shophandmade.com

Does anyone sell their cards on shophandmade.com? It looks like something I would want to try but I don't know about giving my bank account info out for Paypal so people can by my stuff. I've always been weird about that. If you have sold cards there has it been a lot or just a few cards here and there? I'm really trying to make up my mind about it and would like some input. Thanks for your opinions.

Hi, I put about 10 cards on shophandmade and have yet to sell one.

That's what I don't want. I'm sorry to hear that but good luck! How long have you had your store?

Around 6 months... I think. Good luck with yours too!

Oh wow. I started a fan page for my cards and I want to see how that goes before I start with an online store.

Here's my page if you want to take a look. There's not really alot on there right now but it would be nice if you would become a fan!

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Just-Darlin-Handmade-Greeting-Cards/280523601301

If you use PayPal (PP) -- your account is safe and private. When someone buys from you, their money is transferred through to your account and the buyer does not see any of your bank account info (just your name or email) and you don't see theirs.

PP asks for a bank account and a credit card for backup if you arrange for your site fees to be paid and don't have enough in your bank account, it is charged to your credit card. You can also leave money in your paypal account and the fees will be taken from that first before they take it from your bank account or credit card.
(Just transfer the fee money from your bank account to your PayPal account.)

I looked at that site myself and did not think it was cheaper to open a shop than at Etsy. The cost to list is based on whether you have a "sponsor ad" on your shop, you are also asked to give a percentage as a donation to a green cause AND on top of that, your PayPal fees.

To get people to buy from you, you would also have to do lots of your own promoting of your shop rather than depending on the site to rotate your items. Freshly posted items keep your goods/shop at the top of the list but how many other people are posting items then yours get buried.

Good luck to you!

Try selling on Etsy, it's .20 per item listing, but has a ton of more traffic on the site.

There's also ArtFire.com - and to have a basic account, it is FREE (with no ads). I've created an account with them, but haven't uploaded things to sell. My goal is to have inventory ready & open May 1.

I also took Sammy Jo's idea & created a FB fan page that I have going right now. Just to see if I can get my business name out there prior to the opening.

Good luck!

ArtFire(free shop/ no listing, no final fees and in beta stage (experimental test start out site)) has recently changed a few of their policies. Now you can have unlimited listings (use to be limited to 12/15 items with a free account)with a free account and the only fee that you would have to pay would be PayPal fees.
Items can stay listed till sold vs Etsy four month renewal/fee.

The way you list at ArtFire is easier than Etsy where you have to jump through hoops to make changes.

At least now at ArtFire, you don't have to be a member to buy. At Etsy, like eBay, you need to be a member to buy anything.

They have a great community support system too so you can read up about issues and get help.

However, they do encourage you to open up a shop that you pay a monthly fee of $12 with more perks/tools. ($144 per year) so you would have to sell more just to pay the monthly fee)

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=get_started

Artfire sounds like a good deal. I don't think I'll be opening any online store soon. My Facebook fan page hasn't really taken off. =( I have 52 fans though but no sales except one and I work with that person. LOL.

I just checked out your cards in your gallery. WOW. You are really good. You should definitely be able to sell these cards. The online store may be a good way to go, but also check into some local fairs, just for exposure. Let people know you have an online store and things should take off. The more promotion, the better sales.

Also, would you consider doing boxed sets? Say at Christmas time do 10 or 12 alike or in a theme and sell them? Maybe do an all-occasion box? When I buy cards I tend to either buy for several birthdays/events in advance or do a last minute panic run to Hallmark because I forgot someone. If I were in the market for one card, I probably wouldn't go online to look for it. If a lot of people are like me, you might have better sales if you could do sets.

OOh OOh - maybe offer singles of cards at a discount for buying more? Say like I need birthday cards for 4 people, maybe a few other cards I could "make my own set"? Just a thought.

• TFCasper Said:

Thanks! You have some great ideas about promotion and selling cards and I will take that into consideration!