BROKEN HEARTS UPDATE & LET'S COMMUNICATE...

I am now finally the owner of an "UN-broken hearts" Starbucks mug. Remember I wrote a post about the one that I broke? Here is the link to Part 1 to get you up to date. It took 17 days for it to get here even though it was shipped using Priority Mail which takes 3-5 days. Of course when you don't mail the package for 2 weeks it takes a little longer. Yes, I'm happy with my purchase but the whole transaction really reinforced in me how critical communication is to providing excellent customer service. I feel that this is particularly important in an online shop because you can't feel and touch the product and talk to the owner face to face.

Apparently the Ebay seller had to have surgery (that I believe was scheduled) and wasn't able to mail her packages out. A quick note to tell me there would be a delay would have alleviated any doubts, negative thoughts and impatience I felt. After finally writing an email after 2 weeks, I did get an apologetic phone call explaining the circumstances. As a customer, don't you just want to know there is someone there working or making progress to getting your product out the door?

Every sale that I receive, I send an email to my buyer to thank them for their order and let them know when I plan to ship. There are days when I'm busy and it feels like an extra burden I'm tempted to shrug off. After all, they do get an automated one from Etsy or ArtFire but a personalized messsage is something that I really value and want to pass on to my customers. It is what sets apart a small one woman operation from the big guys. I realize there are some shops that have many sales a day (much more than me) and this could get time consuming. It is my wish that I'm never too busy to show appreciation to my customers in this way because without them I would have no business!

So, with that I think I will go have another cup of tea in my new coffee mug (yes tea) and get ready for my day. I would also like to thank all of you who read my blog, visitors and customers, who leave your wonderful comments of encouragement and support!

Have a great day...Debora

Disclaimer: I am not and do not claim to be an expert in online selling. These are just my views and please don't take them as an attack if you do not agree or practice them, thanks...

ISN'T SHE LOVELY...

What does one do when sales are slow? August started out with a flurry of sales. After being featured in an Etsy Storque Article Top Ten Monogram Pendants (first time for me) the extra traffic pushed me up to my 200th sale. Whoo Hoo! Things this week have really slowed down and I'm taking the advice that I so often hear in the Etsy forums. I've turned my attention to retaking some photos that were mediocre and sprucing up my shop with a new mannequin.

I ordered this gal and she arrived last week. I really wanted a mannequin that was life size and flesh colored. I have decided to call her "Emma" because if I had had a girl that's what I would have named her. Anyway, when I was unpacking Emma from her box, my son was in the room and I jokingly told him he must not look as she was very naked. Yes, he complied! Hee, hee! Isn't she lovely dressed in my lilac and blue handknit sweaters?

In my research, I have noticed that there seems to be an ongoing debate as to whether customers like to see jewelry modeled. Many people are turned off by the "ick" factor of knowing that the jewelry they are considering buying has been worn and this seems especially true of earrings. But many like to be able to get the sense of scale that a model offers, since jewelry photos are so often magnified to show details. Personally, I enjoy looking at shops that use a model or mannequin especially when they show how the necklaces can be worn with different clothing. They are great because they can give us a sense of scale that cannot be achieved by lying the piece of jewelry on a flat surface.

I have to say that I've had an item or 2 returned because the customer didn't read the measurements in the description and realize how small it is. What do you think? Are you more likely to buy a necklace because you have seen how it looks on a "person"?

I really appreciate you taking the time to leave your comments below. I read each and every one!

BROKEN HEARTS SAGA PART 1...

Is there a name for a fear of emptying the dishwasher,"Emptydishwasherphobia" perhaps? I think I'm starting to dread this job more and more. I've had my share of broken plates and glasses that have slipped out of my hands and landed on my merciless granite countertop, but now I've broken my very favorite coffee cup! I'd love to tell you that it was a surprise gift from my hubby on Valentines Day and you could all feel extra sorry for me, but I have to be honest and admit that's not the case. It does have sentimental value though, because there is a story behind how I came to have it. Would you like to hear it? I will apologize for the long story. You may opt to skim this part, but men take particular note.

My husband always asks me what I want for Valentines Day expecting me to pronounce some lavish wish like a dozen red roses, a romantic dinner for two or perhaps some fine jewelry. As you know I have plenty of beads and baubles, so much so, that I have to sell it online!. Sorry, I digress!

I replied that year, that I simply wanted a special cup I had seen at Starbucks that had a stainless steel bottom with floating red hearts. Well, Valentines Day rolled around and my sweetheart did not produce the cup! Yes, I was disappointed, but he couldn't figure out why I wanted something so ordinary like a coffee cup. Oh, yes, he had gone to the Starbucks near work and they didn't have any such mug. Oh men, ye of little resourcefulness! So guess what did? I called all the local Starbucks shops in the Kansas City area and lo and behold there was one left which I promptly went to buy (which was half price by then because the special day had come and gone). And that is the story of how I came to own this cup... and now it's broken.

Where do you go when you need to find a rare collectible? Ebay of course! Even my preteen son knows this. I did find one, bought it, and I'm waiting patiently for it to arrive on my doorstep. The reason I'm calling this Part 1 is because I ordered it almost 2 weeks ago and I haven't received it yet. The saga continues...

All of this may seen trivial but it has taught me something. For a broken cup to be the worst part of my day, I would say that I am hugely blessed and life is very good!

Have a great day, and be careful when you empty that dishwasher!

WEEKEND DEALS

I'm having a free shipping sale! All paid orders made between 08/01/09 thru midnight 08/02/09 PST will receive FREE SHIPPING WITHIN THE USA on both my ArtFire and Etsy shops.

Just type in the code "WEEKEND DEALS" in the message to seller upon checkout and I will promptly refund the amount through Paypal. If you've been "on the fence" about something now may be the time to treat yourself!

Click Here for my Etsy shop
Click Here for my ArtFire Shop

And... Have a great summer weekend!