GCU Forum - OT: Cafe Press, worth it?

Angela_134247

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 761

OT: Cafe Press, worth it?
Jul 20^th, 2009, 11:46am

I've had an account pn Zazzle for awhile, but have just recently really been working on addding things to it. I used to have an account on CafePress but I never put much into it. I'm doing extremely well on GCU, at least, in my opinion. I'm curious, for those of you on both CafePress and Zazzle, which one does better? Is it worth me taking all the time to put hudreds of items on Cafe Press, especially since I have to pay the storefront fee? I would so appreciate the imput from you all, you have helped me out so much in the past.

Back to top

FairyGirl Cards:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/fairygirlcards

IP Logged

Doreen_137017

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 5273

Re: OT: Cafe Press, worth it?
Reply #1 - Jul 20^th, 2009, 12:18pm

Hi Angela,

I've had a Cafepress store for several years and have had bursts of sales off and on. Cafepress has changed things recently in that now, if your product is found in the "General Marketplace" and purchased from there, you only get a small percentage of the sale vs the price you have placed on it in your store. So if you can drive a tremendous amount of traffic to YOUR STORE, you may do well.

I also have a Zazzle store and am now focusing more effort on that store because it seems to be doing much better than Cafepress. My personal feeling is that Cafepress has grown to the point where one artist's work being found is nearly impossible, and I feel that Cafepress is trying to move into a 'bigger' merchandising industry being the sole POD for things like major Pop & Rock designs. If I was opening a store today, I would go with Zazzle and not Cafepress.

If you would like to see my two stores for reference, here are the links.

www.Cafepress.com/SalonOfArt
www.Zazzle.com/SalonOfArt

So, there is my opinion if it helps you decide

Back to top

Salon of Art:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/SalonOfArt

IP Logged

Trish_136241

Senior Member
artist

Posts: 440

Re: OT: Cafe Press, worth it?
Reply #2 - Jul 20^th, 2009, 1:01pm

I used to be able to make money on CAfePress, but not now. I definitely would NOT pay for a store. Even folks with alot more marketing are finding the new pricing policy a challenge. Zazzle does sell things for me, and I have been on their less time, but I sell very different things on each store. I much prefer to be able to set my own prices, but I am not a html whiz either, so it is harder for me to get traffic....

Hope that helps.

Back to top

Bow N Ranch:
http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/BowNRanch

IP Logged

Amy_137576

Junior Member
artist

Posts: 85

Re: OT: Cafe Press, worth it?
Reply #3 - Jul 20^th, 2009, 1:02pm

If you drive traffic to your own shop, then I think it can be worth it. CP now only pays 10% if the sale comes through their marketplace. I have had a CP shop for years and was doing quite well -- it is really in a funk right now. I have also had a shop on Zazzle for a few years, but never put much time into it and have gotten nothing out of it. I think all of Zazzle is doing much better now because of the CP changes and I know many shopkeepers who left CP in disgust are doing pretty well on Zaz. So, I agree with Doreen - if I were just starting today I would go with Zazzle (or one of the others). Either one you do need to put the time and energy into it to get anything out.

I am new here and still just getting started, but I was motivated to come here because of the changes at CP. I hope GCU proves to be a good choice to put my efforts (vs Zaz, Printfection, etc.) because greeting cards were one of my good sellers on CP. Time will tell -- and I am finding GCU takes a lot of time too.

Back to top

OtterTailArt Cards:
http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/ottertailart

IP Logged

Nan_137018

Senior Member
artist

Posts: 297

Re: OT: Cafe Press, worth it?
Reply #4 - Jul 20^th, 2009, 1:53pm

I agree with everyone's comments so far. I, too, was with CP. Then June 1 everything went sour when they changed the profit margin to a max of 10%. I still have a shop with them, but only because I paid for a whole year and it doesn't expire until 2010. However, I am concentrating my efforts here at GCU and also on Zazzle for products other than cards. I would not recommend CP unless you just went with a
'free' shop.

Back to top

Nan's Card Store:
http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/nanwright

IP Logged

Tammy_131374

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 630

Re: OT: Cafe Press, worth it?
Reply #5 - Jul 20^th, 2009, 3:00pm

Cafe press used to be worth it. I would suggest Zazzle now that Cafe Press has changed things with commissions.
However

I recently found a new site for artists to create their own products. It is much like Cafe Press, but they offer more products and have free shipping and you get more on commission. It is called Urbanload.com. I don't know all of the specifics yet, but it looks good at first glance. I haven't had a chance to set up a store yet because of Mom's chemo and doctor visits, but I think it will be the place I end up going with if it is like I think it will be. Disheartened Cafe Press shop owners like me cry

might want to check it out as well. You can have a free shop or pay a fee and you can even do your own domain name...as I have said I haven't checked it entirely out because I just found out about it, but feel free to have a look around.

Back to top

Tam Moody's Greeting Cards:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/Tam_Moody_Greeting_Cards

IP Logged

Elizabeth_137795

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 724

Re: OT: Cafe Press, worth it?
Reply #6 - Jul 20^th, 2009, 3:25pm

Hi Angela,
I have a site at Zazzle and have done pretty well there. I've just been with GCU for 2 weeks and haven't had many "clicks" to my site even though I have added quite a few items already. I was considering Cafe Press, but after all the negative banter, will not go there. My question to all of you . . how do you get traffic and sales on your GCU store? Is it just a waiting game?

thanks,
elizabeth
www.zazzle.com/elizdesigns* (for those who want to see)

Back to top

ElizDesigns:
http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/ElizDesigns

IP Logged

Nan_137018 Senior Member artist Posts: 297	Re: OT: Cafe Press, worth it? Reply #7 - Jul 20^th, 2009, 3:29pm Tammy-- I am very interest in what you find out about Urbanload. What I have found on google doesn't sound too good. So, I will be waiting to see how you like it. It appears to be an arm of eBay. Is that true?
Back to top	Nan's Card Store: http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/nanwright IP Logged

Tammy_131374 Gold Member artist Posts: 630	Re: OT: Cafe Press, worth it? Reply #8 - Jul 20^th, 2009, 3:30pm I blog, use twitter to promote my site, facebook, myspace, squidoo, plus I have a link to my store as a signiture in my emails. I sometimes put it on Craigslist, in my local newspaper online. I send my own greeting cards out for holidays I also email special promotion codes to friends and neighbors or family.
Back to top	Tam Moody's Greeting Cards: http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/Tam_Moody_Greeting_Cards IP Logged

Tammy_131374

Gold Member
artist

Posts: 630

Re: OT: Cafe Press, worth it?
Reply #9 - Jul 20^th, 2009, 3:35pm

Nan- I am not sure- my sister is setting up a shop right now because she was so upset with Cafe Press, but aside from that I am not very familiar with it. The way I see it- it couldn't hurt to take a chance and just see what the site is like. She has ordered merchandise already to check their shipping time and quality, so I will get back to you on that part. I really need to take a day and look at it, but it will have to wait until my Mom's chemo is over with because I am spending most of my days with her and trying to help her out everyday.

Back to top

Tam Moody's Greeting Cards:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/Tam_Moody_Greeting_Cards

IP Logged

Carol_136775

Full Member
artist

Posts: 165

Re: OT: Cafe Press, worth it?
Reply #10 - Jul 20^th, 2009, 4:14pm

Hi, Angela,

I can't speak for Cafe Press; I'm on dialup and only do GCU and Zazzle. Zazzle is picking up once again, and I'm trying to divide effort between the 2. Because Zazzle has a choice of many items, I think the chances of selling something are increased.

www.zazzle.com/carolscamera is my gallery.

GCU is a great card outlet, but I'm a newbie and my "stuff" is a bit outside the general audience (people look but no large sales yet) - Zazzle is looking much healthier for me in such things as calendars, hats, T-Shirts and totes, for example.

My opinion...give Zazzle a decent shot and I think it will reap some rewards.

Good Luck!

Carol

Back to top

Nature's Wonders Photo Cards:
http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/136775

IP Logged

Elizabeth_137795 Gold Member artist Posts: 724	Re: OT: Cafe Press, worth it? Reply #11 - Jul 20^th, 2009, 4:38pm Hi Carol, I agree with you. I've had great luck with Zazzle . . more items to sell. I've sold lots of calendars, stamps, bumper stickers. I'm going to stick it out here to see if anything sells. ALSO . . anyone given Red Bubble a shot yet? I'm thinking about that also. elizabeth www.zazzle.com/elizdesigns*
Back to top	ElizDesigns: http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/ElizDesigns IP Logged

Amy_137576

Junior Member
artist

Posts: 85

Re: OT: Cafe Press, worth it?
Reply #12 - Jul 21^st, 2009, 5:30am

I did a quick check into Urbanload after reading Tammy's post. I didn't spend much time there, but if I read it right - only the first month is free - then there is a $19.95/month fee. You also have the eBay listing fee for each item. You also must have and use a PayPal account to accept all purchases (so pay the PP commission on all transactions). They don't act as a stand-alone site (like CP, Zaz, or RedBubble). They give some case studies you can check to get a quick feel for that part of it. I decided to pass for now after my quick review. I have read good things about RedBubble, but have not looked into myself yet.

Back to top

OtterTailArt Cards:
http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/ottertailart

IP Logged

Elizabeth_137795 Gold Member artist Posts: 724	Re: OT: Cafe Press, worth it? Reply #13 - Jul 21^st, 2009, 5:53am I was just on Etsy looking around and saw some people are selling greeting cards and postcards and prints. Even though this site is for "homemade" items . . I suppose cards would be considered homemade. I'm looking into it now. elizabeth
Back to top	ElizDesigns: http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/ElizDesigns IP Logged

Nan_137018 Senior Member artist Posts: 297	Re: OT: Cafe Press, worth it? Reply #14 - Jul 21^st, 2009, 5:54am Thanks, Amy, that is sort of what my quick assessment was. I did look into Redbubble and it seemed like a good site, but I didn't pursue it because I have 5 shops I am trying to keep current and it is about all I can handle and still have another life and still keep painting
Back to top	Nan's Card Store: http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/nanwright IP Logged