The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

re: The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

SwatiGogu — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 06:17:10 GMT

You may want to check-out Storemate.com and artfire.com as good alternatives.

If you want something different try out storemate.com, I registered on storemate.com and seen some sharp increase in the traffice directed to my website.

Unlike easy and artfire they are not restricted to handmade, I get to promote to a bigger audience (all design buffs).

The best about storemate is, I get to help out my customers in real-time using their 'Talk-About' feature. Helping out with questions on custom options, shipping queries etc in realtime.

I even passed on exclusive discounts to them during these help-out sessions, which turned casual enquiries into quick sales and followers for me.

I have been Storemate's "Featured Designer" for 3 weeks, straight! ( My proud moment!) :D

re: The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

SwatiGogu — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 06:13:27 GMT

You may want to check-out Storemate.com and artfire.com as good alternatives.

If you want something different try out storemate.com, I registered on storemate.com and seen some sharp increase in the traffice directed to my website.

Unlike easy and artfire they are not restricted to handmade, I get to promote to a bigger audience (all design buffs).

The best about storemate is, I get to help out my customers in real-time using their 'Talk-About' feature. Helping out with questions on custom options, shipping queries etc in realtime.

I even passed on exclusive discounts to them during these help-out sessions, which turned casual enquiries into quick sales and followers for me.

I have been Storemate's "Featured Designer" for 3 weeks, straight! ( My proud moment!) :D

re: The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

AnnaYoakum — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:00:30 GMT

Mia - I do not know about Jennifer but I keep an inventory of all my beads and findings. I find that JDM (Jewelry Designer Manager) is a great program for doing this.

I too feel that etsy has lost its sparkle. It is no longer a place for someone who is trying to start up a serious online business but has devolved into a site for the home hobbyist to sell the items they make at bargain basement prices. I will be checking out the other sites listed here and in the comments left by others as I am beginning to realize that etsy is no longer the place for me.

re: The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

Mia vander linden — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 05:37:39 GMT

Hi Jennifer, I have a question. Do you keep an inventory of all your beads? I was wondering if you could give me some ideas.

Thanks Mia

re: The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

Mia vander linden — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 05:37:28 GMT

Hi Jennifer, I have a question. Do you keep an inventory of all your beads? I was wondering if you could give me some ideas.

Thanks Mia

re: The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

Mia vander linden — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 05:37:26 GMT

Hi Jennifer, I have a question. Do you keep an inventory of all your beads? I was wondering if you could give me some ideas.

Thanks Mia

re: The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

Ziraleet — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 15:35:22 GMT

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and observations-especially about having others take your own unique ideas and tweak a bit to call it their own. I've wondered about that. Not on Etsy yet, but was planning on doing it exclusively. This is a great time for me to discover the reality before I jump in with both feet. Now I have lots of other options to consider.

re: The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

khrystallee — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 14:02:46 GMT

I have to say, I agree with the Etsy thing. It is getting old and I always thought it was all handmade items only. Not so true anymore.

I was on there for a few years and what I was finding out is that people get on there and look at your ideas and steal them, make what you made and list it on their site. I fould out when all these people where "hearting" me, putting me in their favorites, so I would go and see who, why, and the what they were selling. Well, I am glad I did. I seen my Jewelry in their site but in different colored Swarovski's and Gemstones. I write a short story about each piece I make and well, so did this lady. she started doing that 3 days after she "hearted" me. Etsy said there is nothing they can do.

Very unethical! I find most sites people are doing this so it is getting to be very discouraging.

re: The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

BreitWerk — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 01:18:56 GMT

Another great place to consider is Zibbet.com - No listing fees, no sales or commission fees! You can have a totally FREE site if you list less than 50 items. For more features and to list more items there are options for premium accounts.

re: The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

padali30 — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 22:52:42 GMT

Thank goodness. Etsy's getting old. I haven't sold much on there and I feel it's because I don't have a fancy log cabin studio in the woods and one of those hairdo's that's all fringe cut with bangs. At least that's what the girls who are top sellers on Etsy look like. Oh well, guess it's not meant for everybody. This article was a great resource for Etsy alternatives. Thanks.

re: The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

KatherineH — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 19:03:29 GMT

Etsy's always left a bad taste in my mouth for some reason, so it was great to hear about some alternatives. I've just started selling jewlery this past year, and so far it's always been word-of-mouth. Thank you for the review of these venues! And thanks to the commenters who have added to the list. It feels good to know there are choices out there.

re: The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

InspiredDesigns4YOU — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 21:54:24 GMT

I would like to add my comments to "Shoot, Share, Sell" aspects of producing great photographic shots. As an amateur photographer, artisan, writer and jewellery designer. Photography is crucial is marketing your product, I would argue that a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera will give you the best resolution, sharpness and quality. Smart phones (IMO) are fine provided they are compare is quality). The DSRL has the benefit of macro setting and adjusting to white light balance. Jewellery is one of the most difficult photograph, even professional photographers have remarked on this in articles I have read. Vanessa

re: The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

lyone — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 16:07:57 GMT

One of the most difficult things about selling online, I find, is finding a site on which customers can take your work seriously. What I mean is......oh, how to put this delicately? What I mean is: It is important to list one's work on a site that doesn't also sell crocheted Barbie doll toilet roll covers and beaded Mickey Mouse pins. Do you know what I'm saying?

This is a huge problem with both Etsy and Goodsmiths. I haven't checked out the other sites listed in the article yet, but I am hopeful about Big Cartel.

The other major problem is getting traffic to the site. Which of these sites has actually gotten any Mainstream press other than Etsy?

re: The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

cogomo — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 15:00:19 GMT

Thanks for your great tips. Another good site to check out is: http://www.mysupadupa.com They have different selling options and you can build your own website with a choice of several different templates.

re: The Business of Jewelry: Alternatives to Etsy

trusk4u — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 12:48:24 GMT

The online places you mentioned are all good, but there is one more I feel you should have on your list. Have you visited https://handmadeartists.com?

It is a rapidly growing venue for handmade goods only. One low monthly listing fee of $5 gets you your own shop, unlimited listing, loads of promotion, and a great community of like minded people in the forum. I can't think of a better place to be.