What does one do when sales are slow? August started out with a flurry of sales. After being featured in an Etsy Storque Article Top Ten Monogram Pendants (first time for me) the extra traffic pushed me up to my 200th sale. Whoo Hoo! Things this week have really slowed down and I'm taking the advice that I so often hear in the Etsy forums. I've turned my attention to retaking some photos that were mediocre and sprucing up my shop with a new mannequin.I ordered this gal and she arrived last week. I really wanted a mannequin that was life size and flesh colored. I have decided to call her "Emma" because if I had had a girl that's what I would have named her. Anyway, when I was unpacking Emma from her box, my son was in the room and I jokingly told him he must not look as she was very naked. Yes, he complied! Hee, hee! Isn't she lovely dressed in my lilac and blue handknit sweaters?
In my research, I have noticed that there seems to be an ongoing debate as to whether customers like to see jewelry modeled. Many people are turned off by the "ick" factor of knowing that the jewelry they are considering buying has been worn and this seems especially true of earrings. But many like to be able to get the sense of scale that a model offers, since jewelry photos are so often magnified to show details. Personally, I enjoy looking at shops that use a model or mannequin especially when they show how the necklaces can be worn with different clothing. They are great because they can give us a sense of scale that cannot be achieved by lying the piece of jewelry on a flat surface.
I have to say that I've had an item or 2 returned because the customer didn't read the measurements in the description and realize how small it is. What do you think? Are you more likely to buy a necklace because you have seen how it looks on a "person"?
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