Expectations

If you're an online seller, you mentally have certain expectations and hopes about your product. I always thought "Maybe this is the next pet rock or Cabbage Patch doll or hula hoop"......wrong approach.
False or misleading expectations can lead to disappointments. Beauty is in the eye....you know the phrase! And what I may think is an indispensable thing of beauty and function can be seen as a worthless piece of junk by another.
Make what you like. Create what you believe in. Find a niche. Prepare to be disappointed and then it won't hurt as much. We have winners and bombs and with that comes experience and knowledge. Don't over inflate your expectations. If one or two sell, terrific. Three, very nice. Four,hmmmm, maybe you have something. Take it slow. Do your research. Listen to experienced friends. Don't overstock with supplies, just in case.
The world changes so fast it is hard to keep up. One of my "winners" are my magnetic bookmarks. I have been very pleased with the sales. I had a reasonable expectation but I did NOT anticipate (how could I?) the advent of the Kindle and the Nook tablet readers? Many still read 'real' books but now I have to pause and adjust the expectation.
Again, create what you enjoy and love to do. There are bound to be others with your sensibilities and they will enjoy your product. Just don't expect there to be a line outside your door with crowd control guards...not likely.

To Sale or Not To Sale!!!

My goal when I embarked on the online craft path was to make what I love and share. My family (few females) are probably sick of receiving my creations and now, unless they ask, they get nothing made by me. (Right now I am making the boys hats with beards attached...who knew that would be a request?)
I have always been thrilled to sell my work as it is a type of positive validation. As Sally Field said "They like me. They really like me!"
Of course earning some extra money has been wonderful if only to feed my supply addiction and stash. So I think I have always priced fairly. I'm not looking to rip off anyone but entice by design, good pricing and heart.
Then there are holiday sales....a not so positive experience for me over the years but I didn't want to be left out so I joined those promotions. Selling scarves in July kind of yells for a price reduction and I've done it. Not to great success,though. 
Back to school, Halloween and then Cyber Monday and I see fellow crafters marking down their creative endeavors by 15-20-30 even 40%!!!! I'm confused so I posted a query on Facebook.
Responses varied but many agreed that their prices were fair and marking them down was a hurtful loss. And, like my experience, they really didn't work. I understand the desire to drum up business, get positive feedback or move older pieces but the profit margin for many is so slight, a sale hurts.
I say, do what you love, love what you do and don't devalue yourself. Does that mean I'll never have a sale or a discount or free shipping? Maybe. Maybe not. But I don't think I'll allow myself to follow the big box pack....I'm not in that league and don't want to be. I don't have items in the $100+ range, far from it and although more sales are always welcome, I will not devalue myself just for a sale.

Here's my latest...price firm!!!

What is too much?

When my son was little he adored munching on carrots. When I took him to the doctor I asked about this yellowish tint that I saw at the end of his nose. "Does he like carrots?" asked the pediatrician...uhhh,yup! Whatever wasn't used or processed by his little body was deposited at the tip of his nose...TRUE! So in essence, this was too much of a good thing despite being way better than munching on lollipops or jawbreakers which fortunately he didn't like.
It was brought to mind regarding the inventory you keep in your shop....what is too much? What is too big? It's not like walking into a craft store and avoiding the materials you don't need. Do online shoppers mind a big shop? I try to keep my sections clean, organized and clear but do shoppers go much past the 2nd or third page? If you have 10 pages do you rotate so some things move to the fore front? I am closing in on 200 items in one of my shops and I fret and worry if it's too much.
I'm curious to hear any thoughts about this and what,as a shopper, you think may be too much. Is it wise to keep out-of-season things in the shop for that occasional buyer who might buy a Christmas ornament in March? I know temperature driven things should stay to attract the side of the world opposite from you but is it disconcerting to see it all?
And as I question this point I add almost daily! Like this will be tomorrow 's new listing:

Down Time in Selling

Down time...a pause....a lapse...a quiet period? All of the above and what to do about it is the real question. I was wonderfully busy saleswise in January and February and became wiped off the internet map during March. Fortunately I had the earlier mentioned shows in March to keep me busy and now it's April and soooooooo quiet. So I am using my time to promote online. I've reorganized my studio. I've inventoried my yarn stash (too much!) and bought new containers for paper. Fortunately, the weather has turned and I've spent time outdoors and love the way the garden is developing. I'm writing a new article for indiesmiles and upping my presence there. I'm reading and commenting on other blogs. I've read 3 books (a must read "The Book Thief") and am now concentrating on a custom shawl from a wonderful customer in California.
So as you can see, although selling is the goal, there's much more to life and I'm looking productively at the selling down time. The guys at the Post Office may miss me but I'm getting alot done. Do you think I should inventory this? Nah!!

Why I Love Zibbet

This letter is being reprinted with permission.

Hi guys,

I just wanted to quickly jump in here to add my two cents worth to what has been a pretty hectic week here at Zibbet, and apparently an 'interesting' one at Etsy.
I just wanted you guys to be able to get a bit of a philosophical feel for how Jonathan and I and our team like to run our organisation.
I figure if people are going to have the opportunity to trust us, then it will require communication and getting to know one another a bit more.
So in that vein I'd like to list a few of our beliefs and values concerning how we would like to see Zibbet move forward as it grows bigger.

1. I want to say very emphatically that here at Z we are not in the business of bagging other venues. Whether they are better or worse than Z, we are not here to cast a shadow on what they do. Especially in light of events this week, let me say we are not interested in tearing down Etsy. We have a lot of respect for Etsy and what they have achieved and there is lots that we can learn from them.
2. Our leadership of Zibbet will not always be perfect, because as humans, we are imperfect. However, we will always endeavour to give our very best effort for the marketplace we have created and those who choose to belong to it. We will make mistakes, but we will never stop trying not to.
3. We will always seek to maintain the highest level of communication with our members as possible. This is motivated by the genuine desire to make Zibbet the best selling venue it possibly can be for your sake. We will always try to be available to our sellers by answering questions, listening to concerns or ideas and generally just being available to personally contribute to peoples' needs. Even as we grow very big, Jonathan and I plan to stay heavily involved in communicating directly with as many sellers as we possibly can. We know this will stretch us, but we are committed to it.
4. Common courtesy is a passion of ours so this will continue to dictate our behaviors and the way in which we interact with you. We believe if someone asks a question they deserve an answer. If we make a mistake, we will own it and apologise. We aim to treat every person with respect. We know we will probably not be able to please everyone, but we will not engage in the practice of 'simply writing people off' because they are upset about something.

All of this may sound lofty or overly romantic and nostalgic, but it is the truthful reality of our desire going forward.
Please feel free to quote or copy and paste these comments in any of your communication with others.
If we work together, we can build one of the greatest online selling venues of all time.
A few thoughts from me, for what it's worth.

Andrew

Learn more about this great site at zibbet.ning.com