101 Best Beads is MOVING to Artfire on Sept. 30, 2010

101 BEST BEADS. ETSY. COM IS MOVING TO 101BESTBEADS.ARTFIRE.COM 9-30-2010

After thinking long and hard about my bead business on Etsy..I have finally come to the decision that it is time to move the shop over to Artfire for several reasons.

Moving the shop to Artfire will allow me to provide my customers with much much better customer service for several reasons.

- On Artfire, buyers will now be able to order more then 1 quantity of a cab without having to convo me for a reserved listing on quantity issues.

- I would like to offer more sales, discounts and promotions. Artfire has a very functional coupon code system that works extremely well!

- Since Artfire gives me more room..I will have no problems displaying my sales and promotions on their site. It is definitely more reader friendly. Now that Etsy has just 3 lines for an announcement and a very skinny banner..I can no longer display my promotions.

- You do NOT have be to a member of Artfire to make a purchase. You can also pay with Paypal or Google checkout very easily.

BUT HERE IS THE BEST PART -----------------

For all of my loyal customers whom I am so very grateful for I want to do something special just for you!

I am offering the first 150 customers who email me at 101bestbeads (at) gmail.com with "lifetime customer" as the title subject and I will give you a 10% off lifetime coupon code to be used anytime you make a purchase. The coupon will also be good on the final sale price of an on going promotion as well if there happens to be one! Remember, this is a lifetime coupon code for the 1st 150 lifetime customers who email me only.

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This change is very hard for me, but Etsy has grown so much and I truly feel that they are not listening to me, and to those sellers who really need more functional tools to work their shops.

At this point I think I have to take this leap of faith. I have been testing Artfire and the shop has been working exceptionally well!

Once I get settled..I hope that all of you who enjoy 101 Best Beads gives my Artfire shop a chance!

I have a a lot of new beautiful cabochons in stock and will be listing all of my new cabs in the Artfire shop from now on. Please check back as new cabs will be listed daily through the transfer of my shop.

Thank you to all of you and truly...thank you for understanding my position with this move.
As much as I do not want to do it..I truly feel this will be a better situation for my customers and myself.

Please leave any comments and also check back in for my official "Grand Opening Sale" on Artfire!

Etsy's New Website Look

I am sort of going crazy with the new website look that Etsy has going on! They are not leaving us any room for personal announcements and it makes me nervous. If you have to announce current turnover times, or family emergencies, or anything of importance we better hope our readers decide to click on "read more"!

I really feel disheartened with Etsy right now. As a seller with two shops there I pay a lot of fees every month and I can't for the life of me understand why they would give us this open announcement option for all of these years and then decide one day that it is not important for us to have.

They say people complain about having to scroll past the announcements. I have to ask if these are the same people who are afraid to walk too? Because scrolling does not consume very many calories and simply... people are this lazy? It really is very ashame.

I truly believe that Etsy has grown to be so successful because 1st of its community feeling. And being a community means we can express ourselves ..our personality. I truly believe each shop had its opening narration to the artist or seller of every store. Some used their announcements with very few words..some told you a story ..but still it was the words that brought personality to each store.

Now, when I look at our shops all I see is stuff...LOTS of stuff for sale on Etsy now. It is blinding to me. There is no white balance and basically after the 1st page..I can't wait to stop looking. Before Etsy was a magnet..now it's the opposite. It literally changed poles on me.

I rarely allow things to get to me, but for some reason I am going to have to pray for peace on this one because it really does make me mad.

I think what really makes me most upset is that Etsy does not give us the option. It really feels like Etsy is running my store and not myself. Even though, I know the day's in and out's of what my customers ask and need..they feel they know more. It really is hard to believe considering they run a web store business and I make custom made to order jewelry. There is quite a difference.

Please make sure you click "read more"...because you might be missing out on something else.

Just want to say thanks to Etsy..for all the editing I have to do now on over 2oo or so items..when I already have so much jewelry I need to make.