42 Responses to “Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day…”

1. 

   February 27th, 2009 at 1:47 am Mannybeads
   

   Excellant! Thanks for the update. The site is really wonderful and I look forward to seeing it expand as you’ve mentioned above and in all of the ways that will become clearer…

   So curious about the Affiliate Program…Can’t wait to hear more.

   I’d love to see a way to move items around within my site…Once they’re listed (unless I’ve missed a feature) they can’t be moved about. Sometimes for overall site effect and aesthetic effect I’d like things to be organized differently. Do you think that might be an option in the future?

   Thanks for all of your thoughtful attention to the makings/runnings/spinnings and hummings of this site!

   Manny
2. 

   February 27th, 2009 at 1:51 am Mannybeads
   

   Me again - since you’ve asked….

   Forgot to also mention that it would be nice to know which items seem to be getting the most attention - thumbs up/thumbs down - in an efficient way. Currently I have to click one each item to see if it in particular has had views and if it is a favorite. Anyway to have a page, or section that sums that information up?
   thanks
   M
3. 

   February 27th, 2009 at 5:30 am woodenknotart
   

   A lot answered, except for shipping charges for international sales. A simple international statement like tbd or quoted by location. Currently it looks like my shop only sells state side here in U.S.A.
4. 

   February 27th, 2009 at 4:01 pm jonathan
   

   Hi Manny…they are both great ideas and have been added to our ‘Ideas List’ (profound name…I know! )

   Woodenknotart…We are going to be adding in the ability to specify different shipping rates, for specific countries. I like your idea of making ‘Quoted by Location’ an option as well. We understand that it’s hard to know the exact cost of shipping to every location.

   Keep them coming everyone!
5. 

   February 28th, 2009 at 6:19 am vanfuller
   

   Hi, Zibbet!

   This is Van Fuller, checking in for the second or third time. A few thoughts:

   First, thanks for deleting that “0 items sold” tag.

   Also, thanks for changing the policy on tasteful nudes. I’m sure you’ll have some problems with inappropriate images, but you’ll also attract more serious professionals.

   Now…I have over 120 items posted so far, and there are many more to come. When somebody asks to see a particular item, it’s very hard to look it up quickly; and this problem will grow much worse as the gallery expands. So I suggest one (or both) of the following:

   1) The option of listing items not only by posting date and price, but alphabetically; and
   2) A new search engine for artwork titles rather than tag words, or the inclusion of titles in the existing search engine

   Also…my wife (blame her if this is crazy) wonders whether it would be possible to offer a few music files that might be played (only if the visitor wants to hear them, of course) while perusing any given gallery. I know this idea presents a number of legal concerns, but I do agree that a little music (classical piano, perhaps) would set a wonderfully elegant mood.

   I was also wondering if we might offer downloadable wine and cheese, but that might be taking the gallery experience too literally.

   VF
6. 

   February 28th, 2009 at 9:07 pm Mannybeads
   

   When I am in “my Zibbet” adding items, editing, etc. I can’t seem to get back to my customer-ready store front without going to a blog, finding my icon and then clicking on it. Currently if you click on “storefront” while in “my zibbet” you end up with a page ready to edit but that’s not what I’m looking for (I hope I’m describing this well enough). I’d like to be able to click on something like “my shop” “storefront” that gets me to my store page as it is visible to customers.

   Thanks!
   M
7. 

   March 1st, 2009 at 12:04 am crowhurst
   

   Is Zibbet for artists or companies?
   I don’t like the way some companies are now muscling in with prints. I go to the profile and it says nothing about the artist, but only about how to buy the print from the company. So it is not an artist’s profile.
   I thought this was a site for the artists to make direct contact with the client. This is what Zibbet says in its promotional material. I think what Zibbet is creating is a very special and intimate relationship. I love it and want to protect it. It is a unique opportunity for art lovers to speak to the artist who might be any were in the world. They don’t just buy our art, but also our take on the world and life. People love Van Gogh for the pain and struggle he suffered because they can see it in his work. It made him who he was and his art what it is, full of human compassion. knowing it empowers them and enables to have a deeper understanding and love of his work. The same applies to us all. I believe we need to nurture this with well written artist profiles.
   I don’t want to share this wonderful site with a load of parasitic middle men and businessmen who are already riding on our backs.
   If an artist sells prints that is different.
   Does anybody else feel this way?
8. 

   March 1st, 2009 at 12:11 pm Kymali777
   

   Thank you for the updates! Yes, crowhurst…I agree with you.
   A “list similar” option would be great, that way we would only have to enter a different title name or make small changes to a listing.

   Kym
9. 

   March 2nd, 2009 at 9:52 am jonathan
   

   Hi Manny, you just need to go to your unique URL: http://www.zibbet.com/Mannybeads. You can use this link to point people directly to your shop.

   Kymali777…A ‘list similar’ option is already on the list. It’s a great ‘time-saving’ idea, and one we’ll be implementing in the near future.

   Over the next couple of weeks, we will be releasing a clear definition of who Zibbet is and what we allow/don’t allow on the Zibbet site.
10. 

    March 3rd, 2009 at 7:21 am Mannybeads
    

    Hi Jonathan. Actually asking about how to return to my storefront page while in on-site. I’d like to be able to get there from “my zibbet”. I like to often reference my shop appearance for aesthetics, product placement etc., and can’t seem to get there from “my zibbet”. I can easily get to “my zibbet” from the url site above but can’t go the other way…
    Thanks!
    M
11. 

    March 3rd, 2009 at 2:58 pm jonathan
    

    Hi Manny. There isn’t actually a link in My Zibbet to take you directly to your shop. I would suggest opening a new window, and going to your shop by entering http://www.zibbet.com/mannybeads and then clicking ‘refresh’ whenever you want to see a change you have made.

    We can, however, put a link in My Zibbet, to take sellers directly to their shop. We’ll add it to the list!
12. 

    March 4th, 2009 at 11:50 am aMelancholyDwelling
    

    First, let me say that the hard work put into this site is very apparent, Great Job!!!
    I would love to see a “sections” option directly in each sellers shop.
    I sell prints, paintings and jewelry and would love it if people shopping in my store could move between these different styles without having to go through the entire shop.
13. 

    March 4th, 2009 at 12:25 pm jonathan
    

    Thanks for your positive feedback, aMelancholyDwelling. Your shop is looking great, and congratulations on your 2 sales already.

    “Sections” is definitely a good idea and is on our list of things to do.

    Keep the suggestions coming guys!!
14. 

    March 4th, 2009 at 1:02 pm vanfuller
    

    Oh, I would absolutely like to see a sections option!

    I work in a wide variety of styles, and when they’re all jumbled together I look like somebody with multiple personality disorder.

    Also…I am posting my collection of (tasteful) nudes, and I know that some people don’t want to look at them. I would very much like to keep them separate from everything else so that these people can enjoy my other work without being made uncomfortable.

    By the way…when I check my profile in the “Location” section I find that I am a supplier of jewelry. I find this very surprising! Can somebody fix this?
15. 

    March 5th, 2009 at 7:58 am jonathan
    

    Hi Vanfuller…

    Our systems show that at some stage you have put two items into the Jewelry category, but when they updated, the classification remained.

    We have removed it for you.
16. 

    March 5th, 2009 at 10:23 am vanfuller
    

    Thanks!

    I have no idea how I did that.
17. 

    March 7th, 2009 at 12:29 am stewcat
    

    I am a new seller, and so far, Zibbet has been easy to use/understand. I was wondering about the front page and its links. If I want to view the showroom in its entirety, I can’t just click on showroom (which is located above the row of individual pictures),you can only click on individual pictures. I’d like to be able to click on showroom also, instead of having to go above to the main task bar.(the green bar with links)

    I hope this makes sense,
18. 

    March 7th, 2009 at 12:43 am stewcat
    

    What about the ability to search by user?
19. 

    March 7th, 2009 at 11:35 am jonathan
    

    Hi Stewcat…the titles will eventually become links once we have built applications for ‘Most Popular’ and ‘Just Listed’.

    You can search by ‘user’ by going to: http://www.zibbet.com/zibbeters. You can sort sellers by category, most recently updated shop, most popular, and sellers closest to me.

    If you’re looking for a specific seller, simply type their username (or part of their username, if you can’t remember it exactly) into the ‘keyword’ box.
20. 

    March 12th, 2009 at 11:38 pm crowhurst
    

    What about creating a clear categories of sellers and clear distinctions between us artists, shops, galleries and dealers who are selling other peoples’ works? I personally like to know who and what I am dealing with. I have the feeling that some people are using Zibbet whilst not being up front about who they really are. In such cases I question them, but often they don’t answer my questions which makes me even more suspicious of them.
21. 

    March 16th, 2009 at 2:35 am GIGS
    

    I have to agree with crowhurst - the ability for artists to develop an “intimate” relationship with our buyers seems paramount, and if businesses are getting in there, well, that just somehow takes away from the ambience of the whole thing.
    But I think we should consider one fact - true art lovers are searching for that intimacy and will stick with the artists who are, well, artists and not some pushy middleman.
    So fellow Zibbeters, let’s be creative with our profiles and let people know who we are and what we think - our thoughts and feelings are what drive our artistic passions, and also what art lovers are looking for!
22. 

    March 16th, 2009 at 2:42 am GIGS
    

    Me again - I feel compelled to shout out a Kudos to Zibbet in how they handled a situation for me: Right after I opened my Shop, I received a thumbs down on one of my photographs; I was instantly offended and shot off a comment to Zibbet, thinking this would hurt my Shop. (Of course if I had read how it all works, well …)! Anyway, Zibbet was very kind and thoughtful in the way they explained this system and dealt with me - what a refreshing breath of air!
    I cannot express enough, my excitement at being part of this wonderful community - THANK YOU ZIBBET!!!
23. 

    March 17th, 2009 at 1:46 am crowhurst
    

    Thank you Gigs for your support.
    THE ART WORLD MELD DOWN - The whole world is suffering in this current crisis and that includes us artists, but one e-mail I have received from an economist points out that it affects mostly the high end of the market. Meanwhile many people are seeing the middle and low end of the art market as a safer investment than stocks and shares. They can both invest and also enjoy their investment on the walls of their personal sanctuary. I think we need to be aware of this, especially if our sales are slow. For these reasons I feel we need to get our descriptions and profiles etc up to the highest possible standard.
    Can I suggest that we start our descriptions with -
    this is an acrilic painting of …… or whatever is appropriate, so that it is absolutely and instantly clear what we are offering to the client? We have to push the benefits of all aspects of our works.
    Consequently I am also adding to my descriptions -
    1. As in all my paintings the edges of the work are painted to be in harmony with the rest of the painting. It’s more work but is worth it because it makes the painting look so much bigger. It also means that it is ready to be hung and be a part of your wall in your personal sanctuary without the extra cost of framing.
    2. INVESTMENT POTENTIAL - MEDIUM/HIGH -
    3. Another factor to consider is that you are only paying 7.5% in commission and instead of the more usual 33% - 50% that galleries charge, so the work is already a bargain and not over priced.
    4. Invest and enjoy.
    I may seem presumptious in my suggestions, but I am merely offering these points as suggesting because I believe that we all of us need to help and encourage each other in order to work to the highest possible standards in order to make Zibbet the premier art site on the web.
    With love to all my fellow artists and art lovers - Viviano
24. 

    March 20th, 2009 at 6:26 am riskybeads
    

    I just found this thread, so forgive me if I’m repeating some things, but I’d like to see:

    *shop sections (plz!)

    *ability to create a global shipping profile so I don’t have to type it in every time AND a ’second item’ tier. If someone buys 2 pairs of earrings from me, they’re not going to pay $2.95 twice. They’re going to pay $2.95 + $.45 for the second pair. Currently, I can’t show that in my shop without writing it as a refundable in my shop listing.

    *ability to post videos in my shop announcement

    *more than 4 pictures per listing

    *ability to rearrange items in my shop once listed

    Granted, these aren’t emergencies; just things that were on my mind at the moment.

    Thanks, Lori
25. 

    March 22nd, 2009 at 9:20 am jonathan
    

    Hi Riskybeads…all great ideas and are on our ‘to-do’ list. I especially like the idea of adding a video to your welcome message. That’s something we hadn’t thought of. You can already add a video to your profile page guys…just in case you didn’t know.

    Shop sections has come up a number of times now, which is great to know. This helps us prioritize our ‘to-do’ list.
26. 

    March 23rd, 2009 at 5:56 am crowhurst
    

    Dear jonathan, we are all driven by self-interest and tend to be only interested in our speciality.
    1. So how about breaking the 100 top zibbeters into their specialities of painters, sculpters and jewelers etc.? This would mean that we all find what we want quicker. In any case it will become a necessity when Zibbet reaches sufficient size.
    2. Also would it be feasible to add a dictionary of artistic terms with definitions? Then there would be no excuse for our putting ourselves into the wrong classification.
    3. We are artists and not writers so would it be possible to include a spell checker - preferably automatic.
    4. Would it be appropriate to add a box indicating whether or not artists are willing to accept commissions, with each work or in our profile?
    5. Also their smallest and largest size of work to date, with each work or in our profile.
    What do others think about these ideas?
27. 

    March 25th, 2009 at 3:10 pm jonathan
    

    All great ideas Crowhurst!
28. 

    March 25th, 2009 at 4:16 pm crowhurst
    

    I am confused by the digital clasification. I don’t do digital art but like to look at it. Unfortunately I find myself accessing paintings that aren’t digital art. It seems that many artists are using ‘digital’ to denote prints of their paintings taken with digital cameras or just photos reproduced digitally which they are offering for sale. Can we have some clarification on this and clear distinctions so that we are all working to the same rule book?
29. 

    March 25th, 2009 at 4:55 pm jonathan
    

    The following are ’sub-categories’ for the main category of ‘Digital’:

    - 3-Dimensional Art
    - Abstract
    - Desktop Wallpaper
    - Fractals
    - Illustration
    - Photo Manipulation
    - Pixel Art
    - Text Art
    - Vector
    - Vexel

    Hopefully this clears any confusion up.

    We are looking into ways that we can ‘police’ the site better to make sure ‘Tagging’ and ‘Categorization’ is accurate.
30. 

    March 27th, 2009 at 7:01 am vanfuller
    

    Crowhurst:

    All my work is digital, but it’s printed in giclee form and I think that’s the more important thing; so I list it under “prints” instead of “digital.”

    Most of it doesn’t look like digital art, but all of it is. I may be one of the artists you mean. Sorry if I have confused anyone.
31. 

    March 27th, 2009 at 5:34 pm CDRart
    

    I’m also a digital artist. But vanfuller, when you get your works printed, they are prints! Digital is (in my opinion) only virtual… Because me, I’m offering File versions (that you can print yourself) of my digital art and only if someone is asking for, I print it for them. You know, the shipping cost can be saved this way
    A short tip to the amazing creators of Zibbet: maybe we could make a category “style”, so what it looks like (in my case often impressionism, oil painting, drawing, etc.) and another category “material” so in my case virtual, Print-it-yourself-File-Version. Guess something like this could solve the problems in differing between reality and only-looks-like!
    Think about it, thank you very much for your efforts, great to have you here
    Best wishes & regards
    CDRart
    P.S.: by the way, I created a byhand.me (cdrart.byhand.me) yesterday… anyone else followed the marketing call?
32. 

    March 28th, 2009 at 6:51 am crowhurst
    

    Dear Vanfuller and CDRart, I have difficulty accepting your works as art. I am old school, but give me time. Truth is I love looking at the digital works of both of you. And I am learning a lot from them about the principles of colour. They are truly beautiful.
    CHINESE COPIES OF FAMOUS WORKS - What concerns me more is the way the Chinese are offering copies of existing paintings as well as letting people think they are original works. Copies are not art. Zibbet claims to be for art lovers and lovers of art. I don’t wish to exhibit alongside copiests. They are just more parasites on us who are the source of art.
    I would like to see the Chinese artists painting their own original works on Zibbet. I believe we must protect our own integrity and the integrity of Zibbet as a site for real art and artists whether they be amateur or professional. The question is what does everyone else feel and think about this?
33. 

    March 28th, 2009 at 7:00 am CDRart
    

    Well, I read an article about Andy Warhol today and I pretty much agreed on the point of art for the masses and everyday’s issues as the subject for the creation of art. As I already proposed, let the art on Zibbet divide into two main groups: the “real” art, so the manual art like painting, drawing, sculptures etc. and the other group, the “modern” art, so the mixed media techiques, the edits and the prints, so something with little or no manual contribution by the artist. Because in my opinion, art is plenty of liberty today! And mine for example is the art for everyone who doesn’t want a big deal but little costs and probably big pleasure. Yours, crowhurst, is a big deal, it is impressive and fascinating but not everyone can afford something like this. And of course, copying existing work shall be damned to death! Of course to the death of the copied work, let the poor copycat alive, they are already poor enough by having to copy something which means that they are short of ideas
    Let’s stuck to this issue and develop a simple and sure classification of art!
    Best regards
    CDRart
34. 

    March 28th, 2009 at 8:47 am GIGS
    

    Hmm, very interesting reading, crowhurst, vanfuller, and cdrart. I too am learning about how to classify my work. I have chosen to produce Giclee prints on gallery wrapped canvas - these are reproduced, digitally, from original drawings or photographs I have done/taken. (I am writing a book that will be using my original drawings, so have chosen not to sell the originals just yet). So the content of my work is original, but the end product bought by the consumer is not. I will only sell a few copies of each piece however, in an effort to help the buyer feel like they are purchasing something that not everybody will have.

    I’m thinking I will need to go back through my Shop and make sure that I portray my work as it should be. I do consider the Giclee’s “art”, albeit a reproduction. And I think that in this day and age, it is acceptable, as originals are a different market altogether, and quite a bit more expensive.

    I believe that art is in the eye of the beholder - you never know what will move you about an artistic image/piece - so how can I say that one person is an artist and another is not? I think we are all artists at heart - some of us are just more moved to present it to the world

    Any thoughts/ideas?

    Kind Regards,
    GIGS
35. 

    March 28th, 2009 at 1:02 pm vanfuller
    

    Thank you for the compliments, Crowhurst! Still, I find it odd that anyone would have trouble accepting digital art as legitimate. I apply one brush stroke at a time, just like anybody else! Well, when I was first introduced to the computer (I was very much a traditional artist for most of my career) I thought it was a tool of the devil! So I suppose I understand your hesitation better than I realized. And I am enjoying your shop as well.

    I find that it is hard to sell digital giclees because people have trouble understanding that, while they are purchasing a print, they are not buying a copy: there is no “real” art anywhere, and the print they buy is the only physical version of the image. It takes some effort to explain this!

    I am also outraged about this Chinese art! This junk is mass-produced by assembly line workers who are hardly better than slaves. Their “art” means nothing to them, and nothing to the person who sells it. It’s an offense to every real artist who tries to make something special every time he works. How can that person hope to sell anything, when these exploitative sellers are offering their pictures for no more than a real artist spends for paint and canvas?

    We are real artists and they art not. They are factory workers. It’s that simple.

    There are a lot of discussions going on about what Zibbet should and shouldn’t sell, and the degree to which artists’ representatives should be selling here rather than the artists themselves. But I don’t think there is any question whether this assembly-line nonsense violates the integrity of art.
36. 

    March 28th, 2009 at 6:03 pm CDRart
    

    Hey everybody, you’ve been busy while I was sleeping… Thank you
    One thing I just thought about is the functions Zibbet is already offering. In my opinion, if you see a false-listed item, tell the seller about it. And if you really don’t like one item, there is a “thumbs-down” button on the right bottom of each image. But also a “thumbs-up” if you feel like you’re in front of a real artist who impressionates very much!
    I guess we still have to learn very much, how to arrange our shops, which category we fit in and so on. And vanfuller, we both used the term “mass(es)” but in a very different sense. To differ from your definition, I just wanted to add: If I edited the same image everyday, I would produce at least about 300 different edits all over the year, expressing the feelings I had at the very moment I edited the image. I always edit an image until I like the colours and the composition and I often go taking photos of almost everything which surrounds me. So I really try to make people see how our world can look like with opened eyes and maybe a bit of imagination. And I guess that’s what crowhurst meant when he said he learned a lot of our work about the colours. Any points to add?
    Looking forward to your answers
    CDRart
    P.S.: think about the functions mentionned above please…
37. 

    March 31st, 2009 at 1:11 am crowhurst
    

    Dear Jonathan just an idea.
    I like to see the self portraits of famous artists. I would also like to see how my fellow artists see themselves and eachother, ie self portraits and portraits of them by other artists.
    I suggest you create sub-sections for self portraits - in paintings also in digital-works and sculptures etc. What do you think?
    Viviano
38. 

    March 31st, 2009 at 9:02 am riskybeads
    

    Hello again…
    Thank you, Jonathon, I’ve now put my Leftovers Series video on my profile. This is the first site that I sell on that I can actually put it on, so that is FAB!

    Regarding the influx of spam art, the same thing happens at Etsy and my suggestion would be to get one hell of a handle on it. At Etsy, they show up on Friday when they know Admin response is stretched thin, set up shop and list like crazy. People flag them all weekend and they get shut down on Monday or Tuesday and then it starts over again. I don’t know the best way to stop this, but just be warned. We have that problem with art and clothing–people selling mass produced clothing, etc. The only thing I could ever think of was at the very least, don’t allow shops to go live on the weekends, perhaps? They can set up, but they have to be approved by an admin??

    The one thing that will hurt a site like this more than anything else is the perception that junk or sub-standard shops get in. So, in my opinion, that’s an issue that needs to be on the front of the stove and not the back.

    Lori
39. 

    March 31st, 2009 at 9:58 am jonathan
    

    Hi Lori,

    It’s a great idea, and one we will need to address as it becomes an issue.

    Just so everyone knows…We have a ZERO tolerance for mass produced items. Items on Zibbet must be made by the individual/s running the Zibbet shop.

    We have failed to make this clear enough, and are currently in the process of re-doing our ‘Sell’ page to make this abundantly clear.

    We will also be doing a blog post either today or tomorrow outlining our ‘new’ categories and explaining our stance on what can and can’t be sold on Zibbet.

    If you see items that you feel are mass-produced or not ‘made’ by the seller, than please report it to us, by clicking on ‘Report this item to Zibbet’. We will then check it out and can take the appropriate action.

    By the way Lori…LOVE THE VIDEO!

    Jonathan
40. 

    April 1st, 2009 at 3:22 am CDRart
    

    Hey jonathan,
    Nice to hear that you are close to the very action as always In my opinion, you should develop and promote some shop rating features so that we can reward a good shop with cool items and so that we can hurt someone who tries to hurt us with mass junk and copycat issues or other tabu stuff like this! Because you have to imagine, if you display a shop more often if it has a good rating (so you give the quality priority), the sh*t will not be seen anymore and therefore, the guys will stop. I guess this is the only way to handle it…
    Or do you want to hire a kind of junk police? 10 men just to put off all the trash that will be listed everyday when the site will have become better known?! no no no, let’s try to get us all together against junk listing people and state clearly “we know what art is, so watch your step junkie, you’ll be out in nowhere even faster than you have listed the next junk sh*t!!!”
    And I promiss I will stop any mass listings! Maybe we could limit the daily load of uploads to 3 per artist? Because otherwise, you really can abuse the “just listed” section to get cheap “first rank” promotion…
    Let’s get more personal and show that we don’t offer junk but real art!
    And what I’m thinking about at the very moment is that I maybe should give better descriptions of my work, trying to tell what I feel about it and deal with issues like this huh?
    Hope we’ll get this issue managed because you know: A good reputation is hard to get but easy to lose and to prevent… for example by mass-produced impersonal stuff who is the worst enemy of art.
    Thank you very much, I feel that I have developped my understanding of art by this discussion and hope that my art will be promoted by this
    Only the best for every artist
    Yours
    CDRart
41. 

    May 28th, 2009 at 12:49 am OrangeVaquita
    

    Hi there,

    I keep discovering things on Zibbet that I like (especially the shop statistics section), but I’m really missing an RSS feed of each shop.

    Am I going blind or is it not a feature? If it isn’t, I think it would be a great thing to have, as it would help a lot in shop promotion.
42. 

    May 28th, 2009 at 4:32 pm jonathan
    

    Hi OrangeVaquita,

    Currently we don’t have an RSS feed feature in our sellers shops. It’s something we definitely want to include in the future though!

    We appreciate your suggestion!

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