Online Store for your Crafts - part one

Today's consumers is well used to utilize the internet as source of information and shopping.
It is only to your advantage to have online-presence that will allow the consumer to purchase your product online. Your Online-Store.

I touched on the online-presence of your business in the earlier posts about sale-channels.
Today I'd like to give you the information that will save you money and bring efficiency into investments of time and dollars (speaking from experience here :)

Basically there are two ways to set up online-store

• yourself, using the professional hosting services and portals in existence by professionals
• hiring web-master

which way you'll go is but the second step in the whole process you do NOT need to make this decision now.

The first and most important step is on your part and there is where you will save real dollars and time when going later to step two.

Scarf 8"x54" on habotai silk random pattern with design enhancement

You need to prepare the materials you'll need for the store. No other person can do it for you. You can not delegate this part without wasting time/money and the risk of inaccuracy. 
The tasks:


First: create a file "web"(or what you choose to name it) on your computer. You will store there all the materials you will prepare as listed below.

1. your logo in a picture format/ say .jpg
2. the content/text: description of your services and products with some bio about you or the company (depending on how you want to appear on the web)
3. the pictures of your products in original- and reduced size (name them so you can pick the one you need, for example I am putting small letter "e" in front of the name of the picture when saving the reduced size.)
4. If you have categories of products as greeting cards and scarves or scarves in different sizes, make them to categories and collect in separate files as a sub-folders to the web-folder you created at the beginning.
5. Create inventory list of your products and keep them updated (check frequently as well) include the sales price. If you followed the steps of this workshop, you have already inventory lists and can use those for the work around the online-store materials.
6. Know how much the shipping will be.
7. You will need to know the weight of your products. Tip: add one column to your inventory list and write the weight in there to the respective product. 
8. Archive also the information you find helpful and the links the sides that will benefit you in the work on your online-store.

8"x54" habotai with blossom pattern photographed flat on white board.

Taking Pictures of your product:

• You can use professional service which will deliver quality and have the best technical set-up for the job.



17"x70" ponge5, blossom photographed draped on flat white board

• If you decide to take the pictures yourself, there are few tips about scarves:

15"x 60" ponge 5, blossom photographed on a holder

1. the best is a living model in a pose, if you have a friend who will enjoy to assist (look for inspiration on the internet and publications of fashion professionals)
2. Dressmaker Forms are another option to arrange your scarves
3. there are several types of holders you can use (see picture on the right)
4. or just lay the scarf on a flat surface draped or flat (decision will depend on the design and how you want to show it the best.)
5. The light is important: white background will reflect the light.  Watch for shadows and eliminate them by moving the lamps, using the flash or changing the position to the window. If taking pictures outsides, find area that is in a shade.
6. again have a look how the other silk-scarf painters and seller present their products and how they describe them, learn from professionals and pick the style that resonates the best with you.

16"x60" ponge 5 blossom pattern with design enhancement, photographed pinned on a white board

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If you follow hose lines above, they will mean many hour of work for you. You noticed I am giving you now more time to work as only the action will get you where you want to be.
Wishing much Joy and Success!!