Attracting Buyers

[Former_Member]

Hi there,
I'm sure this topic has been covered, but maybe it's something im doing that's hindering my success on Etsy ( Im somewhat faking my way through it :)

I have a great, solid product, have had many many views..a lot of " Ooohs and ahhs" but NO ONE is buying. I have had my shop up since This march and not a single sale. It's a little embarrassing.

Any advice?

[Former_Member]

First of all you have hardly any items in your shop. I have 174 items and still don't get steady sales!!

[Former_Member]

I agree. More products are a must. I'm in the process of stocking my shop, and it's not easy---but with more items, there's more chances of customers finding your store and eventually buying from you.

Good luck!

[SunnyYellowRetro]

Try not to let the number of sales psych you out... really. Just focus on building your inventory. The more items I have listed, I tell myself, the better probability of making a sale! :) Honestly, I get impatient too when results aren't meeting my expectation. Many times when I'm renewing my listings, I'll reshoot some pics to give the listing a fresh face. It can work wonders.
But mainly, be persistent and hang in there!

[SunnyYellowRetro]

One last thing... I highly recommend showing the "Request a Custom Order" option on your shop. Just for grins, I did this a week ago and already many more buyers have messaged me. Once I get a dialogue going, I've got my opening!

[PaperPlanePrints]

I agree that you should add more listings to your shop. Your photos show several different color combinations. Each one of those should be the first photo of a listing.

Definitely add the custom feature to your shop listings, since your descriptions say you can customize. People may miss the wording you've written, but it's easy to see Etsy's customize contact button.

Your listings seem confusing to me. The collars are largely multi-colored, but your color menu only uses single-color options. That might make some buyers leave the shop if they don't understand how to order what they want.

The beaded collar idea is cute! I didn't read thoroughly, but make sure you explain how these collars will be safe if they should fall off and break apart. We're all fanatics about our fur babies, so I'm sure many people would be hesitant to purchase if they thought there was any risk of harm to them.

[Former_Member]

You need more items in your shop, I had a Peek revue done in my shop a few weeks ago, I was told she would not buy from my shop because I did not have a big enough selection, I had almost 60 items in my shop.
Good luck with your shop, I opened mine in March also.
Always learning.

[Former_Member]

I guess I don't really know my way around etsy yet. I do specify my collars have a tensile strength of 300lbs and are completely safe. The pictures I have are examples of different colour combinations because what im selling is all custom. I guess I should just make each collar its own listing? I get recommendations on what to change but I go into edit, I don't see the particular option. Sigh

[Former_Member]

As a pet owner I probably will not buy beaded color for my pet, if the colar will break it can be potentialy hazardous to the pet if they chew on the beads and by accident swallow it. Think about that.

[Former_Member]

With only 3 items in your shop, it will probably take some time before you get any sales at all.

I would strongly suggest that you add the rest of your inventory so that prospective buyers have a good variety of items to choose from.

If someone is looking for a specific type of collar (buckle or martingale) they will never find your listings since you don't specify the type of collar in the listing.

Your title of ""Beautifully handcrafted Beaded Collars"" is so vague that it really doesn't mean anything.

There's nothing to indicate that they are dog collars so anyone searching for a dog collar won't even find your items.

If you walked into a large department store and asked for a 'beautiful beaded collar' at the customer service desk, do you think they would send you to pet supplies, jewellery or ladies wear?

Being specific in your title may help you with getting traffic and sales. Also a bit of marketing to your target customer wouldn't hurt either.

Personally, I would never put a beaded collar on any dog simply because of the chance of the collar breaking and the dog ingesting the beads. That is a HUGE opening for a lawsuit right there so I would hope that you carry the appropriate amount of business insurance.

[SunnyYellowRetro]

@BeadieBabiez

"I guess I don't really know my way around etsy yet."
<--It takes time and things change occasionally. I've realized I need give myself time to explore the marketplace... For me, checking out competitors shops gives me ideas on how to improve. Occasionally treating myself to little items from other sellers has helped me understand the shopping/buying experience too.

"I do specify my collars have a tensile strength of 300lbs and are completely safe."
<-- Can you reassure buyers what specifically makes them safe? Are they guaranteed not to break, etc? Imagine you have a new puppy, chewing everything in sight... if he happens to get ahold of the collar, can he swallow the individual beads or does the collar's construction make that impossible?

"The pictures I have are examples of different colour combinations because what im selling is all custom. I guess I should just make each collar its own listing?"
<--YES, many folks don't read the description completely. Pics are worth a 1,000 words. Besides, some people can't really picture how the color combo will look. Maybe some samples with color schemes of popular sports teams to start??

[Former_Member]

I guess I just assumed people would read the description and look at the pictures. The pictures *( in my opinion) show how they are put together and how them breaking is virtually impossible. The only way these collars would break is if another dog chewed them off another's neck. I would NEVER ever sell a product that would potentially be dangerous or harmful.
This might be a product people have to hold in their hands and see for themselves.

[maydaylabels]

Sometimes you have to assume your customer knows absolutely nothing about your craft, which is hard to do because you know it so well.

As someone who doesn't make jewelry or dog collars, I have no idea what makes your collars safe other than your guarantee that they are safe. I can't tell how they are constructed - I don't know if what is between (or under?) the beads is wire, or string, or plastic, or if they are glued together.

Probably many won't know what tensile strength means, either. Think about explaining it to a 10 year old.

I'd make several samples in some popular color schemes and make a listing for each one. Then I'd have one custom listing that says, pick your colors (and link to the custom listing in the other, static, listings).

[Former_Member]

I appreciate the input! I will make the changes. My collars are put together with a wire cable and secured with aluminium sleeves. ( The aluminum sleeves are covered ) They can withstand up to 300lbs of force.

[maydaylabels]

What is an aluminum sleeve?

How much force does the average dog tug with? A big dog? A small dog?

These are things about which I am completely clueless. :)

[Former_Member]

Aluminum sleeves are what joins 2 pieces of wire together ( they are then crimped for a permanent hold.

An average "puller" will not break these collars, but if you have a giant breed who is a terrible puller, I wouldn't recommend walking with these collars. Any dog who is pulling with enough strength to bust a collar should'nt be walked with a collar anyway, They would be better suited with a halti or gentle leader.

[maydaylabels]

Ah, I see! That is the kind of thing you'll want to explain, either in your listing or your about page or something.