I really really must respond to this and back Andrew and Kimberly, this is a new site and like any new business, (stepping up, pushing Andrew off the soap box) you get out of it what you invest. I had a successful antique business for several years,I heard all kind of comments when I freelancing(buying estates, and at auctions for resell) I sure wish I had lots of money, I wish I could get that much for my junk,but they were not willing to do what I did to get there, leave home at dawn, drive long distances, stand in the rain,snow,cold,heat whatever it took to bring home furniture or anything to scrub,polish,repair,hose off the bird poop,you know the really glamorous job of being an antique dealer:)
The hours of study and research I put in would make most people run,I didn't watch TV at night, I read reference books, and not just once, over and over and after a short 30 yrs
I was considered an expert in my field,and when I had things to sell I could make a call
and people would drive across the county to buy it. Then We bought a building, a run down building, put in 3 months of clean up and repair, tons of money, our 401K money, we gambled. Even though I know the business, had great mentors and wanted to jump in, I knew from watching other people who were smart and experienced lose it all when they didn't have a business plan, and you have to be willing to really work and must plan to wait. Have you written a business plan? That is the first thing I ask anyone who wants to start a business. A good plan takes time and thought,The last one I wrote for my brick and mortar store took 6 months of intense work.
For this business I scaled back to a step plan, 1st step,second step,so on. I won't bore you with my steps because yours will be different, we are unique.
I spend half my business day on self promotion, and image building,you must make people buy in to your dream.
I also spend about 2 hrs a week, I build it in to my work schedule, to update, change,improve my places, my shop appearance, update facebook pages,I tweet, write a couple of blogs, I feature other artists and crafts people, it's about giving back it should be part of it.
The handmade highlights are to the perfect place to spotlight other peoples work and be generous. And last but not least, Attitude,attitude,Attitude! You never, ever want to forget, anything you write on the internet is public. I have a
secret I will share with you, and I am not complaining,I have not made a sale since Christmas. I may look like a very successful artist, and I am, but sales are slow everywhere. I am not going to help myself by complaining, if I said it enough I might start to believe I am failing. I never give up my dream! When I feel down, I go look for someone else to build up. I don't take this personally I know my art is good, I know it will start to pick up. I am committed to making it work,what ever it takes.
As far as $5 a month, you will never find a place to sell as cheap as this with near as many perks. The economy took my last business along with my savings and I will pay for another year before I am done. I had to start from scratch,with the grace of God,I see the light at the end of the tunnel, the economy is turning around. I believe this website and forum will be a strong selling presence in the near future, so lets, go sell it to the world. Sorry if I sounded harsh, but I have heard this everywhere,how bad it is, what will happen? It will be what we make it, what we give to the world they will believe if we tell them it's great, but you must convince yourself first. I hope I didn't offend anyone,but negativity hurts us all. No place in success for negativity!
Topic: Huge amount of views/no sales. Does my shop stink?? lol (Read 3637 times)
