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Tami Eveslage Original Teddy BearsWow Luann! It is wonderful to hear some input from a collector's viewpoint! Thank you for taking the time to put all of that in writing! (Or typing as the case may be 
) Lots of good information there!
Good clear photos are an absolute must!!
Reason for listing - I get depressed reading about how many times a bear has been listed, how sad they are that no one wants them, how much it's cost to list with e-Bay, and how badly you need money to pay bills, tuition, vet fees, etc. We all have money issues at some point or another, but perhaps we shouldn't emphasize them on an e-Bay listing.
I couldn't agree more! Although, I think this is seen more in auctions in which a collector is listing a bear they have to let go of for one reason or another.
I watched ebay a while before I started listing bears and adopted a style of listing similar to the ones I enjoyed viewing as a collector, and interestingly, some of Luan's dislikes are things I enjoy when looking at an auction. I like lots of good pictures and enjoy reading the well thought out descriptions which sometimes contain stories, and enjoy a scrolling format rather than clicking on smaller pictures each in turn and waiting for them to enlarge. I also think that this HTML template stye of auction allows pictures to download quicker for those who do not have high speed internet. It still takes longer than DSL or Cable, but is is faster. I also
Even if you follow all of the wonderful advise Luann has given, and you have made a wonderful bear, it still may not sell. I think that other factors have been mentioned on other threads which affect ebay selling.
One is that you must be somewhat regularly listing bears so collectors will know to look for your work. (This is my biggest challenge personally.)
Another is that you must promote yourself in other ways, like submitting photos to magazines and having some face time at shows, if you can.
I once read that good marketing is just as important as talent when it comes to selling your art.
Posts: 2,203Krista, As a collector I love Love LOVE teddy bears and have brrn tracking several auctions including yours. But with the holidays I can not afford to think about what I want. I still have Christmas shopping to do! As a buding artist myself I am just swampped with materials that go through trial and error! lol! My birthaday is on New Years EVE so I can splurge a tad then. :hug:
Hi Lulu, 
I agree with you on several points! I collect bears as well. You are right on the money when you talk about only having a few seconds to capture the attention of the buyer. I too, peruse the OOAK bears for sale section each morning. What grabs my attention is a clear picture first and then an enticing Title Bar. Those two things combined will get me to click on the listing.
Like you, I don't want to read about all the awards the artist has received. I don't collect artist bears for investment. I'm all about the bear. A nice short little story about the bear is a bonus. I like good, clear pictures. To be perfectly honest, I only scroll through the first five or six pictures. If the bear hasn't captured my heart by the sixth picture, I'm on to the next one.
The title bar is as important as a clear itty bitty picture is. Name recognition is key.....whether it's your business name or your given name....put it in the title bar each time you list. Collectors will start to recognize and remember you this way.
Okay, this is getting too long and I have a million things to do today so I won't keep jabbering away on the many points Lulu made. Besides, my coffee cup is empty. 
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
P.S. I generally don't buy many bears at this time of year unless they are child safe for the Giving Trees. My money is going to family gifts and charitable organizations at this time of year.
Thank you so much everyone for all the encouragement and awesome advice....Luann, your tips are just awesome, and will come to mind each time I list now...Thank You!!!!
Hugs,
krista
