What is in a (shop) name?

A shop names is the first introduction to a brand, and should therefore send the message you intend it to send. It should say something about your shop, what you sell, or should at least not give a misleading impression of your shop.

There are all kinds of wonderful handmade shops out there. They have unique names that can seem straightforward, but the stories and reasons behind the name of a shop can be as unique as the artisan.

I realized this as I had always made the assumption that the shop name was usually named after the artisan. But in reality some people find their inspiration from mythology, anthropology, family history and other parts of their life.

My shop name comes from a combination of my kids' names. Arielle and Aidan combined to give me Aridan. I liked the idea because it keeps my kids top of mind, where they belong, and it also demonstrates to them their importance in my life. They are proud that my shop is named after them. I had tinkered with other names that involved the words "baubles" and "trinkets", and while they may be fun to say, I felt they tended to trivialize the work I put into my pieces. I also wanted a name generic enough that it wouldn't be misleading if I decided to create items that were not jewelry. That is how Aridan Fashions was born.

If you have an interesting story about your business or shop name, I would love to hear it.

How Much Tweeting is Too Much?

So recently I was reading a thread on the Etsy site about Twitter. Some were saying that they wouldn't be surprised if Etsy was banned from Twitter because of excessive spam (I guess any spam is excessive). People feel strongly on both sides of the issue. Some people feel that you should not be promoting your new listings at all on Twitter and some people feel that tweeting their listings bring views to their items. I have read guidelines from other people on how to use Twitter, but I find that in reality even those outlining guidelines are not always operating within them. I admit that I find that a bit hypocritcal, but I chalk it up that people are better at making rules than following them. ;)

I think Twitter is so unique and so large that there is room for people on all sides of the fence. I do not consider people who promote their listings as spamming, because I only see their posts if I follow them to begin with. It's my choice to see their tweets or not. Personally I like seeing listings from other artists, as I like to see the work that's out there. My husband is on the other side of the fence. He uses Twitter to connect with people he knows already, and to follow news and sports feeds. He would be much more likely to be annoyed by links to store items.

I personally don't see Etsy listings being banned from Twitter, they would have just as much reason to ban any of the other self-promoting segments on the service. I would never tell someone else that they should not promote their listings through Twitter either. The fact is that Twitter will bring more views into your shop. Yes, I agree that we all should use common sense about how we tweet our items. Generally, there should be some general dialogues going on, aside from self promotion. And generally, it's a turn off to see a long queue of listings in a row. But it's a learning curve, and people will do what works best for them, and we're all free to develop and implement our personal philosophical guidelines of who we follow and why.

I value my network, especially the handmade artisan core of my network. Don't be afraid to show off your work, because if you don't someone else will. I don't mind!

My Phantom Obsession Lives On!

I have long had a school-girl crush on the tale of The Phantom of the Opera. I have read the original book, as well as some greatly romanticized versions. I have seen the musical a number of times, and of course I own the movie. Some people don't understand the appeal. I love the juxtaposition of opposing forces in the story. Good versus evil, beautiful versus ugly, light versus dark, man versus woman, and redemption versus damnation. For me, it did what the Twilight series seems to have done for a whole new generation of young people.

So here I've put together an Artisan Spotlight of handmade items that remind me of one of my favorite books/movies/plays. Hope you enjoy!

Handmadeology-A Great Resource for Online Sellers

I am not really new to online selling. I signed up for an Etsy storefront in 2006. But you would think I'd be much farther along than I am in building sales. Well life events pulled me away from my art for a long time. Now I'm back and there have been so many changes, new venues, new opportunities, it makes me a de facto newbie.

In my efforts to learn more about online selling I found Handmadeology. It takes online selling from an art to a science, based on the proven tactics of Timothy Adams, metal artist, blogger and successful online seller.

It's a great resource for online sellers, whether experienced or brand new, that includes articles and videos to improve your selling techniques on Etsy and ArtFire. Additionally, it provides information on how to increase traffic to your selling venues through social networking, such as Twitter, Facebook, and effective blogging.

I found the combination of articles and videos refreshing. The videos are great for people who are visual learners, and like to see, step-by-step, what they need to do. There is also a forum for the site, with the tagline "Connect. Learn. Promote.", the growing community there is an excellent way to learn from other artists.

Additionally there is a directory on the site where you can add your links to blogs, storefronts, Twitter and more, for free. We all like free, right?

Stop by, visit, click a link or two, and see if you learn something new.
http://handmadeology.com

Win Unique Handmade Jewelry in the AJDJSS Treasure Hunt

The Artfire Jewelry Design and Jewelry Supply Shops Guild is currently running it's Spring Cleaning and Treasure Hunt event. Below are some of the beautiful selections available in the AJDJSS studios. Visiting these studios will allow you to check out some of the discounts and specials available, and maybe even qualify you to win a beautiful, handmade, unique jewelry design...or two! Check out the rules at http://artfirejewelrydesignjewelrysupplyshop.blogspot.com/.

Spring Cleaning is Keeping Me Busy

Ok, anyone who knows me probably realized I didn't mean actual Spring "cleaning". Rather I'm talking about the upcoming event being run by my ArtFire guild. An ArtFire guild is a group of people brought together by a common mission, who help and support each other in building traffic and bringing business to their studios. Our guild's name is Artfire Jewelry Design and Jewelry Supply Shops.

This is my first experience with a guild. I was a bit hesitant at first, since I tend to be somewhat shy and quiet. But I am very fortunate to belong to this talented group of artisans. They are active within the group, they are supportive, they share information, and they are dedicated to success.

So our first event is kicking off April 17th, and I've been very busy preparing for it. It will combine "Spring Cleaning" specials in each member studio, and a treasure hunt where participants can win a number of lovely bracelets, earrings, and necklaces. I've been heads down preparing some new inventory for this event, so I can put my best foot forward. Come by and check it out. There is even a slideshow of the fantastic prizes: http://artfirejewelrydesignjewelrysupplyshop.blogspot.com/.

Reflections on ArtFire

So venturing out on artisan selling sites, like Etsy and ArtFire, is not for the faint of heart. It's truly amazing how many talented people there are out there, working hard on beautiful handmade pieces of art. And that's just the start on these sites. I have to admire all these artisans that put the time an energy not only creating their fine pieces of work, but also contributing to the vast community, providing feedback and help to other artisans and the site itself. As much as there is a sense of community, there is also fierce competition. When gathering together the best and brightest, how do you make yourself stand out in such fine company? That is the money question, and one many are still trying to answer. I'm enjoying putting my art out there, and I'm patient, and I learn from my mistakes. Balancing the day job, the family and friends, and other interests, I only have so much time to dedicate to my jewelry passion. It's good that I'm patient. I'm willing to take my time and see where these online venues take me, and what I can offer back.

So here is my latest listing in my ArtFire studio. It's actually the first time I've made a wire yoke. Something about 16 gauge wire used to scare me off, but I'm kind of in a "bring it on" frame of mind lately. These are glass pearls, and my lovely smokey irridescent glass chips.