Scottishcraft.com

How do you sell?

I'm keen to hear how fellow crafters go about selling their creations. Do you use craft fairs, local retail outlets, your own website?

I sell at the occasional craft fair and I have also approached a few shops who have agreed to take some of my stock on a sale or return basis. The shops I use are taking between 30% and 40% of the selling price. What are your experiences in this area?

I am planning to add an online shop to my website (I've been meaning to do it for ages!), and I'm also wondering about a Folky shop or Facebook page for selling. I'd appreciate hearing about any of your experiences with Facebook, Folksy or Etsy selling.

 

Thanks a lot, Alison 

Tags: Etsy, Facebook, Folksy, selling

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Permalink Reply by Lorna Gillies on September 14, 2011 at 11:42

hi Alison,

 

I am only selling in one shop at the moment and that takes 30% if they sell anything, every other place I've tried has wanted more from 40%-50%, which personally i think 50% is ridiculous!  Im planning to add an online shop to my website too, have you any advice?  I'm not sure where to start about it.  Would you like me to add your website onto my "friends links" page?  

I've tried to sell 1 thing on folksy, but I've been told Etsy is alot better, so will try to sell some things there.

 

Hope you're well

Lorna :0)

Permalink Reply by Alison Anderson on September 14, 2011 at 14:57

Hi Lorna,

Thanks for the reply. I was getting a bit disappointed in the lack of response. I wondered if perhaps people were  a little shy to comment... hopefully not. This forum can be such a great place for us all to share tips and ask advice if everyone feels able to contribute to discussions.

I agree that 50% does seem a little steep, though one Edinburgh shop I approached told me that the trade price was multiplied by two and a half!

Unfortunately I'm not really able to advise you how to add an online shop to your webpage as it was just very straight forward for me. I used a Mr Site Takeaway package you see, and an online shop is included. You just have to set up a Paypal account and you're sorted. It's simply a case of adding photos, a description and prices. The Mr Site package I used costs about £40 and that gives you your webspace for a year. Once the first year is up I think it costs £40 for each subsequent year to maintain your site. There is also a more expensive package (Mr Site Takeaway Pro) which has some additional features and allows you to upload more than one photo for each item in your shop. I think this would have been useful. However, I think you might be able to set up a shop directly through Paypal itself. Perhaps someone else can offer advice on this?

What I did find out about my website just yesterday is that it didn't load up properly on an iPhone (I tried with a couple of different people's iPhones). Previously my website had a flowery background with white in the centre where the content was, but the white didn't show and it was therefore impossible to read the text. I have changed the whole template now to one that people with iphones can read, though I'm not so happy with it!

I would really appreciate you putting a link to my page in your website, thanks. I don't have a links page on mine yet, but I'll add one and put your link on too.

I hope you have lots of luck selling in your retail outlet and manage to find lots of new shops when you re-locate.

 

Alison

Permalink Reply by Lorna Gillies on September 14, 2011 at 16:02

thanks Alison!

 

I will check out this "Mr Site Takeaway", that sounds very good!

I agree about the discussions, to be honest I think people don't come on here much and just forget about it.  We need to keep this going and make everyone see it's worthwhile to come to scottishcraft forum, then we'd all be able to help eachother out.

 

I'll check out your website and add your link asap.

;0)

 

Lorna

p.s best of luck selling also! keep me updated!

Permalink Reply by Alison Moore on September 14, 2011 at 18:29

Hi Alison & Lorna

 

I started selling this year, also in Orkney.  I first started on-line at Etsy.com and Folksy.com.  You can set up your own shop within these sites like you can in Ebay.  I now supply to some shops on a sale or return basis (25% - 80% commission) and have sold to a couple of shops too.  I've also built my own website after a free training course run by Business Gateway.  You can see the draft version here  http://alisonmooredesigns.moonfruit.com/  I've just linked my website to my shop on Etsy.  Setting up a shop on my website might take a bit too much work for me at the moment and Etsy just charge 5% commission.

 

Have done a few local craft fairs during the summer, but I'm also planning some larger fairs in Perth and Inverness in November.

 

Hope this helps,

Ally

 

PS thanks for getting in touch Lorna - I'd forgotten about this site!!

Permalink Reply by Stephen Richard on September 14, 2011 at 19:52

Most of my things are commissioned. But I sell from the studio, through a few galleries, occasional mixed shows organised by artists.

I agree galleries are taking from 33% to 50% on sale or return.  You have to remember that galleries have overheads, have contact lists, and are selling while you are making.  If you wholesale remember the mark up is in the region of 220%

Not sure how an online shop to a single website works.  Depends a lot on the traffic your site gets.  It might be better to use one of the sites like Etsy.  Rachel Elliot does a lot of Etsy, so she might be a good resource.  

Depends on what you are making/designing, but there are several Scottish oriented online shops that might be good.  Some like Pappa Stour are juried, so quality is high.

I'm not convinced that Facebook and Twitter are good for more than keeping the profile high.

Stephen

Permalink Reply by Alison Anderson on September 15, 2011 at 14:14
Thanks for the comments Ally & Stephen... much appreciated!
Permalink Reply by Lynn Smith on September 22, 2011 at 6:41
I have a website which includes an online shop, I also sell on Folksy and Etsy. I am part of a craft association which organises it's own craft fairs as well as attending others. I have only been making bears since July - ( had never sewn anything in my life before that) I used to make costume jewellery but it's too competitive and I feel my bears are more unique and require more skill, which is more satisfying to me. I have my work displayed in a local theatre and I have approached local shops, but no one seems interested - infect most haven't even bothered to reply :( 
X

Alison Anderson said:
Thanks for the comments Ally & Stephen... much appreciated!
Permalink Reply by Alison Anderson on September 22, 2011 at 10:17
Don't give up Lynn, I'm sure you'll find an outlet soon. Your bears are gorgeous!
Permalink Reply by Rhona Torrance on September 26, 2011 at 20:18

This is really useful information - thanks! I've got a similar story. My mosaics are stocked in two places so far on a sale or return basis with a 25% commission rate.

 

I've also just started to exhibit at craft fairs (the Makers Markets in Glasgow and Edinburgh) and already got some sales and orders, and an approach from someone who has a shop and wants to stock them. So I'd definitely recommend doing them, which also helps to get your work known.

 

I used Moonfruit to set up my website and I have it set up to take Paypal payments. I've just realised that it doesn't show up right on an iPhone (like you Alison!), so I might have to rethink it! That's a good idea to link to an Etsy page or similar. The thing that I can't figure out is how to increase traffic to my website. Does anyone have any ideas on this?

 

Rhona

www.locomosaics.co.uk 

 

Permalink Reply by Lynn Smith on September 26, 2011 at 21:29

have a look at my website ( www.bearytales.co.uk)  I am currently having an Xmas competition, which requires entrants to visit and look through my website. The competition is currently advertised on my facebook page but I intend to give out competition flyers at the bear fair I am attending in November.

 

Lynn

Permalink Reply by Alison Anderson on September 27, 2011 at 7:29

Thank you for the replies ladies.

Well done on the sales and orders so far Rhona, hope it keeps up. I'm glad my comments about the iPhone have been useful and prompts more people to check out their site using this method. A lot of people browse the internet using their phones these days.

 

Your idea of a competition which requires people to check out your website is a great idea Lorna. Thanks for sharing!

Permalink Reply by DOOLALLY, Julie Wilson on September 28, 2011 at 10:59
I seem to have been very lucky. After doing lots of craft fairs last year I was approached by a shop in Castle Douglas to stock their shop. They buy my stock from me cash in hand. I charge about 20% less to them than at craft fairs and they seem happy with the arrangement. They have just opened another shop in Dumfries and I'm stocking them as well. When doing my first craft fair this year a lady approached me about her shop saying commission would be 15-20%. Have I  just been really lucky? Everyone seems to have had a very different experience. My mission for this year is to set up my etsy shop. My tip. Do some craft fairs and have lots and lots of postcards/cards to give to people.

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