: GEP - Viewing Profile

mmhpottery, on 17 May 2013 - 04:48 PM, said:

I should add that I also pack a separate "artist card" which is like a business card but without any contact info other than my website. This card contains my short artist statement and the "dishwasher, microwave safe" language. I keep them in a stack on my checkout table so customers can take them, and I also pack them with the sold pots. That way I don't have to squeeze that info onto the hang tags. The hang tags only say my company name, plus the name of the pot.

Mea

oldlady, on 17 May 2013 - 11:29 AM, said:

I mostly know the prices of all of my items in my head. But just in case, I also keep a notebook with me, where I've logged all my inventory and the prices. I can quickly peek at the notebook if needed.

Mea

mmh,

I have a few suggestions of things that work for me. First, I put hangtags on just about everything (except items that are too small). I sometimes write prices on the hangtag, but mostly I do it for presentation and marketing. I do agree with you that it's possible for hangtags to be too big, and therefore cluttery looking. My hangtags are really small. The ones I'm using now are actually smaller than the ones I wrote about in this blog post last year:

http://www.goodeleph...alespeople.html


In the blog post I mention that I use either wires or glue dots to attach the hangtags. Many people wrote me to ask "what are glue dots?" There are several brands but they generally look like this:

http://www.amazon.co...words=glue+dots

You'll find them in the art supply store in the adhesives aisle. They are not all the same, do not buy anything that says "removable" they are not sticky enough. And try to find some that are not paper flat, but instead have a little thickness to them and a gooey consistency, they stay put really well.



Finally, in addition to hang tags, this is the price tag system I use the most now. I started doing this last year, and it works great! I get tons of compliments on them. It wasn't my original idea, I saw another potter doing this, so feel free to copy!

http://www.goodeleph...e-and-tiny.html


Mea

kohaku, to learn some tips about increasing your facebook presence, spend some time studying the pages that have thousands of likes. e.g. Michael Kline, Whitney Smith, Emily Murphy. They have a lot in common:

- they post often
- they post a lot of gorgeous photos
- they always have events to announce (shows, new blog post, new pots, etsy store sale, etc)

In other words, if your pottery studio is busy and active, your facebook page will naturally be interesting to other potters.

I don't post as often as I should, I'm a little lazy about it. But to me it's clear when I've made a good post or a so-so post. A good post gets shared by others, and my reach gets multiplied by a lot, and my likes grow. When I don't post for weeks, or if I post something boring, nothing happens.

Same principles apply to any web presence, like a blog or an etsy store. How active you are, and the quality of your content, will draw fans. If you aren't active, or if you are boring, nothing happens. I can tell when I've done a good job with a blog post, because my mailing list grows, and I get facebook likes. If I post something less interesting, I get meh.

For me, whenever a potter/artist uses their facebook page or their blog to discuss the local weather, I tune out. It means they are just trying to meet a posting schedule, but they've run out of things to say.

Mea

I have a friend with the portable NorthStar, and she likes it a lot. I've seen it and looks sturdy and well-made.

I have an 18 inch slabroller myself (not a portable one) and it is way more useful than a rolling pin! It cranks out a lot of work for me.

Mea