Sunday, July 19, 2009

Crossroads......help!!

I have spent a great deal of time lately thinking about what direction I want to go with my etsy shops. I started with cards and photos, dabbled in upcycled jewelry, added journals, and gift tags, started making cake stands, then wood and paper decor, then coasters and light switch plates, now aprons and soon tote bags and reusable lunch bags......

So, now what?

The cards don't really sell and I don't find them very rewarding to make. I could lower the price on them and see what happens. I charge $5.00 for them, but then by the time you add the shipping, that' a pretty pricey card. It's a nice card, but I don't think people want to pay that much for a card.

I might discontinue my cards and only carry the photos in FourDogDay. Our photos are not "fine art" prints...they aren't signed...they are just neat every day snapshots taken by untrained people that like to take pictures. We don't sell a lot of them, but I do love them.

MyOtherShop is starting to look like FourDogDay use to look, and I'm not happy with it. Too many unrelated things packed into one shop, but I am not opening another shop. I could have FourDogDay be things for the house, and MyOtherShop be things for you....but that wouldn't be until after I run out of business cards...and that will be a while. :)

I'm thinking about not making any more wood and paper stuff. Not a big seller on etsy or at the two shows I've done. It's fun to do, but it isn't "the thing" for me.

That would leave cake stands which I really enjoy. I love looking for old plates and would like to start finding more unusual things to use besides candlesticks for the base. People seem to like them and I enjoy making them.

My coasters are so darn cute, but I have sold so few. They are heavy and expensive to ship, but even at the craft shows they get looked at a lot, but they don't get bought very often. I priced them lower at the shows than in my shop and only sold a couple sets on Saturday. Any idea why that might be? Not sure what to do about them. Could I live without them....yes...but they do attract attention at the shows.

The light switch covers are a pain to make, but they are cute and people seem to like them. I don't sell many on etsy, but at the shows they also attract a lot of attention. I am thinking about expanding on those and making some double ones and some other styles. A number of people said they wanted one but they needed a double one, or a push button one. I did give them cards and told them to contact me and I can make whatever they want. Not sure if they will, but that was an indication to me that I need to expand that line.

I am really enjoying sewing and I think that is the direction I am leaning, but if I am going to continue with the aprons and add the tote bags and things I will eventually need a new machine.

I am at a crossroad right now and haven't quite decided what direction I am going to go. I know for a fact that I will be crafting forever...now I just have to decide what to craft and what not to craft.

I know it's all a matter of what I love to do, but what if I love to do a lot or what if I don't know what I love the most? Then what?

Have you ever hit that place? What did you do? I am open to any and all suggestions.....

5 comments:

Heart of a Cowgirl said...

You are definitely creative! Such cute things. And I LOVE the cake stands! What a great idea. :) I think really you have answered some of your own questions... do what you love and take the feedback from your customers and follow the flow on that. But most definitely, do what you love. :)

Lanyardlady said...

Sometimes creative people want to apply that creativity to everything, and burnout results. You are good at so many things, but what floats your boat? What nourishes your soul? And what do you create more distinctively than anyone else? What would you miss most if you had to stop crafting today? Those answers should guide you in your decision!

T.Allen said...

Hmmm... I started with cards and picture frames, which do not do well since so many people do both digitally...jewelry was a shot in the dark, something I enjoyed doing, but I don't actually wear jewelry. To boot, there are a gazillion jewelry sellers on Etsy. I'd follow first your heart, and then the pulse of your target buyer. Also-you can try another venue for certain items...how do wood/paper items etc. do on Artfire or some of the other sites?

aliceinparis said...

Hard decisions. Make what you love so it will not seem like work. In your listings say that the switch plates are available in other variations and maybe you could make some up to order?
I love my wee coasters. I don't know why they don't sell:(
You are creative and hard working, I am sure it will allwork out for you!

Beth Anderson said...

I say go with what you love. I know it is frustrating when sales are slow however I think everyone is facing that frustration.

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