As we reach a greater number of cards (10,100+ today!) we are stepping back to review how to best organize and manage cards, from the shoppers perspective.
 
One great trick for artists has been the ability to use the same image with different text to create multiple cards.  However we're noticing that some category pages are dominated by near identical image cards.  
 
We'd like to limit the use of the same image to perhaps 3 times.  The text on the front of the card should differentiate it from another with the same image.  Ideally the image itself should be appropriate and specific to the occasion, gender and age as well.
 
Birthdays by name and by age are a bit of an exception.  For example, the same image appropriate for a young boy may be used for ages 7 - 10, while a different image appropriate for a teen boy may be used for ages 13 - 19.  The shopper in these categories will typically go right to the age or name they want and not have to shop through all of the multiple similar images.  However again, ideally the same image would not be appropriate for all ages.
 
Our card approval process will begin to use these guidelines.  So think more specific and sparingly about reusing your images.  Think like a shopper    
 
Additionally, we're considering a maximum limit on cards offered by each store.  What are your thoughts?
 
Please let us know if you have questions, want some more examples or guidance.
 
Mindy

Hi, Mindy!
 
It's true, I've sometimes been very disconcerted when browsing GCU categories to find page after page of the exact same image. I think limiting using the identical image on multiple cards will certainly prove a boon to shoppers and provide an incentive for artists to offer variety.
 
Now as an illustrator and artist who has 800+ cards at GCU, and who plans to add more holiday-specific cards, etc., before the beginning of autumn, I would not like my ability to offer new cards to shoppers curtailed too severely.  
 
Perhaps a possible solution would be for GCU to have two different programs for artists - a free shop with a limited number of cards, and a premium shop with unlimited cards for an annual fee. I wouldn't mind paying a small fee for the privilege, particularly if I could pay for it from my GCU earnings. That way my shop could pay for itself, and I could still pocket my profits.  
 
Corrie
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/corrieweb
http://www.corrieweb.nl

I'm ok with limiting re-use, as long as certain occasions (like birthdays) are taken into account.   for instance, starting around 30 and going up to maybe 65 (I don't know this part of the biz too well yet) an age related humor image with wording specific to the birthday (you're turning 30,31,32,etc) might work for all of those years.  That's about 35.  and the way the ages are broken down now, only 30,40,50 & 60 would be catagorized so it's not a pile of cards with the same image in one place.
 
A few things I've been thinking of:
 
!) HUGE catagories.  some catagories have large numbers of cards and will continue to grow (thank you, general birthday for instance).  this might be best broken up somehow.  Maybe by subject (flowers, photography, ???)-as an artist with a regular full time job and several other pod shops under my "business umbrella" have to say it would be difficult for the artists to recatogorize existing cards if this were done however.  since this site is only a few months old and has this many cards already, I can forsee the need to do this coming eventually as more artists find the site-even if there is a limit to # cards.
 
2) placement in a catagory.  Most other sites rank by how well an image sells, not when it was added.  This will be important if you are trying to limit numbers of cards-if I added a bunch of cards in catagory a in march, they mill be buried by next year and I would need to decide to delete some to readd new ones, or just resign myself to a slowly declining sales base here-whether mine sold well at one time or not.  Or, it could lead to a delete and readd effect-delete old cards that get buried and readd them to bump them up to the latest pages.  
 
3) card limits/"premium" shops.  Depending on the fee, I might be interested-however, I would want a better way of setting up my shop if this were to occur.  I want to be able to organize it quicker than the drag and drop, as well as the ability to create sections for types of cards (vs the menu on the left).  I have other shops in a few other places-some have horrible ways to organize and change things, others are better.  Mindy or other GCU admin, email me if you want links to a few and I can explain the differences and benefits.  the main hurdle I see to this is that this site is really pretty new and it's hard to gauge profitability.  When you earn .50 a sale, it's a bit harder to justify a fee (again, it really depends on the fee amount, if this is even in the "cards"-lol). Allowing artists to do this could lead to ways of limiting the cards show in a search, with a limited selection appearing on the big dates sites and "see more like this" links at the end of the list-not sure how this would work with reminders though.  Otherwise, if we are limited, it will likely force people with large numbers of cards to delete ones that haven't sold yet/as well and that may or may not be beneficial (lost SEO, and possibly lost opportunity, as well as shrinking the number of cards on the site).  I know I would cull mine if this were to occur, just to try to make sure the ones I can have are ones that are most likely to sell frequently vs occasionally.
 
4) selecting more than one catagory per card.  There are times when this is almost nessesary.  But, I've seen anniversary cards in the wedding section for instance.  Policing/changing this will likely reduce the number of same images in different locations.  It would also be nice when you aren't sure where a card should go (some of the Christmas stuff can be a bit confusing depending on the image-is it traditional?  Light?  A favorite?  Put it in all three and be safe!) to have it guided into the right place by someone who knows.
 
I understand the need to find a better way to organize.  I'd be willing to bet this grew bigger & quicker than expected.  But, get a bunch of creative types together with a pretty easy to use interface, and well-this is what happens!

Thanks for the great feedback!  Sounds like we're on the same page and that customer experience is priority #1  
 
Soon you will start seeing...
1. Cards being rejected    that are using the identical/near identical images that do not specifically speak to an occasion as well as gender, relationship and age (age specific birthdays are somewhat exempt from this as long as the images are age appropriate meaning the same image is not used for all age categories).
 
2. More categories!  We have a forum topic to suggest new categories.  Any SUGGESTIONS on a better way to do this?
 
3. Large card categories will be broken down into smaller subcategories.  
 
4. Card pages displayed by most popular order vs. most recent so "the good ones don't get buried" (working on an algorithm)
 
5. Cards recategorized and reprofiled by GCUniverse staff during the card approval process when necessary  
 
Much for our staff to discuss.  Also topics like:    
o  possible card limits and premium shops & fees
o  better store organization tools
 
We'll post as progress is made.  Thanks as always for your great input, it's much appreciated & valued!
Mindy

Quote from Patricia_131634 on Jul 3^rd, 2007, 5:18pm:

 
I think you might be refering to the idea of "premium" shops.  I've installed a statcounter, and can say that I'm getting hits from search engine searches in addition to visits from gcu/big dates sites.  So having my own "store" within GCU is benificial to me & GCU.  I'm picking up potential customers using "my" seo.  A greater control over it could lead to more.  And grouping same cards (anniversary for instance) in a section together would have even better seo potentially by focusing the search in one place.

Hmmm. I seem to have struck a nerve. I wasn't advocating Hallmark's business mode, but rather meant that even the "big guys" rotate their stock, and you don't see multiples of the same images in their racks.
 
With over 800 cards, Cafe Press accounts for almost 10% of GCU selections. That is quite an impressive statistic. Congratulations on your status as one of GCU's top sellers!
 
GCU's success means we all succeed. I am hopeful that we can all be top sellers by doing not something, but "everything right."
 
Pat

Quote from Corrie_131338 on Jul 4^th, 2007, 12:45am:

 
I have had this same experiance with CP.  My "idols" there have (in comparison to mine) gigantic stores with large quantities of designs.  Some are quite similar with minor changes for only one or two words.  Take the "i heart" shops.  all that changes is what they "heart" (i "heart" ny, I "heart" my poodle).  
 
GCU is a completely different concept than traditional card places, so the approach will also need to be different.  The idea of having a nearly endless selection of cards that speak to an individual's personality is (to me) the force that will drive GCU to becoming a real player in that industry.  Even the fact that we each have a "storefront" within GCU is unique to the card industry as far as I can tell (but not to PODs).  GCU's ability to capitolize on that will also help propel it forward.  Shoppers won't just be buying cards from a big site (GCU), but also from individual stores-about as "direct from artist" as you can get without going to a brick and morter specialty shop or craft fair.
 
I'm curious, since I don't see that particular stat anywhere (GCU top seller).  Did someone at GCU tell you that, or is it because several of your cards are always in the "most popular" section?  Just wondering where I stack up.

Hi to all-
 
I made a good-sized error in my July 4th posting! I thought that Cafe Press was the storefront name of a GCU member who offers a lot of cards. Thought I read carefully, but I had never heard of C.Press before, thus the mistake. Sorry for the slip.  
 
Hope everyone had a great 4th!
 
Pat