when they were browsing in your shop) I think it would stand out more and grab people's attention. My other suggestion would be to renew some of your items more often to try and generate more traffic to your shop. Otherwise, great shop! I'll keep you in mind when I have little ones :)

[Former_Member]

hey jo! Omg your shop is awesome, your jewelry looks really nice, pretty and the prices seem reasonable. One thing i would say is your avatar looks a little blurry and i really couldn't tell what it was untill i clicked on the item in your shop. Maybe you should choose one of your heart necklaces or something. Experiment with something and see how it looks. Keep up the good work!

[Former_Member]

customKnit, first impression on your front store is bold colored knits, bright and good photos!

I love your avatar! speaks of what you do and would make me want to click.

I would suggest you use up all the 5 slots to showcase more angles of your crafts. Perhaps place scarfs on a model so buyers will know what they are getting.

Other than that, pricing seems a bit steep to me but you'd know better at that. =)

On your descriptions, you may wish to consider having paragraphs as they looked too cramped together.

Overall, great work! Keep it up. Favorited you.

[Former_Member]

the other, thanks for your critique! ya my prices are a bit high, but i work very long and hard hours on my beautiful scarves. but anyway, i took a look at your shop and it is awesome! good prices awesome pictures, keep it up!

[Former_Member]

thanks jo! you're totally right about the hair clip pics and renewing more often. thanks for the awesome critique :)

[Former_Member]

I'm not sure who I'm supposed to critique but I'd love some!! Thanks :-)

[Former_Member]

oh ok I see.

FOOTSICLES

I love your banner and your avatar. And your product is so cute!

The only suggestion I have really is that some of your flip flops are difficult to see on a black background. Maybe try a white or light colored background? They would really pop then.

[Former_Member]

To the Fix Designs, your photography is wonderful, very consistent. You have clear policies, maybe you could add a bit more personal information, though what you already have is interesting.

[Former_Member]

To Bren Boone, most of your photographs are great shop looks great, but since you have only a few items, maybe you could do them all with the same prop or background? Sorry I messed up with which shop to do, posted before I looked!

[Former_Member]

Hannah's Hat Box,

I like your profile picture; it's old-fashioned and gives the perfect image for a shop that sells vintage items.

Your banner, while simple and to-the-point, is a little too simple I think. Maybe a little color or a vintage backdrop? I am currently working on mine, which is why I don't have one yet, but I'm hoping that my banner, along with my profile, can make my shop look more inviting :)

[Former_Member]

Akrivos, I see you are working on your banner, so I won't bug you about that ;) I love your items, especially the knitted ones. The only suggestions I would make are to lighten up your pictures a bit and to mix up the pics as well. What I mean by this is to take some close up pics or from different angles of your work. Having different pics on the front page as it shows more diversity in your shop. Hope that makes sense. Also your avatar is cute, but I'm not really sure it fits in with your shop (yet)...maybe you are adding more items? Lovely shop!!

[SunshowerStudio]

I am not sure if this is the correct section or not, if it is, please, please critique my store. I am a newbie and would love to hear from you all! I have just finished a new painting and will be showing it this weekend in the Sponsor Section, hoping that, that will bring more people into my shop and hopefully Buy. Thank you in advance for any Help.

[Former_Member]

Sunshower, this is the section where you critique the store above you (mine)...so please critique my shop and then it is someone else's turn to post a critique of your shop. That way everybody gets a turn and no one gets left out! Thanks! :)

[HillCountrySilver]

Hi sunshower, I just checked out your shop and LOVE your wonderful botanical paintings! You are a very talented artist! Your shop is nice: clear banner, good photos, nice announcement, but I do have several suggestions that might increase your traffic!
1- tags. You are only taking advantage of four or so tags per listing. This is how people find your items! For the pumpkin, add vegetable,orange,Halloween,squash, red flower, garden, plant,botanical etc! People searching for orange and watercolor can then find it. Same goes for your fabulous flowers. Color, season, hue (warm/cool etc). The word flower is not in your tags or title anywhere for any of the items I looked at!
2- photos. Maybe fill the screen with a closeup of some of your work to show off the amazing details! More than one photo, maybe the item made into cards or a pack of your cards to show the variety possible?
3- materials used. This is not the place for a sentence. Try searching etsy for something using this search tool. Unless they happen to use your sentence verbatim, they will miss out. Try archival paper, watercolor, canon printer, permanent ink or whatever and separate with commas. Your announcement is a better place for that important information.
4- your bio is good. What is your name? Your avatar left me wondering what you sell. Maybe add some words?
5- featured items. Put 'em up! Maybe a color scheme or photos from page two in your shop?
Whew! That covers it I think. Best of Luck on etsy!
Cindy

[Former_Member]

Crashing Bison: First I just have to say; your shop is lovely. Bravo!

1.) Your photos look very professional, clear and uncluttered. I'm very impressed with the all over appearance of your shop, especially provided that you just started it! Nice descriptions. You tell a little story, which is always entertaining, and keeps your interest. Your pricing is great. I see a lot of people on etsy, pricing their stuff way to low which makes it hard for those of us who would like to actually make some money here! Your policies are super clear.

2.) The only thing I can think of that I would improve would be your avatar. It's nice and clear, but if you cropped it a little differently, or chose an image with a bit more depth, I think it would be more enticing.

Again, GREAT job on your shop!

[LEXIGIRLCREATIONS]

Hi all,
I was missed on page 12. Sure would like some feedback. Thanks a bunch!
MaryAnn

[Former_Member]

Hi lexigirlcreations,

You've got some wonderful jewelry for sale!

First off, I would say that you have a great eye for what works well together in terms of your jewelry ingredients!

Another thing I really like is your photo in your banner...however...instead or in addition to "welcome" I would suggest including your store name or have a logo that really stands out so your customers immediately see it and remember it next time.

As for your photos, they are all separately very well done and with good lighting, highlights, etc. However one thing I've been trying to focus on in my shop is creating the same background and the same frame proportions...(like how much of the frame your item takes up/what angle everything is photographed from)...It is definitely a process to work on rephotographing some things but it's definitely worth it in order to have a very cohesive shop and uniform product listings....I've noticed my views increase since I've done this. So that said....your photographs are great, don't get me wrong, but something you may benefit from is creating photographs that look exceptional when placed among the rest of the photos in your store.

Hope that helps!!!

XOXO
Rachael
The Paraders



PS>>>>>>> whoever critiques my shop next, please be as brutal as possible....seriously....I'm looking to improve as much as possible.

[Former_Member]

lexigirlcreations...
I just checked out your shop! You banner is great.I also like the background you have on this item and several others:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/63462115/copper-trees
It would add more continuity to your shop to have this same background and similar ones for all your items! It is a fantastic detail that I feel would be more inviting.
Also make sure to use all 5 photos...
.a picture of you making the item
.item gift wrapped
.different angles and close ups
.someone wearing the item
.etc.
You make beautiful jewelry and I would also suggest that in your descriptions, you mention that you made it and possibly what inspired you to make that particular piece!
I hope this has been helpful!