Unofficial Mom: What the french, toast?

February 24, 2011

What the french, toast?

I've been scratching my head and I'm hoping you guys can help me with something. Since I launched HMH not quite a month ago over 1,600 people have looked at the site. That is fantastic. I am beyond thrilled that the site is getting that much traffic. But...there's always a but...we've only had one order. One. Uno. Un. (love ya Em!)

So what is it? Are the prices too high? Is there not enough inventory? Is there not enough variety? Is there nothing unusual or unique enough to intice people to actually buy? Is there something missing from the site itself? Do we need better pictures or descriptions?

Is it Husband's scary beard and mean face?

Because I promise he's a sweetheart.

So if you have a second, I'd really appreciate if you took a look (Home Made Happy) and gave me any suggestions you have. And be brutally honest. Really. And then we'll be best friends, even if you say stuff that might hurt my feelings. xoxox

Comments (22)

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jennifer n · 735 weeks ago

I won your giveaway, I got a $15 cert to your store. I picked the pack of ocassion cards and I LOVE THEM/ and i was just thinking that i should take pics and mention your store. i'm just one tiny website but every bit helps, give me a few days and i'll get that post written. please send me any links or anything you want mentioned

1 reply · active 735 weeks ago

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Sara 90p · 735 weeks ago

I'm so happy you love them. That makes me happy to hear. And you're a sweetheart for mentioning them. Don't feel like you have to at all!!

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Emily · 735 weeks ago

I have two suggestions. One, maybe offer the cow, giraffe, and deer/moose onesies in kid's t-shirts size. Icie is still a baby (in my eyes) and would love all three animals but she needs the kid size. My second suggestion is maybe offer the alphabet prints as a package if you buy all of them or say five to form a name or something like that. I think that may help. I have pictures ready to do a review of the prints I have. I just hadn't gotten to it yet. I'll get it up this week though, I promise!

1 reply · active 735 weeks ago

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Sara 90p · 735 weeks ago

Excellent. We keep talking about doing packages of the letters but couldn't quite figure out where to do the breaks. We need to revisit that. I can't wait to see the Icie's prints!

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Jennifer · 735 weeks ago

The only thing that I would probably purchase would be the t-shirts since I have two toddlers but I would never buy white - - too risky! :)

1 reply · active 735 weeks ago

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Sara 90p · 735 weeks ago

Good one. I've done a little experimenting with color shirts I need to practice some more. We were also thinking of designs on tye-dye shirts. Can't decide if that's worth trying....

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Heather · 735 weeks ago

Sorry. I have five kids. I own many hand me downs. The babies new clothing comes more from Gramma and Mia than from me.
I wish you luck though!

1 reply · active 735 weeks ago

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Sara 90p · 735 weeks ago

Thanks!

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Mungee's Ma · 735 weeks ago

I love the alphabet prints, but $11 each is kind of steep, then you've got to factor in the cost of matting/framing as well. If someone wanted to buy the whole set, that would be well over $300! I like the idea above of offering a discount for a package or offering a name package. Also, it would be helpful to know what type of material they are printed on.

Maybe consider selling through etsy or big cartel as well.

Offer another giveaway, perhaps through a well-known blogger ... and link to it through giveaway linkies. It's a lot of work to really market your giveaways, but it will pay off in getting more traffic to your store. Offer something for them to review. You know word-of-mouth (or word-of-blog) travels fast!

Good luck!

1 reply · active 735 weeks ago

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Sara 90p · 735 weeks ago

Good point about framing, etc. And knowing what the letters are printed on. I'll have to revisit that description.

I'm just getting in on a couple of giveaway packages (I'll post all that soon) but I'mhoping those will help with the word of mouth.

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Kristy · 735 weeks ago

I think free shipping is a real draw, that is good. I think the package ideas above are good.

1 reply · active 735 weeks ago

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Sara 90p · 735 weeks ago

Who can resist free shipping?! :)

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JMJE · 735 weeks ago

Do you have a link to it anywhere on your blog page? I remember trying to find it one time and couldn't. I have an etsy store that sold mostly jewelry and for a year I only had like 5 sales (all from friends and family) and then I changed my items and started selling more wine charms and things that could be personalized (for weddings) and I started getting a lot more interest. You have to pay fees at Etsy but it helps get traffic although I guess you are already getting traffic.

1 reply · active 735 weeks ago

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Sara 90p · 735 weeks ago

A link on this site would be good, wouldn't it? DOH!

As the proud owner of some of your wine charms I can say they are awesome! I've been thinking I need to find that kind of thing. Different enough to appeal, but not out of my skill set.

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Pamela · 735 weeks ago

I'm just poor! : (

1 reply · active 735 weeks ago

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Sara 90p · 735 weeks ago

Watch for some giveaways coming soon :)

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Laura · 735 weeks ago

I also think you should try to sell through etsy, I think it would really help generate real buyers- after all, people who go to etsy are usually looking to buy something (I always get gifts on there!)

1 reply · active 735 weeks ago

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Sara 90p · 735 weeks ago

Me too. It's an addiction. Etsy seems to be the general consensus...will check it out this weekend.

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--K · 735 weeks ago

I think you need something that really sets you apart. I love the alphabet prints and they would be adorable on clothes or bibs or blankets or other baby items.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Sara · 735 weeks ago

Good one! Hmmm...off to the drawing board...

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Molly · 735 weeks ago

I think etsy is a great idea. But also, I think for the T shirts, having a closer up version so you can focus on the design would be helpful. Instead of thinking, "I could buy THAT one" I come away from the page with "they sell T shirts." Similarly, for the alphabet prints, I think they need to have more white space between them so that I see each individual one rather than the whole alphabet. Etsy's design is perfect in this respect - they keep things the "right" distance apart, so maybe just copy their aesthetic. Your stuff looks great! Good luck!!

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Sara · 735 weeks ago

Thanks Molly! I think that's a really good point. I do like sites with good spacing.