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Post by zed on Aug 24, 2015 23:04:54 GMT
I thought I'd try a project pack: combined PDF tutorial and wool/fibres needed, plus spare extras: www.etsy.com/uk/listing/245404744/wet-felting-project-pack?ref=shop_home_active_11. For some reason etsy have changed things again, and there's no 'everywhere else' option for postage, so now the listing says I post to 'select countries', just because I listed the different postage prices. Does anyone know if 'everywhere' is the same as 'everywhere else' or is it more like 'one price for everywhere'? 2. Does that look alright? I know people have mentioned before putting everything in one photo, but 4 x 25g batts take up a lot of room, and I don't want to roll them yet for a photo. If I do other similar ones to this, I'm going to do half wool tops and half blended batts, it might be 'efficient' drumcarding your own stuff, but it's not cost effective for selling. 3. I read today about successful businesses finding problems in their 'specialist' area, and then providing solutions. I think this could help me because what I think people would like or want is never what people do. So, what's the problem with fibre/felting suppliers? What don't they offer?
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Post by jwugg on Aug 25, 2015 6:24:10 GMT
Here are my thoughts, Zed, I'm sure others' will have different opinions;)
- what a pretty kit, a good idea
- Looks like you may have made the postage too complex. I just put a P&P charge for Europe & 1 for 'everywhere' - yes that means everywhere else, I believe - That 1st photo really does need to have everything showing in it - when I looked at it I saw small quantities of fibres. It's only because of your message on here I went to the next photo & saw batts, which still slightly confused me. The photos after the first can show the details I think, but the first needs to have everything. I don't think there's need to show the batts on light & dark backgrounds.
Looks like a very comprehensive & attractive package - I think you could raise the positive words a bit - try a bit of 'this stunning & abundant package has a huge selection of beautiful fibres' or something!! & very generous with your quantities & selection for a book cover project. Looks like a lot of work to put that together.
Good luck
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Post by zed on Aug 25, 2015 11:37:17 GMT
Thanks, Jill, I'll sort out the batts later and try to photograph everything together. Do people really not bother looking at all the photos usually?
I don't really have a choice for postage, it costs different amounts depending on where I post to. It doesn't complicate it, it just adds the correct postage on depending where the buyer is.
I don't really go in for all that flowery wording to be honest, I feel fake doing it, and it kind of feels like I'm swizzing people if I have to rely on bigging it up with a flouncy description.
But why do fibres look so nice in real life, but take a photo and they looks like bits of fluff and scraps for the bin?!
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Post by lyn on Aug 25, 2015 14:24:36 GMT
It's a great package Zed and I hope you do well with it! Photographing fibres is a nightmare - usually (unless I'm very lucky and I'm sticking my tongue out at the correct angle) all my eye sees is deliciousness but all the camera lense sees is blurry stuff. Annie and I reckon it's because the camera just isn't sure what to focus on when it has layers of airy fibres in front of it. A half decent image of fibres seems possible if you are able to make some of it 'firm' - such as the knot in the photo. And when we used to sell fibres, we made them into these shapes - again almost making the fibres 'one layer'.
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Post by zed on Aug 25, 2015 14:36:29 GMT
I've just took new photos and changed the listing. I think I do quite well getting good, clear photos, it certainly takes long enough to do and to edit but you can never please everyone, especially when they look at things on a tiny phone and then moan that the colours aren't how they appeared. I'm probably just being too critical but to our trained eyes, it's gorgeous fluffy kapok or texturey bamboo staple, but thinking how other people see it, I can't help thinking they'll see something similar to what they pulled off the brush of the hoover foot
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Post by MTRuth on Aug 25, 2015 16:46:17 GMT
Zed,
I think your redo looks good. I think many people don't look at all the photos. People have very short attention spans these days.
And I wouldn't worry about what other people see or think when writing your postings. If you think it's "gorgeous fluffy Kapok" then list it that way. You are selling to fiber enthusiasts, not "normal" people. I think they will appreciate your comments on how you like it or how it looks felted etc. That isn't being flowery, just descriptive.
And yes, your photos are excellent.
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Post by lyn on Aug 25, 2015 17:39:03 GMT
Zed - the photos are great!
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Post by Shepherdess on Aug 25, 2015 18:16:17 GMT
The pictures are great. I agree that over doing the flowery language is not good but you could be little bit flowery to sound like you are as enthusiastic about the fibers as you really are.
Are you in any of the selling groups on face book? You can mention it without the link in s some of the non selling groups too. People will private message you. and do a blog post about it. I sold quit a few nuno kits from my blog post about it.
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Post by zed on Aug 25, 2015 19:52:14 GMT
Thanks Ruth, Lyn and Ann. I left the selling groups, Ann, I just didn't like them, I felt like the smelly kid at school everyone ignored. It was all Americans and/or spinners anyway. Maybe it'll be easier to be more descriptive when I do ones which aren't pink Yeah, I might do a blog post, Ann. I was thinking of doing something similar but with just the Wet Felting tutorial, and half and half wool tops/hand carded blends. I'm going to ask my friend who helped me out before Makefest, see what she'd think would make a good pack. I think established felters are already catered for which is why everything always looks good to us, but still never sells. I bought too many rubber mats and netting too for Makefest, so I might even add those to a few kits.
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Post by Shepherdess on Aug 26, 2015 1:35:19 GMT
I think the complete kit with instructions for a project and everything to make it is a good idea. People like things to be complete. I put plastic and a rolling mat(placemats) in mine. It shipped in large brown envelope the same size as the mat folded in 1/2 or 1/3s. nothing to add but soap and water. I imagine yours will go to people who have tried felting before so will have some things like the bubble wrap.
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Post by zed on Aug 26, 2015 10:17:24 GMT
To be honest, no one ever buys the book cover project tutorial, Ann. But the Wet Felting one is probably the biggest seller, so I think it's more likely the other way round. Also for postage within the UK, it's the same price for a parcel from 100g to 1kg, so it wouldn't cost much extra to add mats etc, and cheaper than going to get them yourself I may aswell try it, eh?
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Post by Shepherdess on Aug 26, 2015 12:35:21 GMT
You never know. I am thinking of making a scarf kit. I would have to make new pictures but the instructions are about the same. I am still working (slowly)on the flower tutorial.
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Post by carole aka craftywoman on Aug 27, 2015 7:40:17 GMT
Zed I didn't see your previous listing but this one looks super, everything is clear and the process is well laid out, a lot of work I can see; preparing the notes and getting the right pics, good luck :-)
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Post by zed on Aug 29, 2015 11:47:40 GMT
Thanks, Carole I will give Jill the credit for making me re-do the photos It sold yesterday! Now, I just have to try and photograph a blue one, my camera acts like I'm trying to get it to photograph its own soul when I have mid blue or scarlet shades.
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Post by jwugg on Aug 29, 2015 13:09:00 GMT
Yeay for your sale! - no credit to me, you knew what you had to do! Can you replicate the pink set? - it seems like an awful lot of work for photos, description etc if not (yes, of course that's always the case with Etsy, but this should be a multiple sales item, hopefully)
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