Hi all, still no sales, ive done lots of things to improve but still no sales. I’ve got lots of stock now and feel like stopping. Beginning to wonder if it’s my creations. So much competition on Instagram and Facebook, it hard not to get disheartened. Still making them but not with the same enthusiasm, I just keep wondering why. Anymore tips please. Lori
Sorry, no tips, just empathy. I have had no sales for months, and they were only sparse when they did happen. I have times when I lose the motivation to make things as the pile of fabric remnants is only turning into a pile of items no one seems to want. Other times I am bursting with ideas and designs, but try to hold back on the making for the same reason. I try not to lose confidence, and hope you dont either, as your shop has some lovely items. Wishing you well and hoping the tide soon turns for you.
I would recommend doing the daily listing challenge thread. It takes a bit of time and effort, but is great fun with lovely fellow makers, and can often lead to a sale or two.
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If you look at comparable items they have much brighter and clearer photos (it looks like you might have kitchen paper as a back drop which might put some off). There is a section on the blog with tips for improving your product shots
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Hi Lori,
One thing to work on is tags.Your tags are really important as a way to be found on Folksy. I randomly picked your first item, the red rondelle to look at your tags. You need to remove the hashtags from each of these, you just need your descriptive word, no hash tag. Also, you seem to have put 3 words in one box. Just one word or a short descrition in each box. Make sure you use all your tags, I think its 15, or until you use up all your letters! You could simply put stretchy bracelet as one, you could put rondelle shaped bead bracelet or ruby coloured special gift bracelet and so on. the search is not the best on Folksy, but to give yourself a chance, you need to use all the tools on offer. I know theres more info about tags on the blog, i couldnt find it just now, but hopefully someone who knows these things can send that link to you.
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Hi Lori, I agree with others that some of your photos don’t show your products well, some are quite dark and although it’s good to see the close up photos especially with the beaded items I think they would be better as secondary images and your main photo might be better showing the whole item or at least enough so that it can be identified at first glance as a bracelet.
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Hi thankyou for your prompt reply and comments, I’ll give it another couple of months. Like you say very disheartening, especially when I sold over 250 in less than a year on Vinted, all with 5 star reviews. Unfortunately they considered me a Commercial Seller and closed my account. I started doing it for fun not profit, I had no idea it would take off the way it did, I was down over £200 at the end of it all but I didn’t mind, just loved every minute of giving others joy and receiving such lovely comments. Shame Folksy doesn’t advertise more like Vinted on TV I’d willingly pay more. Anyway hang on in there and have fun. Lots of luck…Lori
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Hi Lori. You’ve had a lot of great advice on this post already, so I’ll try not to be repetitive. I’m absolutely your target buyer (I love a beaded bracelet) and I know just how competitive the beaded bracelet market is because when I pop a search into Folksy (or any marketplace) lots, and I mean lots, of results come up so photos are absolutely key to being noticed in the first instance. I wouldn’t stop the scroll for a photo of a clasp or part of a bracelet, I’d stop the scroll for an eye-catching main photo of the whole bracelet so that I can instantly see what I’m looking for. Only THEN would I look at the further photos for all the extra details like clasps etc. I’m also a big fan of seeing the bracelet actually on a wrist because I’m hopeless at reading the blurb but love seeing what it actually looks like being worn (this gives a clear insight into bead size etc). You’re a plus member, so you’ve got lots of pics to use up so this shouldn’t be a problem.
It sounds like you’ve been successful on Vinted, but each platform has their own character and quirks. I wonder if your write ups are more suited to that platform. As well as the great photo blog that @SashaGarrett mentioned It’s also worth looking at and reading up on all of the great blog posts relating to marketing on Folksy. They can really help with what will be more specific to this platform and what buyers on this platform are looking for. When I’m looking at something on Folksy, I really want to feel that the maker is letting me know HOW they made it and what they made it with. On Vinted, I’d just be more likely to be looking at WHAT the item was.
I know that making changes to photos and listings is very time consuming, but it’s definitely worth it and maybe just do a couple at a time so that the job isn’t so daunting. You’ve already made sales and had good reviews so your shop is definitely worth persevering with. Good luck. Alison x
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If there is any particular aspect of photography that you are struggling with then you can always ask for more specific advice. Many of us are using homemade set ups but achieving good results.
(I only recently got a dedicated photography space, most of my photos were taken on a coffee table with bits of white card and tin foil as backdrops and reflectors)
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