Selling your handmade goods on the internet - a review of sites

I've been selling on Etsy since last August, but I wanted to branch out a little and get some more exposure for my handbags.  So I set up shops and listings at Artfire.com, Bonanza.com, Ebay.com, and Dawanda.com.


Here's my review of each after using them for a week:

Artfire.com
Total Number of item views after 7 days: 4
Total Number of Shop views: 3
Favorites: None
Sales: None

Pros:
Has the best looking shop of these four.
Most customizable shop options with separate pages for a shop blog, biography, policies, gallery. 

Cons:
It took forever to sign up.
Cost for having a shop is $12.95 a month - but has a 2 week free trial.
Stats are very basic, but you can use Google Analytics for more in depth statistics.

Result: I will not be keeping this shop once my two weeks are up.  It's just not worth the time.


Bonanza.com
Total Number of item views after 7 days: 25
Total Number of Shop views: 2
Favorites: None
Sales: None

Pros:
Seems to have a thriving community of sellers.
No listing fees!
Commission charge is 3.5%.

Cons:
Seems more like a place to sell your last season designer clothing/accessories.No search term tags - I have no idea how people are finding my stuff.
Charges monthly for pro shop, but a basic shop is free.
Importing items from eBay or Etsy takes for-ev-er.


Result: I'm undecided about Bonanza.  Let's give it another week.


eBay.com
Total Number of item views after 7 days: 42 - and some of those were me.
Total Number of auction watchers: 2
Sales: None

Pros:
More mainstream customers.

Cons:
Hideous user interface.  Dislike how search results appear.
Listing fees are expensive, and only last a week.
eBay charges a commission fee from 9-13% on sales.  Greedy.
Has a $500/10 item monthly selling limit.
Customers are looking for a bargain.

Result: I renewed my listing, but unless I get a sale this will be the last time I do.


Dawanda.com
Total Number of item views after 7 days: 22
Total Number of Shop views: 12
Favorites: None
Sales: None

Pros:
It's like EuroEtsy!
The user interface is more like Etsy than any of the others, so there's hardly any learning curve.
Free listings!

Cons:
Fewer products for sale in their marketplace than I expected... this could mean fewer sellers and fewer customers.
Charges a 5% commission for every sale - that seems a little high to me, but whatever.


Result: I'll probably keep this one up just because it's access to European customers that I might not see otherwise.

Navy Ticking Bucket Bag

I cannot get enough of this navy ticking fabric!  I want to put it on everything!


My Navy Ticking Bucket Bag was handmade by me! The outsides and strap are made from a heavy weight cotton pillow ticking in navy and cream, which has been fused with heavy weight interfacing for added structure. The lining is made from hot pink cotton, which was also fused with interfacing. The bag is 12 inches tall, 5.5 inches deep at the widest part of the bottom, and 12 inches wide. The strap measures 22 inches - perfect for throwing over your shoulder. There is a patch pocket on the outside for handy access to cellphones and keys. This bag is very roomy, and great for everyday use.


There are so many things I love about this bag. The insides are so roomy - it holds everything! I love the outside pocket for keeping my keys and cellphone at hand. This bag is perfect for everyday use. It's casual and matches everything, but it's got a hot pink peak-a-boo surprise.


Get one for yourself at my Etsy shop.

This item was made using a Keyka Lou pattern.  I love Keyka Lou patterns.  That girl designs the cutest bags, and her Bucket Bag is one of my favorites.  Expect more Keyka Lou designs in the future.

Changed Prices

I've changed my prices dramatically, and I thought I should explain myself.

This past month Etsy has had lots of online labs and blog articles about pricing handmade items.  I haven't really looked at my pricing strategy since I started my shop last August.  I didn't really know what I was doing back then, but it's been awhile and I've learned a lot since starting my shop.  It was time to take a good long look at my prices, because I knew they were too low.  Many of my items have changed since I started out - my Police Box Wristlets, for example, are way more awesome now than they were when I started making them. I think I've got them to a point where I can call them perfect, but that also means that there's a bit more time that goes into making them.  The old price did not reflect the current quality well.

After watching the labs I made up a meticulous spreadsheet.  After plugging in many numbers, and waffling over how much I'm comfortable paying myself, I realized that I was really undervaluing my products and myself.  Looking at these numbers, I know I've been undervaluing myself as an artist.

Plus, I need to eat.  That whole starving artist cliche is looming ever closer to becoming a reality.

So that's why my prices have been raised.  The thing is, I'm not even close to charging what I ought to be.  But what I ought to be charging is scary.  Scarier still is that I haven't sold anything since I've raised my prices.

Food.  Rent.  Cue panic attack.

Navy Ticking Messenger Bag

I love this bag!

It's made with navy ticking, fused with heavy weight interfacing for added structure and stiffness, and fully lined with hot pink cotton.  It has a hand-dyed strap made from cotton webbing with pretty nickel plated hardware.  The exterior sports two pockets, which are large enough to hold your standard paper-back book.

It's perfect.

It's the same style as my Skulls & Argyle bag.  I've found that this bag style is very functional and pretty.  It looks good on, even when loaded down with stuff, and it holds all the things I need it to with lots of room to spare.

It's a great everyday bag.

Get one for yourself at my Etsy shop.