Resellers

Resellers are a hot topic around handmade swelling venues lately. They compete with handmade sellers and often have inferior goods for a lesser price. In the case of a seller on Etsy, she was going to have a spread in a magazine about her items. One of the magazine staff bought a purse on Etsy-from a reseller-and was so disappointed in the quality of what she thought and what should have been handmade, that the magazine cancelled the spread. The Etsy lost and ultimately, so did the rest of the sellers on Etsy.

What is a reseller? This definition varies depending on who you ask. Since this is my blog, you get my version.
To me, a reseller is somebody who goes to the website of mass produced items, say purses, and then buys 5 bags in style A, 10 bags in style B, and so on. Then, once they get the items, they either take a picture of it or use the picture from the website, find a place to sell them, and list them. The problem I have with them is when they list these items on a handmade venue and pass them off as handmade. This is a an outright lie. It is not handmade. Handmade cannot compete with mass produced price wise, either which is another sore point in the handmade community. A lot of people say that supply sellers and vintage sellers fall into this category. I don't think so. Everybody who makes handmade items needs supplies and as long as the seller is not passing their supplies off as handmade, more power to them. The same with vintage. I love vintage stuff and have some vintage books and my vintage glass. As long as they call their stuff what it is, I don't have a problem with it. Just don't try passing off that little red glass vase you bought at the dollar store off as a vintage Cranberry Glass vase.

What are the handmade venues doing about this?
Well, Etsy does not appear to be doing a whole lot about-except changing how they define the subject. They have yet to settle on a fixed definition. It's why my shop is on vacation in Etsyland. It will stay on vacation until the last item expires.
See, on Etsy, you pay .20 per listing, plus a percentage of the sale price as a commission to them-don't forget to add in the paypa fee, either. All costs to be figured in the price of your product and passed along to the consumer. Now if you make handmade purses, you pay Etsy their .20 to list your wonderful creation. If you are lucky, you will be on the front page of E with this new listing for maybe 20 or 30 seconds. If you aren't lucky, you will be buried by a reseller who has just listed 20 or 30 "handmade" purses which will push your honestly listed handmade bag to the back of the bus. All the while Etsy admin. are saying that they are working on coming up with a solution. They are going to allow resellers there-they haven't come right out and stated that yet, but it's obvious. They bring in too much money for Etsy to not allow them. As usual, Etsy does not have a plan.

Artfire has started to deal with the reseller issue by vetting their handmade artisans. I have copied and pasted the application that has to be filled out to be considered for the Certified Handmade Artifact.

Artisans must meet the following pre-requisites before an application for the Certified Handmade Artifact will be accepted:


1. Artisan must be a PRO member of ArtFire for at least 60 days.


2. Artisan must be in good standing with ArtFire.com including


a. No outstanding cases concerning non-delivery of product.


b. No outstanding cases concerning mis-representation of products for sale


c. No outstanding cases concerning other violations of the ArtFire TOU


3. 100% of the items in the Applicants studio must be listed in Handmade or Fine Art. Studios with commercially produced supplies and destash are not eligible. There are two exceptions that can be made. You may list Handmade supplies in the "Supplies >> Handmade Supplies" categories. You are also allowed to have gift certificates to YOUR studio listed in "Media >> Gift Certificates".


4. Artisan studio must be complete and contain sufficient information including:


a. An avatar


b. A banner


c. Complete Studio Policies


d. A Bio with photo


5. Product photographs must be in-focus and of a reasonably sufficient size.


If you feel you meet the above requirements and you would like to submit an application to receive the Certified Handmade Artifact, please answer the following questions in full and send your complete application and photos to handmade@artfire.com

1.

What is your ArtFire User name?

2.



What is your main handmade craft, including the Main Category you list your craft in? (I.E. You make hand knit scarves so you list in the “Knitting” main category.) :

3.



Do you list in main categories other than your main craft?

4.



If yes to the above, what other handmade crafts do you create and list on ArtFire? Include the Main Category you list in as well.

5.




Please explain in brief but concise detail your handmade process for each main category craft you list on ArtFire. (I.E.if you make Quilts AND Knitting work. Please explain each of your creative processes separately.)




You must include at least two pictures with your email showing your handmade process. You will need to provide:



• At least one picture of your workspace



• At least one picture of a “work in progress”. (I.E. a scarf that has been half knit but not completed).




You may submit more than two pictures. However we must see at least the two pictures detailed above to be considered for the Certified Handmade Artifact.

I have one-you can see my new widget on the side of my blog. I'm proud of it. I did have to move the Lake Superior Agate Nuggets out of this studio.

Will this cut out the resellers? Probably not. It will let customers know who is handmade and who is not and that's a start. After all, giving the customers a good feeling that they are buying what the seller says they are selling can lead to good customer satisfaction. Not all handmade sellers will have this artifact, though. Some of them want to leave their supplies they are selling off in their studios. Artfire has a monthly fee. There are no listing or final value fees (percentage of sale), so there is no real financial gain for them to have resellers on site listing 100 mass produced purses in one whack. It's a venue for handmade, supplies and cool vintage stuff.
If you want mass produced, go hit a big box store like Wal or K Mart. Be careful what you buy there, though-some of that stuff has cadmium and other dangerous stuff in it.

Next Artfire Crazy Train stop is....

http://www.artfire.com/users/debvandetdesigns This studio is full of neat stuff-from jewelry to switch plate covers to adorable little memo books. By far, my favorite item in the entire studio is this switch plate cover. I love the vintage look it has-and would give any room it was in.






You really need to stop by and say hi and check out this studio for some great , handmade finds.

Stopping in today at a haven

A Creative Haven Studio that is. There is a very eclectic range of handmade jewelry in this studio of my fellow Georgian. blue-aholic that I am, I love this Royal Blue Cat's Eye Necklace.

This picture jasper necklace is beautiful!! That's a piece that would work well iwth casual jeans or a little black dress.

Stopping in today at JanelsonArts

http://www.artfire.com/users/janelsonarts
You really need to visit her shop-sooo many beautiful things.


Lifelong glass addict that I am, I love lampwork beads. There are some real beauties in JanelsonArts artfire studio, too.

Like these Friuts of Summer Beads


Of all the lampworking techniques, I think dichoric and boro beads are my favorites. Janelson did have a beautiful dichro cab in her shop, but apparently it has sold-good for her and "you are so lucky" to the buyer. I will content myself to show you these beautiful boro beads-Boro Dreams.

Our stop for today is....

the amazing LaDeDa Creations. http://www.artfire.com/users/LaDeDaCreations

She does really cool, colorful stuff with polymer clay. One of my favorite things in her shop is this incense burner. I just love the colors it has-and being a child of the 60's I love the pyschadelic influence, also.

This ring is cool, too. Besides all the cool poly stuff, she also has some bath and body goodies, anklets and earrings.

So have a peek at her shop. I'm sure you wil find something you love for yourself or for Mother's Day.

The Catfluff Depot is the next stop

on the artfie crazy train, http://www.artfire.com/users/catfluff. This shop is full of really cool, upcycled/recycled stuff and more goodies. One of my favorites is this cat shopping bag. I love cats and pockets on bags and this fits that bill. She has lots more goodies, so stop in and say hi and check out her shop.

Time to get out and stretch your legs by...

taking a stroll through DJStoreroom Handmade Treasure.

If you like things made from vintage fabric, you are in the right place. DJStoreroom is full of little wristlets and zippered pouch purses, all made by a SAHM. The colors are so bright and cheery, you can't help but smile when you see them. these are 2 of my favorites

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This adorable little Lamb Mirror. That would look so cute in a little girls room-or a big girls room, too.

Moving right along

Today's stop is 3zArt. http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=12110She has the coolest home decor items!!!!! Everything from light plate switch covers, mousepads, lampshades to coasters. To showcase just a few was a hard decision, but I did it.My favorite light switch cover is this one. I guess because I love stars and outer space. My wallpaper on the home PC is Hubble Telescope pics.
Ok, here are links to my faves at 3zArt. I've been trying for over an hour to get pictures poted and have run out of patience. the sparkly, cool light switch cover is http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=188582 .


I love this colorful lampshade. http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=20947

This blue Wave mousepad is a double favorite-it's my favorite color and it reminds me of where I grew up. http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=86959

3zArt also has double and triple switch plates and switch plates for toggle switches too. It's amazing how just changing out those things in a room can give it a little shot in the arm. Easier and more economical than a coat of paint.

Next stop......

is AccessoriesByGottJoy http://www.artfire.com/users/AccessoriesByGottjoy

Among some of the super cool things in this studio is the elegant Gold and Brown letter opener-a perfect gift for that hard to by for guy in your life.

This silver and lampwork wine bottle stopper is a great gift, too. I love lampwork and things made with lampwork.

There is so much more in Gottjoy's studio. I mean, she has ceiling fan pulls made with lamwork and other beads, beautiful lampwork and crystal jewelry. Stop in and see for yourself. I dare ya!! LOL!

Caterpillar Peacock

The 2nd stop on the Artfire advertising train is http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=24678 -Caterpillar Peacock's studio. She does needle fleting and it's neat. My favorite thing in her studio is her needle felted Calla Lily Brooch http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=148975 To me, it has a great vintage look to it. I love vintage looking things. She has some other needle felted jewelry in her studio, and also has some adorable little teeny tiny berets and fedoras. Click that link to her shop and stop in and check it out.

Remember, when you buy handmade, you are buying something original and unique.

BTW, I'm off tomorrow and since I don't have net access at home, this post is a day early.

Why Handmade goods are important

I wanted to sort of editorialize about handmade goods before I go any farther with the Artfire advertising train.

So much of society has gotten used to running to the local huge discount store and getting whatever they need in close to an instant, that they have forgotten about the creativity and love that go into handmade goods. When you run into that huge superstore and buy a gift, you forget that 10,000 other people, or more, have the same item. I grew up in an era where individuality was important, not mass produced clone clothes, toys or other stuff. I've always marched to my own drummer-especailly when it comes to fashion. I wear what I like and what's comfortable-not what's "in". My son once called my style "hippie surfer flower child chic". ( I will admit that I was thrilled when bell bottoms came back in style. LOL! )

There is a huge movement of people making handmade items now-everything from little baby hats, to jewelry to funiture and everything else in between. For the vast majority of those of us who create unique, one of a kind things, we do it because we love it. Great care is put into each piece from creating a design to selecting color and material. Many people are now choosing to be organic as possible with their materials. It is then made with much attention to detail. All this results in a fantastic product that you will not see on somebody when you run to your kids school for something or anywhere else you go when you run errands.

Yes, sometimes handmade also means a little more money. Didn't your mama ever tell you that you get what you pay for? A handmade product is bound to last much longer than a mass produced one because people make better things than machines do. It's worth the little extra money. Yes, I know there is shipping and handling. It isn't that much unless you order a 200 lb. chair from somebody. Besides, with the economy now, a lot of people who make small , easily packaged things are offering reduced shipping or even free shipping. Since I sell online, I've started buying more online. One thing I have noticed-shipping costs are less than the cost of gas it would take me to run around looking for that "whatever" I am looking for.

So, the next time you need that special gift for that special person or pet in your life, look at some of the handmade selling venues first. Artfire is great, etsy is good and there are others-silkfair, indiepublic, etc.. (I'm not talking about that huge yard sale they call Ebay/feebay.) You can sit back, chill with the beverage of your choice in the comfort of your own domicile and shop till you drop without going anywhere. Try it, I think you will like it.

Artfire advertising train

Over on artfire, a seller named picardcreative, came up with a cool idea for an advertising train. What this means is that a bunch of shops have signed up to blog, twitter, plurk, Facebook and whatever else about the chosen shop,. Each shop gets 2 days of everybody on the train, blooging, etc., about them. I thought it was a neat idea-hey, free advertising is great advertising, so I signed up, too.

The first shop is http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&seller_id=10174 -PixiePirateCrew. I love her stuff. Since I'm a first time grandma, these hats, /http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=62036 ,http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=162631 appeal to me for the new grandson, as did these cute baby leg warmers. Don't get me wrong, she's got neat grown up stuff, too. This http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=ViewListing&product_id=163649 beret is neat and she has more, too. Click a link and visit her shop-you might find something you really need to have-especially if you live where it's still winter.