Thursday, August 23, 2012

Big Cartel



Clearly, I have been spending some time on the computer. There have been some things I have needed to do, and I am out of clay, so this seemed like a good time to do some housekeeping. I have added a new shop at Big Cartel. I really didn't care so much for Etsy, I may go back to it, but I want to see how this works. Lark and Key has my work in their Big Cartel shop and I like the format. It seems to be all about the visuals for me doesn't it? Etsy just seems so meemaw to me for some reason....
So we'll see how this goes. I am doing the free shop right now just to try it out. You can only post five items with the free shop, so it's a tiny store until I see how bored I get with it all. It was easy peasey to set up, unlike my past experience with Etsy, although I have heard that has been cleaned up a bit.
Go check it out and tell me what you think. I have a link on the right side of my blog to my shop and to Lark and Key's shop. I am considering moving away from galleries more and working harder to sell my own stuff. I have about $8000 out to galleries now and some are selling my work, some are not. I may just stick with the ones that are selling, wouldn't that make sense?!

16 comments:

Unknown said...

That makes perfect sense to me Tracey.The big cartel page really fits in well with your main site and doesn't feel like an add on, which is great. I really like my big cartel shop, very simple... i just need to work on promoting it! Hopefully I'll use it for my pots eventually ;)
Could you play around with the options, to get more pieces on there for free? You could probably have a 'houses with figures' pic showing 3 together and then go to the individual ones as options within. If you know what i mean... before you step it up, give you a chance to get a few more on there. I do it for colour options on a print, or different sizes of the same one.

Tracey Broome said...

Scott, good idea. I don't think Etsy would let you get away with that, but I noticed when I did the special order one with the pic of three barns, it let me add the color options. Etsy would say that was three entries and charge for each option. I'll have to explore this a bit. Brain is computer frazzled right now :)

Unknown said...

I hadn't even noticed you'd pretty much done that already! Doh! It works though. you can have 3 extra photos of the product, so that allows you to show them individually too. Just number or name the pics and have the options.I shall be looking at tumblr too, just to get up to speed. i think I'm juggling enough right now though!!

Michèle Hastings said...

The site does have a nice look to it. Do they only let you post one picture for each listing? I have found that online buyers like to see different angles since they can't actually hold the piece in their hands.

imagine said...

It looks good Tracey, I hate Etsy but this seems a whole lot more classy.
It came as no surprise to see that you weren't underselling 'Lark Key', you just aren't that sort of person.

About just sticking with the galleries that sell.
My experience is that when the quality is good [overall]
a little of everything sells, as the public are torn with their choice.
In a gallery that has mediocre work one good person will shine and achieve great sales.
I think it is about choosing who you want your work shown alongside.
Choose your bedmates, but only if you don't mind selling less than them.

But didn't you just know I would say something like that?

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Scott, I think it would be great to see your work on tumblr.
Michele, if you pay the $10 a month, you get many more options. I'm going the free path right now to see if I like it. With the free service, yes you get one view. However, as Scott suggested, I could put other options on the one item and show different angles that way....
John: no, never undersell your galleries that take care of you! I only have the one piece on sale because no other galleries have one like it and I didn't have to pay for the frozen charlotte. As far as Lark and Key, everything in their gallery is exquisite but they sell my work well along with everyone else they represent. They just work hard at making their gallery a success. The other galleries doing well with my work have high volume tourist traffic. It's been interesting to see where my work does sell. But, yes I like being in galleries with artists that I would have never dreamed I would sit beside just a few years ago! very gratifying!!

Julie Whitmore Pottery said...

Tracey your B.C. shop is so beautiful. Wonderful pictures.
I've been thinking about doing this for a year~ Does the money go to your paypal?
way to go

Tracey Broome said...

Hi Julie, thanks so much! Yes, it goes to my paypal account. It was so simple to set up. I remember trying to set up Etsy and nearly losing my mind. This was way better! Not sure how to promote it yet though without paying the monthly fee. It might be worth the $10 a month.....

Melissa Rohrer said...

I had never heard of two things here- big cartel and meemaw.
Such an education!
I will have to check out this big cartel thing.

Tracey Broome said...

Melissa, haha! Glad I could educate you :) When my niece and nephew were little their parents had them call Gerry's mom Meemaw. When our daughter was born I said no to the meemaw, Wesley is the only grand child that calls her Grandmother. No offense to all the meemaws out there, it's just not for us!

Amy said...

tracey- am in charlotte as I write and will try to get to lark and key tomorrow to see your wonderful work. have never been! this is good reason to go- later!

Lori Buff said...

I like how clean this site looks as opposed to Esty, it feels more tranquil. I'd be very interested in knowing how your art sells there.

Michèle Hastings said...

I have done some research on line about big Cartel and have read some interesting blog posts about it. Like etsy there are the lovers and the haters but one blog brought up an interesting point. She had a very successful etsy shop and since she was a big seller her fees were over $100 a month. She was afraid if she moved to big Cartel, for the lower fees, she would lose out on sales. She studied google analytics and realized that her sales were mostly coming from other searches. She made the switch and is very happy. She also said that she recommends starting on Etsy, because they have great tools and it's a good place to learn about online selling. Once your shop is established, study the analytics and decide when to make the switch. I should have bookmarked the blog to share here. If I find it again I will.

Tracey Broome said...

Hi Amy, have fun in Charlotte, sure miss that town! Say hello to the folks at Lark and Key for me :)
Hey Lori, I sort of felt the same way. However, the energy at Etsy may be a good thing and tranquil might not be so good.... who knows. I just like the way it looks.
Hey Michele, I know a few people that sell on Big Cartel and like it. I agree, Etsy was a good place for me to start and I may go back, I just found it very time consuming. Big Cartel was much easier, although I have heard that Etsy is better now. Maybe I'll do both, just looking at new ways to sell work... interesting info, I probably should have done some reading before I jumped in, but I was just in the mood to do it, no research!

TALS said...

Hi Tracey,
I've been following you silently for a long time-I love reading your blog.
I happened to stumble upon http://www.behance.net/ just recently and I think it could be a good idea for you to showcase your work there.
Good luck!

Tracey Broome said...

Hey TALS, so weird I saw this site today and then I read your comment! I love when that telepathy stuff happens! thanks :)