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| Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2015-07-20, 5:51pm
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Christine
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Join Date: May 16, 2015
Location: Chatham, Illinois
Posts: 272
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Tips on selling beads
Give me your best tips for selling beads. I'm begging you.
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2015-07-20, 9:24pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 02, 2010
Posts: 3,382
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Well, you can see how overwhelmed you're going to be on this subject! No one has the 'secret' to selling beads. Some will sell well for a while, maybe even years, then that style will go out of fashion/popularity/trend and they don't sell any more. All anyone can do is tell you how 'they' do it and see what fits your reality the best.
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ESC
Soft glass on a Minor/concentrator since 1996
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2015-07-21, 3:16am
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Slogan Challenged...
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Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Maricopa, Arizona
Posts: 6,286
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Perhaps easier to say what you have been trying, or questions about specific venues?
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Kristin ~
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2015-07-21, 10:41am
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Phill
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Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Winnebago, MN
Posts: 2,489
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It's also going to be a market thing.
Got any friends living in Penthouse Condos in Manhattan NY?
Are you doing facebook marketing?
Are you doing small farm town yearly festivals where the most folks have to spend is twenty bucks a week and then only if they don't go to the bars on Fridays.
Kids spend hundreds of thousands of dollars going to marketing school to figure out how to figure out what sells and where to find customers.
Wish I had better answers.
We do have some marketing threads here somewhere.
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The Zombie Apocalypse is Upon Us.
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2015-07-21, 6:30pm
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Christine
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Join Date: May 16, 2015
Location: Chatham, Illinois
Posts: 272
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Hmm, guess it was a dumb question.
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2015-07-21, 7:39pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 02, 2010
Posts: 3,382
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No, not dumb, just no silver bullet to give you to guarantee sales of beads. Anybody tells you they've got a surefire way, they're probably getting ready to sell you a book that tells you all about it.
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ESC
Soft glass on a Minor/concentrator since 1996
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2015-07-21, 7:44pm
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Loving learning
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Join Date: Oct 11, 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 11,654
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From what I see, making beads that are formed nicely, good ends, with nice (and well executed) design elements, etc. is key as a first step. After that?
I think someone here has a tutorial for sale on it, maybe you can find it in the tutorials section, not sure.
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My current "hot" fantasy involves a senior discount on glass & tools!
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2015-07-21, 8:33pm
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Phill
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Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Winnebago, MN
Posts: 2,489
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Aye.
No question is a dumb question.
You wanted knowledge about selling and we shared what we have learned.
It might have had an unexpected answer but it was not dumb.
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2015-07-22, 2:01am
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Slogan Challenged...
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Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Maricopa, Arizona
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well, I would say good photos are critical.
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Kristin ~
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2015-07-22, 4:53am
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Christine
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Join Date: May 16, 2015
Location: Chatham, Illinois
Posts: 272
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My question was sent impulsively after a week of no sales. I did end up selling some beads on Sunday evening. There's some fierce competition out there! Thanks for the tips!
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2015-07-22, 4:58am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jan 14, 2007
Location: Fullerton, CA
Posts: 4,834
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I think she wants advice, like the good photos and the well-formed bead advice mentioned above.
So I will add; be unique, have your own style, make beads that make people feel an emotion, provide quality product and service. Work your hardest, be your best, be an honest seller, be a generous seller. Get to know and enjoy your customers. If you make something that makes you think of one of them, send them a message "I know you own horses, so this horse bead I created made me think of you!" Add a small freebie with their order. Don't be looking to get rich. Just have fun!
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Patti T.
Fullerton, CA
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2015-07-22, 6:33am
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Lampworkaholic!
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Join Date: Apr 22, 2008
Location: Cornelius, NC - because weather
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I need more info. Are you having specific problems selling your beads? Beads not selling? What venues are you using? How long have you been making beads?
Photos of your beads also might help troubleshoot.
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"And all will turn to silver glass, a light on the water, grey ships pass into the west." Annie Lennox
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2015-07-22, 12:10pm
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Christine
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Join Date: May 16, 2015
Location: Chatham, Illinois
Posts: 272
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Tips on selling beads
Ok, well, my instincts resonate with what truegem said, as I never was a person who cared much for copycats. Elizabeth Beads, this group does deserve more info than what I've offered. So...
I took a beginner class in April 2015, bought a hot head, glass, mandrels, sludge, frit, white stringers, Jen Ken kiln and Corina's and Cindy Jenkin's books and started making round beads. I also bought some tuts off etsy on flower making and encasing. I'm still making round beads - not currently interested in shapes. Working with dots, using stringer and rods. I've sold more than I've not sold but a set that I loved got zero bids on two FB auction sites. I did sell 4 or 5 sets on those FB auction sites but that has slowed down of late. Here are a few pics of some sold in order of early, first sets to my most recent. (I have a set of bumpy beads in the kiln as we speak.) I welcome your critiques!
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2015-07-22, 12:11pm
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Christine
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Join Date: May 16, 2015
Location: Chatham, Illinois
Posts: 272
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Let me try sending the pics again, sorry!
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2015-07-22, 12:16pm
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Christine
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Join Date: May 16, 2015
Location: Chatham, Illinois
Posts: 272
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2015-07-22, 12:40pm
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Christine
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Join Date: May 16, 2015
Location: Chatham, Illinois
Posts: 272
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Tips on selling beads
Better view
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2015-07-22, 2:22pm
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Slogan Challenged...
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Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Maricopa, Arizona
Posts: 6,286
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they look fine to me, are you saying that none of these sold?
Most of the time it is just patience and getting your name known. Also, listing in smaller groups might help, as visibility is higher. There are hundreds of listings on the main ones, it is a nightmare for everyone to get seen. You didn't mention prices, that could be a factor too. Also, how many pics are offered with your listings?
So promoting your work would be the next thing. Do you post pics on your biz page with links to the auctions? Can people find your biz page from your personal page in the about links? Post to bead groups that allow promotion. Glass Beads Daily is a good one too.
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Kristin ~
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2015-07-22, 2:28pm
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Christine
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Join Date: May 16, 2015
Location: Chatham, Illinois
Posts: 272
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Most sold. I'll give your suggestions a try, thanks!
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