Closing My Store ?

[#1]

I've never written in here before and a lil shy to do so :) but i guess i'll just write what i feel. I'm always on here giving ppl the pep talk of "hanging in there" and not giving up but, darn it I think i'm ready to throw in the towel. I just don't think i can compete anymore with all the other "beading supplies store" on here. i mean lets face it. most of those store are very commercial anyways. you can find just about the same type of beads in each store, probably because they come from the same supplier. nevertheless i make beads and craft supplies all by hand. my beads are my own creations and style. the color mix, shape design is all my own creations. I even make cold porcelain clay. which has been getting great reviews. but the truth is i really wanted this store to be my primary business. but i see this is way harder than i imagined. So i have to either get a Job or go back to school. Probably in the Pharmacy industry. I really wanted my own business but here on etsy not everything is handmade and i just can't compete with the mass produced shops. I'm not sure when i'm going to close the store but i probably won't make anything new and list it. I mean it does cost money. anyways thanks for listening all :)

[Former_Member]

Your shop is wonderful....make a list of all the place you can promote your shop and write letters to family and friend to help support and promote your shop. Offer a percentage of the sales. Just dont give up.

[Former_Member]

I am completely speechless at all of the help and of the time people put in to help critique my shop and be honest and helpful. the fact that you all took so much time in helping me literally brought tears to my eyes. I'm speechless i really am. I didn't even think of half of the things people mentioned here. I'm blown away. I told myself i would give advice but never write in here mainly because i was shy and a little afraid people wouldn't like my work. But i am so glad I did. Thank you to everyone and i mean every single person who wrote in here you don't know what you have done for me. Thank you so so so much!! Thank You!

[Former_Member]

I'm also going to definitely revamp my entire shop :)

[Former_Member]

I just sent you a file as an idea for a banner :)

[Former_Member]

I think your beads are beautiful! And I have added you to my favourite shops. Don't give up. I agree that you should raise your prices, but I will say this, I probably won't buy from you simply because I think your postage to the UK ( Iam from uk) is pretty expensive. Example; you quote £5.44 when I know how much it costs for me to send to USA, for about the same weight and size is £3.60 max. I don't know if the posting prices are completely different in the USA or not.. but that is the main reason wy I wouldn't buy.

Apart from that - I think your shop is amazing. You're talented!

[MorningHeirloom]

Hi Mae,

I am working on Polymer Clay too, you really need raise your price. I know how to work with Polymer clay , a lot of works and time consuming especially when finishing the beads. You have to calculate your time.

Don't close your shop..I know Etsy is bigger day by day and many competitions here , we never able to compete with mass productions, use word handmade to stand out , give a little description how you work with your bead. Marketing is the key , use also story in marketing. I am also struggling how to promote my items, But I learn day by day..

Wish you all the best.

Dia

[harmonyandsage]

Mae-
I too love your handmade beads. If you decide to give it another try I have invitated you to my team. Team Serenity can help promote your shop and try our best to help you gain more sales. I hate to see such a lovely shop close.

Jennifer

[Former_Member]

I would also put a section in your shop for handmade beads. I bet that will help lots! Maybe make a banner with your beads in it? Don't take this wrong and it's only my opinion but your banner is a little startling to me. :)

Above all don't give up. Who wins then?

[BlingNThingsbyPenny]

You have a lovely shop. I agree with all the above posts but would like to add that maybe you could give a little more information on your profile page. I think it's a way of letting potential clients "get to know" the artist and how you got started, a little about how, without giving away secrets, you make your lovely beads, you inspiration, etc. Just something more than the default Etsy setting. Just my HO.

I see you're on a few teams. Use them to help get found. Treasuries, circles, FB, twitter, pinterest, stumbleupon, etc. all are great FREE advertising. I find that by helping others, they help back...as is definitely proof by all the help in this thread!

Best of Luck to you!

[Former_Member]

I think your handmade beads are beautiful! Here are my suggestions: retake photos using a white background and look into purchasing a professionally made banner and avatar. There are a lot of designers on Etsy, and it's affordable to do.

[Former_Member]

I agree with the white back ground. The pictures should not have a glare either.

Have one of your pictures for each beed group with a common item like a quarter so people can see how large they are.

Don't give up you have a great product.

[Former_Member]

A lot of great advice already but just a couple things to add. A good way to spruce up your description is ask yourself 20 questions that a buyer would need answered for that item. Like size, who made it, how many, sometimes by weight, color, etc. If the information isn't there most likely they move on. Also, another cute idea I saw for bead pics was them in a shell. Granted I think the shop was on the coast but was pretty nice looking. Hang in there! You have such a cute shop!

[JaneStaufferPaperCo]

Nice products...But..I am confused by your low prices.
Not that we don't like low prices but, First..not only are your prices unbelievably low there is not much of a description that tells me what your product is.
As you presently list, I get the message that your items are a cheap product that might not hold up with wear. (Tell us differently) Your shop does not give that handmade item look of a quality item.
It appears to me to be an import shop with a variety of items to sell. (show us that it is not)
This is not criticism but a possible answer as to why you are not selling on a site that loves supplies.
If you are indeed making these beautiful beads...give the potential buyer a reason for buying.
Hang in there...I'm a good example of not giving up...I can't sell my items either but I sure am going to keep trying.

[efinegifts]

I echo a lot of the above suggestions, especially improving your photos, raising your prices and making your shop, item titles and section titles more SEO friendly.

I also think your shop announcement needs work. Search engines look in the first sentence of your shop announcement for key words. That's how buyers looking for handmade beads will find you.

You first sentence says "Welcome To Stacie Laurell. Here you will find..." Nobody looking for handmade beads is going to type "welcome to Stacie Laurell or Here you will find" into a search box.

You're wasting that precious space. Your first sentence should say something like "Handmade beads, custom made beads and cabochons, custom made designer jewelry, bracelets, watches..." and whatever else you are currently selling in your store.

Ditto on your section titles.

With 1,000+ listings, you've spent a lot of time making beads and doing listings. Now spend some time making your store more SEO friendly, so buyers can find you.

Good luck and I hope you don't give up.

[EpicStitching]

I'm somewhat new around here but wanted to say this after looking at your shop (and because I use beads in my jewellery so am always looking at what to purchase to make things with):

a) don't give up! It makes us newbies afraid to even start, lol.
b) definitely white background pictures. If you look at almost all the great selling stores on etsy they have white backgrounds. The table just isn't gonna do it.
c) your descriptions don't tell me anything. I want to know what the bead is made of, what colour you'd call it. (don't be afraid to repeat key words from your title into your description).
d) It doesn't say they are handmade anywhere. Don't assume people will know
e) When a set of beads is for 12 or 15 total why show only 3 beads in the picture? People are silly and will think you want $2 for 3 beads and not read sometimes.
f) I struggle with pricing, a lot! Look around at what others are selling for... if you're near the bottom end they you are letting yourself get seen as the "cheap" store. So raise them up and make sure they are competitive (without being so cheap it's unbelievable)

Much of this has been said by others I know. So forgive if I have duplicated what everyone has already said.
Good luck!

[Former_Member]

I love your new banner ;)

[Former_Member]

Thank You Katie. As for shipping to the UK. I received a sale from the UK a few months ago and shipping was Nearly 10 dollars. I ended up losing money. However i will looking into that again and talk directly with the post office about shipping rates. Thanks for pointing that out and thank you for the compliment. :)

[Former_Member]

Definitely don't give up! Some times things take a really long time to take off and sometimes you hit lulls. It's never a bad idea to have something else to fall back on, maybe you should continue school part time or get a part time job to help suplement you while you pursue your passion to grow your business.

Most of my sales happen off Etsy and some times I get discouraged as well about my Etsy store but you can't throw in the towel! And I have noticed that the more you speak up in the forums or put together show cases, the more exposure you get, which sometimes translates into sales! Another trick I use is when I notice someone has added an itme of mine to their favorites, I email them to thank them and offer them a small discount on the item to encourage them to buy. The way I look at it, I would rather sell it, even at a slightly discounted rate and get the exposure then keep it in my inventory. Bet of luck!! I for one will be sure to check back to your shop when looking for beads :) Hope you stick with it!

[Former_Member]

wow! Great blog post share Emily! Thanks!

[SelkiePubZines]

Your beads really are beautiful, don't give up!

[Former_Member]

Well, I think your photos are great!

But would you think of putting some sample picture of the necklace made by your beads?

Or maybe you can change the product to sell necklace or bracelet. I think you will make more profit from it.

[Former_Member]

Stacie, you've already made some great changes - and I love your new shop announcement - great keywords. I think that with a little more work you'll have a fabulously successful store. Great changes so far!!!

[ShiShiSupplies]

1065 listingss????? wow.. I was amazed to see that number.. I could not read the whole answers but I agree with the ones I read.. you have unique product line... I have not seen many supplier doing their own bead other than glass beaders... The photos are not giving its justice i think.. What I had seen from another supplier to hold the product in a hand (check out my supplies) and with a ruler.. White backgroun definitely.. and you can use something as a background that will not overshadow your beads.. (I use pebble for instance) I love your banner by the way.. your beads look really nice there..

Taking photos all over again for 1000+ products will probably be hard for you but you can at least whiten up the ones you have with photo editing tools. I recomment Picnik which is in Google + now...

Reading threads like yours also give me so much to learn.. so thank you :)))