Review It!!!

~ Feature Friday III ~

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Every Friday I will be reviewing a different shop. When inquiring about this type of post, my fellow Etsian's have surprised me with a positive and abundant response to my blog request I sent out.

To better understand the review read this:

*The category I reviewed is the Largest word before or in the bold text.

*The bold text tells what I am looking for in the category for a positive score.

*The red or blue text that follows is what I thought of how the store does in the category, red meaning needing improvement, blue meaning no improvement needed.

Without further ado let's get this review going.

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Ceramicland

What we have up today is the wonderful little shop, with 20 items, Ceramicland.
Opened on Oct. 18, 2008, and 8 sales. Let's see what we got here.

Banner: Is there a professional looking banner that depicts what the shop is about, or sells?

Yes. 10/10 points

When it comes to the photos it is important that they are very clean and use white light. Which is the best type of lighting to show the items true color. Make sure there are a variety, and shows off all the important parts of the item. The photos are the most important part of your shop.

All of the listings are crisp, and bright, the white light/natural used is apparent, and what seems to be a light box. Most the listings taking advantage of all of the slots for the photo. Ceramicland makes sure to show multiple angles, letting the view see even the smallest details. 50/50 points

Tags: When listing your items it is very important to put what you would in the search bar. Views = Sales.

While looking at the tags, and item titles I found accurate describing words. (Example: Title: Egyptian Art Style + Original Fine Art. = A more viewed, favorited item.) 10/10 points

Descriptions should tell you even more information about the item you're looking at. If you are looking for an interior design art piece, you should like the size, and where one would put the art piece. Does it hang? Does it sit outside? Inside? You also should also verify what the potential buyer is looking at. Mentioning your packaging and where to find your policies is always an added bonus.

Once again Ceramicland has got this down to a science, doing all of the above. Even letting the viewer know that they can contact the owner if they have any questions. 20/20 points

Featured items: What are featured items, and what items should I feature? You should feature any 4 items that are your personal favorites, and you should pick your favorite from different sections of your shop. Having a variety of different items that all grab your eye will help your shoppers know what they may find while browsing.
You MUST use all 4 featured spots, never letting a slot go unfilled for a long period of time. This makes your shop look unkempt, or inactive.

Ceramicland has 4 spots filled, and even has a diverse variety of the art pieces featured.5/5 points


Shop Sections: I need a Wall Mask, a Figure, and a skull for my oddity loving friend. Can I find that easily?
With the shop sections I can. Use all 10 sections on your shop, and make sure you use one for sales, clearance, or destashing items. Even if it's not used very often, this will help for the bargain hunters that pop into your shop from time to time.

Ceramicland's sections were easy to understand, and navigate to what I was looking for, there was even a custom order section. 8 of 10 sections were used, but for the amount of items this is okay. 20/20 points

Pricing is something that is tough for many people, I wouldn't bat an eye dropping $200 on a watch at a retail setting. With the knowledge that others have successfully purchased prior and been satisfied with the quality that was advertised, I wouldn't bat an eye elsewhere.

Ceramicland's prices all seem completely fair for the skill and craftsmanship, the amazing artistic talent that has gone into each of the pieces is more than apparent. I wouldn't bat an eye at purchasing a $250 Custom Ceramic Portrait. Also there is just a sense of pride that comes with supporting handmade. 10/10 points Also, who's home office wouldn't be complete with a bust of themselves looking regal in ceramic.

About the seller: As long as this newly added feature is filled out, with no spelling mistakes I'm happy with it. This is another MUST DO, you want your buyers to know whom they are supporting with each purchase.

This is true for Ceramicland. 20/20 points

When it comes to reviews they speak for themselves:

Lastly, I popped into the review section of the shop, and found 5 star reviews. A few things that caught my eye in the review was those raving about the cautious shipping, (a must for those with fine art) and customer service. If you're looking for a helpful seller, and looking to get exactly what you're wanting, the way you want it, then look no further.

5/5 points

So, with all of that said, I give Ceramicland, a 150/150 ☆☆☆☆☆

Additional thoughts: 
For those that are wondering why the sales aren't as high for such a fantastic shop, art is subjective. You can be doing everything correctly, and still have few sales, but this isn't the why the artist creates. I've gone ahead and favorited this shop, in the future I may need a very specific type of piece for my photography studio. With everything that I have seen here, I would love to purchase from such a wonderful artist, that truly cares for their pieces as well as the buyers happiness. Good job, Ceramicland!

1- 30 ☆ Not worth my time

31-60 ☆☆ Not worth my money

61-90 ☆☆☆ Would heart

91-120 ☆☆☆☆ Would buy from

121-150 ☆☆☆☆☆ Would buy from loyally

About the seller: I asked Ceramicland, 6 questions here their answers:

1.) Tell us a bit about yourself.

My college background was in the biological sciences, but switched to art in my final semester.
As a teen, I used to “borrow” the art gum erasers my mother used in charcoal sketching she did for her paintings. I would make portraits of famous actors (little portrait heads). I think my first ones were Redford and Newman as Butch and Sundance. They never got me a bag of clay (which would have sped things up for me…) but I managed to find my way to art.

I used to draw quite a bit as a kid and still do. Eventually I found my way to art school and did the MFA and taught at the University a bit. Now I teach workshops and enjoy it more.

Custom Order: Sculpture

2.) What first made you want to become an artist?

This leads to question 2…
I think it was the drawing that led me to art. It was a way to communicate what I was interested in and I loved how a sketchbook became a object of 2, 3, and 4 dimensions…the 4th being time: by locking the sketches in a book, a chronology is created and the time spent is captured in one place as opposed to drawing on loose pieces of paper. I tried cartooning and got a couple of drawings published, even won a couple of prizes…but found sculpture more interesting

Figurine Sculpture in Primitive Form

3.) Please describe you creative process how, when, materials, ect.

I begin my work by drawing: writing ideas down and illustrating by sketches. I also make small clay sketches to figure out the pose, shape and content of pieces to save time in the sculpting process. If I like the prototype enough of a piece, I may make a plaster mold of it to make more variations on the theme. I like to make each casting individual though, by texturing the slabs of clay and the piece itself, and in the final surfacing by stains and glazes fired on.

4.) WEBSITES.
Website: www.etsy.com/shop/ceramicland

5.) What advice would you give to artists who are new to Etsy?

Advice: Don’t watch your stat numbers like a hawk and don’t give up if the first sales don't come for a while. Work on your tags and titles and eventually the buyers will find you. Take advantage of the forums: there is great advice there that will help you along.

Ceramic Figure, Egyptian Art style,

6.) How do you promote your work?

Mostly Etsy teams and sometimes Pinterest will find my stuff and pin it. I do workshops teaching my anatomy and figure sculpture techniques and go to conferences when I can to mingle with those in my field….and enter shows etc.

What do you think of this shop? Was my review fair and accurate? Tell me below in the comments.

*All participating parties have consented to the review above, along with opinions, and permission has been granted to use likenesses, photos, and links from the shops owner and operator.
*Opinions stated by shops reviewed do not reflect or represent the opinions of AshleysHomeSpun.