It's Not Me, It's the Internet

After a crash course training session at Easy Spirit, I was given a Nine West Outlet store to manage. This store was described by my district sales manager as "the red-headed step child store". It had poor numbers and a bad history of mis-managing. I took that store, washed its face, made sure it knew it was pretty, and treated it right. The numbers soared! Every quarter we averaged a 20% gain over the previous year's sales. We were the best-performing store in the district. Managers from other stores started calling me for advice, even though I was a newbie and rather young. My staff and I took every contest that came our way by the horns, winning tin after tin of goodies. Our disctric manager called me "the golden child" more than a few times during conference calls. I KNEW how to sell!

That was a few years ago. I have since left the store for jobs with schedules that allow me a social life and a tad more sanity. I started making jewelry to sell online, thinking my great selling skills would somehow help me out... but wait! An online buyer can't see my enthusiasm! I have no billboards! No corporate backing! The online malls I'm in are exponentially bigger than the mall my shoe store was in! Where did my Golden Child sales go? They're lost in a sea of digital jewelers...

Last year I wasn't terribly busy around the holidays, but I did sell 18 items online between November 1st and December 20th. This year, despite all my networking and better photographs and opening new venues, I've sold 2 and traded 2. I have to say, I started to lose faith in my product!

This past weekend really helped to open my eyes. On Saturday I spent six chilly hours selling at an odd warehouse gallery craft fair. The crowd wasn't all that big, and was an interesting mix of hippies and the artsy affluent. On Sunday I spent four warm hours selling at a jewelry party in an old Victorian, hosted by a friend's family. Again, not a huge crowd, but a nice group of chatty women talking about being budget-conscious this year. Thrifty or not, these two small crowds bought enough of my jewelry, ornaments, and postcards to pay my share of the rent this month. My faith has been renewed.

The internet is obviously not my best venue, but I will continue attempting to sell here. I think it's important for all of us to remember not to put all our eggs in one basket. Some people have a knack for selling online, and some of us are just better at getting in-person transactions.



And in case you were wondering: yes, people buying things has gotten me back into making things!
Just listed:
Blue Planet Earrings
Flash & Glow Necklace