ah, but do you mean you would want all the choices available, so that you could customize your item to your particulars (even if you could not see them...you would have to visualize it)
Or would you want to be able to see the exact items that you are considering purchasing, so there is no surprise?
Well, what I would want is examples of different options, even if those examples weren't on the specific tile I was ordering. For instance, a page of gear tiles, which was linked from the options page.
Saying would I want to see the exact items that I am considering purchasing so there's no surprise sounds great ... with plenty of options. If that is not a choice, I would rather see a limited example and be able to look at samples to pick, or (if that's not possible), have options to choose from.
I'm not exactly primary in your main demographic though - I am unlikely to buy in bulk.
"I'm not exactly primary in your main demographic though - I am unlikely to buy in bulk."
Yes this is true and brings up a point i didn't mention. No matter what I decide, the wholesale site with the full line will remain intact...that is for the truly bulk purchases. Its a huge part of my business.
I am trying to figure out the retail business right now. Its really like having two separate businesses, ya know?... wholesale and retail... Making me a little crazy!
I'm impatient! And I like seeing what I'm getting, esp with ceramics where the glaze can turn out differently each time.
But I really like browsing all the pretties on the other site too...
But if you switched to just Etsy I'm assuming you would have more selection there. So I guess I'd vote for Etsy, but keep up a gallary showing all the different designs you have made so people can see them even when not in stock, adn still request special orders. Maybe set up a poll so you can see what kind of stuff people want to see more of? Or let people to rate each item? That'd be cool...
Thank you! And yeah I understand the impatience thing. And honestly it is very satisfying for me to receive an Etsy order and be able to ship it right away...I am impatient too, and it can be difficult to have to make each order custom.
And definately I would have a much wider selection if I switched to a more etsy-centered retail business, and thats fun! I would keep the wholesale site intact (which has the full line) but I would be able to explore more new work I think
I went to your retail website and was so intimidated by all the choices and that fact that I'm just not comfortable about ordering from unfamiliar websites that I backed away fairly quickly. On Etsy I like that I know what I'm getting and what I'm getting into as far as the ordering process. I feel safer because it is done through a 3rd party, Etsy, that I trust.
On the other hand, now that I've been lurking around your journal I would be more comfortable ordering from your website because I feel like I know you enough to trust you in business. Assuming I had the money, that is. I was really tempted by that portal bead with a black background, silver door/frame, and green center.
To sum up my uncharacteristically long comment, it's more about where I feel safe entering payment info than it is about choice or selection. I hope that helps.
Thank you so much for this input! Yes I totally understand the overwhelnng amount of choice on my site. And I wonder how many turn away because of not only that overwhelming feeling, but also the trust issue. I am totally the same way, it takes me a lot of research before I trust that a site is safe to order from. Etsy gives that immediate convenience and feeling of safety.
I don't know if you will find this comment useful or not..spritecreationsAugust 5 2008, 22:18:55 UTC
I like both!!!
I love looking in the Etsy shop because it is a site and and name I trust (also, it is easy to remember the URL).
But I love looking at your site specifically because of all the choices available, once I've figured out exactly what image it is I'd like to purchase.
If I was a new customer, I'd prefer to purchase through Etsy, because it is a name I trust for secure payment options. Since I know you, I'm more likely to go to your website and order through there, as then we can bypass fees.
I dunno, I think I like the option of either having something custom done through your normal site, or something unique and already-made through the etsy store. Are you sure that you can't maintain them or combine them somehow?
thanks for your thoughts! Yeah I will still have a limited custom area on the site, its just a little too crazy and option filled right now, and it slows me down. And Etsy has the ability to create custom requests, I need to make sure my language is *custom order friendly* on etsy, for sure...
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Or would you want to be able to see the exact items that you are considering purchasing, so there is no surprise?
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Saying would I want to see the exact items that I am considering purchasing so there's no surprise sounds great ... with plenty of options. If that is not a choice, I would rather see a limited example and be able to look at samples to pick, or (if that's not possible), have options to choose from.
I'm not exactly primary in your main demographic though - I am unlikely to buy in bulk.
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Yes this is true and brings up a point i didn't mention. No matter what I decide, the wholesale site with the full line will remain intact...that is for the truly bulk purchases. Its a huge part of my business.
I am trying to figure out the retail business right now. Its really like having two separate businesses, ya know?... wholesale and retail... Making me a little crazy!
Reply
But I really like browsing all the pretties on the other site too...
But if you switched to just Etsy I'm assuming you would have more selection there. So I guess I'd vote for Etsy, but keep up a gallary showing all the different designs you have made so people can see them even when not in stock, adn still request special orders. Maybe set up a poll so you can see what kind of stuff people want to see more of? Or let people to rate each item? That'd be cool...
(I would vote for more fruit...OMG FRUIT)
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And definately I would have a much wider selection if I switched to a more etsy-centered retail business, and thats fun! I would keep the wholesale site intact (which has the full line) but I would be able to explore more new work I think
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On the other hand, now that I've been lurking around your journal I would be more comfortable ordering from your website because I feel like I know you enough to trust you in business. Assuming I had the money, that is. I was really tempted by that portal bead with a black background, silver door/frame, and green center.
To sum up my uncharacteristically long comment, it's more about where I feel safe entering payment info than it is about choice or selection. I hope that helps.
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I love looking in the Etsy shop because it is a site and and name I trust (also, it is easy to remember the URL).
But I love looking at your site specifically because of all the choices available, once I've figured out exactly what image it is I'd like to purchase.
If I was a new customer, I'd prefer to purchase through Etsy, because it is a name I trust for secure payment options.
Since I know you, I'm more likely to go to your website and order through there, as then we can bypass fees.
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and bypassing fees is one of the things that has kept me from really diving into Etsy. But in some ways its really worth it.
I really think all my choices are a hinderance sometimes.
I intend to keep them all for the wholesale site, but I am thinking that i wil have a very limited retail site plus much expanded etsy now...
thats the plan today, at least, lol!
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