Monday, June 23, 2008

Prints!





OK!

I have been contemplating opening up another shop on Etsy.
Mike has been advising against it, mainly because I spend a lot of time promoting my current shop, and he isn't sure if I could really keep up with 2 shops.

I just think that I kinda have two styles that I work with, and I would like to have a more cohesive shop. I am also afraid that the second shop will be really slow, at least in the beginning, and well, with my recent purchase (see previous post) I kinda need some cash monies.

So......does anyone have any advice on opening a second shop?
Do you think it's a good idea? Is my shop getting a little cluttered? (I think so.)
Any opinions would be appreciated!

Also!! Post here today and you, yes you, could win one of my new screen prints!!
Yay!! Free art!! :)

24 comments:

dogwood said...

hmmm, I wish I had some good advise. I've considered it myself (one shop for wallets and such and another for cycling stuff). I'm interested to see what others have to say about it.

Anonymous said...

Michelle,
I really like the blend of items that you have in your shop and I think that while the prints bring in a different sensibility to the overall look it is not a bad thing, it's what draws me to your shop.
I have not achieved a great amount of success with my shop, so I'm hesitant to offer any advice,( I should be asking you!),but I think that you should keep the one shop. I think it is such a special little spot on etsy, I think as your shop continues to grow and evolve it will achieve the cohesive look that you want, just from how active you are in making things in different mediums.
Best of luck with the decision, and I wish you all the best!

Kim Radatz said...

Michele,

I hesitate to respond to your question as I have no working knowledge of Etsy. However, I have much experience in “traditional” business. That said, here’s my two cents worth:
We all have split and/or multiple personalities. In a traditional gallery setting we only show one personality (body of work) at a time, but that is the great part about Etsy, you can show multiple stuff and though they are different your sensibility and touch and mark is still there. You still shine through.
Also, two shops means splitting up your time and one will suffer neglect eventually.
Listen to Mike.
That’s it, for whatever its worth. Best of luck to you. Your work is fabulous, don’t worry about a thing.

Chichiboulie said...

Well from your second post, I'm guessing I know what your recent big spend was! No advice on opening a second shop on Etsy, but I have others elsewhere. It's takes a lot of balance and organisation. Neither of which is abundant in my life at the moment! Good luck to you!

Janice La Verne said...

oh my gosh! a press! I am so excited!

Della would say that you have not lost, but found your mind. Della would say that intention and action transform into success. Della would say that most endeavors are worth a try and if the second shop doesn't work you could stop. (This advice is only if you are interested...)

I'd love to see a shop with just prints or just etchings. I've put both etchings and silkscreen into the Etsy search engine..

I had my first silkscreen class today. It was way fun, but a bit confusing. Can't wait until Wed.

big grin on your press. Janice

Cherry Runway said...

Well, i don't think it's an aweful idea to open a second shop. Espeically since i've found the Etsy shops seem to do better when you stay in one style of work.

I could be wrong, but since there seem to be quite a bunch of us who love to read your blog and see your work, maybe it's not a horrible idea? And if so...well then just post some of your new work on your current shop and see if that works out better.

Hope that helps! Yay for new work!

Eggman Studios said...

One shop. Definitely. Even with the different mediums, your style still comes through beautifully. And if anything, it diversifies your shop juuussssttt enough to keep it fresh, exciting, new and bring in some interested peeps who may not have otherwise seen you.

Unless you start listing knitted scarves or extra paint or beads or something, I think you're golden with the one shop.

Love the new prints! :)

Angie said...

not that i am successful on etsy....(well, i am a successful purchaser, thats for sure...)i think that you should just stick with one shop...you are doing a great job of promoting it...and its still who you are as an artist....your styles dont have to be cohesive....being artistic gives you that freedom of expression and i think people really like what you express. i think mikey is right....you are busy enough...and you might tire out if you had to maintain two shops....especially if they are both this damn busy girl!

ps. i love and miss you very much. i hope all is well. i have a bag of treats for you that i just need to take to the post office....oh crap. i need to find your address again...

kristin said...

della (janice la verne=one of my true love art friends) is very wise.
can you divide your current shop into 2 "themes"? i've been thinking about that for my website--fine art and design. not that you fall into the same catagories, but to say to the world " hey i have many facets, but i'm one me!" you never know how much of your traffic from your site now would be interested in something "different but still you". one-stop-shopping?
also, you seem to be taking on a lot of new things in your home studio-silkscreen and new press--that opening another shop might be "arrg another thing to keep up on!"
it sounds like i'm advising against. maybe just asking some more questions before you start to proceed?

kristin said...

oh, i am totally crossing my fingers for winning a print! i would give it to one of my true art loves;)
(j.l.v.)

abby said...

I don't have any great advice about opening another shop...but I love your work and would love a print!!

Michele Maule said...

Wow!!
Everyone has such great comments! Thank you so much! I am taking all o these into consideration. I will announce the winner on Friday, so that gives some other people a chance to participate in the game :)
Thanks again everyone! I REALLY appreciate all of your comments.

Art Kitten said...

I would keep with one shop, your styles are not that different, and your shop is not cluttered. Although I have to admit I have been thinking the same thing, because I have my books, and my art...

Violet Ink said...

I don't have an etsy shop so i don't have any good business advice. Personally, i'm not bothered by the idea of having paintings next to etchings or screen prints. I vote for whatever seems less stressful.

Chocolate and Steel said...

I just discovered your shop on Etsy. Really beautiful! I personally like to see people with just one shop unless their style in the two different mediums are completely different. But when I see an artist with a style that translates across the board I usually buy more from them:) The challenge is that you are working in two completely different mediums. Certainly you can try it. If you list one item a day you will only spend $6 a month (minus any transaction fees).

Little Bolshevik said...

one shop or two, it doesn't matter. i love your work, and enjoying visiting your shop, period. :)

Ali said...

Keep the one shop. Your new work enhances rather than detracts from your other paintings. It's also easier for you and your buyers!

Megan Chapman said...

Keep one shop.. Your fans will stick with you, and you can keep it in order...

I LOVE the etchings!

I really, really, really, LOVE them...

Great work- congrats.

Nancy Topolski delicately perched said...

I would like to be able to find all your work in one place. I love your style and I am afraid I wil miss something if you have two shops. However, maybe you could start the second shop (that is a cohesive shop)yet also have everything in the original shop (the eclectic shop)- see which gets more hits...
You would have to pay twice the listing fee but you might get an idea of which shop is most successful. I just love your wrok - teh more the better!

Elise of Argyle Whale said...

I see the different styles point and I totally understand the urge to keep things separate but I feel like you should let your current shop absorb the changes. I think people are just fine with seeing an artist who has variety. There are undoubtedly stylistic or thematic currents flowing through all your media that will hold the shop together.

Besides, Two shops is a pain. Trust me!

Unknown said...

Oh I just love your work. As far as two shops go, I'd figure out how to work the one you have to your advantage by making new categories based on theme. Maybe utilize the seller feature with one of each style at the top? And although you see them as way different, there is definately a certain style in all your work that makes them cohesive. It's not too matchy matchy. It makes people want more of your work because it is so different. They can buy several to hang in one place and it not look repetitive, but at the same time be a very nice collection. My two are together!

Viza Arlington said...

I think one shop. I think a little variety will help attract new buyers.

Postapup said...

My vote is for the one store as well. Your style is unique and looks good collectively/and yes, will be much easier to manage. Why create more work for yourself :)

artslice said...

It's hard to say... you never know if you may get a different audience with a second shop. (Will it be only prints or something brand new?!)

If you've got the energy for it, I say go for it!

Cheers,
Brenda