I started on folksy in January. I know this is a slow month so I’m not expecting much in the way of sales yet. I do have a craft fair in march so hopefully there I’ll get some idea of if my items are liked or not.
Would anyone mind taking a look through my shop and giving me advice, especially on my pricing. I recently put my prices up as I think I was underselling myself, especially for hand sewn items.
I realise some of my photos are not great, especially photographing glass frames so I’m working my way through swapping over to better photos.
I’m having a real wobble about my stuff being rubbish.
I have mental health issues and making helps me, so am giving 50% profits to SAMH (I’m in Scotland).
Photography - there’s a whole ream of useful advice on the Folksy blog about product photography, so that’s worth delving into. I’d personally recommend you invest in a light box if you can afford it. I got one of those fold away canvas type ones with the built in light strips, but you can get smaller, cheaper ones. The light in Scotland in winter is brutal for photography and is one of my biggest struggles, so I do understand.
Pricing - this is a very difficult one for anyone else to comment on. Is this a hobby? Are your prices only about covering the cost of materials? Are you making any money, when you take Folksy and Paypal fees into account?
Your items are charming, but yes your photos do need to be brighter. I know because I struggle with poor light levels where I live - I made myself a light box out of a cardboard box. My box is open on one side next to my brightest window, lined with white card to reflect light back onto the objects. You can also buy light boxes quite cheaply. If the weather is good, I’ll take some things outside to photograph.
Another tip, show all sides of your items - underside, inside etc.as well as the fronts.
Good luck!
The ones I’m thinking of are like a square, white tent that you actually place your item in, there are loads of them on Ebay and Amazon. But that might work!!
My home made one is very rudimentary - I have found a photo I haven’t cropped yet so you might get the gist of it. Its a cardboard box with one side removed, open at the top. The right hand side has a piece of white card to reflect back the light from the window. I have painted boards on the base and at the rear on this photo, (but they are a bit shabby now and need repainting). I often use different decorative papers as a background, but you have to be careful with some colours as they can cast unwanted colour onto your item. I also photo edit my pictures to lighten them if they have come out a little dark.
welcome to folksy…love your shop…the dolls house bedding is fab !
There is a thread on here…“All things miniature” so if you haven’t shown some of your items on there, then go and do it…the more people you show the better…
I have a theory that it is better to list one or two items at a time rather than list loads.
If you are in the high street and see a new shop…you go and look in the window…then you go and look again next week, but it is the stuff you saw there last week, so you stop bothering to look.
IF, each time you look, there is something new, then you will keep going back to look…
It also gives you more chance of getting on the folksy front page…
good luck with sales x
I take my photos on a cheap white block canvas with another standing at the back and then use the Snapseed app to get a perfect white background - works perfectly - no need to buy expensive equipment.
