Buying and Selling on Facebook

I am pretty new to the retail aspect of Facebook.  I started out with buying destash bead items and still love to do that.  The first bead related group that I joined years ago was Creative Bead Chat. With well over 10,000 members, it is a great resource for all things related to the beaders world.  I found out about new destash groups there (and many other groups), joined and started shopping. Paypal is the preferred form of paying and getting paid.  I have added lots of new goodies to my stash this way.

I am a ceramic bead artist, so my first experience with selling on Facebook was through the Ceramic Art Bead Market.  It is a juried group meaning I emailed photos to a group of judges or group administrators to be approved to sell.  This is not a destash group.  It is of the highest quality, original ceramic bead art sold with a minimum bid price of $9.  I will get more into bidding, bid increments and the buy it now feature in a bit.  This group is only about 6 months old and is quickly approaching 2,000 members!  The artists take turns doing a weekly giveaway which keeps the members excited and involved.  There is also a Ceramic Art Bead Market Gallery where jewelry designs made with the beads purchased are displayed.  Here is one of my bead sets that was sold through this group.

I have fun selling.  After you put up a listing, group members "like" your post and comment on it.  I get a notification every time someone does that.  Well, it could be a potential bid or buyer!  It is very exciting. Soon I discovered finished jewelry groups and handmade groups.  I design jewelry with my beads and make functional pottery.  I have been approved to sell in Art Beads, Heartfelt Handmade Auctions, Beautiful Artisans Auctions, Jewelry Makers Open Market, Elite Artisan Jewelry and Jewelry Designers Open Market.  Here is a pottery dish that sold through Beautiful Artisans Auction.

To find out more about the above groups, put the name in the Facebook search bar and read about the details and rules.  You will find this in the FILES or PINNED post.  So what terms do you need to know?  SB = starting bid or the minimum the artist will accept for their item.  BI = bid increments or what dollar increase each bid should be (usually $1 but it will be stated) and finally BIN = buy it now.  This amount is what will guarantee your purchase of the item.  Shipping is added and a Paypal invoice is sent to the winner.

Have fun, buy some art and maybe sell some art...all on Facebook!

Best of the ABS: How to Style Great Photo Backgrounds with Sparrow Salvage

Last year we ran an amazing post from Penny of Sparrow Salvage.  I was thinking this week about how much I appreciated that post that I just had to share it again today.  You can read the entire post here. Below are some highlights from the original article.

Backgrounds!! That was sudden wasn't it? But yes here we are, the long awaited backgrounds post, the purpose of which is to teach you the best way to present your product, whether it's handmade, vintage or supplies.You might not think it's that big a deal, but trust me- it's crucial!

The purpose of the background is not only to showcase your item but also to give you shop an overall 'vibe'- or what the marketing chaps call 'brand concept'. Light ones will make your shop look bright and airy, dark ones will give you drama, patterns will give you an opulence either way and colour will give you vibrancy.

In order to pick the best background for your product, you have to first do what I'm always telling you to do - know your market! Figure out who's most likely to buy your goods and market them accordingly. This of course may change over time, but as an example, in all the styles I've gone through there's a strong theme of romance, because I make romantic jewelry. Even if your jewelry doesn't look particularly 'of a style', you can still make it so- from coloured enamel beads to one of a kind vintage assemblage. Here's a pair of earrings I made in as modern a way as I can manage:

These are what Kim and I call 'hipster bait' -they're a pretty straight forward design, popular with many fashionable alternatives right now. Not much that's romantic about them, in fact they look a little bit cold (I think) with all their straight lines and silver white. But they look especially cold when shot in this style of most hipster shops- plain white background. Now then- if I shoot them on something romantic like old paper, they suddenly change:

A warmth comes into them. The earrings haven't changed, but there's a noticeably more attractive quality about them. Watch what happens the more romantic layering I use...

By the time we get to that last image, these earrings might as well be in the arms of Mr.Darcy for all their romantic saturation. With this deep layering of fluff and ruffles, I can shoot almost anything and it'll look romantic.

So now you see that it's very important your background matches your desired style because it will affect your product and your overall shop style. it will effectively dictate the style of your shop possibly more than your work will.

OK, let's talk pale backgrounds. A couple of you commented that you shoot your product on plain white backgrounds and it's become boring- not surprising! Though Etsy's front page seems to favour the bright white background, it can become tired. But you can use a pale background and still have your shop look lovely and non-boring, and the key to this is texture.

*Texture is what makes things interesting. A white sheet of office paper is boring because it has no texture. But a sheet of artist's watercolour paper is more interesting, because it's uneven surface reflects the light in a more natural way.

*White on white is often used to create a fresh, clean look- just be sure to use 'warm' whites- ones that are more creamy, boney colours, to avoid a cold feeling.

*If you like the look of white on white but don't want your shop looking too bright, you can add some darker browns in there -stick with a neutral palette when using white-on-white, colour will take you in a whole other direction which we'll talk about in a bit. In the picture below I've angled the stack so you get a bit of the dark brown underneath- this has 'mellowed' the light, giving a more earthiness and toning down the 'bright summer's day' feeling, while still keeping the clean feel.

Let's talk briefly about colour on colour- that is a coloured item on coloured background. You need to pay a bit more attention here, because the colours you use will have an impact on the item.

I've only just started investigating colour and already I can see what a huge difference it makes. But I've also quickly learned that the right colour is crucial to representing the item in it's best light.

Here's there's a riot of colour! the earrings are coloured, the backgrounds are all kinds of crazy rainbow- it's too much. For this to be a showcase of the earrings it needs to tone down.

Above you can see the earrings are now showcased well- they're on a pale (contrasting) background which makes their dark colours stand out, and the yellow and red either side echo the colours in the beads.

Above, the camera is angled so the red board isn't seen, and the yellow is bringing the gold tones forward.

In the image below, the red board is dominant, and the earrings appear more rich and deep.It might seem pedantic but it's a nice little tip that will help you 'see' what's the best background for your item.

Using 3 -5 different backgrounds will 'break up' the monotony of your shop front and keep things interesting. You can see in my shop that I have largely the same backdrop, but I've changed around the stack and made some pages more dominant in some shots. This makes things cohesive and interesting at the same time.

So- in the next couple of days I want you to wander around your house/studio and find a bunch of things you might like to use for backgrounds. Keep in mind your target market and shop's brand image; choose light, dark, and patterned things. (And colour too if you're this way inclined.) Don't just look at book pages, think about trays, picture frame backs, the tops of old boxes, textile pieces, linoleum offcuts, wallpaper, etc. Spend time arranging them against each other (remember the bridal theory) and take some photos- things look different in camera so don't trust your observing eye to see all.

When you've found the backgrounds you like, take an item of yours and try shooting it against them. If you have a blog it would be really great to blog it- it helps pass the knowledge along, and don't forget to give me a link so I can come along and give you any extra advice you might need. If you don't have a blog or you'd prefer a more private approach, feel free to email me from this blog's address (see my profile) and I'll help out.

Yes, it's going to take time to get this right, and time is something precious to many of us. But we all know quality takes time and practice makes perfect. There really is no cheating on this stuff. Well actually learning all this from me is kind of cheating! I'm happy to pass on what I know, and I've learned a few things myself just from doing this. It's taken me over a week to compile all this, but the driving force is to help you become better photographers and online merchants.

Read (or re-read!) the original post for more tips on using light and dark colored backgrounds along with Penny's tips for creating opulent textures and working with patterns.

You can visit Sparrow Salvage at the following links:

Shop:  Click here

Blog:  Click here

Selling on Facebook - Soldsie Review

Last week I was rained out of our weekly market and decided to have a little sale on my Facebook page.  I had seen a few of my friends using Soldsie, so I thought I'd give it a whirl.

Basically you set up an event - called a campaign.  You add your products with a the price, options, shipping and description.  After your products are loaded you schedule your campaign.

When the scheduled time arrives your photos publish to your Facebook page and customers can start shopping.

To purchase, all your customer needs to do is comment, "sold" on the photo and register for your shop. (There is a link published on each photo.) Paypal automatically sends them an invoice and they let you know when an invoice is sent and when it's paid.

You can leave your event up for a few days or delete your photos after a certain a time period or you can schedule an end time for your campaign.

What does it cost? There is a free trial for your first $700 in sales, after that it's 3% of your product price.

Some thoughts:
It's Easy to use, great customer service and training videos, keeps invoices and sales organized on the app.

Payments are through Paypal only.  Customers can register with your shop before an event.

You can only access Soldsie on a browser, not a mobile device. But customers can shop on the mobile device. Customers need to sign up to complete their purchase.

Events work better if you promote them a few days in advance and train your customers about the new way to shop on Facebook.  Create an eye-catching graphic and share the basics on your Page a few days before your sale.

What is the advantage to selling with Soldsie? Having invoices automated and a handy way to keep track of those sales helps keep things running smoothly.

I had a successful first run and plan to use Soldsie to sell off extra inventory, for destash events, sample sales and a probably even a holiday stocking stuffer sale.

The Worth of Your Jewelry

I've been reading a lot of creative business blogs, articles and books lately and one thing that has been sticking and breaking through as a common theme is a successful business helps solve a customer's problems.  So while I may have focused before on what I put into my jewelry: handcrafted artisan beads, my well-honed design aesthetic and beautiful color choices. I didn't think much about how it filled my customer's needs - other than it's something pretty to wear. 

When I ran across an article from Rena Klingenberg on Developing Your Niche Jewelry, it really clicked for me.  She gave a list of how jewelry solves a customer's problems and I had never given much thought to this and wanted to share it with you.


Rita advises: So think creatively about how to blend the things you love with ways your jewelry can solve people's issues related to:

• accessorizing
• giving gifts
• feeling good about themselves
• rewarding themselves
• defining themselves
• creating their public image
• belonging to a group
• collecting
• personalizing
• preserving memories
• celebrating occasions or milestones

So in the light of that list, how can your jewelry help solves those needs?  The worth of your jewelry will greatly increase when you discover how it can fit into those categories.  I wouldn't say a big changes is needed to meet any of these needs, just a little finessing in how you word your copy and market your work. 

Ask yourself, which categories does your jewelry fit into, can you add a little personalization?  A birthstone, stamped name or tiny charm can turn a design into a more gift-worthy option. 

Etsy puts out a Merchandising Desk list every month and it's filled with current trends, take a look at their list and see what you can cull to make your jewelry more on topic for collecting, celebrating and accessorizing.

I was looking through the top jewelry sellers on Etsy - don't do it, it's depressing.  Most of the top sellers offer stamped designs that can be personalized, birthstones, bridesmaids gifts and tiny trendy charms.  That's not something you need to do succeed as a jewelry designer - but it did illustrate that designs that easily fit those needs were the highest selling.  Something to think about. 

When you are writing up your descriptions for your online shop, think first about how your jewelry fills a need.  How would your customer use this piece of jewelry, what would they pair it with, who would love it as a gift?  Spend some time thinking about your ideal customer this week and what she is looking for in handmade jewelry and how you can add value to your work by showing how your pieces help her out!

Feel free to visit my Humblebeads Jewelry Etsy shop - I'm learning as I go and writing descriptions, tags and titles through this filter.

Prepare for Holiday Sales

I know it's hard to think about the holiday selling season when you are enjoying the lazy days of summer, but now is actually the perfect time to get started.  Getting ready for the holidays may seem like a big nebulous goal and you aren't sure where to start - aside from pulling out snowflake beads.  I'm going to offer some tips for coming up with a plan to help reduce stress and increase sales when October finally arrives and people are starting their holiday shopping.  Here are some tasks to add to your to-do list over these last few weeks of summer.

Goal Setting
Start with the end in mind.  Set a sales goal for yourself.  It can be monthly or for the entire holiday season.  It can be scary, it's okay to think big.  Look at your sales from last year and set a realistic goal, but one that stretches your ambition.  Break your goal down into weekly sales and decide how many pieces you need to have in your inventory to reach that goal.

Create Your Collections
Even if you only make one of a kind pieces you can start now by building up your inventory.  I would encourage you to make collections of jewelry, just like a fashion designer would.  Make designs that you can easily replicate, change out the focal bead or color scheme if you don't want to make exactly the same thing.  Spend a day sketching out your ideas.

Take a look at fashion trends for Fall and Winter to find some timely inspiration.  Look in current magazines and catalogs for upcoming trends as a starting point.
 
Pantone's Fall Color Report

Start stocking up on basic supplies when things go on sale. Make sure you subscribe to your favorite shops' newsletters to take advantage of their sales.  Or consider buying wholesale as much as possible to help improve your bottom line.

Where to Sell
Decide where to sell.  If you don't have an online shop and sell mostly at shows, consider opening a shop now and add items weekly.  Don't wait until October to set up shop online, start now and build your customer base so when the holidays roll around you'll have people who have already had a great shopping experience with you.  You won't feel like you are learning all the ins and outs of selling online when you are busy with the holiday rush.

I would also suggest finding a holiday art show or two and apply for them.  Do this today, as deadlines may be fast approaching.  If you have missed a deadline, give the show promoter a call and see if you can be put on a wait list.  You never know until you ask. 

Make plans now to host a holiday open house.  You might consider pairing up with a few other artists or indie biz owners and plan a group show together.  Start now by collecting names and emails at local shows to invite your customers to this event.

Approach new shops and galleries now to carry your work. Don't wait until the holidays, they will have already purchased their inventory.  Also if you are in a few shops already, set up a time to show them your fall and holiday collection before the end of the summer.

Marketing
If you aren't collecting emails for a newsletter, start that today.  You can use free services like MailChimp or a paid service like Vertical Response.  Schedule to send out a newsletter monthly or bi-monthly.

Set up social media accounts if you don't have them already - Twitter, a Facebook page for your business and a blog are the three big ones.  Have a neglected blog?  Take steps now to spruce it up and build up your readership.  Learn these three basics and build up your following slowly over the next few months.  You'll be glad you did!  If that seems overwhelming then pick one and learn the basics.  Read articles online on how to use these sites to promote your business in a non-spammy way.  There is a right and wrong way to use social media.  I recommend the blog ebooks from Crafty Pod.  I took a blog class with Diane last year and it's really worth the investment.

Research your advertising options on popular blogs. Contact blogs to introduce yourself.  Set up cross promotions with other blogs, like interviewing each other or doing giveaways.

Read the archives on Modish Biz Tips for helpful advice for any of these areas.  Subscribe to Handmadeology for great tips on selling on Etsy.  And for great business tips subscribe to Crafting an MBA and check out the resources on the website.

Come up with a holiday sales plan and work it now so that when the holidays are actually here you can enjoy the festivities instead of feeling like you are spinning your wheels trying to catch up!

-Heather Powers is the editor of the Art Bead Scene and the creative force behind Humblebeads.com.