Where Are The RedBubble Buyers???

oops pressed the button before I wrote anything…Thanks for the feedback…just a bad monday…need to have a martini I think!!! Thanks for your comment…

I’m hoping that the new bubblesite will help to sale outside of the site. It only has your work on it, so any time or money you spend on advertisement brings them only to you, not the whole site. I don’t for see makin a lot of sales till I spend money on advertisement, that probably ain’t goin to happen till I get quit work, and can devote more time to it.

Thanks for the feedback Gary…I haven’t done to much with the new Bubblesite…just no time and same here as far as investing in advertizing…just isn’t going to happenright now…some sales would help (HeeHee)...that was the whole point of the article…I stopped selling on ebay because of the garage sale mentality and the outrageous (sp) listing fees…you don’t have the listing fees with RB but you can sure hear the cricketts chipring as far as viewers from the outside world…like I said, OH Well…life goes on…just a bad Monday…tomorrow is another day!

I ask myself the same questions. Did the martini help? After an initial couple of sales when I first came on, I have sold nothing. I do derive an enourmous amount of pleasure from the support, good will and bonhomie among the artists, but sometimes wonder if it is taking up too much of my time. Good luck ~ your work is great ~ it should be attracting buyers!

Thanks Estelle…I doubt if I am going to leave and I don’t have the funds to pay for advertizing on this new Bubblesite they have introduced…so I guess I just keep doing what I have been doing. I am other sites and it is pretty much the same…one wonders if it is the world economy or just in the USA? Sadly we are in a craft that does not fall into the “NEED” to have…it is in the “WANT” to have and people are cutting out lots of “wants” these days. I guess an artist does not let all of this deter the creative process and continues on. No, I never did have the cocktail…too early in the day when I first wrote my rant…but it is getting closer to Happy Hour and I may just have to indulge!
Thanks for your insights and care..
Susan

Susan, I think with that last reply you made you hit the nail on the head.
For the average person out there, money is VERY short to come by nowadays. Many people I know work 2 – 3 jobs and still can’t make ends to meet just trying to feed themselves and the kids.
It’s tough – on most people I know right now.
I absolutely understand why people are not buying art right now – though I have to admit, I know few who buy their art online.

A friend of mine makes most of her profits on galleries and exhibiting her pictures on different functions.

I personally see redbubble as a online-sharing tool, that once in a while might bring in a sale – by far not enough however, to ever fill the 20 USD bridge for me to actually GET the money. So right now, all I do is with those couple of cents that red bubble made with my sales, I am paying them for the webspace :P I’ll never sell enough for them to get me a cheque ;) ...
That’s fine, too shrugs I don’t expect sales on here. Not anymore…

i am feeling some of these same feelings right now, susan….contemplating a new beginning…a change….but not sure what path….i love rb and this community of wonderful friends and artists, but i am in no way close to making money for the time i invest…..so….you are not alone….my friend… :-)

Thanks for responding Zeanana…My art means so much to me and I want to share it wih others anyway I can. As i stated earlier…I have stopped selling my originals, I could not get even close to what I was asking and that was even more depressing, so through the chat rooms at Ebay I found out about RB and places like zazzle.com where you can make ALL kind of products from your artwork and not have to sell the original…but there are virtually no sales on any of the artist web sites and I am on over ten. So also as I stated…forge ahead and continue with my craft and what comes is what comes…Thanks for your comments and caring…

Hello Jan my friend…thank you too for your insights and thoughts. I never expected to ride in an armored truck to the bank being on any of these artist websites but it is painfully clear that the outside world really does not know about RB and other sites like zazzle,com where you can make different products from your original artwork. Even Etsy , Boundless, Yessy and others that I am on…the cricketts are chirping…and forget Ebay, what a joke! If they can’t steal it, they don’t want it. So I am back to the drawing board…many creations to develope…just had to write this to get things off of my chest and see if I was the only one left at the train station!
Thanks for your response and insights…

We are really new to the site and while I can’t help but feel a pang of discouragement after reading all the above comments, I believe in the old adage, ‘hope springs eternal’ so will plug along hoping for the best. I DO think the new bubblesites will help to some extent and outside of that it’s up to us to do everything we can think of to drive people to our individual sites and expose our work. Good luck everyone…a little of that helps too.

Thanks so much for responding…I do hope you hang in there with all of us…as I and many others stated, RB is a wonderful networking,supporting community of very talented people. I also agree that the bubblesites will help and I am trying to promote as much as I can, but to still no avail…however the relationships and the feedback from my peers on this site about my work is to dear to give up.
So keep at it and I am sure that the longer we all try and get the word out about RB, it will come back to us two fold!
Thanks again! Susan

I have found the same problem in selling my originals on EBay – no one wants t pay more than buttons for original art it seems unless you have a ‘name’ and are a good investment. I don’t know many people who are buying art at the moment – money is tight I guess. However it costs us nothing except time to put stuff on Red Bubble – I would like Red Bubble to advertise more agressively around the world – not just in Australia though.

Well…if you look at and browse the forums in RB there are many that are quite frustrated with the lack of sales and RB pretty much boils down to an artist social network. I enjoy this site but made three sales and that was months ago and then not one thing. I am glad I don’t have to survive from the money made from my artwork…I would be in the bread line!!! I opened a site at zazzle and you might enjoy that site…I have a link on my RB profile page, I have over 60 products I have designed from my original art and photos…
So I guess I resort to just being an artist and what will be, will be…Thanks for reading my “lack of sales” rant…
Susan

Hi Susan, I share your frustration. Sales are very very few and far between. I made one really good sale a few months ago and was extremely pleased that I had broken through but later, on my birthday, found out that my family bought one of my photos as a mounted print to give me as a present. Nice present but again, not a sale from outside in the big wide world. I have advertised in topical newsletters for music that I am involved with and carry the link to RB on the footer of all my emails, but still nothing. People will log on to see the photo, probably copy it from the net, and not buy anything. What to do? Don’t know. Paul.

Susan, I really hate put a damper further on your aspirations…you really do beautiful things. I honestly hurt for you. I don’t think this site will ever get a run on product, because there are so many of us who have original ideas that are quite beautiful….the average, AVERAGE customer is a corporate client, looking for stock shots….

I came here to be with people like you. I have gotten totally immersed in this art world and it has taken my production, refined it, and made me a better photographer and artist.

So, from a caring stranger…sometimes the goal isn’t what you planned or thought.

Another variable could be that this site is only about a year old and if the management is not putting cash out for advertising, then no one will come. I sell some stock photos on Fotolia.com. I joined when it was about a year old and over the past two years, things have picked up quite a bit. But it’s a direct result of the company’s advertising. I hope RB is getting the word out, because I really like it here.

By the way, Susan, have you done work for the Collie Club of America? Your name is really familiar and your collie painting is beautiful. If you are the same person, I have seen lots of your work. You are very talented!

I have just the same feeling – my feng shui doesn’t seem to work;) Let’s hope that one day…

Anyway you create great art and please, never give up to share it here – I’m glad I can meet artists like you thanks to RB!
xxx

hi Susan,
i certainly don’t have the answers to your question, i have wondered the same things.
i’ve sold one card : )) and i was completely thrilled !! and i made a whopping $1.24 LOL

my very best wishes to you in all your endeavors and the sales of your beautiful works !! : ))

Artist buying from artist for the most part is how I see it working here…I have had some sales from anonymous buyers, but it doesn’t mean they weren’t red bubblers. Many of us wonder the same thing. How many outsiders actually come in here to view work, and with the thought of purchasing in mind? How much advertising does the bubble do? Obviously drawing from outside resources would be beneficial to everyone. It would also be much better business if the non-members where able to leave comments on our work.

Good Morning Susan, I have posted questions like this in the forum before, but with little response. Have you considered copying this and posting it there. Maybe with this much discussion some considerations, and answers will come forward from some of the staff members.

Hello Susan,
Your art is so creative. We are just so poor in monies but rich in friends here. Don’t give up hope – I sold a card once….......:-))

I completely and totally enjoyed reading your rant, and you have saved me from having to do it myself and for this I thank you ;)

I was here for months before I ever achieved a sale. I was discouraged also. And then one day, I sold a card. It took me by surprise because I had given up. Hang in there Susan. Your work is beautiful. No doubt you will hook up with that elusive buyer soon.

I didn’t know you had already made a sale. See, I WAS right. LOL

Hey there Obi Wan. . . my guide to the Red Bubble Universe. I’m here for just this evening. Had to drop by and get a good dose of my favorite people and their work. Saw your post and know how much this gnaws on a lot of the folks at the different sites. I guess as I was getting ready to take off for the hills, the thought came to mind about the time spent and the return on that time. It is paltry. . . so I am re-examining my approach to the Bubble. It has been healing for me to have such amazing people interacting with the art and me. Still. . . there are only so many hours in the day and I’m feeling time speeding by and that panic that I’m not getting enough work done. All of this is to tell you, put the light saber down, remember your status as a Jedi Bubbler. . . and know that we all appreciate you, would love to buy some of your work, but are flat broke, too. LOL! So hang in there. . . I think in the sequel to this episode, we make a comeback. Art is sold. The empire is defeated. And we all get new uniforms and cool medallions. I CAN dream, can’t I? Hang in there! Cheers!

Susan, I feel your pain and anguish. At times I feel as if I have to choose between the art/photography and the rest of my life. I have been here for more than a year now…nothing has sold. I have been busy since the fall with coaching kids’ athletics – two soccer teams and now basketball. I hope to be able to do more in the spring when baseball starts – just a fan then. I love your work. Don’t leave!

Hi Susan, i feel the same, I have advertised Redbubble everywhere and I give out business cards and sing redbubble praise at every opportunity but still the sales are not coming. In one year I sold 6 cards and 2 laminated print, so far in my second year I have sold 2 swan calendars and that was 2 months ago…......I don’t know who bought most of the items so i can’t say outside the bubble and the 3 I do know about were all fellow bubblers.

I imagine everyone here would agree that selling is the least fun part of being a photographer or artist - that’s how I feel about it, anyway - but it’s the nature of the beast.

I learned from my experience with another vendor site - that I paid $100 per year to maintain, for a very low limit to the number of images I could store, and which offered prints only -- “THEY” don’t sell anything, except the privilege of using their “service”. It’s up to me to get out and promote my work.

I am, so far, very pleased with the Bubblesite feature - it is exactly the type of gallery that I was lookiing for, and I have links to it on my main website. I like the simplicity of it -- many of my website visitors are elderly, and easily overwhelmed by “complicated gadgets”, like too many choices, so I think this is going to be a good choice for my business.

I have made some sales, already—these resulted from my sending an email to practically everyone in my address book; friends, family, and acquaintances, just telling them that the gallery is here, and suggesting that, perhaps the next time they were shopping for a special card, they might think of MY humble products, instead of buying a generic card or print somewhere else. I also asked them to pass along the link to their friends….. Shameless self-promotion! That’s what it was … and I’m not sorry.

The following day, I made three sales – not from Bubblers (Bubbletts?), but from people that have enthusiastically said they loved my work. True, their purchases were possibly guilt-driven, but more likely, gestures of support for my efforts. In any case, the buyers each got some nice art to hang on their wall, plus the feel-goods of knowing they have supported my work.

The thing with RedBubble, I suspect, is that it is so HUGE, if people come to the “front door” they are apt to be overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of it all, and it is just too complicated to look through so many options. If they don’t find what they want in two or three clicks, they are gone.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell anybody how tight the art market is, right now. Every artist is struggling, because people don’t have much money to “squander” on luxuries like art. But they will still buy greeting cards, so that is what I will promote most vigorously.

RedBubble is an awesome place to network with other artists, but it is not in and of itself, an effective sales tool without a lot of external promotion.

I totally agree with every single word my friend….This rant was written several months after I joined RB…and then I too set on a crusade of external marketing …to no avail …and would not think of marketing on RB because it is regarded as spam and highly frouned on…not my style anyway…
I have totally forgotten about sales of my work… the “Want To Buy” market is pretty much taken over by the “Have To Buy” market…have to afford milk, bread and rent… the art will just have to be window shopped.
I do not have a personal website…just never found the right avenue and right now the extra dollars are not there to afford all the marketing that it takes to support the reason for a personal website.
I have taken the position of being some what invisable art wise and just teach my art classes and the small photography group I have formed. I have a warehouse FULL of paintings and drawings and a shoebox full of photo chips of photography…there is nothing to do with it except display it to the support system that sites like RB, Wet Canvas, Zazzle and other artist networking sites provide. Many of us will remain Talented and Unknown…and that is fine I guess… not much an artist can do about it in this upside down in your mortgage world…Thanks for viewing Arla…I apprecdiate your input…

I feel exactly the same way about my work right now, but then again my friend said, 10% photography/art and 90% advertising your work out there.. it’s not fun, but in the long run, it’s worth it. :)

I feel your pain. Some day’s I think I have been blacklisted here because I don’t even get any views. Or maybe I just suck. I guess the money my parents spent for me to take Graphic arts was waisted . I don’t have fancy equipment but I do have a cool diploma.

Hi Susan, i havent read all the comments and replies…but i know here is mainly about rb marketing work. A while ago i wrote a journal… directly about RB’s marketing direction for all the art works and photoraphies, I was kindly to suggest to promote all those artworks to publishers etc…at that moment abolutely thought i came here for try to sell some cards or Ts to buyers…. It was lovely i got response from RB but it was said here was originally made as just a community etc. yes indeed from then on we got the bubbler site that rb later built up for us.

i think so too, the price is made higher that it is during the logistic process. Actually i think i will buy quite a few if the Ts price is with 15Euro( to my hands) or if can be 10 i will buy a lot. Dont know how they calculate this….. i think lower the price will attract much more buyers… even here withing the the art hobbiers.
The only idea i had when i came here was to see about selling.
As a community is not something just let it be… you know human society needs more to guide…...than let it be as wild… the one could sell a lot of more must with knowledge of social pathing tricks, i guess.But it could be much better in case rb officially launching markeing process for all. letting fair competition and more choices for users happen within art community should be much greater.

Your art is great ! And you make a very good point in your “letter”. But I guess this is the way it is…Art is for Art …Not too many artists make money from thier talent and is a shame…unfortunatlly this world is not fair…the industry eats us alive…people are superficial and some envious and they will not invest in talent…And usually money make more money…is sad but true…and I am so sick of this…but I give another chance ..to me and to this site…and so on and so on…

I still think your art is the bomb and good enough for Leanin Tree and if I had spendable cash I think I have some of your work in my favorites for future purchases. But the economy sucks at the moment and chit happens. But hang in there Susan I am sure things will work out for you in the end your a very talented woman.

the only way to sell shit is though billboards in Los Angeles and Sydney. That is the best form of advertising besides super bowl TV ads. So one of you Rich Rockafeller(I.E. american history) types needs to step in and make a kind jester of say one million bones and get a sexy red bubble model to sell the amazing art.

I’ve sold a bit, but like you realize it’s about community/ideas/inspiration. I did have the site put on my cards which I give out, and also at the bottom of email which seems to inspire people to look at my stuff anyway!! Hang in there, your work is stunning.