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Archive - June 2007 Relationships - selling onlinePosted Jun-30-07 15:10:09 PDT From my previous Blogs and Bio I'm sure you realize I own a small business. I worked today, I actually work a lot because it doesn't feel like work to me (because I love anything ART.) I have relationships with my Art Management customers (a few busnesses whom hire me to manage their art space) - these relationships are important to me. I installed a show for one of them this morning and my customers, who have become friends, trust me to do a good job (which is why they pay me, and not somebody else.) Online, especially with being an Ebay Newbie, people don't know you - there isn't that bond that you have with face to face selling. I made the decision to have ID Verify added to my account on Ebay, I KNOW it's scary in cyberspace and dealing with someone new might make people nervous. So, yes, my ID is verified and my business is real (ask my customers or all those people who come to our tourist town in summer to purchase art, or the government when I pay my business taxes.) I am looking forward to people knowing that I'm around on ebay with my committment of posting at least one new piece weekly. Exciting news from the Cat World, my little sister just got two new kittens, just babies, all I know is one has amazing markings with almost 4-5 colors. I am visiting her tomorrow and am bringing cameras, look out for these to be future auctions. The dog may be wonderful prose, but only the cat is poetry. - French Prover Gardening & Growing my BusinessPosted Jun-29-07 05:24:42 PDT Updated Jun-29-07 05:25:14 PDT This year I started a garden in my back yard. Although it is small, and will consist of mostly perennials and organic herbs, it has been a really amazing experience. I talk about patience a lot, it's because it is a challenge for me. Growing a garden, I realized yesterday as I spread mulch over the mint, basil, and sage....is a bit like growing my business. Until 2007, I had a full time job, and I had a small art business on the side (nights and weekends.) This year, I work p/t with a flexible schedule and although the results are not instant, I have planted seeds for my business to grow. Ebay is obviously one of those seeds. There are many others, because not only am I impatient I am a realist I am not expecting all my art income to come from one source or venue. Everyday I do something to nurture my business, as well as my garden. Results from earlier in the year are already prospering, so with ebbs and flows I will bound forward with determination & PATIENCE. Happy Blogging - 2 days left on my current auction - lots of hits on my counter no bids yet, we'll see! Cat Proverb Always put off until tomorrow anything that interferes with a nap. Been Painting, Chinchilla Cat Not a Chinchilla - Weekly Auctions!Posted Jun-28-07 14:17:54 PDT Updated Jun-28-07 14:28:18 PDT I realize that there are
daily painters on Ebay, and I respect the discipline it takes to not only
create but also to post daily. I would love to work up to that, for now I
paint more frequently than once per week, but not daily. I have just finished
my next two works for Ebay, the first will be an Orange Tabby (we all know this
cat, right?) and the second is a Chinchilla Cat (white, fluffy, emerald bluish
eyes) - not to be confused with an actual Chinchilla (funny looking cute little creatures.) Both Pieces came out great and I'm excited to post them on
July 1 and July 8. I have promoted my Ebay Blog and my Ebay Model (creating a
standard way to consistently sell, donate, offer an excellent product with
table easel, and green shipping) on my website which is www.wetpaintstudios.com
- Although I think I mentioned before I had some really amazing beginners luck
on Ebay with art (about a year ago) - this time I realize it's not luck I need,
it's patience. I plan to make a few changes to my next posting, but not a lot -
my big thing right now that I struggle with is whether or not to start low and
at a reserve, or keep my auction starting at my minimum price. Feedback
would be grateful. Happy blogging. Ebay & Paypals New Security Key (I love this)Posted Jun-27-07 10:48:40 PDT OK, I found some new things that I had to have at Ebay Live Boston 2007, one was these handles that you can attached to the side of any heavy box to give it handles (great for lugging art around like I do) - another was this new feature from Ebay and Paypal which is a small wireless device which is free to users. It is that extra level of security in our insecure world. Here's some information on it. (Cat Proverb of the day is on the bottom) - happy blogging How it Works The PayPal Security Key generates a new six-digit code at the push of a button. For an extra layer of account protection, add the code when you sign in to your eBay account. Buyer Benefits
In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb 8x8 Cat Painting-Domestic Short Hair-Maine ArtistPosted Jun-26-07 10:44:14 PDT
Free Quick*Sell Gallery from ISDN*tek Market Research on Ebay - This is greatPosted Jun-26-07 10:26:53 PDT Ok, I know that I said that I was going to keep all my future blogs shorter, however, I am one of those who love to share what I learn. Recently, I subscribed to two days of Ebay Market Research (http://pages.ebay.com/marketplace_research/ ) to find out if I am pricing my item in a range where it will potentially sell. Thankfully, the answer is yes, although no bids yet, it is very early in my auction. I was surprised to find out that a lot of animal art sells on ebay. This brings me to the point that people love their pets, even sometimes more than their kids (kidding.) The unconditional love that we receive from these furry little (or sometimes big) companions is like no other. This may have something to do with the fact that my 15 Year Old Maine Coon pretty much sleeps and loves for my husband and I to give her kitty massages. She doesn't really ask for much, except for the food from our dinner when we cook fish, and in return for the most part she is the greatest two-person-cat I've ever met. Happy Blogging, and enjoy todays Proverb. The dog may be wonderful prose, but only the cat is poetry. - French Proverb Cross Promoting - Getting the word out therePosted Jun-25-07 12:21:35 PDT At Ebay Live Boston 2007 (obviously had a GREAT experience) - almost every Ebay seminar or class that I participated in gave me lots of ideas about spreading the word about selling on Ebay. I have three Blogs, Ebay, Blogger by Google, and My Space Blog all of which are sharing the same content, and giving me triple the exposure to the Web. Apparently the spiders that search for new content love those Bloggers who update frequently. I also use my Wet Paint! Studios website and my email list to let people know what I'm try to achieve on Ebay. The reality of this new experience is that I realize that my presence is new, and I need to stick around for people to find out about me and my product. I am even printing cards for my summer outdoor art displays with my Blog address & details about my Ebay product. About my current listing: As I learned, Ebay to Go does not have a link on this page (picture, ticker, etc.) - so from this page I have learned that viewers need to click the View items for Sale. My two other blogs are loaded up with Ebay to Go and show a good sized box with my current Aucton. This auction posted this week is a painting which captures that sassy demiener that cats often display, it's like they don't care what anyone thinks. (All humans should be this lucky.) The picture I used to paint this piece was this particular cat laying in the grass in a sunny spot. Thank you for visiting my blog. Todays Cat Proverb: What greater gift than the love of a cat? Auction is LivePosted Jun-24-07 18:37:58 PDT Updated Jun-24-07 19:21:08 PDT Whew! That was a lot of prep for this big moment, I hope you enjoy viewing my first auction and Happy Bidding! Item number: 290132662110 My View Items for Sale is not connecting...writing to HELP now!!! Customer Service-100% HappyPosted Jun-24-07 11:47:58 PDT Updated Jun-24-07 11:50:31 PDT All of my work sold on Ebay will come with a Satisfaction Guaranteed Symbol. Now, I know that sounds a little 1950's salesman, however, I mean it. If you receive the work, and it doesn't work with your couch or wall colors, or fit where you thought you would fit it. If you’re real Cat is mad that you brought another Cat (painting) into the house, and there is just no resolving this crisis. Any reason, if you don't want it, have buyers remorse, an email dated within 3 days of receipt (as that we both have something in writing.) is all that it takes to tell me that you are going to pack it just like you received it, and send it back to me priority mail. So, in other words, a full refund. The only thing I will say is that if you paid by Paypal, I will deduct the fees from your paid total. Refund will most likely be in form of a Lollipop Art Productions official Business Check and will be in the mail within 24-48 hours of receiving back the package. Check out my auction tonight. Why buy Original Artwork-Day 4Posted Jun-23-07 12:14:36 PDT Updated Jun-23-07 13:21:28 PDT After I post my first Auction, my blog entries will be shorter, just a blurb about the progress on the current painting and a cat proverb, but while I am waiting to post (tomorrow night) - I am writing about some things that are important to me. Why buy original artwork? Owning an original is like saying I have the only one, it's special and priceless. On the chance the artist you purchase from is ever famous upon their death (isn't that how it always happens when you are an artist, you die and get famous???) then you will own something of value. I am always trying to come up with new ideas to have audience participation (this is why I LOVE painting commissions, input is key.) SO, my muse (husband) came up with this idea to ask bloggers, ebayers, people who visit my site, and those of you who visit my booths during cat & art shows to participate. Send an email to lorirae1.wetpaintstudios@blogger.com with an enclosed picture (close up if possible) of your Cat (Face shot preferred.. I paint the cat bust, (head and neck.) I will try to use all the pieces I receive and eventually your cat will end up on an Ebay Auction. At this point I am only posting one a week, however, in the future I may do more, although it is unlikely they will be daily. A note from a Cat Portrait commission customer: "Jack's birthday present of a beautiful painting of our Red was a huge success. We are both quite delighted with how you captured his persona with your depiction of his expression and demeanor . The painting is not only a wonderful painting on its own in terms of how you used color and texture, but it's very special to us." Giving to Charity - Day 3Posted Jun-22-07 10:34:36 PDT Updated Jun-23-07 06:23:11 PDT
Patience! My husband tells me, it's not in my blood, HOWEVER, when I committed to selling on Ebay I want to do it right! This is why my first listing will be on Sunday of this week (almost a week after starting my Ebay Blog.) Of course I am dying to post my first auction; however, I have to perfect my model prior to listing (as my listings in the future will look very much like the first one except the actual artwork.) Sign my guestbook if you want me to let you know when I post my first auction. Giving Back-Doesn't it feel good?? Today I would like to tell you that 10% of all my future Cat Painting Auctions will be donated to FuRR (Feline rescue and rehome.) I read ALOT of profiles prior to picking this one. I love their mission statement as well as their website, so I will sell to help give them some money! A bit about FuRR: "FuRR is dedicated to rescuing & rehoming cats & kittens who've been discarded, abused, abandoned or surrendered to shelters that use euthanasia as a means of animal control. FuRR promotes & practices TNR (trap, neuter, release) removing adoptable kittens from feral/ stray colonies for rehoming when possible. FuRR provides low cost spay/ neuter of stray, rescued & feral cats. FuRR works with other animal welfare groups to provide humane education to the public, encouraging spay/ neuter of all pets." www.teamfurr.org Why donate? Why not, I am selling Cat Paintings, they should get a piece of the pie too for letting me use their wonderfully expressive kitty faces. Green Shipping Day 2Posted Jun-21-07 10:12:01 PDT Updated Jun-23-07 06:22:46 PDT I'm a green gal, so I care about the environment. When I discovered that the US Postal Service would be the premier carrier of shipping boxes by an Environmental Designer, I wanted to know more. At Ebay Live Boston, I learned about "Cradle to Cradle" Certification which was designed by William McDough of MBDC. The box has a special "Cradle to Cradle" stamp with the words EBAY as well. What could be better? Well...I have decided that all the shipping materials inside the box will also be recyclable (no popcorn, plastic, bubble wrap) - just rice paper to wrap the painting & newspaper to fill the box with enough layers to keep your purchase protected. In designing the model for my Ebay product, presenting a professionally packaged product using Green materials, was the road I wanted to take. WHAT? is Cradle to Cradle you ask, well I warn you, it's a bit wordy, but here it is. Cradle to Cradle maps the lineaments of McDonough and Braungart's new design paradigm, offering practical steps on how to innovate within today's economic environment. Part social history, part green business primer, part design manual, the book makes plain that the re-invention of human industry is not only within our grasp, it is our best hope for a future of sustaining prosperity.In addition to describing the hopeful, nature-inspired
design principles that are making industry both prosperous
and sustainable, the book itself is a physical symbol of
the changes to come. It is printed on a synthetic 'paper,'
made from plastic resins and inorganic fillers, designed
to look and feel like top quality paper while also being
waterproof and rugged. And the book can be easily recycled
in localities with systems to collect polypropylene, like
that in yogurt containers. This 'treeless' book points the
way toward the day when synthetic books, like many other
products, can be used, recycled, and used again without
losing any material quality—in cradle to cradle cycles. http://www.mcdonough.com/cradle_to_cradle.htm Cat Paintings 8x8 inch - Day 1Posted Jun-20-07 18:34:35 PDT Updated Jun-23-07 06:23:56 PDT Welcome to Wet Paint Studios - I am an artist who has been painting, marketing &
selling my work over the past five years. I have traditionally sold at brick
& mortar venues; and I'm ready to give auction selling a stab. I am starting Ebay again after dabbling in it a bit over the
years, a bit of buying and a sale. Before jumping in head first, I thought I might want to have more information. I just attended Ebay Live in Boston,
a fantastic experience, one in which the knowledge was overwhelming yet
informative. My goal for selling on Ebay is to list one new painting per week,
always depicting a different cat in order to gain exposure for my work. |
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