Banner Sponsors
For artists and collectors sponsored by Intercal...your mohair supplier and Johnna's Mohair Store
Fords BearsHi all, greetings from N.J.!! I posted a few Bears on Ebay the past week. I think next time I will start the price higher, they didn't seem to take off at all. I was a little disappointed but I have only just begun and I love it so much I know I won't give up. Here are my completed auctions...
http://search-completed.ebay.com/search … p=1&fsoo=1
I was hoping you guys could give me some pointers, maybe I listed too soon as I haven't been felting long. I am also going to set up a separate ebay account for just my bears, I have been a seller for a while but never any of my own creations. I was thinking of trying another place to sell. I looked at bearpile but I didn't see any Needle Felted bears on there.
**Another, unrelated question, Has anyone ever copied your work??? I noticed on Ebay another set of felted Polar Bears, same pose, composition and size.
Thanks for the help!!
Andrea
Hang in there Katie....it will take a bit to get your name out there...why don't you look into Bid 4 Bears? Fees are great and since it is all bears you have a better chance of being seen.
As for the copying, there are quite a few artists that actually do needle felted polar bears, brown bears and Pandas, so unless they have gotten your exact look down i wouldn't be too concerned.
Hugs,
Krista
I have seen a couple folks attempt to copy me. It happens, it's kind of funny.
If it were me, I'd raise my opening bid. But that is due to fear, I see people do it all the time 
I couldn't let something go for $10. I have way too much time vested in each project.
MadebyAnnaHi Andrea
Ebay can be tough sometimes. I get disappointed too. I remember when I started that things were a little easier to sell once I started getting feedback for my bears. Your needle felted creations are beautiful.
Anna
BrisbaneYour little needlefelted creations are wonderful....Don't let Ebay get you down, it can be so hit and miss sometimes and I think April is a pretty quiet time of the year.
I would start at higher prices....but like Jennifer that is more because I'd hate to let something go so cheap.
keep at it because it takes time to get your name out there!!! 
Fords BearsThanks everyone for the posts. It always helps to hear nice things. I love making these little bears so profit or no profit, I will keep going. I will definitely start my prices a little higher next time. As for being copied, I will take it as a compliment. Thanks again!!!
Andrea
LuxembearsAndrea, your bears are really fantastic. 
You have great talent. The only thing that is predicable about auctions is that they are unpredicable. You definitely deserve higher prices then what you have received. If you want to start with a really low price then you should think about protecting your work with a reserve price. Also in your title you might want to use the key word "artist" as many people search for "artist bears".
Certainly don't let this get you down. It takes time to become known on auction sites. There is so much out there for potential buyers to look at. Iam sure most artists will tell you that auctions are a roller coaster ride. Up and down and everything inbetween. The right person has to be looking during the time frame your piece is listed.
There are other avenues to get your work noticed. Email photos to Teddy Bear magazines, and try advertising. There are also other sites, like Bid4Bears. Remeber not everyone likes auctions. Some people prefer to buy from websites. Also, I have found along the way that there are people who do not have a computer and only see bears in magazines.
There are homes for your lovely bears....they just need to find you. 
East Bench BearsI just had to comment on your absolutely lovely bears!! What amazing detail! They are all so beautiful!
Fords Bears Thank you guys so much!!! You've really boosted my confidence. I am already onto my next bear, I love this board!!! I have learned so much here. Thanks again!!!!
Andrea, I see that you have already gotten excellent advice. I agree with everything that has been said. When I first started selling my bears I was selling them for embarrassingly low prices because there was so many great artists at the shows that I did. But now 20 years later I'm still making bears and they are doing very nicely on eBay. But it took my bears a while to find collectors on eBay. So my advice is just to hang in there. Give your bears a lot of exposure online and in the magazines so the collectors can get to know you.
I also agree that is it okay to start the bidding low but put a reserve on your auction...if you don't have respect for your work than nobody else will. When I first started doing auctions I did them with reserves until I developed a following of collectors.
:hug:
~Kathy
