Hi
Been with Folksy for a while and no sales yet.
I’m trying to wean myself off Etsy, they are so USA 'centric and their advertising rates are getting ridiculous.
I would much prefer, to be also selling on a UK based site
Sell OK on some other sites but Folksy seems a tough nut to crack!
Get plenty of views but no conversions.
Any suggestions will be very much appreciated!!
Stay safe everyone
Regards
Paul and Meryl
With your tile pieces its very difficult to tell from the main photo how big the piece is so I wonder if you get people looking and then when they see the size going else where (although I’m not sure there are many other people selling tile splashbacks on folksy) - have you considered putting more of a ‘lifestyle’ photo first so that people can tell?
I do agree a change of first photo might help, even if it’s not to a lifestyle shot, for the square splashbacks you don’t need any border (it’s just making the item even smaller in the thumbnail having a big black edge), and for the rectangular ones I prefer the look with a white background to black.
I do really like the first photos on these 2 though:
I think they show off the bowls really well and are eye catching.
That probably helps more with views than conversions though, and I’m not great at getting those myself so not sure what to suggest. One thing that might be a challenge is that most of your items are over £100. It’s normally hard to get the first sale on expensive items, as people want to see good reviews first before spending that much money. It might help to try adding a few more cheaper items, or focus on promoting those first, and then if you can get a sale and review of a bowl, people might have more confidence in spending on the more expensive items.
I’ve just had a look at your page, your items are beautiful. At a quick glance your splashbacks do look like individual tiles. People can be lazy and not look at photos properly or read the description. You have some beautiful paintings, could you maybe produce some prints of them or greeting cards?
I’ve been using Instagram a lot, it’s useful for networking although hard work!
Hi Sasha
Thank you for taking the time out to do a critique.
You have been very helpful.
I will definitely try the 'lifestyle ’ shot as the first pic.
Regards
paul and Meryl
Hi Kim
Very kind of you to reply.
Good point about the backgrounds, will try a white background as well as lifestyle shots.
Yes I think I need some reviews under my belt, I feel a bowl sale coming on!
Regards
Paul and Meryl
Hi Sarah
Thanks for your critique and your compliments.
I never thought about the single tile thing!
Will also definitely look into the print thing for the paintings.
You’ve been very helpful.
Regards
Paul and Meryl
you have a great shop and selection of work there…my only suggestion would be to try to reduce your pricing on some of the higher priced items by a third…you will probably benefit more…hope you have a great future here…tj
HI your shop looks lovely. I agree with the comments about ‘lifestyle’ shots to give a sense of size. I sell jewellery and it is really hard to get those top price orders, the recommendation to have some lower end products is a good one. That will get sales and, more important, feedback then people will be more confident at going for the higher priced products.
I’ve not had many sales on Folksy but I do sell on another platform where I do a lot better.
Patsy
Hi Trevor
Thanks for taking time to look at our shop.
Yes will look at our pricing. Your comments and compliments are most appreciated.
Stay safe.
regards
Paul and Meryl
Hi Sasha
Thanks for looking at our shop.
You make a good point about the “Lifestyle” shot, we will definitely give that a go.
Stay safe
regards
Paul and Meryl
Hi Patsy
Thanks for taking time out to look at our shop.
Yes you are right. We will definitely look at our pricing.
I agree “Lifestyle” shots are the way to go.
Stay safe
regards
Paul and Meryl
I think your work is beautiful, lovely photos too, Worth every penny in my eyes, but some people don’t understand the work that goes into it! I’m sure the sales will come eventually, it’s taken me a long while to get to 25 sales which I achieved over the weekend, I’m not very social media person so it’s probably mine own fault! I think patients is needed at this time, things are getting back to normal each, whatever normal is now, have a lovely day
Don’t worry, it’ll happen. Things seem to be slow at the moment, I have only sold 2 small items in the last 30 days.
Hi Janet
Thank you for taking the time out to look at our shop. And thanks for your compliments.
Yes I’m the same with social media. It just seems to be full of people pouting and showing off !
But I suppose its something that has to be done nowadays.
Stay safe
Regards
Paul and Meryl
Hi BabyKnits
Thanks for you support and for taking the time to respond.
Yes I think things are getting better. We sell OK on other sites, so fingers crossed!
Stay safe.
Regards
Paul and Meryl
Paul and Meryl,
I too have been on Folksy for a long time and have not had any sales whatsoever.
I agree that Etsy is greedy but then I remember a demo that a well known potter gave who said that while galleries were greedy taking 40% commission they were a necessary evil otherwise you will never be found and no one will ever buy your stuff.
I was getting 50% of my sales to the USA with Etsy but taking a beating on the international postage to the point where I am now charging for US postage and giving UK buyers free postage. US sales have stopped and I am happier knowing that my customers in the UK are happy.
Unfortunately Etsy is very well known and Folksy is an unknown platform as are others in the UK that do not produce sales or take huge chunks of your margin.
No matter how you fine tune your listing on Folksy if the potential buyers are not there searching for your stuff then you are not going to make sales. I have made more sales on eBay than all of the other UK selling sites combined.
It would be nice to have sales on Folksy but until they make themselves well known to the buying community it is going to be a hard sell.
In my opinion…
Peter
Hi Peter
Thanks for taking the time to look at at our shop and comment.
Yes you are absolutely right about folksy.
They need to start advertising but I guess aren’t willing to pay. Same goes for etsy, a couple of ads at Xmas just doesn’t cut it.
Stay safe.
Regards Paul and Meryl
Hi there,
While I have shared your frustration regarding lack of sales on Folksy, it’s worth remembering that E$$y is now a massive, wealthy, increasingly greedy corporate entity compared to Folksy. Folksy is what E€£y used to be - focussed on craft, handmade items and supportive of its sellers and of small business. E¥£y has forgotten it was ‘the little guys’ who got them where they are today. Folksy doesn’t have the same reach, capital or clout, so you have to do a lot of your own promotion and it takes hard work and patience. I’m still struggling myself, so I know how you feel. However, I much prefer the sense of support and community here and the fact that real human beings respond to any problems you have in the folksy team quickly and efficiently compared to the frustrating anonymity and generic responses of the ‘dark side’. That’s just my opinion! I hope your shop’s business picks up soon and keep going! You have some lovely items.
Hi bimblebird
Yes you are right, etsy is all about the £££. The independent artist is an expendable asset to them.
I am hopeful with folksy and like the idea of a UK based platform.
Fingers crossed.
Also thanks for the compliment.
Stay safe.
Regards Paul and Meryl