Moving a little slowly this week

My listings are going a bit more slowly of late as I am learning a new listing program. I have used eLister for many years, but am a bit tired of paying a license fee every 6 months. Since I have a Mac, there aren't a lot of options open to me -- I just don't like Auctiva - even though it's free -- too clunky.

I'm giving Garage Sale a try and it's working pretty well. Saving me a lot of time with my photos, since it uploads directly from iphoto to its own photo-hosting system. But after years with one software, it's hard to get used to the quirks of another, so bear with me.

Cheating on eBay with another site

I've been unfaithful to eBay before, but I consider my dalliance with Amazon's Marketplace to be a whole separate relationship. However, my new fling with Art Fire is a little more symbiotic.

Art Fire is a little start-up online marketplace that specializes in hand-crafted items -- a competitor with Etsy -- and also has room for vintage items, antiques and craft supplies. I started a store - they call it a Studio - there a couple of weeks ago. I've been incredibly crafty lately so may list some original items, but was really thinking of it as an outlet for the vintage craft supplies, pattern books and items I find that need a little creativity applied to them -- all are often overlooked on eBay.

So far the site doesn't have that many buyers on it, but the price is right -- $7 a month for life if you sign up now (you can list 10 things at a time for free), rising to $20 per month for those late to the party. But there are no other fees for your sales -- no listing fees, no final value fees. If it catches on it could be a very good thing.

As it is, I am just migrating over craft-oriented listings that have been sitting in my eBay store for a while. I think until the site gets more eyes on it, the plan will be to list it once on eBay and then send it over to Art Fire. I'm planning a bunch of back-issues of some terrific PieceWork craft magazines, etc. for this weekend.

Register on ArtFire.com. Check my Studio link in the sidebar.

New Year's Resolution -- Make more time in the day

I'm currently in re-grouping mode -- I'm working on cleaning up and organizing the old stock room so I can work more effectively on eBay. I got a mini photo studio for Christmas, which - I hope - will improve the quality of my photographs for smaller items. But I need to make space.

I'm also working on several little side ventures -- a store on Art Fire a new site, similar to Etsy, that will sell handcrafted items as well as vintage -- I'm moving my vintage arts and crafts patterns/books and some kitschy little things that get lost on eBay to this site. I've just started stocking it, but you can check it out here. I'm also hoping to make some original products to sell here -- my mind is buzzing with ideas for arty little items, I've just got to get going on them. I am addicted to crochet right now and am devoting too much time to that and not enough time to eBay (so now I'm too broke to buy yarn)

I've also been writing articles on eHow and am finally making a tiny bit of cash from that, so I need to keep up with writing (check the side bar for some of my eBay-related articles) -- and what seems almost more important, promoting my articles so people actually read them.

Anyway -- I'm having a brief year-end sale to clear out Christmas merchandise and other items that have been in my store several months -- buy it up, people, many bargains to be had.

O Sweet Electricity!

After 6 long days without power, I'm back. I managed to send out a batch of packages mid-week by hanging out in front of The Apple Store at the mall and using their wireless connection --- much fun on my tiny little iPod Touch. I don't have a laptop, but it does do in a pinch: I got addresses - transcribing them into an actual paper notebook (shocking);sent a bulk email to let people know the reason for the delay (with the help of the conveniently located Apple Geniuses); and relisted a number of items.

The only thing I couldn't do was new listings. So I am planning a bunch for the weekend -- the lack of auctions closings through the week will put a serious crimp in my pre-payday cash flow. Luckily I have had a fairly steady stream of store purchases -- keep on buying people!!

Now off to work.