Diversity killing my shop? Open another?

[MadMeadow]

Hi all,

I have a broad range of prices and techniques in my shop and I'm wondering if this is what's killing my sales. Is having one cheapening another? I reeeally don't want to open another shop, but I will if I need to. Please take a peek if you can.

Pretty please and thanks!

[rusticcraftdesign]

I think your style lends itself to having many products---and they all go together quite nicely.

...and of course your photography is beautiful. =)

[MadMeadow]

Also wondering if I should just drop some things altogether. My passion is in the metalsmithing but I don't always have to ability to be at the bench. When I can't, I crochet.

Is it better to just keep my crochet devoted to gifts for family and friends and streamline the shop?

[MadMeadow]

Thanks Sam!

[rusticcraftdesign]

Also..for the record...THIS is my favorite

https://www.etsy.com/listing/109184248/sterling-silver-colorful-resin-circles

[CelesteCraft]

I think the diversity is fine for now, as it's all the bold style you describe.

Out of curiosity I clicked into one listing, and I saw a whole lot of one-word tags. Those don't really work for searchers. Go for phrases (you have 20 characters per tag). So instead of "Resin" Go for "Resin Pendant" "Resin and Lace" "Purple Suede Necklace" or any other phrase that someone might type into a search bar looking for your items.

[MadMeadow]

Thanks Celeste. It sounds like you found one of my older listings. I started doing more of that with my newer listings. I haven't had a chance to edit all of the tags on my older ones yet. It's such a headache to get them all caught up.

[Former_Member]

Kate, I don't think its diversity that's hurting you at all but rather some of your titles.

Would you honestly walk into a shop and ask for a

""Pearly Pink Luscious Lips Pendant Necklace Sweet Sexy Kiss Jewelry Photo Prop Silver Plated Chain ""

Is it a pendant or a photo prop that you are selling? And from the photo it could be just about anything.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/159738617/pearly-pink-luscious-lips-pendant?ref=shop_home_active

I'd suggest that you take a good look at your titles and your photos and then try to rework some of your tags.

Tags like 'I love you', 'luscious lady lips', and 'gimme a kiss' aren't doing you any good at all because like the title they really don't describe what is being sold.

You may want to read the 'critique your own shop' blog post at
etsymentors.blogspot.com/p/critique-your-own-shop.html
to give you some good tips on how to write listings that will sell your products.

[Former_Member]

Hi Kate! I am rather new on Etsy and the same question stands in front of me. But what I thought about myself was to increase the amount of listings and then probably divide to several shops,i.e. wire work, polymer clay and tutorials, maybe I will add wedding staff. I am so interested in different things and I can't stop myself of testing(((.
But it was my personal view on the same problem.
By the way your shop looks bright and happy for me! :)

[Former_Member]

Your products, selection, photography and cohesiveness are all good. Titles, failure to target your customer, and tags are what's hurting your shops. Work on SEO and if you want my advice get rid of those team promotion tags, they are wasting a valuble tag that your customer would use to search for your item. Try to tag items as a buyer would search for them. A lot of your tags aren't making sense or are team tags for promotion (which does not work...). Use descriptive phrases for tags that you'd use if you were a cutomer going to search for your items. Title your items descriptively. A title is not a 'title' it is a stream of words that is utilized by search engines to find your items and the more words and phrases in your titles that match your tags, the more likely you will be found when searched fr those phrases or words. I do think that diversity might affect your shop ONLY in the sense that you have some fantastic metal pieces, very high end and beautiful. Some of your more affordable items mixed with those don't target the same customer base.... Are you going for a bargain shopper, or someone who is into high end metals and fine jewelry...? I would consider having two shops... One with fine jewelry and metalwork, and one with resin, crochet, lower priced 'fun' products. But that is just me.

[PithAndRootStudio]

What everyone else said. I would just add that, if you improve the searchability of your title and tags, your diversity will bring in a wider swath of customers. They come searching for "Yellow cabochon earrings" and then start checking out your other items. They may even buy something they weren't even looking for!

[MadMeadow]

Thanks everyone. It appears I need an SEO overhaul. Every time I think I have it right, I soon realize that I am still completely wrong. :/

Tarren, you hit the nail on the head as to where I was going with the question. Two shops divided just as you describe. So now the query remains. Still thinking... still torn...

[Former_Member]

Tarren made some good points. I agree with losing the team in your tag s.
Like the photos!
What do your shop stats tell you? What keywords are bringing in customers.
I have always used the Materials section to add more tag words.
I don't like the way the system is laid out now, because it makes my listings look odd.
But it gets more views, so I do it.
Good luck.
Bea

[Former_Member]

I had a shop with jewelry and crochet items. I eventually realized that the they have two different markets and it wasn't that cohesive in my shop. When I start up again I want to have 2 shops, one with art jewelry and one with crochet housewares.

[Former_Member]

Kate I'm the same, I have lots of different styles too, but I think that just makes your shop more interesting and gives buyers more choice. :0)

[Pennyjanedesigns]

What a difficult one! I am another one who offers a selection of different things - handmade felted goods and upcycled accessories. While this mix works when laid out at a craft fair I am concerned that it harms the shop look online. The difficulty is building up another shop when I feel as though I have just 'got going' on this one and am getting noticed!

Kate, I really like the way your shop looks especially the first page. Just a suggestion - you could rearrange items so that the crochet pieces appear all together, perhaps at the end? I was a little unsure about the green coach (?)to display the earrings on? I felt it detracted from the lovely pieces - but then I have had a very long day today. x

[MadMeadow]

I think I may bite the bullet and open a second shop and possibly a third for the crochet. It will give me an excuse to do the SEO overhaul I suppose. Before the holiday shopping frenzy starts I suppose...

[Former_Member]

I mean, technically your shop is very aesthetically cohesive with the colors, style, feel, etc... I just think that when thinking of a target audience it may help your high end items to be in a more high end shop; where all of the items are priced high since that is what such beautiful metalwork is worth; and then the equally awesome but more affordable pieces like hair bows and cheaper( I use this word for price only, NOT inferring you have cheaply MADE things, of course) jewelry and items can go together in another shop.

[Former_Member]

While I offer a strange combo of things, art and jewelry... I have a target customer who is lookig to spend a little more on fine jewelry made with precious metals, not costume jewelry that is much more affordable. And they want to spend more on art, too, which is why I sell custom commissioned pieces. You pay more for that than you would something generic. So I feel that overall, my style is slightly cohesive and it targets the same buyer, generally. I don't know though. Every time Etsy changes their relevancy and search settings my SEO seems to be all messed up again and not helping me get on the first or first few search pages. SIGH
Most of my stuff gets around by promotion online or word of mouth. So I reply a lot on that and cannot stress its importance enough.

[MadMeadow]

I know what you mean Tarren. I take no offense. :) I went to school for 4 years to get the degree in metalsmithing and I can hear my professor's voice in my head every time I post.

Target audience is important. I had the "one stop shopping" mindset for a while but I think it's starting to become an issue.

I'm just not looking forward to taking on the daunting task of sorting it all out. I know it will be better in the end though.

[Former_Member]

I heard from other sellers it was quite difficult to run two shops and be successful, as so much effort is required just to make one a success. I'm not trying to put you off, just wanted you to know to make an informed decision :0)

[TheWeeCrochetWitch]

I don't see anything wrong with the different items personally. I think because you have split everything into clear sections, people can click on what they want to look at and ignore the other pages if they want.

The only reason why I would say have two different shops is the different price bands and different customer bases, as Tarren pointed out. The same kind of people aren't going to buy both the crocheted earrings and the metalworked necklaces as the styles maybe don't compliment each other.

What I would like to see more of are more items like this:

http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/83707128/sterling-silver-statement-necklace-art?ref=shop_home_active

I like how you have melded different skills styles together with this piece. I'd love to see some resin brooches or earrings with crochet lace edging or something like that. I think something like this might bring some cohesion to a single shop and also it would make your brand that bit more unique, to combine the metalworking and the resin with crochet.

[Former_Member]

I agree, those pieces with lots of skill and styles mixed are so unique and diversely appealing.
MAybe ponder what it is you want to really focus on... and rather than opening another shop, just start creating items that go in that direction? Not saying everything needs to be totally expensive and complex and stuff, but maybe metalwork is where your true skill, appeal and heart lies? I cannot say... But you can! If I were you that is what I would do, just shift the future direction of my pieces. Because your high end pieces are fantastic and people will love them, you just have to get them out there so people who want to buy them know where to fin you and know you exist!

[MadMeadow]

@Sam I completely agree. I know it's not a fun endeavor, but if it means more sales than the very few that I have now, I'll endure the struggle. I've been avoiding it but I think I'm going to make the plunge.

@Janine & @Tarren Thank you! :) Those are the pieces that I do certainly love the most. I try to work on those as much as I possibly can. Unfortunately I can't always afford to be making those pieces (expenses) or have the ability to be at my bench (I'm a SAHM). So, because I'm incredibly restless and always have to be working on something, I do the less costly and involved pieces then. And I have a huge back stock of items that aren't even posted yet.

I'm going to make the plunge with separating the high end metalwork pieces into another shop MadMeadowMetals. This way as i have to renew listings and add ones from back stock it won't mess with the relevancy of the metalwork pieces in the shop. I may make the separation of the crochet into another shop. We'll see how this goes.

I have surgery coming up in a couple weeks so I guess this will give me something to do while I'm laid up. ;)

You have all been amazingly helpful! Thank you so much!

[Former_Member]

No problem. I wish you luck. This way you should be able to target different customers for each shop since they will each appeal to a different market. I think it will be good. You are going to need to really work your butt off promoting all over online and off, it's imperative in the first year+ of a shop's existence. I know how you feel being a stay at home mom! I just quit my day job a couple months back, and while I do plan on working again in the future (I quit for health related reasons and clashing with the morality of the agency I worked for...) but I have two boys and it is HARD trying to find time to create and also do all the online crap while parenting, helping with homework, etcetc... Hang in there! Your stuff is so neat, I am sure with a little hard work at promotion and creating awesome stuff when you can find the time, you will do very well.