Advice on Sales!!

so i'm curious.... what are your thoughts on the way i display my products in my Rogue store?

stay safe!!!

Thanks for that summary, Ralektra. I was going to add something like that to the merchants page (or another page like it) so I'll use your list as a jumping off point

I have to point out here that many people don't shop with 'View Hovertips' enabled, and I know for a fact that mine gets unchecked at random every six or seven logins and I need to re-enable it. Prices on boxes are a good idea, I think, because they save people making 'that extra effort' of having to hover over every item. For instance, if the first of my items a potential customer hovered over was the 300L$ Gentleman's Study they might not even bother looking at the rest, thinking my average prices are in that range when in fact they're much lower. Everyone has their own personal price ranges they'll pay for things, and only something truly 'gotta have it' will break them out of that.

I know that if I went into a store without any prices on the ads, I might not take the effort to hover over everything to see how much it costs. Yes, people will do that for those "ten items in the store are priced down to 1L$!" hunts, but they're more lazy when it comes to shopping for full-priced items

Putting your prices on sales boards let customers see at a glance what they will be paying for your items. If, at a glance, they can see your entire range is well-priced, they're more likely to take a closer look at your products. If your prices are over their personal price range for those types of item, then maybe you need to lower your prices (speaking in general here, not to Amara personally). I think we've all been in RL stores and dithered over buying something we like because we're *really* not sure about paying *that* much for a top/pants/skirt, etc.

Three things from me for this weekend:

A tip: If you're making ads for your products, and you use layers: save the finished image as a layered file before you save it a second time in whatever format you use to upload to SL. That way if you *do* change your prices, all you need to do is change the price layer, rather than re-do the whole ad.

A suggestion: How many of us are thinking about customer feedback (outside of this thread)? Perhaps it might be an idea to place a notecard dispenser in our stores with a few questions that our customers could give feedback on. Those of us with groups, do you send out a sample item now and then with a request for feedback on it? Group members get a gift, and you get valuable help and suggestions for improvement. Those of us who get few physical customers in our stores, yet have a blog: mention the feedback in your blog. Suggest that blog readers come to your store for a free item in return for feedback.

A boot up the arse (*g*): Everyone, make at least one new item for your store this weekend and promote the hell out of it! If you don't have a blog, make one this weekend (Wordpress and Blogspot are both good). If you don't have SLX or OnRez, sign up and get your Magic Boxes this weekend, and load them up with all your items, so you can write their descriptions on the website during times when you're not able to get inworld.

Right. The sun's shining and I need to shift my arse into gear and mow the lawn. Ugh. Hope that tropical storm passes you by safely, Amara.

Thanks for the storm well wishes- chances are we will have much rain but they don't know yet what it will do. Since husband travels so much it is good for us to prep while he is home rather than me trying to lug storm shutters about on my own- they are heavy! It may not even be a shutterable storm mind you- but he sees to the gas availability and generator and stuff- if he leaves us ready it gives us all peace of mind.

Re Rogue- is that the one at Wren Mall? Cause it is the onl one I am familiar with- You know- I haven't gone to look at it since this whole thing started- I guess I thought I was familiar with it- but I see I need another look. I loved your freestanding manikin looking displays- I thought of you when I did my one free standing one- which by the way, although I can see where it may cause confusion since it is out of the norm- I really do like it and am very glad to have learned how to do it. I love your shoes/sandals on the display too- the whole store looks - well- like a store! I do need to go and look again for an official review though.

Hmm.. Never thought of that.. Thanks Skell - You know, you new folks to selling- we are spending lots of L’s on testing these business models for you!! We expect a good commission! /me imagines the cost of redoing all the adboards… argh!



Ooh! I like that!

yes, at the mall. there are no logos on most of my products. i have some select items that are boxed with a logo, so that they stand out. i'm not changing the way i do it, i just wondered if you had noticed that and what your thoughts were on it.


my furniture dock items ALL have a logo in the ad, but then.... they are all boxed.

when you have PS ready to go, hollar at me so i can send the PSD back to you for use, along with some links to helpful tips.

Thanks 3- will do- and I have to go look at the furniture- first I heard of it was in this thread- what can I say.. I don't out much

/me grins. I must have edited my post at the same time as you'd opened it to reply. Better than blogging about contacting you for a review item is to get them to go pick up the item at the store...

I have had a couple different ppl blog about me, and the way we did it is they go to the store, pick out the outfit, then let me know and I send it to them
that way they not only blog the outfit but the store too

as for feedback and notecards and drop boxes, I have tried that and got nothing

I have also tried the buy one get one free, and again nothing

I even had a weekly draw box set up, where all they had to do was click for the notecard, fill it out and drop on the box (and filling it out was simply put what outfit they would like, and their name on it)

again, very little response

I really don't know what else to do beyond the things mentioned so far and most of those I have tried (except the ones that garner a cost, as I can not afford it)

*sigh* it gets depressing sometimes, when an entire day goes by with 0 to close to 0 sales

I hope others are having better luck with the changes and suggestions than what I am

(sure I am getting nice reviews in this thread, but that doesn't equal sales)

by the way I put a couple more reviews on my blog

Rha- my sales are non-existent. Fortunately, I enjoy doing it- it wd be nice if someone bought something- but it is more an art than anything else. I want to succeed but I don't measure it in sales - I measure it in how pleased I am. I have made a lot of gains since I started. My designs are better, the rendition is better. Now I am learning about displays and all of it is fun.

Not to say I don't want sales- but I am doing it for me.

I would be lying if I said I do it ONLY for the artistic release and for the fun, I could do that without putting them in SL, and without putting them for sale

I do it because it is nice to sell the stuff, to know someone likes it enough to actually purchase it, and the sales help to cover the cost of my tier which enables me the ability to have my own land.

I personally feel that anyone who says they do it only for the fun, YET have their stuff for sale, is not being completely honest, even with themselves

I create because I love to do it, and because it's distracting and absorbing. But yes, it's nice to sell items too, especially when those items help to cover your rent or tier *g*

NEW! (OK, this is me bouncing like a kid here...) I just did something I'm really pleased with. You probably know that my store is in a mini-mall that Daros and I created for all our various and eclectic items. Until now I'd only been using one of the stalls, but I took another one over recently. I *was* going to just use it as an extension of the other store, but that was before I built the Gentleman's Study, and before I made the crackling fireplace and ticking clock for it today.

So I've done out that whole new stall as a replica of the study. I haven't put all the items in it (not enough prims on the land) but it's representative, and it will *definitely* give anyone visiting an idea of the atmosphere of the build. There's the fireplace and clock, the sideboard and oil lamp, and a letter that, when clicked, will give a lot more info about the build, how to best enjoy it (set world to midnight) and all the items featured. Of course, the sales boards are there, as well. I'm about to blog the 'experience' too, but I'm so excited about this, it's ridiculous

Piccies:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skelldagger/2768875634/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skelldagger/2768875636/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skelldagger/2768875638/

Or come experience for yourselves!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Jindalrae/31/37/445

I'm putting this on my blog, and I've also amended all my SLX listings to do with this build to say that it can be experienced inworld, so hopefully that might bring a few more people to take a look. I'd love to know what others think!

Meanwhile, it's time I hit the store review trail. Just need a cup of coffee first...

i love to create things. i love to see the things i've created out in SL .... randomly. i have seen a few furniture sets in use, but never an outfit.

i think it's exciting to make a sale, but it's not what drives my creations. most of the things i make have never been put up for sale... especially clothes.

so yeah, it's fun to make a wee bit of income, but it's more fun to sell things and know that someone apprecaites my efforts and agrees with my taste. if i never sold one single thing i wouldn't care, and i'm even thinking of closing my stores and jsut go back to creating for myself. we'll see.

just because someone is greedy down in their core doesn't mean everyone else is. i think it's presumptuous and rude to make such broad stereotypes. and false.

Same comment for me ... I love creating and i only create for fun.
I think this thread and forum is a place to share and support each others.
I will never accept such stereotype and rude comment as I just read ...

if you did not care about the sales and only did it for the fun, then why this thread?
why are so many of us striving to find a way to advertise and get the sales?

I am not saying everyone is like that, I am just saying ask yourself why you seek sales?

I am not greedy in my core, THAT is an insult.
Just because I like to sell my stuff and cover my tier through my creations doesn't make me greedy, if it did then all those big time owners in SL would also be considered greedy, right?

I think now is the time for me to back out of this thread, it has been nice, and helpful, but sadly I stuck my foot in my mouth and people seem to have misunderstood what I was trying to say

ask yourself if you do it only for fun, then why not just set it to free, and not sell it.

Agreed

I'm not a fashion designer, but I should think it's an absolute *thrill* to go somewhere, do a double-take and then go to yourself, "OMG, they're wearing something I made!"

ETA: I'll be sad to see you leave this thread, Rhaorth. You've contributed some valuable advice and helped out so many of us. Please don't let a small misunderstanding over a few words turn you away. Won't you please reconsider?

Well since I have made hmm- let's see- maybe five sales definitely I am not in it for the money

I know it has been a major woohoo moment when I have had sales, though- so it's not like I am immune to that. I guess it's that feeling that someone liked your stuff enough to shell out the bux- even if realistically we are talking what? $2.00 $3.00 US?

It is cool though seeing the progress I have made- but I look at other designers like Bliss who have such gorgeous stuff! As for my prices- maybe they are high maybe not- but when I was buying clothes I really didn't think twice about spending 400 to 600 on a dress- hell- I own half of Falln now . Speaking of which- man that guy does awesome stuff!

If you are OK to cover all my monthly fees (around 120000$L each month), I will set all my items for free, really no prob !

Dear, dear Rha... Maybe someone misunderstood something you said and thinks you are greedy... if so I didn't catch it. But if they do you would be silly to care what such a wrong-headed person thinks. Everyone else here admires you for your creativity, your hard work, and your eagerness to help and work with others.

We all need money in this world and we all like to have our work be appreciated.

Personally I don't think I'm all that greedy but I use the money I make in SL to help maintain my modest life and I'd love to make a lot more. I enjoy creating here but if it wasn't paying me a little I would probably be doing it somewhere else.

First store review from me, and I'm nothing if not thorough *g*

I started at the last name on the Merchants List, which was Malina Chuwen's store, Evotive.

Store name: Evotive
Owner: Malina Chuwen
Location: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Utopia/77/101/260

--Initial impressions--

Teleport window - Nice pic, but the place name... ouch! (The perfect Society-Im a penis adultshop-Utopia-free money tree.) I know how hard it is to get a place name changed, though, but depending on what you sell (I don't know yet!) it might be worth getting a store in a less-sex-oriented area, or asking the land owner if they can carve that small section out for you so you can rename it.

Teleport window keywords - (Would probably get me banned and this thread closed if I listed them. Suffice to say, they're interesting *g*)

OK, let's hit that Teleport button...

--Rezzing--

I'm facing East, directly into the store. That's good - your products are right in front of me. A greeter shouts a welcome: "Sakura Lounge greeter shouts: Welcome to Sakura Lounge. We hope you enjoy your stay Skell Dagger." I'm facing a vendor display of beautiful nude female skins in a dark shade. The vendor uses 7 prims. To the left of it is a small blossoming tree (3 prims). The vendor appears to contain two sets of skin. I like that a copy/mod version is sold, as well as a cheaper mod/transfer version.

To the right of the vendor is a skin demo picture (not set to full bright, and since I landed when it was dark, I had to enable midday to view it properly) with a button underneath to click to receive the demo. Beneath that is a shape (no image) and a button beneath it. Unfortunately, though the buttons seem loaded with contents (right-click-edit shows the items in contents) there is no way of getting them, as they're not set to sale or to give contents. Clicking and right-click-buying won't work.

To the right of those is a group-join box. It's clearly-labelled and nice touch there to add the text "A 200L winner every Month!"

Above the vendor is a very dark prim with hovertext over it saying "Click for Product Information". I can see there's some kind of logo on it, but I think the prim may be tinted, because it's very difficult to see that logo, even at midday settings. I clicked the prim to receive the product information, and got the notecard... but it says: "You are not allowed to view this note." Oops! Make sure you check permissions on notecards you give out!

To the right of the area is a pose vendor with six nice poses in it. I like that you offer different permissions of the poses for different prices, but unless one is keeping a close eye on the price on the vendor it looks at first glance as though it's the same poses loaded in. The permissions are noted in the names, as in: [ 5 - Candy - MC ] and [ 5 - Candy - MT ]. Perhaps modify those names (I tend to always look at the names first) to read something like: [ 5 - Candy - Mod/Copy ] etc?

Lastly in the area, there's a small white cone with hovertext "Click for current Sales". Nice touch: a simple llSay script to inform of a skin sale that ends Saturday (although which Saturday I'm not sure; maybe put the date in there? *g*). The cone was a little confusing, because I thought it might bring up a list of the last items you'd sold, rather than information on sale items. Perhaps modify the hovertext to alleviate that confusion?

--The general surroundings--

Turning around, I see that I'm in a glass-walled skybox with a smart red and black decor theme. In the centre of the room is a bar with bartend animation and several stools with multi-poses. A nice place to stop and chat. Have you thought about placing one of your skins, or another item in a lucky chair here? The stools will collect a gathering of people who can chat while they wait for their letter to come up (therefore increasing traffic).

I like the circular sections at the outside of the skybox, especially the love couch with its heart-shaped poseballs. Cute! Alas, I was alone and there's nothing sadder than a lone bloke trying out poseballs, so I didn't give them a go *g*

The glass sections in the floor made me curious when I saw something beneath, so I cammed downstairs and found the stripclub. But I couldn't see a way to get down there from the store (and likewise, no TP from the club to the store?)

--Overall--

A few things that need fixing (demo boxes not giving out their contents, and the infobox texture and unreadable notecard) but your prices are good and I like the options.

--Did I buy anything here?--

Yes! I loved the 'Midnight Sun' pose, as it was unisex and a lovely relaxed pose, so I bought it. Thanks!

Lol. I'd never just give all my work away. If it isn't worth being paid for then it isn't worth doing.

there is more to this thread than making sales. there is content creation, admiration and straight up, honest critique. and i didn't participate in this thread to make money. while you clearly did, i don't think everyone did.

to make money

not everyone? earlier you said [/quote]I personally feel that anyone who says they do it only for the fun, YET have their stuff for sale, is not being completely honest, even with themselves[/QUOTE]
when you said 'anyone', you meant 'everyone' is not honest if they say they aren't into the sale of content creation for money.

there is a truth about the cliche that the best cops would make the best criminals.

what exactly were you trying to say? why not just explain.

well now, that just takes the game right out of the game. it's a challenge to see what someone will like. it's never the same on any given 2 days. i am more fascinated with the choices people make than i am of making $1.34US. if i was making enough to support myself and let this be a full time job, why then i am certain i would do it for the money. but then, it probably wouldn't be fun anymore.

not speaking for anyone else who concurred with my summation of your remark, speaking only for myself.... all of my SL costs are paid for with camping. for me, camping is all about the money, albeit minute, it pays for my SL experience.... so i can own land, give out free mall space, make things to display, and create for fun. for me, the greatest challenge is participating fully in SL and not paying a dime of my own money for it. like i said before, once camping goes, so does all my land.

i will not create and sell to support my SL experience. that's not what motivates me to create, and i don't want to be belabored to photoshop, sweating out the last few days when i'm not making sales and my monthly tier is just on the horizon.

have you seen anything i make? it's quite unordinary. clearly i'm not in it for the dough! but i am anyone, which is part of everyone, and i don't take kindly to false accusations from erroneously bloated egos.

Oooh, I've never quoted this much before - It's exciting!



Sadly, there's nothing I can do. As I'm here totally rent/tier free, and I've asked many times, I've basically given up asking. Apparently the whole SIM is about to remodel so maybe they'll change it.



I know the Greeter can be annoying but I don't have permissions to change it No excuse I know, so I am still actively seeking a fairly cheap rent to re-locate.



Thanks! Heh, for some reason alot of my things have changing permissions lately. I'll have to take a look at them and see what the matter is. Also, I didn't think a picture for the shape was necessary The vendor is right next to it with the same name.



Thank you and thank you again for your purchase I'm thrilled, lol. I didn't wanna use longer names because that means a longer item name when you recieve it. The buyer can easily change it, of course, just thought it was a tad unnecessary. Will give it some thought though!



Hmmm.. Certainly! Shall do that soon.



Thanks! I had thought about putting more in it, but since the location is only temporary I didn't wanna spend loads just to have to remove them later and have no space for 'em. And there is a TP! It's North of the shop =p Glad you liked it!

Thank you TONS for your highly detailed review - I love it! Lol.

Sadly, I am closing up shop here as the tedious waiting on the SIM owners has reached it's bitter end just now. So now I have no club and no shop.. But I'll definately remember these suggestions for when I re-open.

Give that woman a kewpie doll! It was indeed Talena, daughter of the "Ubar of Ubars", Marlenus, who wore the high shoes to make her look taller.

Unfortunately I don't do any type of clothing and FW I see on SL typically wear closed pumps.

However (been thinking some more on this), I have been experimenting with jewelry and some pieces geared toward FW to wear in their hair might work. Also been thinking about the veil pins (minus the kanda tips - would charge extra for that).

This is something I've been wondering about. When I had my first tiny store, I put the price/perms on all the ads. (And for someone who has ZIP talent/experience with image editing, even on an easy program, that took awhile. - It was a program that doesn't support layers.)

Then I had sales for various reasons...and was pulling my hair out over having to redo all the ads (again, didn't know at the time about programs with templates, etc.)

But then someone mentioned to me, and I began noticing, that many places, especially those with the merchandise on the floor, such as furniture, don't list the prices....you click and find out in the pay window.

So, is posting prices something more common/important for fashion pieces/should prices ALWAYS be posted and ads changed if there is a sale, etc./or no price listed/or does it matter?