From Etsy to ArtFire – A Seller’s Experience

Melissa Hamel-Smith, handmade seller from the ArtFire studio KaoticEkkosCuriosities, recently shared her thoughts on what it’s like selling on ArtFire.com, what features she likes most, and her tips for marketing handmade online.

Melissa opened shop at ArtFire on December 3, 2008 and calls the decision the best she’s ever made.  “I can’t recall how I came across Artfire,” she tells us.  “I think it may have been through an ad on Facebook. I was looking for an alternative to Etsy because I wasn’t making sales and I felt like I was a number, not an individual artist.”

When asked her favorite ArtFire feature, Melissa replied enthusiastically, “Do I have to pick just one?!“  She loves the Rapid Cart, which allows customers to make a purchase without setting up an account or even visiting the Artfire website.

“Rapid Cart makes it super fast and easy, something that can make or break a customer deciding to buy. I also love the ability to customize your shop. Upload a banner, play with the colors, you can even add widgets and HTML! Artfire lets you be as creative with your shop as you are with your art!,” Melissa said.

Melissa said she also likes the way ArtFire.com has structured their fees to sell.  “I prefer paying a monthly fee and not worrying about products expiring,” she told HandmadeMarketing.org.

Melissa was recently interviewed by HandmadeNews.org regarding her marketing tips. “I thought I’d share!” she told our team.

Our HandmadeMarketing.org team liked Melissa’s tips for newbie craft sellers best.  Her number one tip for a crafter selling their items?  “Business cards,” she said in the interview.  “They’re inexpensive. They solidify your brand and your image. Just make sure you decide on your logo and contact information. You want people to recognize your business.”

Melissa explained that when she made the move from Etsy to ArtFire, she had to get her cards reprinted.  “Make sure you think things through,” she warns other sellers.

To help reach potential buyers, Melissa recommends to be bold.  “Don’t be afraid to ask local indie businesses if you can put a couple in their store. Also, search out free directories online,” she said in the interview.  “If it’s free or low cost and they’ll take your info, do it. The internet is so wide that you know someone will happen upon it!”

As for features she would like to see on ArtFire.com, Melissa hopes the site expands to include options for those selling handmade internationally.  “I’m hoping there will be more options for international sellers. I’d like to be able to list a product in Canadian dollars instead of having to figure out the exchange rate,” she says.

However, Melissa says she is satisfied with ArtFire’s ability to keep up with sellers.  “The wonderful people at Artfire are always coming up with new innovations to make the selling process easier and more effective,” she said. “They implement features before I can even think of them! They’re really up-to-date on trends and sellers’ needs and wants.”

Looking for more thoughts from Melissa about selling handmade?  Check out her article, titled “Why Artfire is Awesome”, found on her blog.  You can also connect with her on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Plurk, her blog, and Flickr.

What do you think of Melissa’s take on ArtFire?  Have you visited the site?  What do you think?

Share you thoughts with HandmadeMarketing.org!  If we feature your tips in a future article, we’ll link to your shop, blog, or social media as a source of the information.  Simply tell us what advice you have for selling handmade online under our “Join” tab!