If you were buying your product, what would you want to know (Part 1 of 2) - Thoughts on preparing your online store for the holidays

I'm happy to say that it's mid-September and I feel like I'm doing a good job of narrowing down my holiday gift selections for my "difficult" list.   This is going to be a two-part blog because

Medium Casserole Dish

by PhenixPottery

I've become more aggressive in my gift-hunting search and have realized the importance of ... a good description.  I've learned that we are our own worst enemy or best friend when it comes to our online stores.     

I realized the importance of that initial picture - Window Dressing - to capture the window shopper who is inundated with potentially hundreds of pictures and luring them into your store.  Here, I was looking for handmade casserole dishes and what I searched for was "casserole pottery." 

There were many casserole dishes to choose from, but I wanted a handle on the lid and lugs to pick it up and carry it.  To me, these were beautiful pieces

Yellow Covered Casserole/Serving Piece

by Cabbagehead

and when I "stepped" into the store, many (not all) had pictures of the outside and inside of the dish.   I'm happy. I appreciate that my selections have included the measurements.  I do expect that, though.  

... Now, I'm not buying this hand-thrown piece of art to put on the table and fill with potpourri.  Can I put food in it?  Can it go in the oven?    Microwave?  Dishwasher?  Should I just assume it can?  I know that there are pieces on Etsy that are not ovensafe and the "manufacturer" put it in their description.  I couldn't tell you what makes it magically ovensafe. 

Some added general stoneware information, that's nice. At least that would have partially answered those questions above.  But short or long, PhenixPottery and Cabbagehead told me what I needed to know - Just tell me can I use it as a casserole dish.

I now need to step out of my store and try to look at it through a buyer's eyes and that's hard, but I hope that between now and next week I will figure out this description dilemna and not assume the buyer will be satisfied with my list of materials and measurement.

Holidays are a time to share laughter and love

with family and friends.

Share the love with a handmade gift from an Etsy Artisan!