Art Cards, Editions and Originals (ACEOs)
ACEO from Structures #48 ©2007 Lisa Call 3.5" x 2.5"
I made the above ACEO with a left over section from Structures #48, shown in the previous post.
ACEO stands for “art cards, editions and originals”. Originally known as ATC, Artist Trading Card, and are traded between artists. When sold to the public they are referred to as ACEOs. The primary rule for an ACEO or ATC is they be 3 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ – the size of a trading card. They are created in many different mediums and are collectible, trade able and affordable art for everyone.
My original thought was to sell ACEOs on etsy but my enthusiasm for that project didn’t last long. I put quite a bit of time and energy into my etsy shop doing internal promotion and even joined a couple of etsy street teams. I made 2 sales from my shop, both from people that knew me from outside of etsy. Lots of nice comments about my work from within etsy but no sales. I think my prices don’t fit into the cheaper pricing structure of much of etsy. It was an interesting experiment but not one I will pursue once my listings expire.
Etsy just didn’t feel like the right fit for me. First problem is I really can’t get over the name of the place, it really bothers me for some reason. Second was I felt like I was selling my work at a craft fair and while there is nothing wrong with craft fairs, that is not the venue I envision for my work.
When I restructure my website I plan to include prices for my small works to sell directly from my website. I believe that etsy isn’t going to bring me buyers. They are just providing a store front so paying a fee to a 3rd party for a place to host my images doesn’t make sense for my needs, especially if I’m competing against a bunch of folks that seriously undercut my prices.
The above ACEO is available for $20 (includes shipping). Sold – thanks Kit!
I made 2 or 3 other ACEOs and I will get them photographed and on my blog over the next few weeks. They were fun to make but pretty time consuming so I’m not sure I’ll make many more. It’s a very small format and quite a challenge for me. I was thinking about trying something in the 5" x 7" size range but it’ll be a few months before I have time to experiment as I have some show deadlines coming up.
It was my post about pokemon cards the other day that prompted me to remember I made these little art trading cards. I spent hours and hours mailing out trading cards. Sadly many of those little pieces of cardboard were sold for much higher prices than my original art work. The most impressive profit we turned was to head to toysRus one day and stand in line for 20 minutes to get a much anticipated promotional Mew card. I turned around and sold mine that week on ebay for $50. Not bad pay for standing around.
ACEOs – the pokemon cards for artists!
Back Side of ACEO:
Posted by Lisa in: Art Cards Editions and Originals (ACEOS)
Tagged: ACEOs, Art for Sale, Etsy, pokemon, Textile Art
Dear Lisa,
I assume this piece is still for sale, if so please consider it (ACEO from Stuctures #48) SOLD!
I love it. how do I go about paying you?
Kit
I have had a similar experience with Etsy. I started up my Etsy shop, I was hoping that Etsy would be able deliver an audience of people interested in buying art (of a certain low price point). But as I read the advice from other Etsy shop owners on their forums, I leaned that the recommended way to get sales was to heavily promote your Etsy shop anywhere you can. That didn’t make sense to me. If I am going to have to do all of the work to find and attract an audience anyway, I don’t want to then send them to someone else’s website — I want to keep them.
I suppose Etsy makes sense for people who do not have the technical where-with-all to create their own sales-oriented site. But if Etsy can’t deliver me an audience that I can’t get on my own, it isn’t worth the effort.
Thanks Kit!
Daniel – exactly. It wasn’t at all what I thought it might be.
Hi Lisa, I am not delighted with my Etsy shop either. I learned about it from you actually. I have had one wonderful client who I have done quite a bit of work for. SO that has been worthwhile. But so many prices are so so low.
I have been considering making ACEOs lately. Someone (from Etsy) wrote and asked me to make them because she would want at least one. So I am thinking of trying my hand at that. People there have been very kind to me. And I have gotten one licensing contact from it also. (But the name seems weird to me too).
And I am selling mainly prints and cards and people sell them so cheaply there – obviously not trying to make a fair profit – especially when you include the time it takes to prepare images and writing stuff up.
I guess some people do well with quantity – but that hasn’t been me so far. Thanks for raising both issues, Lisa.
~ Diane Clancy
http://www.dianeclancy.com/blog
Lisa, I always look to this blog when gathering information on being an “official” art quilter. In trying to sell quilts, I’ve looked to galleries (all of which have gone out of business in my area), Ebay, my website, and Etsy. I feel as if I’m turning in circles and getting little done. I’ve been gathering info. on Etsy & am glad to read your take on it. The world of galleries is frustrating, also. Kind of a Catch-22 — need to find a gallery that carries fiber art to have it accepted, yet can’t find galleries that carry fiber art. Your upbeat, keep plugging along attitude helps. I tend to give up after a couple of rejections. I also enjoyed reading about your Abstract Contemporary Textile Art classification. It sounds quite professional. On Mondays I feel I should be very professional. On Friday I feel I should do bitty things and sell lots of them cheaply (or should I say reasonably). I’ll keep returning, when I’m not running around in circles, that is.
I agree. I just can’t get over the name. I wonder how and why they ever came up with that crazy combination of letters. I haven’t done anything with etsy, but I’ve been thinking about it. For all it’s drawbacks, it’s better than having the work stacked on shelves in my closet. I’m pretty sure it’s not going to get up and sell itself.