Please Answer!

[Former_Member]

Is it good to have a variety of items in my store or to focus on one particular type?

[Former_Member]

considering the name of your shop is varietycrafts - It can be whatever you want to make.

[Former_Member]

Great. :) I just wasn't sure. Ive seen people with shop names like "Knitlover11" or something and they sell jewelry and knitting and stuff.

[Former_Member]

Hi Tyler,

I agree with Rachel, if your shop name specifies something then that's what customers expect to see when they visit your shop. Since you picked a name that can entail any type of craft, I think people will expect variety. Good Luck!

[Former_Member]

I think you have a good mix of products though...there is still an overall theme...like they go together.

But can I suggest brightening up the pictures a bit? :) Like this listing I couldn't tell what it was without clicking on it:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/103291950/moustache-necklace?ref=v1_other_1
Every kid over the age of 12 in my neighborhood is obsessed with mustaches lately. Lol... I think you'll sell that quickly if you can see it in the thumbnail.

[Former_Member]

Thanks Desiree and Rachel. I did read somewhere that your name plays a part in what items people will expect. I just hadn't seen shops, besides my own, with such a wide variety of items.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the tip Lauren! Do you like the wood background on my photos? Is it too plain? Do you think I should mix it up and use different backgrounds?

Mustaches are the craze for girls recently. My sister has about a million mustache necklaces. :)

Thanks for the tips everyone!

Glad I joined this team. :)

[LovgrenandDaughter]

I think you can keep the variety but use the shop arrangment tool to put similar items with each other.

It is a good endeavor. Keep working and establish your brand. Is part of your brand avatars? Or are the primary colors what ties everything together? These questions can help solidify your image/brand/shop.

Best of Luck!

[Former_Member]

Eh. Photography is the bane of my existence. I can never make up my mind about my own photos. Lol. I do know I'm heading towards a more unified look with my photos soon. I think that so long as you have bright, clear, well taken photos..it doesn't matter what background you use. I've been experimenting to see if any type of background sold better than others...and my answer is definitely: no. Pictures good? It sells. Picture sucks or too dark or out of focus? No sale. Lol

[Former_Member]

Shop arrangement tool... is that the Shop Sections? Also, is there a page about it in the Help tab?

Avatar: The Last Airbender is actually a TV show that you may or may not have heard of. I'm a tad bit obsessed with the show. :) I love to make items that are on the show, its my muse.

Thanks!

[Former_Member]

Thanks again, Lauren.

I definitely agree with you about the photos=Sales tip. ;)

Just as feedback for myself, on a scale of 1-10 what would you rate my photos?

[Former_Member]

Tyler, shop arrangement is found under Shop settings>options>rearrange my shop :)

..and funny. My daughter asked me to make her Avatar soap today lol...I have no idea how to complete THAT request. Lol

[Former_Member]

And regarding photos? Overall..not sure I could rate... You have some that are better than others.

The perspective of this one is great:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/106131628/authentic-water-bending-scroll

But this one is really really really dark:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/104079823/tophs-space-arm-band

And the number one tip you'll find in teams is never ever use your flash. Natural lighting is best:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/103294240/cd-wall-hanging

[TheSmileEmporium]

Hi Tyler,
Im like you with a variety of things.Im still feeling my way.Im working on consistency of shop photos. best wishes ,
Debbie

[Former_Member]

Thanks Debbie,
I'm still learning, like you, so I would pay attention to the thread! :)

Lauren, thanks so much, you have been a real help. I'm fairly new to Etsy, and don't know my way around too well. I'm learning, I promise. ;)

Tomorrow for sure I will be retaking some of my pictures. I'm not sure I used flash for the CD Hanging, but I agree, natural lighting is definitely the best.

Some of my pictures just turn out SO much better than the others. With some of the flat objects, such as the Perler Bead characters, it is harder to do a perspective shot because you wouldn't be able to see the character as a whole.

And Avatar soap? All of a sudden I am tempted to try something with soap... I have always wanted to do things with soap. I absolutely cannot carve soap. I've tried.

[Former_Member]

Did my last comment show? It is red..?

[ForgedMettleJewelry]

The more items you have in your shop the better chances you have of getting a sale...

[Former_Member]

Tyler...I'm fairly new too. Teams are a great place to go for ideas...

Try searching perler beads on her for ideas on how to get good pics...
Like:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/59699592/perler-bead-rubiks-cube-coaster-set?ref=sr_gallery_31&ga_search...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/105312432/kirby-nintendo-bead-sprite-perler-art?ref=sr_gallery_16&ga_sea...
Etc.....

[Former_Member]

Thanks Amy. I'm still adding more and more every once in a while.

Karen, I will look into it. Those pictures look great.

Thanks, everyone