Dropping Prices

[NatashasDesignz]

I have tried everything to get potential customers into my shop, but still not getting any sales :-/

So I guess it must have something to do with my prices

I have listen to feedback re my Titles, Descriptions and Tags which I beleive I had improved, I have even spend many hours in last few days taking fresh photo's of my work.

Still nothing, so the only other thing I can think as that I am over pricing my work??

Looks like I have no other alternative but too lower my prices. Anyone else had to do this?

[Former_Member]

don´t lower your prices. underselling yourself would be the worst thing you can do. i doubled my prices in december and had no sale for over a month but now my sales are back and even if i only sell half of it i make the same profit.

[NatashasDesignz]

Thanks Barbara, I'm just starting to wonder if that is where I am going wrong.

I have tried everything else that I can think of and getting slightly frustrated, lol

When pricing I take into account that I make the flowers but maybe my prices are shocking to potential customers

Will see what my views are like today, and then make a decision

[Former_Member]

lowering price will not improve on sales. I believe your price is reasonable. Maybe you want to try to shoot some of your photo in focus of you products instead of the pink rose, at first glance I was thinking your products is the pink rose and it looks all similar on the front page. What is your visitor status per day? Try to promote your products on blog/ or some other social networks. Even can try on etsy search ads if you do have budget, thats helps a lot.

All the best!

[silentmagician]

I have not sold any of my art since I first started listing it in October. I also have wondered about pricing, so I've experimented with a couple sales to see if lower prices (10-20% off) made a difference, and it hasn't. I know how much time goes into each piece and so I will ask an appropriate price for that, and if buyers on Etsy are not interested in my work, then it is not my target market and lowering my prices will not increase interest.

Looking at your shop, your prices are what I would expect to see for similar work in a retail store. How do they compare to other Etsy shops with similar items? I really like a couple of your pieces, but I'm a poor artist who can't sell any of her drawings so I'm really not your target buyer :-)

[Former_Member]

Personally I wouldn't lower your prices unless you have that much of a profit margin that you can afford to do so.

I'd suggest that you take a good look at your titles and tags to start. On this piece
https://www.etsy.com/listing/121219333/bridal-flower-hair-clip-rose-hair-clip
You've called it a

"Bridal Flower Hair Clip Rose Hair Clip Flower Hair Clip Rose Barrette Flower Bridal Head Piece Cream Rose"

Notice how many times a single word has been repeated? The biggest problem with this type of title is that it really doesn't make any sense when a potential buyer is reading it, nor will it be found easily in a search.

Flower is used 3 times in the title, Rose is used 3 times, clip is used 3 times, and Hair is used 3 times.

Is it a barrette, a head piece or a clip? When I look at the last photo, it looks to me like a clip with a flower attached, so if someone is looking for a head piece and comes across your listing they will be disappointed when its not what they expected.

If it were me that were selling that piece, I'd call it
"Polymer Clay Rose Hair clip, cream flower, life like" or something along those lines and leave it at that.

If you are targeting the bridal market then that's where you need to focus your marketing.

One thing that I would suggest is that you vary the listings you feature on the first page of your shop. Although I absolutely love the pink pieces you are selling, it would probably help if you were to show a variety of your work in different colours rather than so many of the same rose colour.

Marketing takes time to take effect. Change won't happen overnight but if you really are reaching your target customer you should be able to do quite well.

Have you sent a newsletter to your existing customer base (who have signed up for it) recently? What about your customers you had before you opened your shop?

[NatashasDesignz]

Ahhhh CrochetGal you have answered my question on the Pink scenario. I had been experimenting with a Real Rose as a prop and added my creations next to it, I'm assuming that the Pink Rose even though its beautiful is taking eyes off my work?

In reference to my descriptions as always I appreciate your advice, I was told by some others that the first 3 words on a title are the most important and that you need to repeat key words so that you have a higher ranking?

Pretty confused on what best as everyone has their own opinions, lol

I would really appreciate it if could confirm Pink Rose is not helping?

Thanks :-)

[NatashasDesignz]

P.S I have just had my business mentioned in this fantastic blog so I guess I am getting some interest just no sales http://vinslookbook.wordpress.com/

[NatashasDesignz]

P.S.S this is my current view of my work with Rose Prop

https://www.etsy.com/listing/122835231/cream-rose-clip-barrette-hand-sculpted?

I have just tweaked one to look like this

https://www.etsy.com/listing/121809425/polymer-rose-white-pearl-flower-ring?

Does the second one look better do you think?

I really appreciate your advice but can't help wondering if my pricing is also stopping people buying, although on same breath I know how much work I put into making my flowers then designing into my work so really don't know what to do

[Former_Member]

The first one is much more eyecatching.

Don't lower your prices. I've done it in the past and it did jack to help sales. I price my work for the labor, materials and expertise and my sales are increasing all the time.

Rome wasn't built in a day. Changing tags & titles yesterday won't suddenly result in sales today. I understand how frustarting it is to put in all the hard work and not see the results right away, but it takes time and patience. If you're getting that frustrated, take a day away from it all and come back refreshed.

[ShiShiSupplies]

I agree with Poh Koon, when I first entered your shop, all I saw was the real pink rose, i was not sure whether you are selling flowers or jewelry.. it definitely takes the eye from your beautiful work.. you definitely need to get the rose out of the photos... perhaps you can use it on your custom or reserved listing photo..

I would also rather see your polymer clay roses on your banner instead of real flowers...not as much as tho..

Also do you edit your photos for better light and whiten up the background a bit?

Best of luck..
Seniz

[Former_Member]

Hi Natasha,

I also agree with Poh Koon that the real Rose detracts from your work. Its a nice touch, but I would take it out.

I wouldn't reduce your prices, because your pieces are beautiful and you would only end up resenting the customer for all your hard work.

I think in the title I would put Cream Flower so it doesn't just limit it to roses and bear in mind that the americans call hairclips Barettes, so put that somewhere in the title and tags too.

Good luck and don't despair! :)

[NatashasDesignz]

Ah right, so in reference to what you are saying Annyse I should still mention Barrette in my descriptions? As I want to aim at Americans as well as British and rest of world.

I agree about the rose flower, I have started cropping the photo's to just show my creations in search, do you think this has improved my shop?

I'm glad you all think I should keep to my prices as was not looking forward to reducing

I've recently started to take photo's outside while weather good Seniz and sometimes brighten using Editing Software, I can see my photo's are slowly improving, lol

I am off now to crop every Rose Prop Photo so that just my creation shows in search

[Former_Member]

Yes I would definately keep the barrette in.

Just looked at your shop and you can see all your hard work. This one is lovely:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/106584651/rose-barrette-wedding-flower-orange-rose?

Hang in there, because I myself and I've heard many others have found it slow this year. March has already picked up a bit for me and I think you will do well now, especially with the wedding season upon us.

[TerraRhapsody]

I have to agree with others here and say that lowering your prices is not the best idea. It cheapens your brand, amongst other things.
More sales don't mean more money if you slash all your prices. Your business should be about profit and not how many sales you have. It's better to sell one item and get a decent profit from it, than selling two items with no profit.

[NatashasDesignz]

Thanks so much Annyse :-) I have just cropped all of the photos that had the Real Rose, would you mind having a very quick peek to see if looks better?

Thanks again all, I really do appreciate it and just want to start getting sales and be a success and have my boys being proud of me (and my Fiance :) )

[NatashasDesignz]

Thanks Kitty, I know you are right, just get frustrated when put so many hows in changing things and still not many sales, will keep working at it :-)

[Former_Member]

Just had a quick look again Natasha and it seems to have gone back to the rose being in most pictures? Maybe you are still working through them? Otherwise, I would mix some of the other pictures without the rose from the next pages among those with the rose. I think this would make your first page less busy.

Sorry, I know it's all so time consuming especially if you have just worked so hard to get the rose in. But I think your work would stand out more without the rose. Take note that I am no expert though!! :)

[NatashasDesignz]

Thanky Annyse I appreciate your comments :-)

[NatashasDesignz]

I have revamped my shop, do you think this is better?

Comments appreciated :-)

[Mollymoojewels]

I am so pleased to have read this thread. I was thinking about lower some of my prices but having read all your comments I am going to hold fast.

Natasha, I have to agree that the flower is distracting and I was confused about what was actually for sale. Don't lower your prices your work is lovely and worth every penny.

[Former_Member]

Hi Nastasha.

I think your revamped shop looks great. I love that it's organized by color and I ADORE your daffodil pieces. Very cool. :) I just have 2 suggestions. Someone else mentioned changing your banner to show clay flowers. I would also consider doing that. Additionally, I would consider changing your featured items too. I really like the hair vine piece, but it seems that the 3 other featured items are all pretty similar. I find that putting different kinds of items you have available (for instance a hair clip, a necklace, earrings, etc) in different designs/colors within your featured items adds more interest and may attract more people.

Also, I haven't looked on your profile, but have you joined other teams to help you get ideas and promote your shop? If you plan on gearing your stuff towards brides and bridal parties maybe you could try to find groups that support those kinds of buyers. Again, I haven't looked that closely at your profile so if you've already tried this I apologize. :)

Good luck!
-Annie

[Former_Member]

P.S. Also, yes. Please DO NOT lower your prices. I have found that buyers are more inclined to take you seriously and appreciate the value of your work if you stick to realistic prices. Besides, you don't want to end up losing money. At least I don't. :)

Part of my own story is that initially I only used silver-plated wire and findings in my designs because I thought it would help me keep the cost down and pass that on to my buyers. I had a few sales, but it wasn't until I took the plunge and used sterling wire (and priced accordingly) that I got a whole bunch of sales right after another. You have to think of your demographic. These look like very beautiful elegant pieces and certainly not something you'd buy at a box-store for $10 or less. :) Hope this helps.

[NatashasDesignz]

Thanks for your very helpful comments Annie, I have just changed my listings as suggested, what do you think?

I do have a problem with the banner which is I don't know how to add text to a Banner, so I purchase this from another Etsy Shop who specialises in Banners.

Does anyone know who to take a banner photo (as I am not good at the resizing) and how to add font? Good suggestion though.

Also in profile do you think it would be a good idea to mention Weddings etc to get more views?

Well I feel more positive now as I know its not my pricing which is a very good thing :-)

[Former_Member]

Natasha just had another look at your shop and it looks lovely! The daffodils are really pretty and I must say I hadn't really noticed those before.

Sorry, I can't help you with your banner because I bought mine from another Etsy shop, so not sure how you would do your own.

Your hard work will pay off in the end - just hang in there!

P.S. Thanks for the favourites! :)