Would a few listings you don't like cause you to hate an entire shop?

[Davs]

I have been sick in the last couple weeks and feeling like pretty much like a zombie. No matter, even when I'm sick I try to set time aside everyday to make art. Without realizing it a few nights ago, my sickness inspired me to create some material I don't normally offer in my shop. Two sets of Zombie ACEO.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89576901/set-of-3-zombie-aceo-original-drawings?ref=v1_other_2

http://www.etsy.com/listing/89564304/zombie-aceo-set-of-3-original-drawings?ref=v1_other_2

So At the time of listing I was very excited, plus they were my first drawings of 2012. And personally I've been swept away by the whole zombie craze and collect zombie novels at home. But I know, for instance, that my mother doesn't get it and is pretty turned off by even the idea of zombies.

So today I worry, I've been thinking about this a lot, will this turn off my average buyer? I still am not sure of who my target market is and wonder if my average potential customer is going to stumble upon my new listings for zombie ACEO and all of a sudden be turned off by my whole shop.

Would a few listings you don't like cause you to hate an entire shop?

[theartofstacy]

There have only been a couple occasions when I judged a shop on a couple listings. Mainly those had to do with copyright issues.
If a shop has something I like, I can overlook things I don't.

[Former_Member]

Good question! As artists, of course, we don't want to limit what we create to what people want to buy (or what we think they want to buy.) That said, from a brand strategy standpoint, my feeling is that these new drawings deviate enough from the other things in your store that you may not want them there. Kind of confuses the overall merchandising.

On the other hand, maybe someone will stumble upon them and buy them and it won't have mattered at all that they didn't seem to match what else was there.

[Former_Member]

well, maybe. in the case there were items of hate or something like that.
zombies? no.

[hooknsaw]

Not at all! While I don't "get" the whole zombie craze, my son (engineer in his 20's) is a total zombie nut! I would never dislike an entire shop for something that wasn't to my taste. Cute drawings, by the way!

[Former_Member]

I am not into zombies, either, but if I liked someones art, I am not going to be turned off by some differences is taste or variety. Like Jenni or Stacy above, if it's copywright issues, disrespectful, hateful or violent, maybe you'll turn off the average buyer, but I don't see that at all in your work. And honestly, your zombies are as vibrant and colorful as your other work and I think they would fit in just fine with your branding!! Would it be offensive to a zombie lover to call them cute - cause I think they kinda are... : )

[KriyaDesign]

Hey our works are our self expressions. What inside needs to go out. Honestly I won't show the drawing to my nieces, those princesses. They show the elements of... darker emotions. Emotions are neither bad or good. Just part of us human beings. As for me, I embrace all of me including my lighter or darker feelings. I won't say it's easy to welcome what is unease within us. However...

If I see the drawings in your store, they would definitely stop me on track. I would wonder what kind of person you are that these drawings come from within you. I would be curious. Were you angry when you made those and are you still angry. What state of mind you're in this moment. Would you be level headed enough to handle my order when issues arise?

With those said, show them off and see how folks will respond to them. Life is already complicated. Why second guessing! Experiment is the best way to understand things better. You won't know until... folks open their mouths and give their 2 cents :-). Then you gotta take notes... maybe they'll love you or maybe they'll ... turn off by your self-expression.

All the very best

[Woolibear]

I think they are cute! I might agree that they don't match the style of the rest of the items you carry, but I definitely don't think that a couple of illustrations, such as your zombies would turn someone away from your shop. While some people "get" the zombie thing and some do not, it's not enough to make them dislike your overall work. I think it shows character and lets people know you are experimental with your art. Do what you love because you're already doing it!

[ConcertinaPress]

I think it's not really a matter of being turned off by it or not, but I think when a customer sees something they like ("Oooh! Zombie ACEOs - I wonder what other zombie stuff she has??) and clicks through to your shop, you want to have a cohesive shop so they don't go "oh...wait...these are all abstract collages...where are the zombies?"

I don't think anyone would be prevented from buying collages by seeing zombies though - it's just two different markets

[Former_Member]

Hahahaha! Your zombies made me laugh. I'm really not into zombies but they are your art and even though quite different from your other work (which I think is quite stunning, btw), seem quite at home there. People visiting your shop should know they are looking into something akin to your online studio and it shouldn't really bother anyone that you have more than just one style of work there.

[GreenOrchidDS]

Who really knows what people like and don't??? I can never figure it out myself... If I were you, I'd just move them to my last listing and see if relevency finds them.( I just learned how to rearrange my shop.)

[Former_Member]

No.

[Former_Member]

I think there are more zombie lovers than zombie haters (I only know one)

Also, it is always good to make something trendy IF you dig it yourself, which in this case, you absolutely do!

And they are absolutely cute/creepy which is always a great combination, in my opinion

Regarding the original question, I think it is great for shops to offer a variety of items and even of styles as long as they are somehow cohesive with the rest (and sometimes, not even cohesiveness is required for different styles/products to work together), I say: go for it! more zombies :D

[Former_Member]

I think it shows the breadth of your talent.

[ModernSwitch]

You have over 200 items in your shop, it probably wouldn't be noticeable to the average shopper. Most people get to exactly what they want from searching, and while they might sort through 200 items to see what else you have, most probably are just happy with what they wanted originally, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[Davs]

Thanks all, for your opnions that helps. I have moved the two listings to my very last page, though they are on the first page of my aceo section. But for the most part it sounds like it won't be a terribly bad thing to allow them to stay in my shop. :)

[Zehland]

Why not make a separate section for zombie art and do more if you like doing them? It's good to try new stuff and see how it goes over.

[TheMillineryShop]

The philosophy behind my store is wearable hats. But every so often a challenge comes up and I need to make something avant garde or way out of my comfort level. I found that these oddball items bring in a lot of views and treasuries, which can't be all bad.

[Former_Member]

You could always open another shop if this is an art form that you feel like building on.

[Former_Member]

I think they're adorable. As far as the 'scary, gross zombie' scale goes... I think your Aceo's might be a 1.

Personally, I enjoy seeing the range an artist can work in. I think the style matches some others in your shop - I can see that that people, owls, and zombies are done in similar ways - and so they're not really out of place. I can't see too many people being turned off by these.

[CREATIONSbySabine]

To me it would show just that the owner has an eclectic taste and a variety of different items to offer.

[Davs]

That's good to hear, thanks!