New online site to sell your handmade creations...
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
United States
December 1, 2008 7:14am CST
Between my J-O-B and keeping my inventory up for my online shop and craft shows, I haven't been able to stop in the crafting threads too much. I know I mentioned opening a new shop on another site (stretching my already low inventory even further) and someone asked the name of the site. Of course, since I didn't immediately respond, I can no longer find the thread and forget who asked, so...
I opened a shop at the fairly new 1000 Markets site. The site is juried, so unlike Etsy where as long as you have handmade items, you can have a store, 1000 Markets needs to approve your items before allowing your store to "go live".
1000 Markets takes a bigger cut (5.5%) when you sell an item, compared to Etsy (3.5%), but they don't charge listing fees. So until you sell something, the site is cost free. 1000M also has an easy to use tool for building a banner and uploading an image for an avatar, but unlike Etsy, it doesn't have promotional forums that can drive the site's traffic to your shop.
I like the site... it's quite attractive and there is quite a few very talented artists on the site. Views on my items have been minimal and I've yet to make a sale, but at the same time, I've done little in the way of promoting and driving online traffic to my shop. They don't have the traffic that Etsy does, so 1000 Markets will be a work-in-progress. But they could be a viable alternative to Etsy in the near future.
If you happen to check out 1000Markets, stop by my shop... CreationsByRobin and say Hi in my shoutbox!
1 person likes this
8 responses
@Bebs08 (10681)
• United States
1 Dec 08
oh!! that is interesting!!@ I would like to visit your shop and see what things are nice to see in there. I am not planning of buying but who knows? hahahah I just want to have an idea of what are the nice crafts done by various artists like you. It is really nice to work at home making some homemade crafts I love to do that. I know how to sew and I want to have some ideas of things I can make to maybe sell also if I got a chance how to do it. I am not maybe as talented as you are hahaha.. but it's fun to do things like that. I will check your store later.
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
1 Dec 08
It is fun to sit down at the end of the day and work at my craft table (which is now my dining room table, as my craft room is in shambles) I find it to be theraputic to just sit, relax and see what I create. It's been hard to find the time recently... I'm just to tired after working all day at my J-O-B,(ugh, it's like a curse word) and then getting my sons dinner, checking homework, etc. All I usually want to do is watch TV and go to bed.
But those days when I have the energy to sit and craft, I find myself at the table for 3 or 4 hours. It's a lot of fun and very satisfying when my jewelry is purchased by someone.
Let me know what you think about my shop and thanks for your response!
1 person likes this
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
3 Dec 08
Swords and knives, no...that's not my site...
, but it might be another Robin on the site. I'll send a pm with the link directly to my shop.
, but it might be another Robin on the site. I'll send a pm with the link directly to my shop.1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
1 Dec 08
It was me who asked and I did look at the site when it was in Beta mode. Need to return and see what it's all about. My items are just so bland and they are not items that can worn for others to see. I think the jewelry demand is far more appealing than plastic canvas items. If the site is juried, I doubt I will be able to get in but it might be worth a try. I have lots of Christmas items that I really would like to sell.
Don't have quite the time I did in the past since we now have a grandbaby in town and have been doing alot of babysitting. Guess I have my priorities in order...lol
Much success to you,
carolbee
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
4 Dec 08
Yep, I am guilty of asking about 1000markets. Thanks for the information. I am really enjoying babysitting even though it's not on a regular basis. Just once in awhile and it's so much fun. Good luck with your items on 1000markets. Hope you do exceptionally well not only during the holiday season but all year as well.
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
1 Dec 08
I thought it was you. I read several threads this morning, trying to find it again and rather than just send you a pm (which would have been spam, had I been wrong about you asking...lol) I decided to post this thread.
Over the past weekend, I found several Etsy members that weren't accepted... so maybe I got in because I applied on the early side?? The admin seems to judge photography very tough in most of the shop applications.
I did notice a few Christmas items selling on the site, but very little else (and nothing in my shop, yet)
Congrats on the new addition and I'm betting that you just love every minute of babysitting! Thanks for your response!
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
1 Dec 08
LOL... thinking about it now, you might have to join as a member to comment. Thank you for the compliment and for your response!
1 person likes this
@alexsis (2149)
• United States
2 Dec 08
I currently have a shop on etsy, but I am looking for other sites to sale on. I think I will give 1000 markets a try, that is if the accept me. I make hair accessories and theres a lot of other ladies that make some too, so it is not something unique. Your jewelry is very beautiful. I hearted your shop a couple of months ago, my shop name is jesscreations.
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
2 Dec 08
Hi! I remember seeing the heart you left me, I'll have to head over to your shop and take a look.
The one thing I've noticed is from those that weren't accepted... if their pictures weren't very good, they seemed to be turned away. A few of them have appealed and they are being given another chance to apply.
I haven't really checked out too much of the shops that are "live" on 1000 markets, just the shops that sell sea glass jewelry (and the members of the EtsyNJ street team that have been accepted...we're the Garden State Artisians on 1000 Markets)I have noticed that some of the sellers have some very big price tags attached to some of their items.
I've also noticed that some pretty nice shops have been turned away (almost all have been jewelry) and it makes me wonder if they are planning to limit the number of shops in the more competitive categories, in hopes of offering a little of everything, but keeping the site from getting top-heavy in certain categories.
Give it a shot, if you don't get in, well you always have Etsy and they have all the online traffic. I'll send you a friend request...in case we're not already friends...accept it and I'll suggest another site I heard about (but don't have the inventory to spare in order to open a new shop)
Thanks for your kind compliments and for your response!!
@neededhope (1078)
• United States
3 Jan 09
I was wondering how this site is working otu for you? Have you done better or worst than on etsy? I was just curious. I like all these great sites that I"m learning about. Maybe soon I'll be able to put them to some good use :)
@Paula1966 (1102)
• United States
1 Dec 08
It's always good to hear about ways to promote a crafts business. My main concern with my crafting is that it isn't original enough to draw buyers, LOL. Congrats on your new online store... maybe I will get off my duff and join you one day!
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
1 Dec 08
There are many crafters who are now opening shops on these sites, or have their own websites to sell their creations. After awhile, you quickly realize that there really isn't all that much original creations.
I make jewelry and my niche is using sea glass. Collecting sea glass and beachcombing has been a passion of mine for far longer than I've been making jewelry. But there are quite a few jewelry makers using sea glass and to many of them, sea glass is nothing more than an expensive component used to make jewelry. They see how much sea glass jewerly can sell for and they decided to join in.
Of course, they don't realize how hard it is to find and how quickly supplies are becoming scarce.
I didn't think my crafting was good enough to attract buyers either, but after trial and error and upgrading my crafting, my creations find their way into new homes every now and then .
Thanks for your response!@Paula1966 (1102)
• United States
4 Dec 08
Well, that explains why when I went to the beach in September I didn't see any sea glass!!! I did pick up some shells that I hopefully will crochet into some jewelry before next summer, LOL.
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
1 Dec 08
I hope you get more sales with this new store you've started. I will go and check it out, and see what you have on there, I may order something from you..
...Good luck...
...Good luck...@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Why thank you! I really like the shop's format. I don't have very much in there yet...only 6 items... but I'll be working on adding a few items by the holidays and then adding a few more prior to Valentine's Day.
Thanks for your response!
@yokhon48 (91)
• Malaysia
1 Dec 08
Do you handmake your items. Will drop by your online shop.
I don't make handcrafts, I am pretty good in sewing.
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
1 Dec 08
Yes, all of my items are made by me. Both of my online shops are quite bare...I have 19 items in my Etsy shop and only 6 in my 1000 Markets site. I do have many other items and I'll be listing a few of them tonight and tomorrow in my Etsy shop.
My "Etsy-mini" shop can be found in my profile here at myLot.
Thanks for responding and if you go to either of my shops, let me know what you think...I love getting feedback! Thx again!
