I’ve been busy getting sales channels set up for my business, Nybiru Studio. I’m currently using the following:
I switched from SpreadShop to Threadless Artist Shops because the company seems to be more inclusive, professional, and have greater opportunities to help artists grow their businesses. I’ve also purchased enough items from artists who use Threadless shops to know that their quality is good. I would have probably started with them if I had known they were open to artists who are just beginning their business ventures. I’m actually pretty excited about this particular sales channel! (The others I’m more cautiously optimistic about tbh). I have some ideas for more mainstream designs to try to get noticed on Threadless. Like cryptids and general magickal things. I’m not going to sell out and do mainstream things I have no interest in at all, like sports or whatever.
I also went ahead and started my Etsy shop. Currently I have items shipped by two different printers/manufacturers. I currently have listings for a few different t-shirts and art prints. I also have a welcome mat featuring the Sumerian cuneiform for “Go Away.” I call it an “unwelcome mat.” I also have a few metal cuff bracelets, which are honestly my favorite item in my Etsy shop. It seems like a lot of Etsy sellers tend to be slightly less forthcoming about the fact that they use outside manufacturing partners to print/manufacture certain items in their shops than you’d hope, but I’m trying to be as transparent about my business practices as possible. It seems kind of sketchy to me to hide how you are creating items that people are spending money on.
I also have to print providers to manage printing and shipping for my art prints. Both sites have onsite marketplaces, so I thought it might be beneficial to promote my art on both sites for now. I’ll reassess down the line to see if it actually makes sense to keep both sales channels active.