Shop Critique Please

[Deleted]

If everyone would visit my etsy shop and give me a critique I would really appreciate it. I won't get mad and I think that constructive criticism is a great way to grow.  How are my pictures?  Shop Appearance, copy writing, everything. I am open to all suggestions.  I thought that it was starting to take off a little bit. I had 3 sales in a month and then nothing for a month and a half.  Would the kind of things that I am selling do better on Ebay?  I feel like I am all over the place with the items that I have on there. Would I do better to have several shops ( a carving shop, sewing shop, junk shop etc.). 

All opinions welcome.
Thanks!

www.etsy.com/shop/TPSVintage?ref=hdr_shop_menu

[chapeaunoir]

Hey there - First off, I think your theme is fine - re-use, repurpose - for having a collection of items.  I have some suggestions from the POV of someone who just started more seriously on Etsy last November.

1. You definitely need more items, particularly with an eclectic collection - keep finding and listing, do it steadily, a couple of items a day if you can (Etsy doesn't need the huge listing maintenance that ebay seems to require). Just keep building up. I started having steadier sales when I got to about 40, not a lot, but they were coming in on a more regular basis. The fact that you've had sales at all being new and with so few items is a very good sign!

2. Use your tags - these are crucial for SEO - here's a starter guide: Etsy SEO

3. Improve photos - this can be tough because Etsy has such a weird photo setup - the shots themselves are fine (save for the patterns which are faded out), it's just that one sees just parts of the object in the thumbnail - it's better to have the entire object in the thumbnail because that's the first thing that hits the eye. If you can't get the whole item in by use of photo software, get an intriguing and definitive chunk of it in.  Also the aspect ratio for Etsy's photos is not completely square so it takes some finagling - just use whatever software you're comfortable with and get that thumbnail centered.

You can look at my shop if you like - Chapeaunoir on Etsy  you'll see some thumbnails are better than others. I'm an inveterate photo fiddler and came up with various ideas which I experimented on.

A bunch of other people on here have shops and most have more experience than I have, so hopefully they'll weigh in and you can view their shops. This is just stuff I've learned as I've stumbled along, and being pretty new at it, too.

It's really a trial and error thing with Etsy because so much more of our store operation is in our hands, but I think it's more rewarding.  I favourited your shop and am looking forward to how it evolves.

[Deleted]

Thank you so much for the in put. I will work on all of it.

[sunsetpainter]

I like the rustic vintage stuff you have. I have an Etsy store and it has taken me over a year to get to 100 listings. I've been trying to add 1 - 2 new things each day.

I'm seeing only a part of each item in your thumbnails. Chap has some really good photos in her shop and good suggestions above. I know it took me a really long time to get my Etsy photos to come out right. I have to make sure I take them in "landscape" orientation rather than "portrait" orientation with my camera or they look chopped off. I just started using a homemade light box for some things. Still tweaking the lights, but it's coming along. Here is my shop:  SunsetPainter on Etsy

I favorited your shop and look forward to seeing more of your items.

[sunsetpainter]

Sept 8, 2016 5:59:13 GMT chapeaunoir said:

Hey there - First off, I think your theme is fine - re-use, repurpose - for having a collection of items.  I have some suggestions from the POV of someone who just started more seriously on Etsy last November.

1. You definitely need more items, particularly with an eclectic collection - keep finding and listing, do it steadily, a couple of items a day if you can (Etsy doesn't need the huge listing maintenance that ebay seems to require). Just keep building up. I started having steadier sales when I got to about 40, not a lot, but they were coming in on a more regular basis. The fact that you've had sales at all being new and with so few items is a very good sign!

2. Use your tags - these are crucial for SEO - here's a starter guide: Etsy SEO

3. Improve photos - this can be tough because Etsy has such a weird photo setup - the shots themselves are fine (save for the patterns which are faded out), it's just that one sees just parts of the object in the thumbnail - it's better to have the entire object in the thumbnail because that's the first thing that hits the eye. If you can't get the whole item in by use of photo software, get an intriguing and definitive chunk of it in.  Also the aspect ratio for Etsy's photos is not completely square so it takes some finagling - just use whatever software you're comfortable with and get that thumbnail centered.

You can look at my shop if you like - Chapeaunoir on Etsy  you'll see some thumbnails are better than others. I'm an inveterate photo fiddler and came up with various ideas which I experimented on.

A bunch of other people on here have shops and most have more experience than I have, so hopefully they'll weigh in and you can view their shops. This is just stuff I've learned as I've stumbled along, and being pretty new at it, too.

It's really a trial and error thing with Etsy because so much more of our store operation is in our hands, but I think it's more rewarding.  I favourited your shop and am looking forward to how it evolves.

Chap, thanks for that Tag link.  I never knew too much about them.  Great info!

[Deleted]

Sept 8, 2016 17:51:33 GMT sunsetpainter said:

Sept 8, 2016 5:59:13 GMT chapeaunoir said:

Hey there - First off, I think your theme is fine - re-use, repurpose - for having a collection of items.  I have some suggestions from the POV of someone who just started more seriously on Etsy last November.

1. You definitely need more items, particularly with an eclectic collection - keep finding and listing, do it steadily, a couple of items a day if you can (Etsy doesn't need the huge listing maintenance that ebay seems to require). Just keep building up. I started having steadier sales when I got to about 40, not a lot, but they were coming in on a more regular basis. The fact that you've had sales at all being new and with so few items is a very good sign!

2. Use your tags - these are crucial for SEO - here's a starter guide: Etsy SEO

3. Improve photos - this can be tough because Etsy has such a weird photo setup - the shots themselves are fine (save for the patterns which are faded out), it's just that one sees just parts of the object in the thumbnail - it's better to have the entire object in the thumbnail because that's the first thing that hits the eye. If you can't get the whole item in by use of photo software, get an intriguing and definitive chunk of it in.  Also the aspect ratio for Etsy's photos is not completely square so it takes some finagling - just use whatever software you're comfortable with and get that thumbnail centered.

You can look at my shop if you like - Chapeaunoir on Etsy  you'll see some thumbnails are better than others. I'm an inveterate photo fiddler and came up with various ideas which I experimented on.

A bunch of other people on here have shops and most have more experience than I have, so hopefully they'll weigh in and you can view their shops. This is just stuff I've learned as I've stumbled along, and being pretty new at it, too.

It's really a trial and error thing with Etsy because so much more of our store operation is in our hands, but I think it's more rewarding.  I favourited your shop and am looking forward to how it evolves.

Chap, thanks for that Tag link.  I never knew too much about them.  Great info!

Thanks for the input. Chap does have great pictures in her store and so do you. I think part of my problem with the pics is I zoom to close so the item takes up the whole frame or at least too much of it. When we had the florist I had a big commerce site and got pretty good with the flower pics but they were larger usually than what I am selling on etsy and I had a much better set up in the back of the shop. I am trying to do these on the kitchen table with white poster board and it isn't working very well.

I need to get better at kW research as well.

I have been lazy about finding things and listing them as well.

I favorites your shop and Chaps as well

Thanks!

[dutchjazz]

Thanks for the question. I just opened an Etsy store and really appreciate the info from Chap and the link. Quite interesting. Wish I had read it before I started. At least, I only have 37 listings, so I will use the advice given going forward and make changes given the time.

I'm getting views, just no sales. My store has been favorited once and I have 3 favorite listings. This isn't too encouraging since I have 78 views. I opened 9/1.

I must say that listing and navigating through my store is such a pleasure compared to ebay. Also, the stats on Etsy are so much easier to understand than those on ebay.

Sorry I don't have any advice to share tps, but wanted to say good luck.

If anyone wants to favorite my store, please do. I don't know if this helps with sales or not, but can't hurt.

etsy.me/2ce5RvY

[dutchjazz]

I am bookmarking the link from Chap, but there is a wealth of info in there, especially for us beginners that I think it would be a good link to have as a sticky. Don't know if this is possible.

[Deleted]

Sept 9, 2016 0:45:41 GMT dutchjazz said:

Thanks for the question. I just opened an Etsy store and really appreciate the info from Chap and the link. Quite interesting. Wish I had read it before I started. At least, I only have 37 listings, so I will use the advice given going forward and make changes given the time.

I'm getting views, just no sales. My store has been favorited once and I have 3 favorite listings. This isn't too encouraging since I have 78 views. I opened 9/1.

I must say that listing and navigating through my store is such a pleasure compared to ebay. Also, the stats on Etsy are so much easier to understand than those on ebay.

Sorry I don't have any advice to share tps, but wanted to say good luck.

If anyone wants to favorite my store, please do. I don't know if this helps with sales or not, but can't hurt.

etsy.me/2ce5RvY


Hi Dutch,

I just favorited your shop as well.  I agree the information is priceless. I tried ebay for a bit as well and just couldn't get the hang of it I guess. I seemed to always

wind up paying more in fees than I made and If I priced what ever it was to cover the fees and shipping and still make any money it didn't sell. I did have a couple of

exceptions to that.

[sunsetpainter]

Sept 9, 2016 0:45:41 GMT dutchjazz said:

Thanks for the question. I just opened an Etsy store and really appreciate the info from Chap and the link. Quite interesting. Wish I had read it before I started. At least, I only have 37 listings, so I will use the advice given going forward and make changes given the time.

I'm getting views, just no sales. My store has been favorited once and I have 3 favorite listings. This isn't too encouraging since I have 78 views. I opened 9/1.

I must say that listing and navigating through my store is such a pleasure compared to ebay. Also, the stats on Etsy are so much easier to understand than those on ebay.

Sorry I don't have any advice to share tps, but wanted to say good luck.

If anyone wants to favorite my store, please do. I don't know if this helps with sales or not, but can't hurt.

etsy.me/2ce5RvY

Dutch, I favorited your shop.  You have really neat things too.  I LOVE that Pyrex bowl.  My mom had that set when I was little.

[dutchjazz]

Sunset - thanks. We just did a major reno to our kitchen and dining room. I did a turquoise accent wall the color of that pyrex bowl. I bought a set on ebay to use and when I got them, they were in such great condition that I use them for decor. I'm working on getting a set by piece meal to actually use. I ended up with two that size so I'm selling that one to get my money back that I overpaid for it.

And I just favorited your store too. Again, thanks.

[val2525]

All of you need to add your Etsy store link to your siggy here. Sunset has all her stores (yay!). This place gets good search engine traffic, so use it!

***folding up soapbox****

[RetroMonde]

Val, I tried to do that 2 days ago. The clickable link I got from Etsy was really long and sloppy looking (to me). Then I tried to tiny url it but it didn't work as a link. Is there another way to shorten the URL or make the store name clickable itself? I didn't see it in the board help tips but may have missed something. Move this if ya need to. :-) Hijack over... thanks!

[val2525]

Jeremy has an older post explaining how to set up a text link (see his siggy), I'll have to hunt it down and PM you the link when I find it.

Or PM sunset and ask her how she got her short link (see her siggy). It could be you're just copying the wrong info. What is your store on etsy?

[sunsetpainter]

This is how I do it (can't find the link):

Use reply, not quick reply here, and open the page you want to link in another tab.

1.  Click on the little globe with the piece of paper in the tool bar (7th button to the left of the smiley button).  A little box will pop up that says "create Link".
2.  Copy the info from your address bar from your Etsy page (or whatever page you want to link) and paste it in the box that says URL, but you have to erase the "http://" that is already there.
3.  Type what you want to in the "Text" box, i.e. Retro's Etsy Store, or whatever you want it to say.
4.  Click Create.

I know that's probably a little out of order, and my terminology isn't right, but that's how I do it and it works for me.  Hope this helps.

[chapeaunoir]

Sept 10, 2016 16:44:19 GMT RetroMonde said:

Val, I tried to do that 2 days ago. The clickable link I got from Etsy was really long and sloppy looking (to me). Then I tried to tiny url it but it didn't work as a link. Is there another way to shorten the URL or make the store name clickable itself? I didn't see it in the board help tips but may have missed something. Move this if ya need to. :-) Hijack over... thanks!

[ url=STORE URL HERE ] STORE NAME HERE [/url ]

Close brackets and spaces.

[Deleted]

Sept 8, 2016 2:12:18 GMT @tpsvintage said:

If everyone would visit my etsy shop and give me a critique I would really appreciate it. I won't get mad and I think that constructive criticism is a great way to grow.  How are my pictures?  Shop Appearance, copy writing, everything. I am open to all suggestions.  I thought that it was starting to take off a little bit. I had 3 sales in a month and then nothing for a month and a half.  Would the kind of things that I am selling do better on Ebay?  I feel like I am all over the place with the items that I have on there. Would I do better to have several shops ( a carving shop, sewing shop, junk shop etc.). 

All opinions welcome.
Thanks!

www.etsy.com/shop/TPSVintage?ref=hdr_shop_menu

a lot of your photos are overexposed and it looks like you need something to soften your lighting.  what are you using for a photography setup?

[Deleted]

Hi Josh,

Thanks for taking a look. I just looked at them again and hadn't actually realize how really terrible they are.

Here is a link to one that I just posted on one of my listings that I think is a little better but it isn't great.

www.etsy.com/your/shops/TPSVintage/tools/listings/stats:true/460078346

They were all taken with my cell (Motorola Razr) Definitely time for an upgrade on the phone. I knew there was a crack on the back but I just realized that it goes all the way across the lens. Nearly every pic that I take of anything is starting to look washed out.

Most of these were taken outside on a piece of white poster board. The one of the beam scale is on the side of my work shed. I am going to try and do some better ones this weekend. The one that I just posted on here was on a new piece of white cloth that (the lined white blackout cloth they use on the back of curtains). I think maybe brighter but more defused lighting?

I appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks,

[chapeaunoir]

My photo conditions are not very good and I use a DSLR - it's the only thing that gives me halfway decent photos. I've tried numerous other options and none of them really worked. I have a low light situation and no room.  With taking photos of smaller items (clothing has a different set of conditions) a cell phone with an extremely good camera may work OK, but Etsy has really high photo standards - even with a lot of fiddling, mine are about middle of the pack (the best vintage sellers have a lot more room so their photos can be more 'ambient' and are far better) - I have to knock out the book case, scratching post, tripod legs, funky 70s wall to wall rug, etc., and have no choice but to have a white or flat gray background. This isn't always the best option but it's what works for me. I don't use a flash so have about 1-2 hours a day I can photo.

If you have more natural lighting, you'll have more camera options. The camera on DH's fancy smartphone is OK. My SLR is on the fritz and has to go into the shop, so I've borrowed his fancy dan Lumix point-n-shoot. It's a fabulous outdoor camera with a Leica lens, but it's not up to the task, again, of low light conditions. Everything comes out a bit yellow.

For your found objects, it's actually nicer if you have a 'natural' but non-conflicting background - a piece of fence, or lay it on burlap, or something that enhances the item. You can find oddments all over to use as backgrounds for objects.

[Deleted]

I am in the process or retaking all of my photos. This is going to sound dumb. My camera on my phone is crapping out but I have a cam on my Amazon Fire. I hadn't thought about using it and I have no idea why.

[sunsetpainter]

I sometimes use a diffuser that I made out of an old transparent film canister. I cut a slot out of the side and slip it over the flash on my camera. Softens the harshness of the flash a little.

[Deleted]

Sept 14, 2016 20:39:08 GMT sunsetpainter said:

I sometimes use a diffuser that I made out of an old transparent film canister. I cut a slot out of the side and slip it over the flash on my camera. Softens the harshness of the flash a little.

Thanks Pam! That is a great idea.

[Deleted]

I highly recommend using a tripod. Yes, it's slower but the pictures come out much better IMO. I like using shoot-through umbrella lights (they sell kits on ebay/amazon $50-100 iirc) but there are a lot of DIY solutions that will do the same thing. there are all kinds of how-to product photography videos on youtube.

[chapeaunoir]

I don't have room for a tripod unless I move the coffee table with the other stuff - it would be really nice to have because right now I just hold the camera, sometimes I have to crouch on the coffee table - if I didn't have very steady hands and a heavy camera, my photos of dark things would look like pond water. As it is, I end up reshooting stuff if I go out of my small window of light, and some just look like pond water anyway. If you have any room at all, a tripod is a great idea - you can get table-top styles, too.

Along with diffusion umbrellas you can also get or make little soft boxes that fit over your light - they take up less room and you can really make them any size. I actually do have one of those, but it takes a bunch of furniture moving to set it up permanently so I haven't done it yet. The first day it gets dark at 3:30 in the afternoon I'll be scrambling to set that up, but apparently not before.

[Deleted]

I do have a tripod but. I picked one up at a yard sale about a month ago for 3.00. I wouldn't put a a heavy DSLR on it but it works fine for my cell phone. I have just been lazy about it. I did use it last night for the new candlestick and candle wall sconce pics that I put on Etsy. I think the main thing is that I just need to practice more and really get serious about doing this.

I don't think that I will ever actually make a real living off of it but if I could get it to where it actually cleared and extra 500 to 1000 per month it would be great.