I was recently approached and was talked to by a company that wanted to put a e-commerce page on my web site. They stated I could generate more sales this way then what my current site suggests potential buyers do . . . . contact me.
My opinion is I want to get a buyer something special that is perfect for their walls. I sign and number what I do and I feel it is something special.
On the other hand something like shopify would give me orders with prints and whatever being shipped right to the customer. Basically all I do is collect the money.
My problem here is 1. do people actually order art like this? Is it that spontaneous? 2. I no longer can sign or even know who the art is going to. Is that something I just have to get over?
Does anyone have any comments and opinions over e-commerce like this when it comes to art?
Rod
Replies
Well, I have jumped in full throttle to see what happens. Being a photographer I'm finding it amazing how many files and photos I have. If nothing else this has really gotten me organized.
Still a work in progress - the thing is that people kept asking me at art fairs if I had a website I could sell things out of. Now I do.
RodMelotte.com
I really enjoy doing shows but I also really enjoy making sales on my website. The shows are a great way to sell and make face-to-face contacts and give out cards...and it is a good source to get interested buyers to visit my website..
I use the PayPal shopping cart and it is simple to use and has no costs other than the 2.7% transaction fee that I pay whenever or wherever I accept a credit card payment. Pay Pal also accepts most major credit cards.
This allows me to have total control of the process...from sales to shipping and knowing who I sold to so I can send thank you notes and follow up in the future.
Why does selling on your website mean you can no longer sign your art? Just fulfill the orders yourself and don't use the automated printing option.
I am re-doing my webstore right now, but have always fulfilled the orders myself.
Something like Shopify would take your order, create the image and send it to the buyer. All I would do is collect the money since I do not print my own images (way way too large). OR - they could send the image to me and I would eat the extra shipping costs and send it elsewhere? Shipping would be $40 to $60 for each order I would think.
I was not aware that Shopify does photo printing. I am redesigning my store with BigCommerce, which is similar to Shopify I think. I build the webstore through them, list my photos and options. When people make a purchase I am notified and ship from what I have in stock or if I don't have it in stock I order from my lab and have it sent to me. Then I ship to the customer. This allows me to have quality control (although I rarely have issues with the lab) and can still sign and brand my work. Shipping cost is factored into the price of my pieces.
Why would it cost you so much for shipping??? $40-60 seems excessive for most situations. The only time I pay that much for shipping is when shipping really large (5 feet and up) framed/mounted/canvas pieces.
My normal size for canvas prints is 16x48 lately and had one 20x60 a couple weeks ago (biggest was 3x7 feet so far . . had to buy a trailer to deliver it LOL).
Connie's podcast sort of got me thinking in a new direction. For me Art Fairs, while I do pretty well seem to be more advertising with sales continuing weeks later from people looking at my site.
OH - the printing was done my an app attached to Shopify called Print House.
That still sounds like a lot for shipping...but if thats what it is costing you then just factor it into the price you are charging for your pieces.
I don't think I've heard that podcast, so I will check it out later. But just like you said, art shows can be great advertising for your website and its good to have the ability to take orders easily. Think about when you want to buy something online, if the website says "if you want to buy something email or call us" then I'm going to a different place that will make buying it easy. The people that do contact you are EXTREMELY interested and determined to buy, my guess is they represent less than 10% of people who actually would want to make a purchase, if it were easier.
exactly how I'm thinking NOW. I WAS thinking "no one is going to buy art from a website". But hmmmmm out of 1 BILLION people on line all it takes is one! And if it's easy. LOL
What changed my mind was the "why do you have a website anyway. To show pretty pictures? or to sell.
Shipping - not a real clue actually. It's not the weight but the size that matters.
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