Heads up on a future thread: One holiday ASAH Marketplace thread will be posted soon

[I Have A Dream]

We've received permission from Skinner to have one thread in this group during the holidays where we can post things that would normally be restricted to the DU Marketplace. If you think that you might want to post some services or products in the thread, I recommend that you start pulling the information together so that you're ready to post when this thread is started.

I'm trying to think how we can best do this so that it doesn't become excessively cluttered to the point where it becomes unweildy. Do we want the thread to only contain those posts, and if there are any questions, etc. have them be handled via PMs? I personally think that this is the best way to go. However, this will be the group's thread, so the group needs to decide how it wants things to work.

I would like to try to get the actual thread posted by late in the weekend so that early shoppers are able to start to think about whatever is offered here. Therefore, we need to decide how we want things to work by that time.

Please do not feel pressured to either buy or sell. It's strictly for those who are interested.

Lastly, the title of the thread will be 2010 Holiday ASAH Marketplace Thread, so please be on the lookout for it if you're interested in either purchasing things through it or posting things in it.


(Moderators: If you need the E-mail from Skinner approving this, please let me know. He approved this today.)

[WhiteTara]

1. Thanks IHAD

for setting this up! I think I would love to participate. We finally got our new website up and running and I would love to get it out there, here. You are really a great person to be so active!
:hug:

[I Have A Dream]

2. Hi, WhiteTara! I look forward to checking out your website!

:)

:hug:

[WhiteTara]

10. really? I would love any feedback

you want to offer.
www.westcoastdesignstudios.com
:hug:

[I Have A Dream]

12. Wow, your prices are really reasonable!

Lovely, magical offerings...

Oh, and you have a Facebook fan page! Yay! :)

I love so many things on your site, but I especially love this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww7MIduazbU&NR=1

I think that the videos that you had with everything black in the background were very effective. I found myself wanting to see some of the other offerings that way also so that I could really see the details as well as I could see them with the black background.

[WhiteTara]

24. it's really interesting that you like the black

we have been working very hard to get natural settings for the products! But, I'm going to change out some of the videos to the black background. You're right about the beauty of that particular mobile. There is only one light illuminating it while it turns. It's a great meditation tool. Feng Shui also..
But thanks for liking what we do. My beloved is the designer/artist and it's alot like Christmas all the time around here, with glitter, glitter everywhere.

[Kind of Blue]

6. Me, too. I'm looking forward to seeing your site, WhiteTara.

:)

[WhiteTara]

11. that's so great!

I'd love any feedback you might have! Thanks
www.westcoastdesignstudios.com
:hi:

[Kind of Blue]

15. Immediately taken in by your homepage

and I mean in the nanoseconds before the images loaded! The videos of the designs just the perfect touch and does the works justice.
Your prices. Your prices are incredible for the visual delight and enchantment the designs bring.

My nieces are going to love them. Well Done, WhiteTara. Well done! :applause:

[OneGrassRoot]

16. OMG, me too!!!!

LOVE it, WhiteTara!!!! :applause:

[WhiteTara]

23. thanks for the kudos!

how would you suggest that we get greater coverage? i.e., more customers?

We have kept the same price structure for the several years. We had many knock off companies come and go based on our designs. The only way we have survived is that we keep our prices very low. My partner is an incredible designer/artist and I want to sell some of his large original mandala pieces as well.

[Kind of Blue]

25. Oh, good. I wasn't sure whether to bring it up.

Not that you have to, but I didn't see a links page. You know the enchantment world online has exploded and I would suggest linking to other enchanted artists, specifically those producing home and garden magic.

People love exchanging links and it really, really helps with exposure. About 10years ago a friend I met online and I were always brainstorming how to sell our works. Well, she linked up to just about every body! She was all over the place and is now known as one of THE quintessential fairy artists - because she was always seen!!! We spotted one of her works in "Nights in Rodanth," somebody on the set likes her work. She's in a collection of fairy books in collaboration with Froud, et cetera. Am I jealous? Yes! But she'll swear to you that it was getting as much exposure online by simply linking as much possible. Just put in fairy or enchantment in the Google and her name is the first or close to it that pops up :) Simply linking to her now gets the linkee(?) a lot of exposure.

Here are some links to join or use to advertise, or both and some with a lot of links in them.

http://www.faeriemagazine.com/advertise.html
http://www.fairydoor.com/fairygallery.htm

http://www.midnight-muse.com/products.htm - beautiful site and products, the usual stuff, but yours is so unique that they might just want to carry your line. They're always off at some festival or fair or something and I could just see your stuff there.

http://www.faenation.com/links/ http://www.faenation.com/advert/ they recently started a blog-like section for home and garden http://www.faenation.com/category/homeandgarden/ I would ask them to check out your lovely site and feature you.

http://themagicaltimes.com/#/fae-links/4532603966
http://www.gnomegarden.net/links

http://agardenplace.com/about.html I think they feature a garden site with enchanting stuff each month.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. Awesomeness, IHAD!

:yourock:

I haven't had my first cup of coffee yet and I'm uber swamped today, so hopefully others can give you feedback; I don't have any other than that this is awesome.

:hug:

[Kind of Blue]

4. This is super great. Thank you, IHAD!

I like the way the Photography Group handles their contests. If I'm not mistaken, there's a thread just for submissions - I think there's very little or no discussions/comments in them. I like your idea of handling the details through PMs.

[I Have A Dream]

5. I should also mention that I'd be more than willing to post things for people...

if they wish to not have their DU username so publicly associated with their real name. We could then have anyone here who has questions, etc. about their post send me a PM, and I'd connect the two people. If they'd prefer to not have me do it, I'm sure that we could find someone else who would be willing to also act in this capacity.

:)

[I Have A Dream]

8. Is there someone else who is willing to have people connect people...

or post for people who don't want to come through me? I want to be sure that everyone feels comfortable with the system we set up.

If we can find another person, I'll mention the other person in the thread as someone who can also act as a liaison, if desired.

[OneGrassRoot]

17. I'm happy to do so. :) n/t

[rosesaylavee]

7. Thanks IHAD... I am having a huge 40% off sale on some organic stuff...

Will definitely post. Thanks for getting this to happen!

[Howler]

9. SWEET!!!

If I can get done with my own families Christmas Tie Dye in time.....????
Wonder if anyone is interested in bartering?

[FirstLight]

13. right on, I am back making wands and prayer sticks...

I was also thinking of starting a page on etsy...

i like this idea though, spirit and like minded friends understand these articles on different levels

[I Have A Dream]

14. I think that the etsy page is a great idea, FirstLight.

You could then post that link, if you wanted. (I understand that there may be reasons why you wouldn't want to though.)

[OneGrassRoot]

18. May I also recommend Artfire?

Oak2004 chose them for her jewelry; I hadn't heard of them until she posted her site, and I really like this group. In fact, I spoke with the president and he is interested in working with Wishadoo in 2011, when they roll out their new platform.

For example, when people go to Artfire.com, they'll be able to search which stores are owned by people who belong to Wishadoo, so people can give them their business, so the store owners can participate in barter and working with wishlist posts (fundraisers) at Wishadoo, etc.

:hi:

[MagickMuffin]

19. As I mentioned in my PM: I would be interested in selling my artwork and jewelry designs

I already have some of my art at a site sorta like cafe press. I can also offer holiday cards, kinda like the birthday cards I colorize, or more personal ones. It all depends on what one's needs are.

My jewelry needs to get established. As I need to buy a few supplies to get started. Then I could post small pics here (?) with pricing (?) I'm not sure if that is acceptable or not. I already have a supply of semi precious stones beads. I just need to purchase the beading wire. I plan on trying to acquire these materials this week.

Let me know if this is how I should proceed.

[I Have A Dream]

20. I can attest to the fact that your jewelry is lovely, MagickMuffin.

I think as long as the image sizes are small byte-wise, that would be fine. Maybe you could have a lower-resolution or smaller image for posts in the thread and have a larger image available for anyone who PMs you. You could state that in your posts. I don't see a problem with posting pricing in the thread.

:)

[I Have A Dream]

21. The 2010 Holiday ASAH Marketplace thread was posted last night.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=245&topic_id=128275&mesg_id=128275

[rosesaylavee]

22. Just found a cool think on Facebook for those who are there...

http://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday?v=wall#!/SmallBusinessSaturday

It is a site advocating people shop at small businesses this coming Saturday... In addition to 'black' Friday and 'cyber' Monday, they are hoping to promote the small busineses which are the back bone of our economy. We or at least I missed their Nov 18 deadline to get $100 worth of free ads on Facebook for this coming week. Well, maybe next year.

I have 'liked' it at least and it will show up in my newsfeed so others may become aware.