Good and bad for online sales

As my regular blog followers know, I think there's a lot of luck involved in successful online selling (see this blog post on luck if you missed it). However, looking at my stats now another financial year has ended, there seem to be some patterns in my sales and some things that I can't back up with hard evidence, but are serious 'hunches' and I wondered how many of you agree that these are good or bad for sales and views? Here goes, and remember each one is just my opinion or gut feeling.

A great eternal truth of shopping:owls a

re really popular

The recent sunny weather prompted these thoughts and my first proposition:

Sunny weather is bad for online selling. People are outside instead of in browsing the Internet. So bad weather is much better for views and sales.

Winter, autumn and spring are better than summer for sales and views. Even if it's a bad summer in the UK, there's still less Internet activity. This applies to Etsy too, even though it's a global marketplace.

August is the worst month, October is the best. It's either very organised Christmas shoppers who are attracted to my shops, or the change to autumn sends more people to online buying.

Weekdays are better than weekends for both views and sales. The exception is late Saturday night when some folks clearly go back to things they spotted online earlier, and being at the most relaxed and happy point of the week, decide they will, after all, treat themselves.

Evenings are better than daytimes - certainly for views. But sales can happen at any time of the day or night.

Sales (as in discounts) and promotions are counter productive for smaller sellers without high numbers of returning/repeat customers. If your customers mostly find you online through searches (rather than being sellers on Folksy or Etsy themselves), then they are probably browsing your shop for the first time. That means they never knew what your non-sale prices were, and they probably don't care much if you've got 20% off today. In fact, if they like your product and it fits their needs, they may well have been prepared to pay the original price for it.

Returning customers are different but if they think you might be having a sale, they may decide to wait for it, and in the meantime get distracted and buy elsewhere. Better to offer your returning customers a discount for future purchases, then they may be attracted to buy whenever they see something they like, knowing they are making a saving.

And lastly, and most controversially...

Like marmite - love it or not, instant reaction

Hard selling and persuasion don't work. At least, not for me with jewellery. Jewellery's not like double glazing - you don't need to be talked into the merits of getting it, you either like it enough to buy it, or you don't.

Good pictures and descriptions help to reinforce that gut reaction you get when you see something you really like. But they don't actually sell items. 'Wanting' and 'needing' feelings control whether people buy things, even so-called impulse buys, and you as a seller can't really influence much whether your potential buyer has those feelings. Sure, you can tempt them. So the main thing is to make sure those potential buyers can see your products... and that means focusing on listing and SEO.

What do you think - agree or disagree?

Double knotting a necklace

If you want to knot a beaded necklace with semi precious stones, but the holes in the stones are quite large, what's the solution?

I'd got these lovely S-shaped 'slab' beads in dyed turquoise agate (that's an agate dyed a turquoise colour, not huge turquoise beads, BTW!) and was keen to use them.  My favourite thing to make is always a knotted necklace. However, a single knot in the beading thread would just disappear into the rather large bead hole. Thicker beading cord might have been an option, but I wanted to use 6mm howlite beads with a smaller drill hole in between the large slabs - any larger round beads and the slabs might spin or pivot when worn and that's always annoying - so I was a bit stuck.


 I have some pearls which are double knotted, but the knots lie side by side, adding to the length of the necklace.  It looks great with those organic freeform pearls, but wouldn't have been right for this more structured design.

My solution was double knotting.  First, doing a normal single knot close to the bead.  I always use knotting tweezers, as this gets the knot exactly where I want it...



Next, I knotted over the knot I'd just made.  It took a little practice to get the result neat.  The best way seems to be to position the tweezers so that they are at the cross over point in the first knot, and very gently roll the second knot into place, not pulling as tightly as you would for a normal single knot.  Then the second knot was more inclined to sit neatly with a little overlap ...





 I liked the results.  There is still some movement between the bead hole and the double knot around the dyed turquoise agate stones, which adds to the fluidity of the necklace.  A big necklace that it too rigid can be uncomfortable to wear, in my humble opinion.  Also, there is very little pivoting of the larger stone, as the little howlite bead is very securely in place.  And because the knots look like little spacer beads, there's another shade of blue in the design. 

What do you think?

The finished design is in my Etsy shop.

Double knotting a necklace

If you want to knot a beaded necklace with semi precious stones, but the holes in the stones are quite large, what's the solution?

I'd got these lovely S-shaped 'slab' beads in dyed turquoise agate (that's an agate dyed a turquoise colour, not huge turquoise beads, BTW!) and was keen to use them.  My favourite thing to make is always a knotted necklace. However, a single knot in the beading thread would just disappear into the rather large bead hole. Thicker beading cord might have been an option, but I wanted to use 6mm howlite beads with a smaller drill hole in between the large slabs - any larger round beads and the slabs might spin or pivot when worn and that's always annoying - so I was a bit stuck.


 I have some pearls which are double knotted, but the knots lie side by side, adding to the length of the necklace.  It looks great with those organic freeform pearls, but wouldn't have been right for this more structured design.

My solution was double knotting.  First, doing a normal single knot close to the bead.  I always use knotting tweezers, as this gets the knot exactly where I want it...



Next, I knotted over the knot I'd just made.  It took a little practice to get the result neat.  The best way seems to be to position the tweezers so that they are at the cross over point in the first knot, and very gently roll the second knot into place, not pulling as tightly as you would for a normal single knot.  Then the second knot was more inclined to sit neatly with a little overlap ...





 I liked the results.  There is still some movement between the bead hole and the double knot around the dyed turquoise agate stones, which adds to the fluidity of the necklace.  A big necklace that it too rigid can be uncomfortable to wear, in my humble opinion.  Also, there is very little pivoting of the larger stone, as the little howlite bead is very securely in place.  And because the knots look like little spacer beads, there's another shade of blue in the design. 

What do you think?

The finished design is in my Etsy shop.

The joy of handmade

If you've bought a handmade item, why did you choose it?  Was it because it was unique, one of a kind?  That's got to be the number 1 reason.  In an era when the vast majority of things we buy are mass produced,  unique item has to be a real winner.  No-one else will have one!  And of course with Dreamaid you know in addition that your purchase is going to benefit someone less fortunate than yourself.

Handmade items really are  made with love

Another big plus is having something made with love.  You will get an item that been through a design and production process.  The difference is, that design process may well have taken place in the crafter's head, in the shower or at the kitchen table.  Sometimes an idea of mine is kind enough to land itself when I'm near my design book, but often they come along on the way to the day job, whilst walking the dog or halfway through Coronation Street!

Then there's production.  With one unique item to make, it's got to be right.  With jewellery, sometimes the actual act of putting together doesn't take a lot of time, but again we crafters have to find those few still minutes in a busy day.

Stand well back - knotting in progress!

I love making statement semi-precious stone necklaces where each bead is knotted individually.  The knots take a little while to do, but it's beautifully quiet time and a chance to think about what you're making, and wonder who might wear it and for what occasion. 

There is one part of the process some of us struggle with and might like to get someone else to do, and that's the photography.  You want your picture to convey the beauty of your handcrafted lovely - but often the light, the camera and the props have other ideas!  That's why handmade items are usually even better than you imagined when you see them for real.

So there's a quick step through the handmade creative process.  Now you know that the process begins and ends with a love of crafting, inspiration from real life and a desire to make something really beautiful that will be unique for you.  Each of the sellers on Dreamaid has also made a commitment to donate part of their profit to help those in the Third World.  Together with you, they can help to share that message of love further with each handmade item.

So smile as you browse!

The joy of handmade

If you've bought a handmade item, why did you choose it?  Was it because it was unique, one of a kind?  That's got to be the number 1 reason.  In an era when the vast majority of things we buy are mass produced,  unique item has to be a real winner.  No-one else will have one!  And of course with Dreamaid you know in addition that your purchase is going to benefit someone less fortunate than yourself.

Handmade items really are  made with love

Another big plus is having something made with love.  You will get an item that been through a design and production process.  The difference is, that design process may well have taken place in the crafter's head, in the shower or at the kitchen table.  Sometimes an idea of mine is kind enough to land itself when I'm near my design book, but often they come along on the way to the day job, whilst walking the dog or halfway through Coronation Street!

Then there's production.  With one unique item to make, it's got to be right.  With jewellery, sometimes the actual act of putting together doesn't take a lot of time, but again we crafters have to find those few still minutes in a busy day.

Stand well back - knotting in progress!

I love making statement semi-precious stone necklaces where each bead is knotted individually.  The knots take a little while to do, but it's beautifully quiet time and a chance to think about what you're making, and wonder who might wear it and for what occasion. 

There is one part of the process some of us struggle with and might like to get someone else to do, and that's the photography.  You want your picture to convey the beauty of your handcrafted lovely - but often the light, the camera and the props have other ideas!  That's why handmade items are usually even better than you imagined when you see them for real.

So there's a quick step through the handmade creative process.  Now you know that the process begins and ends with a love of crafting, inspiration from real life and a desire to make something really beautiful that will be unique for you.  Each of the sellers on Dreamaid has also made a commitment to donate part of their profit to help those in the Third World.  Together with you, they can help to share that message of love further with each handmade item.

So smile as you browse!

Folksy Friday - Orange Part 2

There were so many beautiful orange picks from Folksy last week, I promised to do Part 2 this week.  And it's blistering hot here, so these stunners must be working to help keep the sun out!

Click on any of the photos or the links below to visit these shops.





1. Beautiful shades in this pendant by close your eyes hold out your hand
2.  Hot as the sun print by passionate about photography
3. A really cute singing bird purse by pipdesigns
4. Unakite fungi keyring by NOfkants Curios
5. Stunning flowers that last for ever by hmsdesign & ffflowers
6. Who could resist Colin the cat? by Crafty Mushroom

Folksy Friday - Orange Part 2

There were so many beautiful orange picks from Folksy last week, I promised to do Part 2 this week.  And it's blistering hot here, so these stunners must be working to help keep the sun out!

Click on any of the photos or the links below to visit these shops.





1. Beautiful shades in this pendant by close your eyes hold out your hand
2.  Hot as the sun print by passionate about photography
3. A really cute singing bird purse by pipdesigns
4. Unakite fungi keyring by NOfkants Curios
5. Stunning flowers that last for ever by hmsdesign & ffflowers
6. Who could resist Colin the cat? by Crafty Mushroom

Two features for Blue Forest Jewellery

I'm delighted that this Shades of Carnelian necklace from Blue Forest Jewellery is included in the current edition of Creative Crafting Magazine. If you haven't come across this yet, it's a lovely collection of crafting ideas, recipes, seller features and hot picks from the handmade high street. You can only read it online but don't let this put you off - it means it's completely free to browse, the graphics are beautiful and you don't have to flick through endless adverts or celebrity gossip columns!

So put your feet up and browse away! This month's edition is full of Easter ideas and Spring themed articles to get you thinking about warmer weather.

Meanwhile, this bracelet

features on the Hijab Style blog in a lovely feature on Spring Style. I must say, it would go beautifully with those great jeans and the pink and white print French Connection cotton top. It's great to see handmade items next to high street fashions too.  Thanks to Jana for making that happen.

Two features for Blue Forest Jewellery

I'm delighted that this Shades of Carnelian necklace from Blue Forest Jewellery is included in the current edition of Creative Crafting Magazine. If you haven't come across this yet, it's a lovely collection of crafting ideas, recipes, seller features and hot picks from the handmade high street. You can only read it online but don't let this put you off - it means it's completely free to browse, the graphics are beautiful and you don't have to flick through endless adverts or celebrity gossip columns!

So put your feet up and browse away! This month's edition is full of Easter ideas and Spring themed articles to get you thinking about warmer weather.

Meanwhile, this bracelet

features on the Hijab Style blog in a lovely feature on Spring Style. I must say, it would go beautifully with those great jeans and the pink and white print French Connection cotton top. It's great to see handmade items next to high street fashions too.  Thanks to Jana for making that happen.

Introducing the 'brangle'

This was really a mistake, but I think I might have created something unique by doing it!

The pearls came in a batch of different colours. The gold ones were the ones I thought I probably wouldn't make up. Nothing wrong with gold, just not one of my favourite shades.

But I thought I'd see if the holes were large enough for memory wire, so started experimenting with the gold ones, and seeing if some topaz crystals would co-ordinate with them.





As you can see, they went on and I was pleased with the crystal effect. Quite a tight fit though, and as I teased them on, something happened to the memory wire. It sort of expanded and lost it's curl.


I finished it off with a jump ring and crystal, just to see how it would look...





And now, I think I've got something half way between a bracelet and a bangle. It has enough flexibility to slip on the wrist but is quite rigid like a bangle. Could it be I've invented the BRANGLE?!

Here's the finished article. The colour is really growing on me now, and I'm thinking of putting it in the shop. What do you think?

Introducing the 'brangle'

This was really a mistake, but I think I might have created something unique by doing it!

The pearls came in a batch of different colours. The gold ones were the ones I thought I probably wouldn't make up. Nothing wrong with gold, just not one of my favourite shades.

But I thought I'd see if the holes were large enough for memory wire, so started experimenting with the gold ones, and seeing if some topaz crystals would co-ordinate with them.





As you can see, they went on and I was pleased with the crystal effect. Quite a tight fit though, and as I teased them on, something happened to the memory wire. It sort of expanded and lost it's curl.


I finished it off with a jump ring and crystal, just to see how it would look...





And now, I think I've got something half way between a bracelet and a bangle. It has enough flexibility to slip on the wrist but is quite rigid like a bangle. Could it be I've invented the BRANGLE?!

Here's the finished article. The colour is really growing on me now, and I'm thinking of putting it in the shop. What do you think?