How do I start a shop in SL ?

Hi everyone,

I have been looking for shop space to rent and have a few potentials.

What I would like to know is how does one go about setting up a shop and putting items up for sale ?

I make pictures using PSP and I am looking at setting up a gallery but I do not know how to really go about this in SL.

I have no idea on how many prims i should be looking for in a shop or how to sell an item I have made.

Any help would be appreciated.

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Beth.

You don't mention if you're renting a space in a mall, or just renting some land to build a shop on. When you're starting, renting a space in a mall is easier because you don't have to take time out from making your products to build the shop building. If you're making pictures, there are also some existing galleries that it would be a good idea to display in - it'll help you get noticed and that's essential when you're starting up.

The easiest way to sell a picture is simply to place it on a wall, Edit it, open the General tab, check the "For Sale" box, choose the "Copy" option below, and then enter the price you want to sell for. Anyone who wants your picture can right-click on it and choose "Buy", and they'll be charged the amount you specified and given a copy of the picture.

If you just want to do this, you'll need 1 prim per item you're selling, and possibly 1 or 2 prims for a sign for your shop - so not too much, but if this turns out to be too inefficient, you can investigate using scripted vendors which will only take 5 prims to sell an unlimited number of items (but which don't really look much like an art gallery)

Good luck

hey i'm new and i was wondering how i would make a buisness. I want to open an architecture store were i will build houses for people. i know absolutly nothing on this subject please help me.

Bethen,
In response to your question, if you meet me in world sometime, I would be glad to give you some pointers. I own an art gallery in Creamy Dreamz. FD Artistry Gallery. Visit me there and you shall see some examples of how the work is displayed etc. I can also teach you how to set your art for sale.

Felowen Dodge

Practice building houses, build some really good houses, put them where people can see them (one way would be to make an agreement with a rental manager) and then put in your profile that you'll build custom houses.

Dane, I would start by learning how to build. By the time you've learned how to build a decent house in SL, you will have learned how to sell the houses you've made.

There are building classes regularly, as well as places in-world where you can learn to build. You might use the search feature to find some of the new user resources in SL. There are several places that exist for the sole purpose of teaching people how to create things inside of SL.

Dr, do you know of any classes teaching the architectural/design side of building houses in SL? I've seen lots of classes around but most of them focus on the mechanics of how to place and texture prims, not on what placements and textures look good - do you know if anyone is running those?

I'm pretty sure there isnt any classes on design, style, or vision. Because there is no definitive answer for that. What looks 'good' to one person, doesn't to another person.

If there was such a class, I'd be weary of it because you don't know if what you think is good meshes with theirs.

Forinstance, some people think more texures less prims looks better, where as I like more prims. Some like bolder colours that hurt my eyes.

One thing you might try is to get a book of history of architecture and one on modern architecture. One with really big pictures because reading about it is one thing, but looking at them is the most important. Then instead of copying, find your own style by taking bits from other's work. What I do a lot of the time when walking around London is to look at the buildings and figure out how I'd build them in SL and what parts I would change.

Sure. But on the other hand, there are art classes in real life, and they don't just teach you how to mix paints, which is what the technical side feels like. Likewise there are architecture classes, and although a lot of them I would expect need to be focused on issues that don't matter in SL (like how to stop the house falling down), I'd be surprised if they didn't teach something about aesthetics too.

It could be that the classes for those things consist entirely of coordinated study or examination of different options, but they do definately exist out there.

Yes. Art classes like that first study the history. The different styles, innovations, the reasons/meanings for different aspects, ect. In the midst of that they create their own designs which are heavily critiqued by the instructor and classmates.

Least thats what happened at the art school I went to, and same goes with anyone I've talked to about their schooling.

Asthetics isn't something that can be taught in one or two classes. Which, I have come to discover from attempting to teach series of classes, is impossible to do in SL.

I still stand by my stance that 'good' can't be taught as there is no strict answer. Also to my earlier advice on where to look for self teaching. Another avenue you can try is discussing with builders on why they did certain things and also asking them to honestly critique your work. It's the only way we grow as artists.

Assuming you know how to create, since your question was on shops, I started out like this:

There are places with free vendor spots for new creators, try there. I go there often to check out the up and coming talent, and even buy a few things.

Secondly, to set up shop, depending on the items and colors you offer, a good idea is to start with about 25 prims. Get a feel for how much product you will be selling. If it's a mass amount, a good idea is to buy a vendor program just as JevN, or get some free, from Hiro Pendragon.

Otherwise: the way most large scale owners set up, or people with prims to spare, they will create an object, texture it with an advertisement, and size it, then insert the items to be sold into the content section. On the first tab, set it for sale for what you wish, and the top line title it as you wish it to say when it's in someone's inventory, the second line, describe it and make sure to select Sell: contents.

Once you have a good stock of items to sell and have the L, start buying spots in high traffic areas, they are inherently more expensive, but sometimes the visibility more than makes up for it.

Once you are doing a high volume, I'd suggest getting a main shop location.

Hi everyone,

Your responses have been so helpful thankyou so much.

I have a good idea what to do to sell an item now and the prim value and I'm considering a vendor but have to price that.

I am looking to rent a shop to start with .That way the outlay is more limited and I can gague the demand.

Thankyou Felowen , I will certainly be keeping an eye out for you, your offer is very generous.

It is hard learning this side of SL but you all have helped greatly.

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Beth

MayI just add the following info/advice

Treat the business like you would a real life venture. Sure, SL overheads etc are less, and you can start a SL business quicker and easier than a RL one, but if you try to view it as a 'real shop' you will inevitably have an edge over the 'dump a few items I have made in a booth' type retailers.

Invest! Make sure you have a few L$s to start with. Just a couple of US$ worth will do. But you will inevitably need to upload a couple of textures (signage for example), take photos of your creations (pictures for vendors etc), rent space (or buy your own land) or to purchase any other itemsyou think will help your business boom (free vendors are great, but you might want to pay for the benefits of linked ones, or additional features). If you are not prepared to invest a couple of real dollars in the business, how much faith can you have in your creations? And why should any one buy from someone who doesn't believe in themselves? hehe

Be professional! You want people to buy one of YOUR Amazing Wriggly Prim Thingies, not one of the many other Amazing Wriggly Prim Thingies currently for sale in SL, yes? Well then you gotta make yours more interesting or more inovative or simply better made than anyone elses. The more competitive the field you are entering, the more essential this is. Loads of people make clothes, for example. Why would someone want one of YOUR outfits over anyone elses? Think hard about that one. Even if you know no one else is making your radical, totally original, got-to-own-one-of-those item, take the time to ensure that potential customers know what they are getting. How many prims is it? Can they copy it, transfer it, customise it? More than once I have not bought something simply because I am not sure if I could fit the prims on my land, or been worried that I wouldn't be able to modify it to fit me.

Finally, CUSTOMER SERVICE - treat your customers as you yourself like to be treated. Sure there are plenty of rogues and scammers etc in Second Life, but most people are just like you. Try to always be polite to customers - it works miracles.

May I wishyou the best of luck in your ventures