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I am just curious how y'all make most of your sales. List them in order of how you make the most sales, i.e., ebay, B4B, website, shows, word of mouth, etc. For me, I have sold everything on ebay, with the exception of two commissions. But I am new and y'all have waaaay more experience with selling than I do. Thanks for playing!
99% of my sales are on Ebay , next is my website. I haven't done any bear shows ( only 2 craft shows) in person as they are far from where I live. I've done 2 where another artist has taken my bears for me, one in USA and one is Australia. One day I hope to do a show or at least get visit one in person.
Newcastle, OntarioHi Jennifer,
I've been making miniature bears for 11 years. I'm Canadian and I used to attend a lot of shows in the NE United States. I never liked the stress of getting ready for shows and I had lots of wrist problems. I also was never comfortable with having to deal with customers in person and I don't like crowds.
I changed to Ebay 5 years ago, when our son was in a bad accident and he needed a lot of care for over 8 months , so we couldn't travel. I fell in love with Ebay, as it gave me 100% control - I only made what I wanted, when I wanted and I no longer dealt with customers wanting to take orders. They only saw what I listed on Ebay. I am also much more comfortable with customers, behind the anonymity of my computer - that's just the way I am.
I am now in the process of having a website made - I will use it the same way, only making what I choose to - no custom orders. I don't know what the response will be to my website - only time will tell. I don't think I will ever stop using Ebay. I really enjoy watching the auctions.
hugs,
Brenda
Hi Jennifer
1 Website
2 Shows
3 Magazines
Having said that, the website sales have grown through attending shows and magazine advertising, and the shows also lead orders and to future potential customers especially if you hand out business cards while chatting to people, and I also have an email mailing list they can fill their details out on so they get updates when new bears are born 
I also send out postal updates to those who do not have access to the web and maybe only buy the magazines.
I tried ebay about 3 yrs ago 4 times when I first started bear making and got no where so gave up, maybe I was just impatient, but others do have great success with it, I think it does take time to build up a customer base on there and win peoples trust but it's worth a try
There are so many options and i think it's best to try all of them and see where it takes you, good luck
Dolls N DreamsI would say 99% of my sales are from Ebay, then my website.
Little Bear GuyMajority of our sales are from shows, next would be our website and with that said our website sales have at least tripled in the last yr. Have only done ebay once or twice, didn't care for it, didn't like being nickled and dimed and hate the fee's that they keep raising every 6 months (but I will likely give it another shot this yr sometime). I guess I don't rely on ebay as much because we attend so many shows, throughout the yr. We will no longer take special commissions from people either, if we have done a bear and someone else likes it we will do one similiar to it but it's based on our idea not theirs. Did commissions a few times and it was always a headache, and we just don't have the time or patience for it. It takes away from your own creative process.
Brenda I fully understand what you are saying about doing shows, you are not alone on that. I know several artist who don't do shows because of the anxiety of them and the crowds, it's great that people like that have ebay to turn to and it works out well for them (we still enjoy seeing you attend the show though as a friend and collector)
big hugs
Shane
45% Website
45% Ebay
10% Shows
The easiest sales come from my website. Ebay takes more time because I'm writing stories with my bears again. Shows are the hardest (most time consuming, most expensive, and require me to be confined for long periods of time)....but they're the most fun! I really enjoy meeting collectors face to face as well as meeting other artists.
Warmest bear hugs, :hug:
Aleta
Most sales via my website - then shows and eBay
I started with eBay and built up my mailing list from my eBay exposure over time... also via Bearpile, etc... but eBay mostly.
I also got some orders from ads and editorial submissions to magazines!
I recently started doing shows and do love the excitement of a show
Delartful BearsFor me it's EBay and Bearpile. I need to get my webpage updated to have bears on there but that the moment I am getting soooooooo many orders - which I'm very thankful for :pray: that I don't have time to list more than 1 bear a week and have bears on my webpage.
It'll change soon, but at the moment I'm very happy (not to mention very tired)
Danni
TinyBearHi Jennifer
Shows
Website
just a few on Ebay 
Seems that I can´t get trough on Ebay - don´t know whats wrong 
Past Time BearsShows
Website
Magazine ads
Don't do ebay
bears by beesley TMGood topic. For us it is our website. We play on Ebay from time to time but I honestly have to say I really don't like it. I feel exposed or at the mercy of the wolves. I am a bit crazy though. So this may be why I feel that way. I thank God we don't have to rely on Ebay however to sell. Like alot of you, Ebay fees and all the other crap gives me a headache.
Hugs Louise
Wild Thyme Originals80 % eBay
20 % Commissions/special order
Plus the occassional charity auction in live auction format or via Bid4Bears. Looking forward to trying Bid4Bears again in a couple of months! 
Kim Basta
Tuppies Teddies1. e-bay
2. craft shows/markets
3. return customers.
It has taken me a good 12 months to be recognised on e-bay, and I like it as opposed to craft shows or markets because I don't have to get up at the crack of dawn and worry about the weather and putting up a shelter. As the markets are all outdoors.
What could be better, I am sitting here now in the PJ's, and no one can see me....
So e-bay for me at the moment..
80% Shows
10% Website
10% Repeat customers
I LOVE shows, and would never stop doing them. I'm sure if I didn't hold back my stock for shows then I would sell more via my website, but I just love meeting the collectors!!
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)12 years on the show circuit (US & Canada, into Asia and Germany): it was the most difficult dozen years of my life!!!
Now eBay and word-of-mouth.
Website?? What's that?? !!! LOL
Little Bear Guy12 years on the show circuit (US & Canada, into Asia and Germany): it was the most difficult dozen years of my life!!!
Now eBay and word-of-mouth.
Website?? What's that?? !!! LOL
OH Bobbie you certainly made me laugh with your website comment 
. You did a ton of travelling when you were doing shows, we'd love to try Germany one yr but Asia hmmmmm I am not so sure about that's a bit of a distance to go for a show .
big hugs
Shane
Creative Design Studio (RKR4CDS)OH Bobbie you certainly made me laugh with your website comment . You did a ton of travelling when you were doing shows, we'd love to try Germany one yr but Asia hmmmmm I am not so sure about that's a bit of a distance to go for a show
Well, all TTers know the troubles I've had getting a fully functional site online; in the 12 or so years I've had the BeyondBasicBears url, it has never worked - always been a work-in-progress. I'm on my 8th or 9th webbie; I've lost count & untold thousands of $$. This week my latest webbie in OZ gave me the admin passwords to upload my own info. I want Full Control!!
I haven't even gone to the behind the scene pages yet; they arrived at the same time as 2 more exciting offers!! Taiwan and Teddy Bear & Friends!
I'm extremely honored to have had Mindy ask me to design a Needle Felting project for TB&F, due in her office by 23 March (so I'd better get cracking, as I'm doing the photo layout for the 'pattern'). I'll not tip my hand as to the subject so you'll all be surprised!
And ~ I received an invitation to teach Needle Felting to the Taiwan Teddy Bear Club in June! We're still in negotiations on time and price but how sweet is that to be invited to travel??!! That's how we got to Singapore 3 years ago ~ neither of these Asian events were/are associated with a bear show, just teaching. I am/was thrilled to be introducing my refined NFing methods in Asia!
In Munster, Germany, I taught while Don manned the booth; we'd been exhibiting at Teddybar Total for 5 years before that. Across the States & Canada seems tame..... I think of myself as just a little NFer sitting here in the middle of our country, trying to get a little work produced... until I pinch myself for a reality check that these things have really happened.
Very stressful as it gets to clinch time - I'm SOooooo a HERMIT who won't even answer the phone!! - but get me in front of a class and I'm so excited for them that I just never shut up! And talk Toooooooo fast! You and Steven can attest to that!
Thx for writing. Thx for the memories... I think I'm gonna cry....
Kim-Bee Bearsmostly ebay and some from my website
I sell from my website, have made a few comission bears and have given away a bear a year for the last 10 years, for charity auctions.
Hospice and NZ Breast cancer.
Hugs
Carolyn
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Little Bear GuyOH Bobbie, how wonderful to get an offer to go to Taiwan wow that would be so amazing. I know you have done a lot of travels and it must be fun (stressful but fun).
I remember when we took your class and when you started speaking Steve and I jut looked at one another and said 'what the heck did she say" heehee. I find it funny because I use to be a real fast talker as well, I come from the East coast of Canada and they all talk fast there .
Well I hope you are able to work out the details and get to go to Taiwan wow, it must be nice to be be so famous and known all over the world .
big hugs
Shane
