Every had an item...

[Former_Member]

That you thought you wouldn't be able to keep in stock, but once you list it, it just won't sell?

I know I've read a thread about this before but I can't remember what it was called and can't find it.

I've had this exact problem with my face masks and liquid soaps. TWO categories in my shop! :( My bath bombs have been very popular, and constitute about 90% of my sales (they are also my biggest category in my shop), but I realllly thought my liquid soaps and face masks would do really well since they are great quality, but I have only sold one liquid soap on Etsy (several in person, and the people LOVED them) and NO face masks yet :( Hopefully soon!


Has anyone else had this problem? What items in your shop aren't selling like you thought, which ones are selling really well? Story time!

[Former_Member]

*Ever .. sorry title typo :(

[SilverRhapsody]

Hmm... so sorry to hear. I love the look of your bath bombs even though i have never used any and have no clue how to use them, but I am tempted. Disclaimer* last time I took a bath was about 3 years ago.. no time with the kiddos :(

[Former_Member]

I have that problem with everything I list. I always think it will sell right away... once in a while it does.

[SilverRhapsody]

I just looked at your masks and first of all there are only 3, i guess shoppers like when there are more. Also how about taking a photo of it being in use on a face, i think it would be more attractive. The first thing i thought when i saw the mask photos was "chocolate" :)

[Former_Member]

Svetlana from SilverRhapsody says

Hmm... so sorry to hear. I love the look of your bath bombs even though i have never used any and have no clue how to use them, but I am tempted. Disclaimer* last time I took a bath was about 3 years ago.. no time with the kiddos :(
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You just drop them in the bath water and they fizz and dissolve. It's like bath salts, but much more moisturizing :) And you can always break them into tiny pieces and use them in pedicure/manicure soaks too if you ever get a minute to relax after the kids go to bed :P
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@AllThingsTangled

At least they sell quickly sometimes! :)

[Former_Member]

Svetlana from SilverRhapsody says

I just looked at your masks and first of all there are only 3, i guess shoppers like when there are more. Also how about taking a photo of it being in use on a face, i think it would be more attractive. The first thing i thought when i saw the mask photos was "chocolate" :)

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Thanks for the ideas :) Maybe I should do that... but I don't want to use my face! Haha! Hmm.. I need to figure out what to do about that...

Edited to add:

And I only have 3 so far because they are not cheap to make, and use a lot of clay. I think I need to make some in smaller containers so I can make them quicker. I will be posting dry masks soon too (add your own liquid additive, like honey, moisturizer, or water so that they can be shipped without needing preservatives)

[Former_Member]

I thought my foot soaks would do great both on and offline, not so much! = D

[Former_Member]

Jacque from facebodyfeet says

I thought my foot soaks would do great both on and offline, not so much! = D
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I'm surprised they haven't done well either! I would imagine that they would sell like crazy, especially with summer coming and everyone going pedicure crazy because of wearing sandals

[Former_Member]

Definitely! = D And the reason I first made them is because I use to work in a hotel and standing up all day did a number on my tootsies, lol.

[Former_Member]

Oh yeah, I can understand that! I started making soap because my skin is so sensitive, I can't do commercial soaps, and LUSH is too expensive (and surprisingly has parabens and other chemicals I didn't expect, glad I did my research!)

[SilverRhapsody]

Thanks for the info on using the Soap Bombs, I guess I have to wait until my baby is here and try them afterwards :)

About the photos, do you have any friends or family that would post for a photo in the mask?

[Former_Member]

I read somewhere that in most retail establishment that 90% of sales is from 10% of the stock, or something like that.

I've got a few things that I thought would fly out the door too, and they sit there with barely any likes nevermind sales. Then some items that I'm not as happy with get loads of attention and sales. I guess it's one of life's mysteries!!

@Jacque, I see you've changed your avatar. I loved the blue soaps!

[Former_Member]

Svetlana from SilverRhapsody says

About the photos, do you have any friends or family that would post for a photo in the mask?
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I don't know, I will have to ask around. I guess I could always ask my boyfriend to take the pictures of me in the face mask (although I don't want him seeing me in a face mask!! lol), but I know he would be willing to help. It would be really hard to take pictures of myself, weird camera angles, need a mirror, etc. But I should definitely ask around.. :P Thanks!

[ModernHermine]

The masks look good do they dry on the face or stay wet?

[Former_Member]

So true about Lush!!!

Sometimes it IS just easier and more cost effective to make things on our own!

[Former_Member]

Marie Robinson from MyWifeYourWife says

I read somewhere that in most retail establishment that 90% of sales is from 10% of the stock, or something like that.

I've got a few things that I thought would fly out the door too, and they sit there with barely any likes nevermind sales. Then some items that I'm not as happy with get loads of attention and sales. I guess it's one of life's mysteries!!

@Jacque, I see you've changed your avatar. I loved the blue soaps!

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I read something similar. Only it was 90% of sales from 20% of inventory or something along those lines, same concept. It definitely applies to my shop!!

@Jacque, I liked your blue soaps too! This one is very pretty a well, but the blue soaps popped!! :)

[KriyaDesign]

@ Svetlana, I top your record. The last time I filled up the tub and took a real bath was .... gosh a decade I guess :-). No kiddos yet though. I am always in a rush to do something

Ashley, your bath bombs are to die for. No pun intended. They are so enticing. Sorry to hear your facial mask haven't pick up yet. Try switching the 4th pic to the first slot. The first pic (right now) doesn't look... fun. Have you tried that yet?

I have a couple of flowers pieces not moving a budge. And you thought folks would flock to my store for the Spring fashion trend :-). Would have given them free if anyone ask for them. Ha ha ha, maybe not. Maybe I'll ask my nieces. Flowers for princesses.

All the very best

* Haven't figure out yet what to do with them

[Former_Member]

Sarah Meas from SweetMeas says

The masks look good do they dry on the face or stay wet?

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They dry, very quickly actually. It only takes about 5 minutes or less, unlike some masks you have to leave on for 15+ minutes.

@ Jacque, I was soooo shocked when I researched LUSH's ingredients. Skin Deep Database is a wonderful resource for cosmetics crafters! My items scored on average a 15-19 whereas LUSH scored 20-27, more than AVON!!! (Lower is better). I plan on compiling a chart with several cosmetic scores from this site and posting it on my blog or something. It's going to be a very interesting research project....

[Former_Member]

KriyaDesign from KriyaDesign says

@ Svetlana, I top your record. The last time I filled up the tub and took a real bath was .... gosh a decade I guess :-). No kiddos yet though. I am always in a rush to do something

Ashley, your bath bombs are to die for. No pun intended. They are so enticing. Sorry to hear your facial mask haven't pick up yet. Try switching the 4th pic to the first slot. The first pic (right now) doesn't look... fun. Have you tried that yet?

I have a couple of flowers pieces not moving a budge. And you thought folks would flock to my store for the Spring fashion trend :-). Would have given them free if anyone ask for them. Ha ha ha, maybe not. Maybe I'll ask my nieces. Flowers for princesses.

All the very best

* Haven't figure out yet what to do with them

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Best of luck on your flowers! I'm surprised to hear that as well considering it's spring!

I just switched to the close up of the clay last week because a lot of masks show the clay close up in the category listings. Maybe I will try the 4th picture instead :) I also want to try that "on the face" idea as well :) Thanks for the tips!

[Former_Member]

I think a huge part of that is that you have over 60 bombs available and only 3 masks. Much more to choose from in the way of bombs than masks, so it's only natural that people will be more likely to come across the bombs (in search at least) than the masks.

When the majority of your items are in one category, it's not much of a surprise when the majority of your sold items are from that category!

[Former_Member]

Amy King from agnesandamy says

I think a huge part of that is that you have over 60 bombs available and only 3 masks. Much more to choose from in the way of bombs than masks, so it's only natural that people will be more likely to come across the bombs (in search at least) than the masks.

When the majority of your items are in one category, it's not much of a surprise when the majority of your sold items are from that category!
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That's why I mentioned that in my original post. I do need to expand my Mask category though, the clay just goes so quickly, I keep needing to order more! :P

[Former_Member]

Ooo thank you for that resource!!!!! & back to the blue soap I go! = D

[Former_Member]

How did you research your items?

[Former_Member]

It's amazing how helpful that resource has been! I just looked up a Dove soap. 15 on the scale, so about like my bars of soap (but I'm going to re-check them). At least I can compare them as better than LUSH! haha never thought I could beat LUSH! But I'm happy that I can!