Recommendation Game?

[Former_Member]

Hey all!

Would anyone be interested in playing a game, where we view the store of the person above us and offer some suggestions on how to improve? Obviously we would need to make sure they are kind, constructive comments about maybe some color combinations to try, ideas for products that would fit well in the store, ideas for item descriptions etc.

One of my New Years res was to try to get more sales in my shop & I think maybe I would benefit from some outsider perspective on how to improve my shop. We are all creatively talented, after all!!

Anyone in?! :)

[Former_Member]

I'm in :D

I absolutely love your shop Beth, in fact it makes me broody :P Much to my boyfriends horror :P
The only thing I can think of that could possibly improve your shop is to brighten your banner just a little. I think it could be brighter looking to draw people in more. But apart from that I don't know what I could say to help! x

[Former_Member]

Thanks Kim! I hadn't even thought of that! :D I will definately look into making a new banner soon. (hehe I chuckled at the "broody" comment) xD

I love your shop as well! It's awesome that you have a very large inventory and great colored photos! Each one has several angles to look at which is great too. :D Prices are really reasonable for all the work that goes into creating such cute custom items.

-I would reccomend putting somewhere in policies or on the items themselves how long it takes to finish before shipment. :) I put the estimated time on both my items AND policies because I found that many customers end up not reading the policies before buying. *sigh* xD

-I would love to read an "About" section because I see there is more than one creater in the shop! I snoop around and like to know all about the owners so I know who I am buying from. hehe
-Also, I saw that you have a facebook page! Maybe put it in your announcements too, so the customers can see it from the front page? :D
Love everything you have on there! Keep up the awesome work!

[Former_Member]

Anyone else that wants to post on the thread - Jump on in and we can help eachother out! ^_^

[Former_Member]

Hi guys! Late to the party, as usual xP

Hrm, Beth, you sell so much that it seems weird that you'd need too much improvement! Obviously a lot of people already like what you're doing :)

I think the ONLY recommendation (and here I'm being nit-picky and a slight hypocrite xP) would be to brighten a few of your listings.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/109822984/skyrim-inspired-oneise-or-shirt

I think brighter listings catch attention better (I know, not ALL of my listings are all that bright xP that's why I'm being hypocritical! lol) BUT, you might be able to get more sales that way :) I personally like the patterned backgrounds, but if you ever wanted to go all white you could take photos in natural light (via a natural light lamp or outside) and those pictures (for whatever reason) brighten more easily/better (I'm not a professional photographer, so I wouldn't know).

[Former_Member]

An Invader Zim bup cloth! I love it. I may have to go on a shopping spree!

I love your shop, I agree that a few photos could be brightened up but what I'd really like to see is for you to develop your "About" page a little more. Include the five photos of your shop area or works in progress, and really let shoppers know a little more about you and your creative process.

It's true that not a lot of sellers offer the same unique items that you do, but in the online world, the more sense a buyer gets that they know you and that you are "alright" the more apt they are to buy from you.

[Former_Member]

Wait are you talking to me Melissa or Beth? xD *comment at beginning confused me*

xP I get easily confused.

[Former_Member]

Thank you so much Katelyn! I actually didn't realize you could put 5 photos in the top of the "about" until reading this. I still need to update my banner, haven't found the time yet. xD But that is on my to-do list! Okay this may sound silly, but how do you get a compete white background behind your items? (If you do not mind me asking.) :) Do you take the photo on plane white paper as a background? All of your photos are so clear and bright!

Katelyn: LOVE love your shop. As you can see I think I have fav'd everything you have. hehehe
Everything looks great - explained well, great colors, very inviting! I would recommend what I told Kim. Maybe put in each listing your estimated time to create the item. :) (I saw that you had it in your policies.) Reason I recommend this is when I first opened my shop I only had the estimated create time in my "policies" .. and as we know sometimes shoppers don't like to look at our policies before purchasing. xD Because of that, I've had to hurry my little buns off because I had customers in the past say things like "well i needed it by THIS weekend!!" ;)

[Former_Member]

LOL thanks Beth! I know on all my newer listings have a time (3-5 business days) but my older ones don't :P I'll get on it!

And yes! ^_^ I use just a white piece of paper. My friend Jamie actually showed me that I could. If that's not enough you could probably use a white poster board/foam board, or even tape pieces of paper together and then tape that to something flat (because your items are a bit bigger than mine xD)

I don't know what the name brand of my lamp is, but I could look it up. I was taking photos outside but this time of year it's FREEEEZZINNNNGGG! D: Luckily I had this on hand which produces natural light.