Etsy Success Shop Makeover: Week 1

[Former_Member]

For the next four weeks, I’ll be sharing a series of blog posts and challenges to help you give your shop a makeover for 2011. Let’s start this year with a bang! In today's Etsy Success newsletter, you'll find homework to help you focus your branding and enhance your product photography.

To get the most out of this series, be sure to sign up for the Etsy Success newsletter — full instructions will arrive in your inbox on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Once you've received the newsletter, I'd love to hear what you think about this week's task list. Let us know if you have any questions or are feeling stuck.

[Former_Member]

So far, I reorganized the items in my shop, so that it more closely resemble the look of treasury. I chose to group by colors, as much as I could. Even though my shop is still new, I do like the way it looks better than before.

[Former_Member]

I just signed up for the newsletter.
TheGoodOleDays: How did you re-organize your shop items?

[Former_Member]

I think I'm good on photos, but I might play with my lighting a bit.

[Former_Member]

Artemis, you can go into Shop Appearance under Options I think, and enable your Rearrange Shop feature

[imakecutestuff]

Hiya! I'm the gal who wrote the photography challenge article this week :) I'd love your feedback on the article - and if you have any questions for me, post them here or convo me directly and I'll do my best to help!

[imakecutestuff]

@1mADwoman - Your photos do look great! If you want to experiment a bit, you could probably bring out more of the little details by using a piece of white foam board or card stock just out of frame to reflect some of the light back onto your purses. That would help with the heavy shadows without having to add more actual lights.

[Former_Member]

I think the photography tips are great, especially using poster sketch to appraise your own photos. I would never have thought of doing that myself.

Thanks,
Alison

[imakecutestuff]

Thanks to Danielle for helping with that tip! Great idea! :D

[Former_Member]

I found this week's task list to be right on target with my goals for my shop over the next few months, so now I can't wait for the next newsletter! I know I need to focus in more on what makes my products different from other eco-friendly shops out there, and with some of the branding tips I think I'm better equipped to do that now. I thought the photography tips were great, too, although I would love to see some hints for photographing models (hint, hint!). :)

[Former_Member]

I've been working on most of the things in this week's post recently -- banner, branding & photography, and I think (I hope :) it has helped the look of my store.

Of course taking good photos is a never-ending challenge...

[Former_Member]

Thank you for doing this :D I think this make-over series will be helpful for both seasoned and new Etsy Sellers :D

[imakecutestuff]

I would love to see articles on photographing models and larger objects too! I totally specialize in "small object photography" but I'll be sharing links on my blog (smallobjectphotography.com) to various helpful photographer tip sites that I've found, so please follow if you feel like it. (it's ok if you don't ;)

[Former_Member]

I really enjoyed the holiday boot camp series, and am looking forward to participating in this shop makeover challenge as well. I retook several photos today, plus tried a new lighting setup thanks to Marlo's advice in point #5 (the folded piece of background white bristol board helps tremendously, even on a gray day like today!). I've rearranged my shop to make it flow and look a little more coordinated, but I think this will be a constant work in progress.

Any advice on photographing my jewelry on a live model? I try to take self portraits, but they really don't work very well, and it's difficult to recruit my girlfriends as often as I'd need them.

[Former_Member]

This is a great time for a shop makeover. I am constantly working on photographs and while they still need improvement I have made tremendous strides in 2 years time.
I will try playing with the shop organization later today.
I recently had new banners and avatars made from my own photograph. Pixelpaper did them for me. I love them, and Alicia was a pleasure to work with.
Bonnie

[jewelrybyNaLa]

I can't wait to learn new ways to improve my Etsy shop ...;)

[TIMOHANDMADE]

:)

[Former_Member]

I just finished the new banner for the shop for the month of January and have another one to put up for the month of Feb. What do you all think? http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtWhims#

PS. I have been finding this thread very useful for finding great sellers to like (I prepare all year for my Christmas Shopping on Etsy :) ).

[imakecutestuff]

I just did a Google image search for "model photo light setup" which brought back a bunch of great images of layouts for lighting when shooting models. Keep that info in mind during your next shoot and hopefully it will help :)

(BTW, professional studio lights aren't required for a great photo, but they do make the job easier since they are much brighter than most household lights.)

[Former_Member]

I like your banner! It does look great :D

weebit: That does sound like it would be difficult - especially with the number of different pieces that you are listing regularly.

[Former_Member]

Hello all!
ArtWhims- the banner looks great!
I plan on re-doing all my photos tomorrow if I get some good winter light. I think thats my biggest challange.

[imakecutestuff]

Feel free to convo me questions!
::: sneaking off to work on my banner :::

[Former_Member]

Just changed my avatar -- can you tell that's a photo of a leather journal? Or does it just look like a mysterious brown thingie? :)

[Former_Member]

moonbindery- I can tell its a leather book- its a great shot of your work!

[Former_Member]

well can't do anything with doing better photos waiting for new camera but when it gets here they better be better as it's a NICE camera.