So, over the past many many years I have been sporadically selling vintage & handmade on eBay, Etsy & now Market Publique. Now I want to see which one works best for me, and to keep things organized!
eBay is mostly designer newer clothing that I don’t wear enough, I’m trying to keep Etsy handmade, upcycled & extra magical witchy wear – I have been sewing a bunch and am excited to annouce a new collection in April!
I’m moving to Market Publique for vintage. I have so much amazing spring goodies, but I’m trying to move some of the stuff that’s been up into new, loving homes before I put anything else up.
I haven’t been doing as well on Etsy or MP as I have in the past on eBay, so I’d like your opinions!! What would you like to see? Is my style off? The lighting, I know, could be better. Trends you’re loving right now, colors, etc? I have a stinky face no one wants to buy from? My butt looks fat? Babies are starving in Uganda, how could we buy clothes?
Thanks & loves!
Anna @ D16
11 months ago
What always stops me from buying from your shops is that YOU look so fantastic and tiny and perfect in the clothes, and I know they wouldn’t look like on me. I can’t even make it far enough to look at the actual measurements! You are intimidatingly perfect in the body department, and it makes me want to hide a little.
That’s the honest truth, but it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong! It just means I’m an insecure freak.
Lynnnnnda
11 months ago
<3 hi beautiful lady,
i feel like your clothes are absolutely lovely and ladylike definetly still have a huge market, but when i was in europe & now I think things are moving towards menswear inspired, tailored lines, simpler, minimal, edgy, pale muted tones with lots of black and white starkness, with all of the uniqueness in the clothing being for the most part it’s texture, its construction or its silhouette. Accessories are like one very carefully chosen thing. i always think the psychology of fashion is interesting, I think maybe the starkness is a reflection on the sort of doom and gloom situation in the world right now, people want to dress a little more “tough”. However, your clothing choices are always charming and lovely, whimsical, I always admire them. They make me happy inside.
you probably have already seen this, or are even a member, but this site is nice to see whats going on everywhere
Good luck!
http://lookbook.nu/
verhext
11 months ago
Lynda: Agree!! I think I am scared of this style so I don’t really buy it, because i am curvy as well and curvy people look crappy in menswear. I am on lookbook but I’ve been avoiding it/too busy to look. I think I don’t want my shop to be too far out from my style, especially as far as stuff I make, but I will definitely keep this in mind. Thank you for such a well thought out response!!
verhext
11 months ago
lynda: also, people are freaking about this collection:
http://www.loverthelabel.com/
kind of a nice balance between ladylike and menswear?
Marcy
11 months ago
Mind if I ask how Market Publique has been so far? Ebay is making me homicidal with rage and I can’t stand them any more. I need an alternative. Etsy confuses me & sales were slow when I tried.
verhext
11 months ago
Marcy: So far just 2 sales, but I’m hoping as they get PR and as I consistently add things (which keeps you on the front page) it could work out better? Etsy makes me CRAZY. The seller interface for MP is much much nicer.
Jen
11 months ago
I agree w/ Anna, actually — I don’t tend to buy things from etsy when they are too modeled or posed by the seller — I prefer to buy vintage stuff from pictures so I can imagine it on myself more easily and feel like I’m making my own style, not ripping off someone else’s… Your style is so specific and with the accesories and everything, it leaves not much to the buyer to imagine, you know?
verhext
11 months ago
Anna & Jen: I think I’m SOL on that one, then. !!!
melissa
11 months ago
i bought a ring from you recently–the turquoise and onyx one–and i wear it every day! i’m pretty sure we’re in love…
i don’t buy a lot of clothing online, though. i’m very picky about how stuff fits me, and you can’t always be sure, even with measurements…
verhext
11 months ago
melissa: thanks! i love that ring, it was too small for me
yay for it having a good home!!
i do have more jewelry to put up – i never wear it, but i collect it. crazy head.
Sasha
11 months ago
we are almost six months into channeling ALL our efforts into Etsy, and we are still trying to figure it out. i AM confused as to why sales haven’t picked up more for us. some sellers very similar to us are doing GANGBUSTERS, so i am determined to figure out why and how!!! the main thing that works well has been the personal relationships we have developed with our repeat buyers. we are kind of “personal shoppers” for a few girls now, and hopefully that grows. also we renew at least 5-10 items a day, to keep ourselves fresh in the search engines. i think your stuff is beyond gorgeous– if i was getting richer off of Etsy i would be buying from you!!!! and your pics and styling are perfect. some people, like the above commentor, DON’T like things styled at all, but lots of people are looking to the seller/model for styling ideas. you are definitely BEYOND pretty, but i couldn’t say if that discourages buyers… i always want to “be” the pretty girl, isn’t that why they use good looking people to model clothes? anyhow, i can’t wait to see how MP develops!!! are you having success so far????
verhext
11 months ago
Sasha: MP – not so much? I’m hoping it will pick up with time. As far as success – the fact is that I just don’t like the style of what people are selling a lot of – the 90s floral print dresses, super emo style grandma stuff, etc – it’s just not me!! I don’t want to sell it! So I think that’s a lot of it, as well – what’s popular right now isn’t what I like.
I have to say though – 2 years ago when I tried to sell harem pants and jumpsuits and no one liked them — but they mysteriously like them now? Pffftttt trends. Too old for that nonsense!!!