--- Go to the Opening Page of the [Baren] web site ---

Message 1
From: ArtfulCarol # aol.com
Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 13:42:45 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38808] Re: no grace periods
Send Message: To this poster

I totally agree with Gillyin.
Some of us burn the midnight oil in order to make the deadline for
Exchanges. One of the reasons I have not been involved in recent exchanges is
that the deadlines are not adhered to and then the coordinator has to plead
with the participants to get their prints in .
Other organizations don't work like that.
Carol Lyons
Irvington, NY

• [Back to message index]

Message 2
From: Mary Kuster
Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 14:10:26 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38809] Baren Ads & Ops Reminder to submit
Send Message: To this poster

Don't forget that I will be posting the May "Ads and Ops"
Newsletter/Digest on the 15th. I'll need your /ad or op/ by the
13th, please.
Submit ads to ads@barenforum.org


Your ads coordinator,

Mary Kuster
ads@barenforum.org
mkuster@kusterart.com

• [Back to message index]

Message 3
From: Shelley Hagan
Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 14:53:12 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38810] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V47 #4807 (May 6, 2009)
Send Message: To this poster

The discussion of Etsy has been interesting to follow. My father makes
puzzles and has been asking me about the pros and cons of Etsy - now I have
a little feedback for him. Thank you, Marissa and Diana, for sharing your
Etsy sites. I would love links to other online stores from those of you who
have them. Please email me (off list or perhaps on if this is information
that others would like?)

Never having sold my artwork, I do not have much to add to the conversation
but imho the sale of your work - whether it is art, a service, etc. - seems
to be tied to personality as well as exposure. As Benny mentioned, the
successful Etsy sellers had clients that they met through a chat room. And
while personality may not have been the deciding factor, I think that name
recognition and familiarity contributed to their onlines sales. As we've
discussed before, buying art is intimidating to many people and simply being
able to see an artist's name, recognize the name, have a general idea of the
person behind the name, etc. helps make the art more accessible. In short, I
(and again, I don't sell my work so this is all to be taken with a grain of
salt) think that when it comes to sales there is no substitute for
networking.

Shelley

• [Back to message index]

Message 4
From: "Ellen Shipley"
Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 15:40:03 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38811] Re: selling prints on line
Send Message: To this poster

Marissa is an inspiration on Etsy. I got a shop because of her enthusiasm. I've had nothing like her success -- more like a sale every six months. I consider it more of a gallery of my work and don't sweat the minimal fees.

I just have to remember to keep it up.

http://ellenshipley.etsy.com

Ellen Shipley

• [Back to message index]

Message 5
From: "viza arlington"
Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 15:54:17 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38812] etsy and deadlines
Send Message: To this poster

I also sell my prints on etsy. i agree with Marissa it's not what it used to be but i still manage to make sales. here is a link to my shop http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=52131. as far as the whole exchanges and deadlines thing goes i always have fun and i am just happy that i found this group and the exchanges. i have been in late ones and really late ones but i am always happy when the package arrives. if people want strict deadlines thats fine with me or if they want to be lenient thats fine too as long as people still sign up for the exchanges and everyone feels welcome to participate.
viza

• [Back to message index]

Message 6
From: Lynn Starun
Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 16:28:41 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38813] Re: New Baren Digest (HTML) V47 #4807 (May 6, 2009)Hi
Send Message: To this poster

Hi Georgina,I've been on Etsy for maybe a year or so.  I have had a modest number of sales but since the fees are so low it was definitely worth the effort to learn how to set up a shop.  I got Google Analytics and can now see information about how people find their way to my shop.  It's fascinating.  My sales have fallen off and I suppose it's the economy but also the tremendous growth of Etsy.  I get some referrals from Printsy which is a sort of subgroup in Etsy for printmakers making original prints.  There's an awful lot of "cute" stuff on Etsy but also some seriously excellent stuff.  Perhaps the public will gradually become more aware and learn to navigate their way to the better stuff over time!Lynn

• [Back to message index]

Message 7
From: Sharri LaPierre
Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 17:05:38 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38814] Re: selling prints on line
Send Message: To this poster

I know others have had good luck on Etsy, but I have not. I should
qualify this by saying that I have put absolutely no effort into it
after the initial set up, however. Also, the prints I listed were in
a higher price range - I think items for $25 or less sell better. I
had one offer to trade from another Etsy member, but she never got
back to me when I said what I wanted from her site. That was my
experience, but others have had better luck.

Selling on line is a real sticky wicket. Personally, I have only sold
to people who have seen my work in person someplace else. We have
only to look at the exchanges on line to see that our prints appear
totally different on a monitor than they do in the flesh.

My experience told me that my work doesn't belong on Etsy - I think it
is a great place to shop for crafts, jewelry, baby gifts, etc., but
maybe not so great for fine art. Having said that, I realize that I
risk being called a snob, so I may as well add that representational
artwork also probably has a better chance of selling. Well, now I've
done it — Foot is firmly lodged in mouth.

Cheers ~
Sharri

• [Back to message index]

Message 8
From: "scottd - kaizen design llc."
Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 17:20:51 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38815] Re: selling prints on line
Send Message: To this poster

I'm new. My name is scottd (scott damschroder), and I work in multiple
media. Block prints being the newest thing I've started work on. Love
it.

That said, David Bulls' explanation of why he sells like he does sums up
much of what matters to many buyers, and especially to block printers
who use exceptional papers.

The print is something to experience. Feel it, hold it, experience the
surface and textures. It's not JUST a print.

It's hard to get that across in any online medium, but an explanation of
the experience of the print like David has is very compelling to people
looking for block prints that are truly exceptional art. It may be the
key to getting one in a new customers hand - after that, they'll be
hooked. If you're printing giclee copies of a print, as beautiful as
they may be (I print giclee, so I'm not bashing here:) that's a whole
different animal.

Hello to all and thanks for the info. I'll hover and learn.
Scottd.

• [Back to message index]

Message 9
From: Marissa
Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 17:35:55 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38816] Re: selling prints on line
Send Message: To this poster

You are right it is easier to sell things at a lower price point but I have
had a number of pieces sell for over $100 even over $300 on Etsy. From
buyers that wouldn't have found me elsewhere. I think it helps to have lower
priced items to draw people in and mix in the more expensive stuff. I don't
think Etsy is just for crafts. And a lot of what sells in the art category
is unfortunately low cost low quality reproductions labeled as prints. But
that is a whole new can of worms.

Etsy isn't for everybody, but fine art can make it there!

~marissa

• [Back to message index]

Message 10
From: Marissa
Date: Wed, 06 May 2009 17:36:27 GMT
Subject: [Baren 38817] Re: selling prints on line
Send Message: To this poster

Awww thank you Ellen! Things have been rough online this year so it is a
nice pick me up to hear you say that! Best wishes!

• [Back to message index]

• Subscribe/Unsubscribe to [Baren] here
• Switch your Digest subscription between 'Plain Text' and HTML here
• Upload your image to be used in these Digests here
• Send your 'ads' for the monthly Ad Roundup to [ads@barenforum.org], before the 15th of the month.
• Most recent statistics on our website are here
• Contact the group managers here
• [Baren] members: if you have a printmaking blog, or a website with a published ATOM feed, and wish it to be included in our daily checklist, please write to the Baren Blog Manager here. (If your blog also contains material other than woodblock-related items, we can only add you if the woodblock posts will be 'labeled' as such. The Blog Managers can provide details.)
• A list of Blogs/Sites currently being tracked by our feed scraper is here