Search results (tags) for: "banners"

News from the Etsy Labs: 5/19 Craft Night

Thu, 15 May 2008 19:09:00 -0000

Have plans on Monday night? Well, you do now! Dust off your crafty pants and come join us for our weekly Craft Night at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn. Each craft night is also broadcast live into in the Treehouse room of the Virtual Labs. All demos will be shown both in the Labs in Brooklyn and in the Treehouse online.

Craft Night occurs every Monday from 4-8pm at 325 Gold Street, 3rd floor in Brooklyn, New York. Each week the Etsy Labs organize a skill-sharing project. We provide supplies, tools, snacks, and know-how. Participants are also welcome to bring their own project to work on. Craft night is a time to make things, learn new skills, and hang out.

This week, on Monday, May 19, we will be making paper and cloth bags that are useful for packaging for your Etsy shop, craft fairs, gifts, and more. We will demonstrate bag-making techniques and basic sewing tips.

If you are joining us virtually for Craft Night this week and would like to make bags along with us, be prepared with a few supplies. You will need: fabric, fabric scissors, fusible web, an iron, a sewing machine (or needle and thread, if you don't have access to one), paper (kraft paper, patterned paper, or any paper you have on hand) and any embellishments you would like to use (such as markers, pens, paint, Gocco, stamps).

See you Monday!

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Keep an eye on the Storque Events calendar for future updates from the Etsy Labs.

Want to learn more about the Labs? Check out our FAQs. Want to receive email updates? Join our Etsy Labs mailing list.

News from the Etsy Labs: 5/12 Craft Night

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:22:00 -0000

Got plans on Monday night? Well, you do now! Dust off your crafty pants and come join us for our weekly Craft Night at the Etsy Labs in Brooklyn. Each craft night is also broadcast live into in the Treehouse room of the Virtual Labs. All demos will be shown both in the Labs in Brooklyn and in the Treehouse online.

This week, on Monday, May 12, we will be making pennant-style Etsy banners. These little flag banners will be used to aid teams who apply through the Team Grant program. We will demonstrate applique and basic sewing techniques.

If you are joining us virtually for Craft Night this week and would like to make a banner for your team or yourself to bring to craft fairs and other such events, be prepared with a few supplies. You will need: fabric, fabric scissors, fusible web, an iron, a sewing machine (or needle and thread, if you don't have access to one), and any embellishments you would like to use (such as ribbons, buttons, lace, sequins, bedazzling supplies, puffy paint, etc).

See you Monday!

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Keep an eye on the Storque Events calendar for future updates from the Etsy Labs.

Want to learn more about the Labs? Check out our FAQs. Want to receive email updates? Join our Etsy Labs mailing list.

Shop Makeover series: The Fine Print

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:06:00 -0000

The overall appearance of your shop is key to creating a professional looking and successful storefront on Etsy! Today's shop makeover will give you tips and tricks to making your banner, avatar, shop announcement, profile, titles, descriptions, and your message to the buyer more professional and as successful as they can be! See here for all posts in this series.

New Banner and Avatar
Your banner and your avatar are your shop identity, and will be the main image and brand shoppers associate with your shop. Look at it as the sign on the top of your storefront which will capture your buyers attention. Some people go for neon lights while others take a more subtle approach. You should choose a design that will complement the items sold in your shop.

Take advantage of the entire 700px wide by 100px high space provided. You may want to include your shop name, photos of your work, or your shop slogan in your image. Here's a great tutorial we put together all about how to make your own banner using Photoshop. If you don't have Photoshop, you can download Gimp for free, which uses several similar features as Photoshop. There are also several free websites that allow you to make your own banner including puresilva, highpowergraphics, and bannersketch. If you are not confident with your 2D design skills, you can make a small investment and check out some of the many talented Etsy sellers who offer custom designed banners in their shops.

Another important thing to remember is that your avatar is the main image that will represent your shop when talking in the forums, commenting on the Storque, and participating in online workshops on Etsy. Many people choose to include an image of themselves or an item from their shop; when using a good image of your products, you are creating another way to advertise your shop and entice shoppers inside to see more! The image is only 45px by 45px, so it is best to crop a small area of a larger photo rather than trying to resize a larger image.

Shop Announcement
Your shop announcement is a great place to introduce yourself, welcome buyers and thank them for checking out your shop. You should also use it to announce a special sale or charity your shop supports or a craft fair you will be attending, and remember to keep it friendly and brief. Long announcements push all your items further down to the bottom of the page, and make shoppers have to scroll down to see your work. When a shopper clicks on your page it is very important that they can immediately see those three featured items at the top of your shop to grab their attention and keep them shopping! If you have lots to say, you can use your shop profile to post extra details, policies, and shop information.

Profile
Your profile is the place where you should include all the fine print (like your shop's buying, shipping, and return policies), as well as a bio about yourself and your creative process. Many people who buy handmade items enjoy the personal connection between the maker and the product. Let people know what inpires you, and what you enjoy about creating your work.

You should use your profile space to inform shoppers of your shop policies. It is important to make sure a buyer is informed of all the facts about your shipping methods, return and exchange policies, accepted forms of payment, and what you do in the case of a non-paying buyer. A great example of a thorough Shop Policy can be found in Stamp's profile. I can't think of anything she has left out!

Another importanct policy to consider is how you handle your custom orders. What's the turn around time? Do you have your buyer pay the full cost up front, half up front, or have them pay you when the item is completed? Definitely something to think about!

Titles
Important things to consider when creating your listing titles are as follows:

Can your shopper identify what the item is from the title alone? You may want to try to word your title so the first three words alert the buyer to the type of item you are selling. This way when shoppers are viewing your item in gallery mode, they can easily tell what type of item the photo is representing. If you are selling clothing, it is important to include the size in your title. If you are selling artwork, you may also consider including the dimensions of the piece.

Simple, straightforward titles look the most professional. It is important to keep your titles consistent throughout your item listings. Are the first words of each title capital or lowercase? Are your sizes written at the end or beginning of the title? Keeping these things consistent makes browsing easier and creates a flowing, branded, and professional looking shop.

Descriptions
Many people don't realize that, in addition to the facts, a brief story about your handmade object can create a dramatic impression on your viewer. Let the shopper know how you picture the item being used, or tell them a story of what inspired you to create the piece. Many people who appreciate handmade items also enjoy the story behind how it was made, who created it and where the idea came from.

Of course, it's also important to inform the buyer of all the facts. Color, size, dimensions, textures, materials used, washing and care instructions, fabrication process, and allergy alerts are essential. You may also want to consider if your item is for a certain age group or suggest it as the perfect gift for a special occasion.

Message to Buyer
This is your opportunity to make one last impression on your buyer. Be sure to thank your buyer for supporting your shop. You may also give them a coupon code good toward their next purchase. If you create a way to keep the buyer thinking about your shop after their purchase, they will be more likely to become a repeat customer. A friend of mine offers a special coupon to any buyer who send him a photo of themself with the item they purchased.

Be part of our Shop Makeover series: document your "before" and "after" with screen shots and post them on flickr or your blogs or whatever works best for you. Then share the links in the comments below. As we go through the different steps of the makeover, we'll hold Online Workshops in the Virtual Labs where we'll highlight great ideas that come from you and discuss further questions and share examples of what people are doing. At the end of the month, we'll all pick the most radical makeovers!

We'll be staggering the posts throughout the month of January, hopefully giving people enough time to participate. There's so much work to do! We kicked off the Shop Makeover series with the post about tagging, and this here is the second one, and here's the Intro too. Also, please post in the comments if you have any other creative secrets to hold onto the buyer's attention!

Seller Help in the Virtual Labs: Graphic Design tips and tricks for your Etsy shop!

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 15:10:00 -0000

***Update! If you want to make a banner with us today, here are the steps you should follow before the workshop:

Download and install GIMP (it's free!).
Get a nice photo(s) ready to use in your banner.
Download a free font that you like from dafont. (Install it if you know how — if not we'll be covering this in the workshop). ***

Join us Wednesday, November 7th in the Virtual Labs, specifically the "marketing room" room at 3pm Eastern sharp for the next online Labs workshop!!!

We will be talking all about simple and easy ways to make graphic designs for your shop. Graphic design skills are useful for making your own banner, avatar, promotional badges that link back to your shop, business cards, post cards, as well as touching up and adding to your photos!

Don't foget to bring something to take notes with!

See you there!

Etsy Labs

Etsy Labs Shop Critique Round-up

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:37:00 -0000

Did you miss the first Etsy Labs Shop Critique Workshop, or just want to review all the info? Here's a summary of what went down:

We chose three sellers who graciously allowed us to critique them. Thank you to HerRoyalMajestyBags, sofiamasri, and Popko for participating!

First up was HerRoyalMajestyBags:

HRMB has created a wonderful brand for herself. Her avatar, banner, and writing (in her shop and on the forums) work together to give us a memorable brand and a great sense of her personality and humor.

We felt that she could bring her pictures to the next level so that they communicate her brand image. Instead of the brown fence (which the bags sort of blend in with), we suggested finding backgrounds that bring in the colors and mood of her avatar and banner. Rich reds, purples, golds, black? Experiment with finding a palette that works together and will make the bags stand out.

Also, she should play with the type/angle of pictures that she is using for her gallery shot. Since this is the first thing people will click on, it must be eye-catching. One of the assets of her bags are the rich patterns. Maybe experiment with getting a closer shot for the gallery picture so we can see some of the beautiful fabrics. Since the bags are symmetrical, we don't necessarily need to see the whole bag in the gallery (although I DO like gallery shots where you can tell what the item is). She can also try loading a photo that is larger than the alloted size and allowing it to crop down, so when people click they will see more of the bag. Play with the angles of the shot — right now they are all face-on, straight shots that show pretty much the whole bag. Switching up the angles can give the entire shop a more dynamic, interesting look. Have fun, and don't be afraid to take a "bad" picture during the photo shoot. Take lots of shots (try to take 50 of each product while working on photo-artistry).

Next was sofiamasri:

We love her work, and the banner is great! It really works well with her fun, colorful items. We talked about changing the avatar to make it go with the banner. Something colorful and fun...either using one of her items like the popsicle necklace popsicle necklace or something coordinating with the banner. The avatar you use in the forums can get people clicking into your shop, so having something that gives people the feeling of the shop is key.

It also seemed like there were items with very different looks in the shop. It is hard to balance your creativity and drive to make new things with creating a cohesive brand identity. As well, your style can/does change over time. It may be best to focus on a particular customer or theme in your shop at a given time, or bring the backgrounds together so that everything works together.

Now, photos:

1. As above, finding a theme for the backgrounds will help bring it all together. The patterned background in the popsicle picture is great...she might find some other patterns or solids that work with that.

2. Lighting: This shot of the porcelain star nest and the popsicle shot are both very nice. However, the lighting in them gives them a different "feel". The lighting in the star necklace gives a subdued, sophisticated feel, and the bright popsicle pic has a young, fun feel. It might be best to decide where to go with the lighting, and standardize it in the shop.

And pricing...it might be interesting to create different lines (perhaps as categories in the shop? Or perhaps opening another shop if you feel you can deal with that now!) with hi/low pricing to reflect your different customers. If you create different lines, photographing them in different ways (as in the opposite of #2 above) with different backgrounds then helps differentiate between them.

And Popko:

Popko is already a great seller and has been very sucessful! She makes beautiful things, and is a skilled craftsperson and designer. She has a good presence on the forums, and she has kept her avatar for a while, so we all recognize her! Her avatar is great — a picture-of-yourself type of avatar is wonderful — it is nice to know who you are talking to, and it can really draw people in if you are nice and/or interesting looking, and/or reflect your product/customer. We also like how she has the glass in the avatar so we get a hint of what she does. As well, she takes clear, bright, really good photos.

Popko is looking to take her shop to the next level. The next step for her is becoming a "name-brand". You know how there are some sellers that when you see one of their pictures or items, you know right away who's it is? That's where she is looking to go!

Here were some ideas we had for her:

1. She might think about switching up the banner. Julie made the comparison to Coca-Cola — they regularly switch up their image to keep things fresh. There were different opinions about this...many people liked her banner as is. One thought is to incorporate glass into the banner...it seems that the opaque, graphic-art part of the banner does not go as well with the translucent, airy feeling of her art.

2. Selection — perhaps the supplies and lavander buds are distracting us from the real star of the show, the amazing jewelry. Further, when we think of Popko, we think of her glass/tile sort of work . Maybe the pieces like this Golden Gypsy Hoops Earrings and this On the Seashore - Vintage Beach Charm Bracelet in silver, while cool, are not popko-brand? Maybe having a second shop for supplies and other things would help streamline her core brand and make it really tight. She might also think about using the categories to create different lines (as her category "confetti line jewelry"). Danielle had a really great idea here of possibly using different background groups for different lines if she'd like to keep it to one shop.

3. Photos — Popko is already taking great clear, eyecatching photos. The white backgrounds really "pop" her multi-colored pieces. Some pieces are on backgrounds of other colors. The backgrounds should be a concious choice — if almost all are white, then some are another color, it might look scattered. Usually, white backgrounds work best with really bright pieces (which she has), and when ALL of the backgrounds in the shop are white. There are exceptions, of course — a theme with black backgrounds and white backgrounds might work as well. She might brainstorm background ideas...while she might decide to stick with the white, she might also go in a whole new direction.

Thank you again to our wonderful critique-ees, and to everyone who attended the workshop, and to everyone who wanted to attend and is now reading this wrap-up!

The next Shop Critique Workshop will be on Friday, September 28 at 1PM EST (U.S.) in the workshop:

http://www.etsy.com/workshop_main.php

See you next week!

Skill Share: Making a Banner

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 21:20:00 -0000

Hi all! I thought I'd show you how I made the new EtsyLabs banner. I'm not a trained graphic artist by any means but I love making banners, avatars, and general photoshopping! So here's the banner and the tips:

Here's the final product. ps click on any of these images to get some more detail!

Tip Alert! Download a fancy font! My favorite place to download free fonts is http://www.dafont.com/. Once you find something you like download it to your desktop and unzip it. Then go to the start menu -> Control Panel -> Fonts and then click "install font" and find that on your desktop. Do this before opening Photoshop.

Step One - Find some sort of background. I suggest a pic that may be floating around your flickr account, scan some fabric or ribbons, or fine something cool and free on the internet (but don't steal! Make sure its for general use.)

Step 2 - Crop this baby. Don't worry about the size yet. Just crop it so you get a good image (as wide as possible). Crop is a tool found on the left vertical toolbar - it looks like a box.

Step 3 - Now lets set the correct width. It should be 760 pixels. On the top horizontal toolbar click Image->Image Size and set the width to 760 pixels and select "OK".

Step 4 - Now lets work on the height. Do this by adjusting the canvas size (Image -> Canvas Size ). The height should be 100 pixels. In the canvas size window you can adjust the anchor if you want the pic to be cropped from the top, bottom, center etc.

Here's what we come up with so far:

Step 5 - Adding text. On the left toolbar you'll see the letter T. Click it! Now click on a space in the pic where you want to add your shop name. Now type in your shop name. Highlight what you just typed. Now you can change the font, color and size (see those options at the top of the horizontal toolbar in photoshop). Play around until you get a good result.

Step 6 - Rasterize text. At the top click Layer -> Rasterize. You've rasterized!

Step 7 - Add some dimension to your text. At the top again click Layer -> Layer style. Play around! For this banner I chose to use a suble "inner glow". Spooky!!

Step 8 - Glowing airplanes! I wanted those paper airplanes to stick out more. So I used the magic wand first. You can find the magic wand on the left hand toolbar. Once you have selected it just click on the items in the picture you want to "glow" (you can adjust the tolerance at the top if when you click on the items they aren't being selected properly). Hold the shift key while clicking away to select multiple items. Once you've selected all the items you want to pop, hover the mouse over any section of the picture and right click on the mouse. Now "Select Inverse". This should select everything EXCEPT the items you want to glow. Therefore any effect you now use will only change the background and not these items.

So now since I want everything BUT the airplanes to look a little less bright I go to Image->Adjustments->Hue/Saturation. I decrease the saturation to make it a little duller. Feel free to play around in this section though! See what other effects you can create.

Step 9 - Save! Select File -> Save As. Save it as a JPG file. Save it somewhere you can find it in a minute.

Step 10 - Upload! Log into your etsy account. On the left side under Shop Setup you'll see "Appearance". Click it! Now in the banner upload box find your new banner! Once you have all you have to do is click "save changes" at the bottom and you are golden!

Tomorrow I'll be following up with a few more photoshop banner tips using actual Etsy members who have requested new banners. So stay tuned!