Hi….
I have been neglecting the business side of things for the last few months. Right now I am pondering labels and outlets and how to market my bags and purses and the cards I do. I am not very attentive on these things, I tend to get distracted into the more interesting side of actually making a new thing. When it is finished I put it on etsy and then forget about it.
So, as part of a promotion for this blog and my etsy store I am having a giveaway. Please post a comment about some idea of promotion, some ideas about labels, should I use my real name or use a name for the bags only or a critique of my etsy store or blog. Something small. It can help everyone else reading them too. Ideas of how to improve the business side of things.
I haven’t decided yet whether I will pull the name from a hat or choose the most useful comment. But the winner will get one of the three new oil cloth bags I have on my store. Pictures here. Winner chooses which one they want. I figured I would use a good prize to entice some good ideas! Open for the next week so post before Sat 4th of october.
September 26th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I love little handbags with names (ie: the blah blah bag by me) along with the person who created it. This bag is adorable.
September 26th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
A good place for promotions are places like the laundromat or local craft sales with bulletin boards. I go and post my business cards so people can find my shop. I also use my designs alot myself, hoping someone will ask me where I “got that” so I can tell them I made it! Keep business cards on you to hand out at every opportunity…
September 26th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Well, if you are looking for a critique, I’m afraid I can’t help you…why? Because everything in your shop looks beautiful and I see nothing to improve!! Your blog is also fantastic, I’m lovin’
your banner. So, I hope I still can have an entry towards one of those bright, lovely bags!!
September 26th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
For the labels, I think your name or your shop name is all that’s necessary. When I think of the biggies, that’s what I think of. For example, a Kate Spade bag just wouldn’t be the same without the Kate Spade tag, but it’s a very basic tag.
September 26th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Beautiful work! My ideas for promotion are to enter contest with your store name :-), travel to small stores in the area and get involved in the etsy forums.
Also- check out your competition, what things are not being offered that can set you apart. Personalization always set something apart, if you can add someones name or address to the bag, or have a pocket where they could include contact info in case it gets lost.
Your bags are beautiful good work!
Oh and I vote naming each bag, it gives it personality and personality always sells
September 26th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Very vibrant shop!
A few remarks:
- the banner is a little hard on the eyes
- put your country in with your city, so that it shows up under your location in the info box on your shop front
- fill out your shop policies
September 26th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Greetings! I have a couple of ideas:
Make a label/logo out of this painting: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10452324 It is perfect! If you can figure out how to write “cliodhna” in between the two figures, like the crow is whispering the name of your shop to them.
Something I just found and am using myself is Project Wonderful. https://www.projectwonderful.com/ It is an advertising broker. What is great, is you bid on the sites you want to advertise on based on price, ad size, and popularity.. You can find some very low cost venues on which to put a small ad. Some that are starting out will offer free ads until they get bids for more. There are about 300 craft and related places to advertise – more if you search the tag “art”. Crafter is on Project wonderful, as are many etsy shops. You can see a sample of someone’s ad on my blog here: http://urbandebris.typepad.com/
Good luck!
robin
September 26th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Hi Cilodhna
I would defiantly use a personal name for your branding. Cliodhna is a bit of a mouthful for most English speakers so maybe a shortened version like Cliod or even Dhna. The personal name means it was made by hand, by a craft person or artist. If you do come across a name you really like Blah Blah Bags as Amy suggested add in “by Cliodhna”. The final name would be “Blh Blah bags by Cliodhna”.
For your marketing activities, try and dedicate a day or two each week to those activities. For example if you spend four hours a day working on your bags, you could spend a whole day doing your marketing bits or else one hour a day on them. You choose which option suits you. One week it may be the one hour a day and the next week it could be a whole day. Do it suit the projects you’re working on.
I’d recommend subscribing to Alison Stanfield’s blog, http://www.ArtBizBlog.com. While her focus is on marketing and promoting artists, I’m sure you’ll pick up a number of tips for your business too.
Your Etsy shop looks good to me. I’m not that clued up on Etsy so I really can’t give an informed critique of it.
Hope this helps and the best of luck with it.
September 26th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
this is cool! amazing comments everyone…
September 26th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I was thinking of having an outside paper tag with my name, its origin and how to pronounce it. just a few wee lines.
She was a fairy queen and healer and its pronounced Cleona.. the DH being silent.. I do know how it would be hard to pronounce it to anyone who isn´t irish
September 26th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
I love your products and I think your tag on the outside could read …… Bags by Cliona and you might choose to choose different names for the different types. Hope I’m a little helpful.
September 27th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Reviews and/or giveaways hosted by other sites can drive visitors to your store and raise awareness for your work. Thanks for the generous offer!
September 27th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Definetely promote….carry one of your bags when you go out, with a big stack of business cards kept with you all the time. I think Cliodhna is a wonderful name, unique and easily remembered for that. I love your idea of including pronounciation on a paper tag. For internet promotions, I’d suggest joining some forums geared towards women, I’m a member of Mary Janes Farm, and have gotten several apron sales from the ladies there. Maybe you could talk to some small businesses, and see about them carrying your bags in their shops online/offline.
anyways…hope some of that was at least partly helpful!
Have a great weekend!
~Naomi
September 27th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
I love your oilcloth bags (I have two large o.c. bags for groceries) but would love a smaller one for myself:) I like the name you have Glorious Designs by Cliodhna but maybe shorten it to G.D.C on your labels. Definitely come up with a simple logo and stick with it and use it everywhere(blog, cards, etsy banner).
Giveaways every so often are great (like in this case). I visited one blog that would enter your name in a giveaway if you mentioned their giveaway on your blog and for every person that mentioned they saw it there. Also if you aren’t familiar with the forums on Etsy, that’s another way to get people involved in your giveaways and get free advice.
I think consistency is the key. Consistency in your “look”, the way you photograph your work,etc. Also relist items every few days. if you were to re-list an item everyday for a month that would only come out to $6..which is a reasonable price to pay for being more visible!
Hope I win (I’d love that blue bag!) Hope everything is going well in that lovely city of yours!!
September 27th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Love your work! Floral shops are generally independently owned and purchase lots of handmade gifts. Some will carry your work on commission, Just walk on in with samples and make a proposal!
I’d be happy to host a giveaway if you’d like! And you still have time to promote this one!
Add this giveaway to these places: Prizey, Mom Giveaways, Sweeps Advantage, Cashnet Sweeps, Online Sweeps and Contesting Mondays! Good luck!
September 27th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I agree- use your own bags and have cards for when people ask about them. I have a small group of girlfriends I would get together with and we would hold an evening show/sale in one of our homes- you can make it really nice with candles and good appetizers and pool your guest lists so you can get good turn outs. We would always sell a lot at those types of events. Also, I think it is really nice when I order something if it somes nicely wrapped - nothing too fancy, just nice tissue, maybe a little card or a ribbon. When I had my online business I always hand wrote thank you cards for each purchase and people loved that. Best of luck with your shop!
September 27th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Absolutely gorgeous items! I love the bags.
As for a name:
100% for sure that you should put the name Cliodhna on the bag whether it be
1) a label that is sewn inside the bag
2) a label outside the bag such as the luggage tags where there is a little
chain attached to a leather piece and you could have the name stamped
in gold on the leather and then the chain would go around the handle at
the bottom and secured
3) the luggage tag idea again but have the leather as a small envelop with a
see through plastic window and have the name inscribed on a piece of paper
I agree that having a contest or draw brings attention to your name and products.
I’ve know people locally(we live in a small town) who make bags/purses from old blue
jeans and they made an arrangement with one of our hairdressers to sell their items\
in her salon and the crafter’s name got around.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Yes, always have a label for your Beauty Full purses and your name is Beauty Full! A give-away is Excellent for getting people to your etsy Shop! I’m like YOU, I just haven’t given my etsy Shop much attention lately! With winter coming though, I’ll have more time to work on things! Whenever there is a festival or fair in town be a vendor there! I agree with the other commenters too, always carry one of your purses and business cards too! Good Luck! Cliodhna and I HOPE to have good luck too to win a Beauty Full Cliodhna purse!!!
September 28th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Hi,
Gosh Im just like you, neglecting promoting the part of my business which I really want to grow. Some of the above advice is good for me too! I think consistency is important in ‘branding’ your bags. http://kellyraeroberts.blogspot.com is a good example of website, blog and etsy store that all work well together. Ive been thinking of revamping my blog and focusing it on marketing my stuff too.
As for the name… lots of options… I wasnt sure how to pronounce your name so that is something to address if you would like to use it (as you mentioned) Ages ago when I first ‘met’ you I tried to find your blog again by googling, but couldn’t because I didn’t remember how to spell it. Possibilities …Cleo, Cloena, Clio, CLIOdhNA, Clio Na, Creations by Cliodhna, Bags by XxX Is there an Irish word for bag you could incorporate. I think short and sweet is good.
Do you want to sell locally or international? Try finding places that sell related products, eg if you make makeup bags, go to a cosmetic shop/blog/website to sell and promote it. Beach bags, go to swimwear places. Shopping bags, sell them at the fruit and veg market or an online eco product store (reusable is eco chic!)
Bye
September 28th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
thanks everyone for the cool ideas! this is fun, can’t think why I haven’t done this before…
I am working on a label at the moment, its just a bit nervewracking because you have to order a lot of them and i can’t suddenly change my mind a year down the road. It is important to have everything tied in with each other, a style, consistency as Christine says. I am trying to juggle a few ideas and see which ones land.
One problem I have is that at the moment I am living in mountains in chihuahua in a tiny (and I do mean tiny) village so I don’t have access right now to cool funky cafes and retro chic restaurants and book stores ( i kinda miss that too.. oh to be in dublin or seattle or vancouver or any of the cool cities I have spent time in). I do plan to do that though, and flower shops are a great idea. The project wonderful place sounds cool and I will definitly check out Mary Jane Farm and thanks for the list of places Mary.
whoever lives in england/ireland might check out http://www.thelocalproductcompany.com/
I got an email from her a while back but I live on the other side of the water now.
Also this place which has been sitting in my mailbox since forever
http://www.HerOrbit.com for women with a yearly fee for posting items.
keep em comin! and I hope ye are all finding this as useful as I am,, x clio
September 28th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
I had pondered the spelling of my name.. how attached am I to that ‘dh’ in the middle. Its an interesting question. Here in mexico my name is Clio and that was how I signed my paintings when I first started out. Then Clio seemed to short and Cliodhna much more unusual. Defeats the purpose if as you say pherenike you couldn’t find me again because you couldn’t spell my name.
will have to think about this..
by the way I like Kelly Rae’s website, her paintings are cool
September 28th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Hi Cliodhna
You could approach some fashion & interiors magazines & suggest they do a profile on you and your fabulous work paying particular attention to your new collection of funky floral bags, purses & cards, & have a promotional giveaway just like what you did on your blog to entice the consumers into the wonderful colourful world of Cliodhna. That way you can expose yourself & your work to a larger audience & more exposure means more sales. Good luck with it, I’d love one of those bags or purses…fabulous.
September 29th, 2008 at 5:07 am
I don’t know if anyone else would be open to this, but judging from the comments you have here, you have quite the fan club (including me!) but…
since you have no access to these outside venues, if you would like to send me a handful of your cards, I would be more than happy to keep them in my purse and post them in appropriate local places around my town here in CT. Maybe a few other friends and relatives would be willing to do the same…and suddenly Cliodhna lives in everyones homewtown!
September 29th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Hi there!
Thanks for telling my about the giveaway, I’m here now! I think your oil cloth bags looks yummy and would loooove to get one (the yellow!, hehe), and I like that you’ve included different views of all of them at etsy, though I’m a fan of white or consistent backgrounds at least for the first image that shows up in searches etc.
I think telling your real name is important and creates credibility, I can’t see it at your etsy or your blog so maybe you don’t agree.
Also don’t get the name CLIODHNA (though I read where you got it from); can’t pronounce it and it makes me think of spam from a medicine company, can’t remember which one but they are persistent and irritating!
Don’t change it because I don’t understand it, but take it as something to consider if you want to! 
I’ve read that being active in the etsy forums is a good thing, but I’m not so I don’t know if it makes good commercial or creates exposure? Maybe you could try that.
Good luck and have fun creating!!
September 29th, 2008 at 6:57 am
PS: I would call my shop/blog something like Irish Rain or Irish Magic or Creative waves from Ireland… something fun like that. hehe, just a thought…
September 29th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Hi Cliodhna, what a lovely name! I think that you should use your name to market your bags. Also, I would be happy to help you market your business here in Lynchburg,Virginia. As Nici said, I also will be happy to distribute some of your business cards here in town. You purses are lovely!
Send me an email to convo about this posibility. Hugs, Rose
September 29th, 2008 at 10:22 am
Those are some beautiful bags, lady.
September 29th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
This is all fabulous advice!
Your bags are bold and beautiful ! (the green one is calling my name…) This is a very nice design. I love the name Clio. Bags by Clio on the tags would work. And I like the idea of naming each style of bag, too! As for marketing…I’m still working on that myself! Since you are in a remote area, then the internet is the place for promoting. Keeping your blog updated with new bags and accessories, commenting on other blogs that inspire you and maybe some of the larger blogs may pull more traffic to your site and store. And by renewing your items frequently in your Etsy shop will put your bags in the first few pages of the search results. I hope this helps… Best of luck on your venture!
September 29th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
first Ihanna, that is my real name!
the thing is that its irish and the dh in the middle is an irish thing that replaces an accent and I know its hard to pronounce but its so integrated into my blog, website, paintings, etsy shop etc, etc, that I did think about taking the dh out and having Cliona but then the bogglingness of changing everything made me think again. It is something I am considering though. Clio is another possibility, she was the muse of history and poetry, cool…
I did have a brief foray into Glorious Designs, which is what I am considering going back to also its just again if someone searches on the net, its best if one name/word finds me everywhere. Glorious Designs by Cliodhna could work though.
Rose murphy and Nici what a cool offer… I could send you a purse or an embroidered card for putting fliers out?
x clio
September 29th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
here is a link to a very cool homemade lightbox for taking professional looking photos. I made one before we moved here and its was amazing. Its fragile though, wouldn,t have survived the move so i left it behind and have been missing it since
http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html
September 29th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I was just in Hawaii and I think your bags would work so well there! So for a business idea, perhaps you could research shops in Hawaii (Wailea in Maui has some great high end shops) and send them some information to see if they’d be interested in working with you!
The bags look gorgeous!
September 30th, 2008 at 10:30 am
You have some wonderful stuff! From your oil cloth bags to the fabric ones (wow!) to your textile work to your paintings. I would say you’ve got it going on. Don’t worry about not being “hip” enough (I was reading your other entries) just be yourself. Yourself rocks.
As for marketing? I don’t know if I am one to advise you, I haven’t managed to get my etsy shop up yet, but I have been researching. I think your banner needs some work, because it’s fuzzy. I like your original name best. It’s unique, although hard to say/spell/google. The second option is Clio. Maybe instead of losing Cliodhna, you just start a blog/website called Cliona which directs people to the real site, or something like that.
But I think you should use your blog to market. I’ve been trying to join communities with my blog. One that has been effective is inspiremethursday.com. Also illustrationfriday.com there are so many rings like this. But post your own creations, comment on posts that you like. People start to come back, and link to you.
I think your giveaway is a good idea, look how many comments! I wouldn’t have come here, either, if I hadn’t seen this linked on creativeeveryday.
I know that if you are active on the etsy message boards it can help. I have also heard that a Flickr account helps, and you can join groups… both on Flickr and on Etsy. For instance, there’s an Etsy sellers who blog group. These are all things I have thought about but have not managed to tackle yet. Good luck.
Oh, and I like the green bag
September 30th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I think you need to find a catchy name or a name that means something to you and then put CATCHYNAMEDESIGNS by you…you need a way to spread the word about your store - like putting flyers around - getting business cards made and passing those out - join groups with other store owners or artists or handmade clubs etc…giveaways always work - does not have to be for one of your bags - can be anything - peeps always like giveaways…..you also can put an ad in the paper - price papers - some have really reasonable prices - you might be surprised - meet people from other blogs - just start commenting back and you will be surprised how many keep returning and then start linking to you—I wish you luck!!!
Your bags are beautiful–I love them all~~
-Ellie
September 30th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I think there’s something really special about having a name for the bags–not necessarily your own, but something intriguing. (For instance, I love the “Isabella’s Journey” bags–the name makes me dream.)
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:33 am
Hello,
I came on over from Sepia Art Sudio blog after I saw your comment there for the post with the pretty spiderweb. I would love to be added to the drawing. Your bags are quite lovely. I will have to check your shop out next. Have a great day. ~Salina
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:27 am
Your bags are wonderful! My marketing tip may be one you already use, though. Since you use flickr, I am going to guess you are already familiar with MOO? http://www.moo.com/ While I don’t market anything, just blogging for fun, I have several friends who use their websites to market. MOO cards are one way, one friend is a photographer and uses the tiny business cards with some of his best shots, and gives them out in bunches to friends all the time. I keep a bunch on my desk at work, and have given away several when they catch people’s eye.
Also, the postcard MOO cards are great - I have used them on a personal level as thank-you cards with pics of my dogs on them when friends donated to our local humane society for them to “compete” in a doggie dash fundraiser.
Another friend uses the postcards to market her new private investigation business - the photo is eye-catching and it has all of her business info on the back.
The other is if you could get featured on one of the blogs that does style articles, such as http://www.mightygoods.com or even http://www.dominomag.com, maybe send them an email with pics…..
You have great stuff!
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:33 am
I love your bags! they’re so colorful and happy!
I think giveaways are always a good way to promote crafts.
I think that labels, photos and packaging are very important to have a good selfpromotion, especially if you sell on line: sometimes a good photo it’s better than 1000 words.
Maybe you should take picture of your things with a monochromatic background, beacause your fabric are so much coloured and in this way you could value your products.
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
thanks everyone! I will have to take al the advice and organise it and put it in a post so everyone can read it when this is done.. xx
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
hi Cliodhna,
first off, i love your name. it’s beautiful and unique, and once you start selling more and popping up on the internet more, it will be easier to find you… if folks google you and type in “cliona?” Google will offer, “do you mean, Cliodhna?”
i agree on your etsy banner, your name should be as sharp and clear as your illustration on the right hand side. i love your store and your items!
i have two etsy shops, and i’ve noticed that simply listing items is a great way to get people into my stores. i list one item a day, usually in the evening or right before i go to bed (i’ve found that most of my customers are shopping at this time) and new each listing brings about 5-20 visits. i’ve had some lovely blog press as well and a little magazine feature, but those happened after i’d been plugging away by myself, diligently listing items.
your art is gorgeous, keep at it!
and *fingers crossed* that i might win one of your lovely bags…
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
tomorrow! we shall find out.. I will let ya’ll know!
October 9th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Thank You ~ appreciate all the great suggestions and info your giveaway has created.
Suggest you keep your name Cliodhna involved. Perhaps something like (blah blah) bags by Cliodhna - then show phonetic way to pronounce on your little info tag included inside the bag. Grateful to have found this thread. Best of all that is good to you. My situation is very close to yours. We will continue to give it our best.
Congrats to the winner! beej
November 5th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
I think your bags and purses are FANTASTIC. I would however pay more attention to the composition of the photograph that you use to showcase your wonderful work on etsy. For example the background behind your stunning Blue velvet silver fish bag is very distracting and draws the eye away from your bag. I’d get in touch with some of the buyers of Irish shops or shops in your country and ask them if they would be willing to stock them on a Sale or Return basis.
Good luck and I hope you have lots of sales in the near future!!
PS I like the first half of your name - Clio