Anyone with experience in selling stuff online...

[seawasp]

... let me know if you can advise us on the following:

My wife Kathy makes some very pretty jewelry. She actually has a fair stock already made. She'd really like to be able to sell it online, but we don't know how or where to do this and have a chance to get it noticed enough to sell.

She's successfully sold pieces previously by arrangement with local jewelers, so the quality that she can produce isn't in real question.

Any ideas or advice?

Comments

[remus-shepherd.livejournal.com]

I think that Etsy is the standard place for selling home-made things. I have no knowledge of how good they are.

The other option is to just make up your own site. But that could become a hassle if you're not experienced with selling online.

[ross-teneyck.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Speaking from no personal knowledge or experience whatsoever, it seems like a reasonable idea to start out on an existing site -- you could probably even use eBay if you wanted -- and then, if things really take off, invest in setting up your own e-commerce site.

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

Definitely Etsy. I've sold on Ebay in the past, but Etsy is the best place for handmade items.
I haven't actually sold yet there, but I'm planning to; and a good LJ friend has a fairly successful business on it. Biggest tips I can think of are (1) take excellent photos and write clear, detailed copy, (2) relist items regularly because it will refresh interest, and (3) advertise by blog networking. Some fashion bloggers, especially with large followings, will take sponsorships or advertisers. Sales are a good idea, too.

There's lots more, but that's the basics of what I've picked up.

[redrose999.livejournal.com]

I've had a Etsy site before in the past and nothing sold. But I really had no clue HOW to manage it.

[zanzjan.livejournal.com]

Etsy was going to be my suggestion as well.

[nuranar.livejournal.com]

I think promotion is the key. Relisting things is a simple part of that, as is using LOTS of keywords so people find your stuff. (Search ability and item categorization are where Ebay is still better.) My friend does well at it because she's networked a lot in the niche area, has several blog sponsorships, and her own blog with quite a few followers.

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

1. etsy
2. do a search on "home shows" and rena klingburg? spelling. she has a blog/sells books. the blog /webpage is REALLY useful http://bit.ly/bF5MOk

join the LJ etsy community, and start looking arond Lj for "jewelry" in the tags or interests, or jewelry making... read the blogs of the successful ones.

hi, i make jewelry and sell beads. pleased to meet you.

[mouseferatu.livejournal.com]

Yet another Etsy recommendation. My wife shops there frequently.

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

These are great suggestions.

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

On the promotion side of it, mentioning certain items to showcase them say on twitter or FB or asking friends to mention a sale, often help.

[kira-snugz.livejournal.com]

an etsy, a blog and a twitter are good places to start.

http://www.craftster.org/ has a business section she should check out, they have a specific forum for etsy related stuff.

good luck to her!

[zonereyrie.livejournal.com]

Like everyone else - Etsy. My fiancée buys stuff from there all the time, and I have friends who make jewelry, knit, etc, and sell stuff there.