Is Leading With Pillows A Mistake?

''I have sold one pillow so far and it was NOT one of the images I posted as a pillow. Not sure that means anything but just thought I would mention it. "

There's your answer.! Do nothing. They sell despite your indecision,lol,lol ... all the way to the bank !

That's my thinking at this point. I was looking at the Facebook group I stated FineArtAmerica and there are a lot of FAA members posting pillow pic's mixed in with standard pic's. I just didn't find the pillow'pic's all that eye appealing. That is what got me thinking.

FineArtAmerica: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WesternArtBuyersAndSellers/

Incidentally, Rebecca Livingston Cook is running that group now and is doing a great job!

Interesting discussion.

I don't mind the shape provided that the image works with the shape.

Great input Viva!

Skip the pillows and promote the prints. The pillows are a perfect add on sale if the print will be hanging over a couch or in a room with a couch.

If someone clicks through to buy a $30.00 pillow, what are the chances they are going to think "oh, hey, I have an extra $400 to buy a big framed print to go with my $30.00 pillow(s)"?

I was marketing the pillows, even thought about a press release on my Facebook page... and then I thought about it: Why am I marketing a cheap print when I really want to sell 20X30s or bigger?

"oh, hey, I have an extra $400 to buy a big framed print to go with my $30.00 pillow(s)"?"

Great post Adam! That is the way I am seeing it.

I always have always loved that term 'extra money". I have often heard of it, never can remember ever seeing it and dang sure have never owned any of it! lol

" and then I thought about it: Why am I marketing a cheap print when I really want to sell 20X30s or bigger?"

See? Great minds don't always disagree! lol

Exactly what dawned on me... took me a while. I just wanted to air the idea out here to make sure I was thinking straight.

Hi Floyd, I was thinking the same thing and decided to make pillows to go with the prints....sort of a compromise between the two. And something I can have a bit of fun with while I decide what I want to do next...

while i would rather sell prints only, for now we need to push pillow to let others know they actually exist. when i have the time i'll do a handful of pillows and a few prints to push. so far, i've only been selling prints and not a single pillow. but then again my images don't pillow well.

right now people won't have an excuse to not be able to match their print with their pillow. they can get a whole matching set. a canvas and two throws all with the same theme and colors. imagine a triptych pillow set? that might be neat too.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

I think for the most part, this is going to be two different types of buyers. Just market both. Marketing one item does not mean you exclude another.

I never promote the less expensive items.

I did make a post that they are now available but that will be it.

I chose a few of my images and sized them and positioned them on the pillow display. Then I did screen shots and made a couple of social media size images - so I can show the entire product in some social media and blog posts.

With all that said and done - I have not sold any pillows. In fact, I'm still new here and have only make eight sales in December. Two of them were phone cases (which I had never sold before), one small print (8x10) and five matted and framed prints (one was 30x40). So, I'm a happy camper for just getting started. I also sold a matted print at a local Art League gallery reception two night ago.



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~ Bill
~ US Pictures .com

I don't believe the print buyer will suddenly decide to go with a pillow, instead -- two different buyers, IMO; though the print buyer might decide to add a pillow or two.

I'm marketing my pillows as a separate product line; pushing them with a video, a blog post, and a mention or two on social media. I might go with a small Weebly website, dedicated purely to pillows, phone cases, and any new (non-print) products coming down the Pixels pipe. I'm too behind to hope for pre-Christmas pillow sales, but think Valentine's Day will offer some real possibilities. :-)

I had a pillow sale with an image I rarely sell as prints. It actually looked better on the pillow. I think it's just a different market. If someone wants wall art they'll buy the print. If someone wants home decor they'll buy the pillow. It depends on the space they're trying to fill. If they want to fill a space on the wall, they're not going to buy a pillow instead. Hopefully we'll even see some double sales in the future ... someone buying a print for their wall and a pillow to match. :)

My main point wasn't that someone may buy a pillow instead. It was that I'd prefer to market the bigger stuff. It was how to better use my time wiser.

I'm just hoping I get a pillow rather than a zipped pillow case with my order. I started to think, what if the insert isn't stuffed...how awful. I'll be able to let everyone know after I receive my pillows.

I made one post on social media about the pillows, and that will be it unless I have a pillow sale announcement to post. I'm not in the business of selling pillows, I'm here to sell my art.

@Lisa -- I can't wait until the feedback starts trickling in. I hope the pillows are the quality of the prints -- not of the cards. We'll hear soon!

Wendy,

I agree two different customers. One does not negate the other.

I have over 340 Pinterest followers. I put up a board for my pillows. I have 336 impressions
within days. My art pieces are at 77 impressions and fewer over months. I have Pinterest Analytics.

Additions from PA: I have 8 pillows pinned. I have Rose No 1 No 2 and the Vibrance of Van Gogh only
pinned 3 times each. Remember I have 8 pillows on that one board, but it has been less than a week.

The pillows garner far more interest. There are more people willing to part with $32 to
add a pillow to a chair or couch than spare wall space at any given moment for the willing to
spend $250 for a mid sized canvas, unframed.

I need to permeate the market with my concept. That is a tough enough job. Pillows add
to how the public accepts my art. And rather quickly. We need shower curtains.

Dave

Helpful info, David.

I am disappointed in how the shape of the pillows show on my FB page. They look like a pillow case and I think that looks cheap. Wish they showed in the square size that they are being sold. Sure aren't going to get rich selling pillows. I was lucky to just sell two prints within the past few days. Good luck, folks!

@David -- I'll be working on my Pinterest 'pillows' board very soon.

Unfortunately, you're correct; not everyone buys wall art.

I've been in many homes with no art on the walls (other than family photos), but I've never visited a home where there were no pillows! I always prefer the sale of large, fine art prints of my work (of course) but the potential for pillow sales -- especially with their lower price point and portable nature -- is huge.

Our job now, is to find our new pillow-crazy clients!

I'm still waiting for some feedback on quality, before pushing the item too much. Several FAA members ordered pillows last week, so the reports should start coming in, soon.

Unlike some commenters on the forum, I'm a big fan of home decor, and decorating in general, and am perfectly at ease with the idea of using my art for this type of product. In fact, I plan to go forward with the home decor possibilities on all the different POD sites where I'm a member. I think decor is an awesome, contemporary, way of encouraging more people to surround themselves with art! :-)

In a recent study, people looking at a page with throwable pillows available for purchase, were suddenly found to get an urge to start throwing pillows, or fall asleep at the keyboard with mouse in hand and an expired sales page. Owners behind the point of sale website said that pillows with the most cutest and cuddly of creatures, were the cause of the latter effect. Pillows with puffy clouds and cute flying birds caused potential customers to dream of flying amongst the puffy clouds. ;)

This is a POD site is it not. People can buy affordable less expensive prints here, that's why they are here. You can't market yourself as a POD seller and expect people to be here looking for high priced limited editions, and originals. It's all about marketing and branding who you are. That is why you need to study and research before you start selling your work.

Pillows make perfect sense here.

Are they actual pillows, or just a pillow cover?

Brigette, you have the choice of ordering just the cover or the cover with the pillow insert. The case is removeable.