Two shops?! Help!

[Former_Member]

I stumbled across an issue today and I'm looking for advice. So, I've been planning to open two Etsy shops - Little Mika, which is all adorable lasercut animal jewelry, and Desert Moon, which is also lasercut jewelry, but with a focus on minimalist, geometric designs that involve glitter and mirrored acrylic with higher quality chain and findings. This was the PLAN, until I started thinking about making a blog with these two separate aesthetics and I realized it'd be hard to do.

Then I found this great article about a girl with the same issue, and the article is convincing her NOT to have two shops but to merge them into one. http://www.ohmyhandmade.com/2012/contributors/ask-daniellexo-a-tale-of-two-etsy-shops/

Here's a listing I just posted in my other shop so I could show yall what style I'm working with. (I have items made, but I was just starting to photograph and upload when I ran into this thought so I decided to pause and think.)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/122186466/minimal-geometric-laser-cut-birch-wood

and one of my animals from the other shop -

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88446698/raccoon-necklace-lasercut-birch-wood?

What do yall think? Would the two shops make sense as one?

[moonbeamgifts]

Since it's the same general products, I'd say to stick with one shop and make use of the sections. Chances are you might get spillover purchases from a buyer if they spot something for a child/friend, etc. I think splitting shops make sense when it's drastically different products. Hope that helps. :-)

Edited: auto correct is too helpful

[Former_Member]

This is a tough decision. I have two shops and I'm considering going back to one.

Since you sell jewelry in both shops (or would) and it's even the same kind of jewelry, just a different asthetic, I would keep them in one shop and use the sections as moonbeamgifts suggested. I understand your interest to separate the asthetic, this is how I felt. I have two shops, this one which focuses on paintings and prints, and my other is all photography. One thing to remember is that many people will come to your shop through one listing, not the "front door" of your store. This makes a difference, I think.

It is a lot of work to have two shops. Now that it's tax season, I'm really feeling it! Double duty and something to consider! Good luck!

[PithAndRootStudio]

I agree it's a lot of work to have two shops. I've thought about it before and decided it wasn't doable because, as it is, I don't get enough time to spend marketing my single shop.

I think the answer is to leave enough flexibility in your branding to allow the evolution of your product. In the future, you might want to move on to a third type of jewelry, or a fourth. I think your customers will appreciate that you offer different styles and themes and that it's all right there in one shop.

And, if you feel like your items aren't gelling together in the shop, you can always come back here and ask for a shop critique. I did that when I started adding some mixed media and surreal pieces to my collection of realism. I was surprised to learn that people thought everything kind of went together anyway - because my personal style was showing throughout my work.

Good luck!

[diarysketches]

I think one shop is more than enough!!

[Former_Member]

This is all great advice, and super helpful! Thanks so much! I think I'm definitely going to stick with one shop then, I'll just have to rename it. Little Mika is the name of the raccoon, and I don't want her to be the focus of the merged shop.

I was going to name my other shop Desert Moon...and I still like that name, but do the animals fit in? Or, I could go with Alyssa Renee *something*.

Any votes on those two names? Desert Moon vs. Alyssa Renee ________

[PithAndRootStudio]

Let's see... Desert Moon seems a little cliche to me and I would think of southwestern jewelry if I heard that name. I think I'd go with Alyssa Renee "something." :) That way the shop is about you and not any one particular theme if you want to keep it open for now. I'm a little biased, though, because I use my own name for my shop, too.

[NewBrideCo]

I would stay with one shop, just imagine that you have a buyer browsing in your shop finding a big variety of jewelry; you'll have more chances to sell something.

Good luck!

[amydavisart]

Wow, great topic Alyssa! I was recently thinking of doing the same thing (one shop devoted to Christian jewelry, the other to contemporary jewelry and my photo art). That is one reason my shop name is what it is, to encompass all my work. Your work is great! Love little Mika - cute! :)

[AnneLondezGlass]

I used to have 2 shops... way too much work. I merged them back together and added a fine arts section to my glass shop.

[Former_Member]

I think since you sell jewelry, it would work better to have them in the same shop. Much easier to manage with just having sections.

I'm having an issue with deciding to open a third shop! My original one opened in 2007 is my large scale high end artwork that more local buyers visit. And that's fine. Sweet Murmur is my main site but now I'm starting to do hand-painted jewelry... Even though it's painted, it seems unbalanced to have 100 paintings and then 100 pendants. (Haven't added them all yet) but trying to decide to have separate shops.

If I had two types of jewelry like you do - I'd just keep one. Looks great! good luck! :)

[Foxery]

Sometimes we spend way too much time thinking out the details when in reality our customers come along and don't even notice! I love the name Little Mika, and can't see why you would need to change it. Even though it is the name of the raccoon, your customers are either not going to notice, or certainly not mind. You can easily re-brand Little Mika to not be just about the name of the raccoon, too.
So long as the name of your shop is not offensive or clearly inappropriate, it doesn't matter what it is called, so long as the products inside it are beautiful, desirable, and high quality. This is what people really look at.

[OxArtJewelry]

I like the idea of using your name in the shop's name - but definitely keep the name simple enough that your customers can remember it.

[Former_Member]

I love the name Little Mika. I agree it could be used to sell anything really. It's short and memorable. And it's very unique.

[Former_Member]

Thanks so much everyone! All your advice is really helping. I still can't decide on Little Mika as the name for sure yet, but I'll keep thinking about it! I'm also thinking about A Modern Bohemia now because I think that would be great for a shop name AND a blog. Anyways, I feel like I have the confidence I needed to move forward. Much appreciated!