Etsy

[mstarkweather]

Hello there! I have been over in acrylics for the last few months, but I had a business-related question and lo and behold, there's a business forum for that!

I'm wondering what people's experience of selling on Etsy has been like. I do portraits, mostly pets, and a couple of friends told me that if they were looking to commission a portrait, Etsy would be their first stop. So, I put stuff up on Etsy. But, I find there are a lot of people selling work on Etsy for close to nothing.

Has anyone sold on Etsy? And if so, are you able to pay yourself adequately for your work? I just don't know how people can sell a custom painting for $50 or even $100. And I'm not exaggerating...they really are.

Thanks!

[CSForest]

I don't have a lot of experience with Etsy. I only joined about 2 months ago, and only have about 5 items listed. So far, no sales. But my prices are $100 and up. For the time it takes me to paint something I just can't afford to be selling paintings for $50 or less on a regular basis. I'd be working for $3/hour. But, I don't know if I haven't made any sales because I just haven't been there very long, or if my prices are too high, or I just don't have enough items listed yet, or that's just not what people buy there. From what I see, Esty is more of an craft sales site. Lots of hand made jewelry, knitted things, pottery coffee mugs, etc., lots of things under $50. I don't see a lot of high priced items, or quality fine art, being sold. But then again, that seems to be the case everywhere online. Whether Etsy, Ebay, DailyPaintworks, or other online sites, I see most things seem to sell for $100 or less. Sad if it's true. But maybe more goes on behind the scenes. Some say higher priced items are purchased directly, as buyers prefer direct contact with the artist, rather than buying expensive pieces through third-party sites. I don't know. I've only been at this a few months so I'm still a newbie to the online sales world. Just my observations so far don't look promising.

[RobinZ]

Hi, Melody! I sell a portrait there every other week on average since I began really working it almost a year ago. It does not work to list a few things and hope someone finds them and buys, I know that from personal experience.

Not my best selling venue, but certainly worth having. I can do a small portrait in a few hours and they are very profitable for me.

[mstarkweather]

Hi there, good tips....I should probably break up my listings by kids/pets, etc. Right now, I just have them by medium/size/# figures. I will try that! It's only been up one day, so I don't have any stats to work with yet.

I wish I could get my pieces done in a few hours! :S Drawings are quicker, but still seem to take a minimum of 5 hours.

[RobinZ]

You are welcome! Be forewarned, there are currently 22,000 plus listings for pet portraits on etsy!

[mstarkweather]

Sheesh, 22,000. Well, one can be dissuaded by the numbers of people always trying to get ahead in the same field...but I would do nothing EVER if I did! I will forge ahead!



I'm impressed you're getting such regular work, though, Robin, especially with all the competition. Good job!

[css]

After "selling" on etsy for a few years I feel like I can give you some info:

#1 There is a ton of stuff on there so you should promote through other means like a blog or no one will find it.

#2 Alot of people that have high sales numbers on etsy were there from the start - Etsy is an awesome idea but it's HUGE in numbers and not all that easy to find what you are looking for - some early people seem to have a real following - look at RozArt.

#3 Appeal to women - I don't think I sold anything there to a guy - its all ladies hanging on etsy. Although I buy all my shaving supplies and stuff there.

#4 Look up how to use keywords and titles and tags.

#5 Get a good amount of lower priced stuff in your shop - there's someone on there that sells little acrylic plein air paintings on paper that does really well. This isn't a market for $5000 paintings, more like $50-$200.

I'm not going to be selling on there anymore - just too much stuff and there are fees involved with listing and re-listing and final sale. That said, I'm doing a little eBay experiment right now that's working out petty well - will report back or do a posting on my blog eventually.

[mstarkweather]

Thanks for the tips. Love your work, by the way.

Yeah, I don't know what will happen with Etsy, if anything, but the fees are low, so I figured it was worth a shot. And I know a lot of people (yes, women, haha) who religiously shop there. We'll see!

I will heed your advice, though, and take a closer look at keywords/titles/tags.

Thanks again!

[Bringer]

"are you able to pay yourself adequately for your work?"
But I'm thinking about making homemade soaps

[jbart]

I have been on etsy for several years and it has been good at times. The site continuously keeps evolving in which has diverted it from the primary mission of selling and buying. Etsy, just like the rest of the internet, doesn't know if it wants to be a social club like facebook, twitter, or whatever. Joining circles and favoriting is what mainly happens instead of putting items in the cart.

[mstarkweather]

Have you tried using their advertising? I think they call them sponsored listings, or something like that.

[mstarkweather]

Originally Posted by Bringer

"are you able to pay yourself adequately for your work?"
But I'm thinking about making homemade soaps

Haha. But I hear soap-making can be very lucrative...? :S

[Bringer]

Well, it seems to me that selling accessories and soaps are some of the most successfull activities there.

[mstarkweather]

Yeah, true! I was just goofing around. Good luck!!

[RobinZ]

jbart, I have benefitted GREATLY from the circles and favoriting. I can actually watch my item get repeated favoriting and then someone buys it who never would have seen it except for circles. Especially for my vintage. It kinda goes viral.