Quick and Easy Product Reviews

I just found this cool app on my new Chrome browser.  Yeah, I accidentally downloaded Chrome when I downloaded a PC Cleaner program. Some days, I tell ya!!

Any ways, the app is called Reel and you can upload pics of your item and share the link.  People viewing can do a quick and easy review by either Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down.  Just click, click, click!  Here are a couple slide shows to review:

Here We Go Again!

Well, you may remember a year or more ago when everyone was fed up with Etsy when they were messing with the SEO of their site.  Well, we mumbled and grumbled and  moved on.  We being online sellers of Handmade Goodness.

We found a great place to sell our items.  The owners listened to the sellers, asked advised, taught us about SEO and let us help with testing.  We thought we had found the perfect place to sell.  Then something changed.

When Artfire was starting out their tag line was something like Sell For Free, Always.  Well, they recently did away with the free shops....after they lured hundreds of sellers in by telling them they could always sell for free.

Then they told us they were thinking about letting in the commercial business.  Okay, that's no big deal.  Especially since they told us that the commercial side would have to pay higher fees for special seller tools.  OK, good, they'll get extra revenue from the commercial business.

But then the announcement came.  Suddenly ArtFire decided that they wanted to offer the customer Assurance Protection against dishonest ArtFire sellers.  Well, that wasn't such a bad idea.  Artfire would first have the customer contact the seller, then if that was unsuccessful Artifire would help the customer file a complaint through Paypal.  Then if that didn't work ArtFire would refund the cost of the purchase from a fund.  A fund that would come from adding on an additional dollar to our locked in monthly rates.  And any left over funds at the end of the year would be used for marketing.  And those of us with the locked in rates could opt out of this if we chose.

Hmm, that doesn't sound too terribly bad, does it? No, I didn't think so either.  UNTIL they announced that they were going to add a button to their searches so customers could see ONLY items from the sellers who offered this assurance.  WHAT???

First of all, I offer a 100% guarantee.  No questions asked, return the item I'll return the purchase price.  No hassles, no muss no fuss.  I don't need the guarantee,  I WANT my customers to be happy.  I don't want them to have to jump through hoops and get angry.

So what ArtFire is now telling us is that if we don't opt in to the Assurance program we could be excluded from internal customer searches .

I know what you're thinking...so what's the big deal.  It's only $12 a year, just pay it and live with it.  Well, if they make us pay for this feature so we can be sure to show up in searches, what will they make us pay for later, and then tell us if we don't pay we won't show up in searches?  What other fees can they tack on until we're no longer paying our guaranteed locked in rate but being charged some outrageous fees.

All I can say is that my guarantee to customers is already 10 times better then Artfires, and none of us should have to be coerced into BUYING protection with threats of not showing in searches.  Are these guys trying to start an ArtFire mob?

Many of us feel as though we've been lied to.  Their explanation is that our locked in rates were for basic selling features.  Their actions no longer represent what they were when we first signed on.  They're no longer for the small seller.  It feels like Etsy all over again.  Almost like I'm dealing with a lying cheating spouse!  I guess the honeymoon is over!

Can You See Me Now?

Look!  It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Jamie moving her shop all over the place!!!  Yes, it's true, I sign up here and sign up there.  So I thought I'd let everyone know where to find me.

I have a shop on Zibbet.  I love listing items on Zibbet, it's very easy to do.  And we can pick four colors per each item which is great for customers to search by color.  Just  a couple of clicks and my items are ready to purchase.

Zibbet is fairly new, but it's fun and fresh.  And I'm really looking forward to a lot of success there.  And from what I've read in the forums they have some great new features coming soon.

Also, I like that I don't have to pay listing fees and selling fees.  I have one yearly rate that helps me save money.  And the best part of that is that when I save money you can save money too!

Come visit my new shop and let me know what you think.  I can't wait to hear from you.

Happy New Year-A New Year With New Changes

Today was a chaotic day in my head. I've had a lot of decisions to make, and rethinking it all makes me hesitant and I start to think I'm making all the wrong choices.  Could I?  Should I? What will happen if I do? What will happen if I don't?  Usually I'm not this wishy-washy, but for some reason this is harder.

The reason is because I've made decided to say good bye to my heart and soul: Glasstastic Treasures.  Oh no, don't worry, I'm not quitting the lampworking business, I love it too much to do that.  What I've decided to do is to re-brand myself and instead of focusing only on glass I'll have a more generic name to include whatever I create.

Not only is it sad to say goodbye to such a good friend, but it's a lot of work to re-brand and get your name out there so the world wide web knows who you are.  And I mean a lot of work.  I know I can do it, I did it when I started so I can do it again!

My second tough decision is where I'd like to house my shop. My current venue on ArtFire is currently proposing extra fees to add on to our supposed "locked in" rates that were guaranteed when we signed up.  Over the last year they've made their business decisions, and those decisions have impacted my shop, my internet traffic and my sales.  And when my sales are not what I like then I need to fix it.

So, do I go back to Etsy? I left there stating I would never go back. I had played with the idea about 6 months ago and listed some items, and started up a Metal Amore shop there.  But my heart just wasn't into it.  The had treated us horribly and I just can't give them any more of my hard earned money.  So now where do I go?

And my thoughts turned to Zibbet.  I really like the look and feel of that site.  They're new, they don't have the traffic of Etsy and ArtFire, but ArtFire was once a small less visited site and it grew, as will Zibbet.  What to do, what to do.

Then my friend Dawn of Into The Dawn read my taro card today for the new year. It couldn't have been more appropriate or come at a better time.  Although I'm sad to see Glastastic Treasures go, I now know I'm making the right choices.  Here's what my card said:

Your card is The Wheel of Fortune (10)change for the better, good luck, advancement, upside of a cycle, end of one phase & beginning of another, improving circumstances, Lady Luck, may indicate new vehicle,turning point, personal vision.

Wheel of Fortune

 For 2012 Glasstastic Treasures and Metal Amore will be combined into one great place to shop, and that place is Dzign by Jamie.  You'll have one easy location to find artisan lampwork beads and hand stamped metal jewelry.  And what ever other creations my whimsy comes up with.

Here's wishing you a great 2012!!