Teddy Talk: Creating, Collecting, Connecting

This is Rocky...my newest puppy design....he was quite challenging!

I use a free stat counter which is just a bit of code that you paste somewhere on your website...and it tells you who visited ...where they came from, how long they spent browsing...where they go off to. All kinds of stuff..It's fascinating.
Linked in is also good for that...it shows you who looks at your profile. Not that I am bothered who looks but it's interesting to see the stats.
Not that I build my business around that but it's quite informative to see the peaks and troughs of the visitors ..and when you get the most traffic..and where from.

I think it's because eBay don't really want us. We don't want to set up a store and sell a whole inventory of stock paying them vast sums.
So they now  lump us in with all the rubbish...making us hard to find and it just makes it impossible...and ..if you do manage to sell they charge a fortune.
I used to watch auctions but I never bother now. I think as far as artist bears go its had its time. Maybe a great new way to sell will show up but I just think people want to 'buy it now'. Auctions have become a way to get things cheap..not to sell for more...which used to be the case. That said I know that there are still a few artists that do very well on eBay, even now , and I think maybe that's because they have always sold on eBay...and they have a following who wait for their bears....maybe they don't make vast amounts of bears in a year and so when they do have a sale it's a big buzz. I make too many bears for that to happen for me...maybe I should cut down

With links it's just not because I see other artists as competition...I just think that while we are discussing getting people to visit our website and page then why would we then facilitate them then going off to other pages. I think it's fine if its some artists circle where we are uniformly promoting a craft group...but we are not a group in the sense that I do want people to buy my bears and it will always be that way. Yes it's nice to be friends ...and yes the camaraderie and support we give each other is both valuable and much appreciated. Yet that charitable attitude is measured by the fact that I do want a successful business and so I do view the industry as competition. I think if you are serious about business you do need to know who your competition is ...not to dislike them or copy...but to read the market and evaluate your own work.

I don't spend ages promoting my Facebook page..or my website. I just do perhaps 30 minutes a day updating and posting photos etc. that way people get to see my work..and all the other stuff I talk about.  I think it's all part of the working day. It's quite a pleasure to do. Kelly Dean has the cleverest FB page and he updates every day...he does this ' on my work bench this week' thing....and I bet the bear is sold by the time it's completed! I wish I had thought of it..and I have taken to promoting my work as I make I each piece to whip up a bit if interest probably because of that bit of genius...
The clever part is to post photos ...FB prioritise photos over everything else and so I post pictures of everything...the dog, the kids, the dinner..anything so when I do post a bear it gets great exposure. I have an iPhone and I use Instagram and it is a great combination. It works really well for me. If it ain't broke...don't fix it!

I have a website ..and I try to update it fairly regularly. That helps to get your website in the 'feed' ...when you don't update they website traffic tends to die down.
I am a Facebook fan ..I have afrw issues with it but since I started my my fan page in 2010 I have aquired 1762 'fans'. I have gained lots of people on my mailing list because of it..I have broadened my audience, sold bears to new collectors and even sold a bear at Hugglets in person to a new customer who saw my bears on Facebook.
I know there are issues with it..but it's free, it is extremely well used by established collectors and potential ones...and it's very easy to use.
I update at least once a day with photos which is what keeps your page in the newsfeed. Facebook prioritises photos ...and I switch off anyone I am suspicious of on my personal page.
I have had some luck with Bearpile...but it's swamped with sold bears on there...how do you wade through it. Etsy is a neat website but again, it's so hard to navigate amongst the thousands on there.
My advice is to make your work as wonderful as possible so you stand out from the crowd and post pictures on here, do a fair, and send your photos to a good magazine for some editiorial. That should get you noticed.
It's hard because there are many thousands of bear makers all vying for the same business. In order to sell bear they have to be great, they have to be different and they have to be what collectors want to buy.
I am not all that keen on links..never really have been. Not being uncharitable but links just send all your website visitors off to another website.
Someone pointed that out to me years ago and I think they are right!

He's really great!

He's a great bear and has been well worth all that effort. You have made a really characterful bear with a style of your very own. Well done!

Super photos Jane...I didn't see you snapping my stand. I think I was gossiping elsewhere when you dropped by!

I think it's difficult because this phrase is very much in use in our world. It would be a bit like owning the term 'washing up liquid' ...it's hard to know how one would describe such an item otherwise. Now I could understand why an established  brand name would fight over the use of their product names ..like 'Big Mac' or 'Mickey Mouse'  but this term is something which we all use so I wish them luck policing its use. Personally I think time would be better spent on more interesting projects..life's too short.
It's a real shame and I am truly shocked.

He's a adorable!

So who owns the phrase 'Teddy Bear'?
Are we all in breech of some title ownership issue? Very scary stuff ....
I wish you luck Berta!

Marlow whipping twine no 2 ...Bear Basics sell it now...along with Marine Supplies and Yachting rope suppliers.
It on eBay too.

This is who I use...cheap and you can design your own size
http://www.ascdirect.co.uk/

Thanks so much for posting!!! I enjoyed making them!

Aaw..thanks Francy...really appreciate it!!!

I just finished my bears for Hugglets...all the bears I have made are on my website but here are a couple of the ones I like best...

That's totally right....anyone who has true vision knows how to interpret and not copy!!
I ran into the legal team at Etsy ...they just didn't want to know.
Whether that was because I don't have an Etsy shop...then that might be different...two shops fighting it out might cost them money...but little old me ...they couldn't care less!

Well actually it does surprise me. I made a complaint to Etsy recently as someone was using a photo of my bear...and one or two other artists as scrap book imagery for use on various mediums.
So I complained to Etsy and was told in no uncertain terms that it was my responsibility to get in touch with the offender and ask them to remove said artwork.
Failing that I have to get a lawyer to state that I own the designs and prove categorically that they originate from me and so therefore the copyright laws are actually not applicable to Etsy. No in their , 'we do it like this' way of doing things anyway.
Any design which is derived from another persons  original work is not an original work in itself and copyright cannot be claimed. So both your guys seem to be in the wrong.
I am not sure how either can get away with claiming copyright if the designs are derived from elsewhere anyway.
I have seen bear makers auctions and websites with ' this design is copyrighted by xxxxxxxxxxx and anyone making bears that look like this will be boiled in oil'  or something very similar when actually the person who is making the statement has clearly been 'inspired' by another persons work themselves.
I don't know how you ever get around this type of thing. Unless you live in a dark dark forest with no TV and no Internet or access to any media you can never prove you weren't influenced by another persons work..and I have been on both sides of that sticky wicket. I see it all the time....even recently I have had spurious digs made from unexpected sources about my work inspiration ..and though I take no notice whatsoever these days I thoroughly understand why it hurts those who genuinely strive for individuality. I also see people who clearly do take inspiration from the work of others and yes, I think it's wrong especially when it's driven by nothing more than a desire just get a bit of the cake...but 9 times out of 10 it's not that at all..it's usually because the person really likes that style of bear and want to try to make something they like..and usually if they are good at what they do..they find their own muse and style.
It's always a thorny subject and one that causes much hurt and indignation. Like I said, I understand both sides of this having experienced both sides....Etsy though.....they are a law unto themselves...I think they make it up as they go along!

In the UK...regardless of what is on the eBay page if the item is simply bought ...ie on a BIN sale...then the buyer is automatically covered by distance selling regulations where they are entitled to a full refund.
That might not apply if the item was bought outside of the UK though.
But unless you are buying from a bona fide auction where bidding takes place the seller can't state a no returns policy in the UK. It simply isn't legal so eBay would have to support you. If you imported the item for elsewhere it might be different..and it if was an item you bid on just claim 'item not as described'
Simples!

Here is all the blurb as applied to eBay ....UK
http://pages.ebay.co.uk/businesscentre/ … helaw.html

I agree with Joanne,  Paypal will usually help. But as you say you 'bought ' an item does that mean it was a Buy It Now? If so you are covered by distance selling regulations and she has to refund you. The 'no refunds' thing only applies to genuine auctions.
She can't state no returns on Buy It Now sales...

Really lovely....I love the colour palette you chose..

So lovely...what a sweet bear!

Lovely ...very retro and full of loveliness !

I love your work so much!

You did a great job....I think he's a triumph.

Tatiana ....he is extremely well designed and shows you have an eye for detail that is so important when designing small characters.  He is simple but characterful and shows skill,  you clearly used your imagination and have worked hard to find  a style of your very own which is very impressive as very often new artists struggle to find individuality...you found yours though!