Is it necessary to keep a sample of every creation?

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone, I'm wondering whether you all keep a sample of each creation to keep for show... I'm finding that it is a lot to store...

If you don't keep a sample to show, what other system do you use?

Please help

[HullStreetStudio]

Show where? in photos on the site? If so, why don't you make the sample, keep it till it sells and then the rest are made when purchased? Then you don't have to worry about storing more than patterns (or whatever else you use to make them)

[Former_Member]

Photographs, definitely.

My embroidery work, in general, takes from 2 to up to 20 hours (sometimes more) to be finished, and everything I make (except the PDFs, of course) are one of a kind, so photographs in high resolution are the only way I can "keep" some of them with me after they are sold.

Eventually I will take a best of the best selection and make a book, portfolio style, that I can carry with me to shows, etc for people to see

[Former_Member]

Thank you Susana! good idea

[Former_Member]

I don't keep 'samples' of any of my work at all. Each handmade piece that's listed in the shop is an actual piece that's ready to ship.

I keep an inventory of approximately 1000 pieces at any time as I do shows on a regular basis.

[SheEarth]

People can just view your sold items on Etsy. That way you need not store them, and people can have a really good look at them when ever they like.

[Former_Member]

I make all of the multiples of each particular item in one sitting. I'm with crochetgal, I have an inventory that's ready to go for the customer at time of purchase.

[FrenchVintagePrints]

I keep photographs too, godd quality ones if possible so that I can show them later.

[NestedCollective]

I actually list some of my samples to sell - I sell paper goods (invitations and "save the dates" etc..) so a a lot of potential buyers want to see things like this in person first. It's difficult to keep a large inventory of ready-to-ship items - although I have made some general things like thank you notes and gift tags that are ready to sell - it's definitely proven to be a little boost in sales in between my custom orders.

[Former_Member]

All of mine are made after the customer orders because they are predominantly rings. . .

[Former_Member]

I only have the items I've made and not sold or given away yet. I sell something and if it is easily recreated I relist and make as the orders come in.

And it is true what the person above said about people looking at your sold items. I've had that happen several times where people will see a sold item and contact me to see if I can make another.

[JewelMeShop]

I list only items that are ready to ship. If I sell an item that can re make then I renew the listing.

[Former_Member]

If you ask me, it depends on the type of work you do. For my bows and other hair accessories, i keep a binder with photographs of each style, with information including the date i started selling, if they sold out, how many i made, what materials i used, how much of each material i used, the description I used in my shop, how long it takes me to make, how much i sold it for, and if i can get more materials. It's been helpful to me, i can make sure i'm not making a ton of things that sold slowly just because i finally sold the last one, and i know where to get new supplies.

[Former_Member]

Thank you all for your ideas :-)

[Former_Member]

Im hearing about people attending craft fairs...so this means that I do need to keep my creations at hand ...otherwise how would I fill a table of my creations to sell

[lewisandbucky]

I just have each original headband. After it's gone, it's gone. I may make another like it if I think it will sell again, but I don't keep "samples." Whatever I make is for sale itself.