Dear Art Shop Owners...

[Zaldrīzes]

Wonderful help (:
Thanks (=

[Briar Rose]

One recommendation I would make is try to give the customers a time frame of when they can expect their work to be done. I often feel like I'm nagging the artists if I ask when I should expect it to be done/how the piece is coming along. Additionally, if you're mass producing something and do all orders at once, say so. I've seen artists say things like this in response to a customer waiting two weeks to hear about their order:

I make them in batches of 30 or more so calm down, ChickesnSmoothie is last on my list

That's some important knowledge, especially if someone is ordering work for a contest where art can be added.
Also, try not to take a ton of commissions before completing your already commissioned pieces. It frustrates me to no end when I order from an artist and a week later I see them taking more commissions when they haven't even started mine.

[inactive.wiwi]

Thank you SO MUCH! So helpful!

[Asa Willow]

I just read through this, I've recently opened an art shop. I'm pleased to find that I was already doing everything it suggests :3 (It really works, people!) I came back from a day at school to find eight people wanting art from me T.T (had to close my shop for a while which makes me sad, I try to keep it open as long as I can)

I have another suggestion though, make the title nice. Put some fancy font and symbols and make it clear and neat and standing out, and people will be more likely to click on it when browsing through the art shops. Same with anything else :3

[inactive.wiwi]

And a derp (-y hooves c:) moment would also be: USE YOUR OWN WORK!

This is great. <3

[--Shadow--]

thanks to this, i think im ready to set up my art shop!

[FoxerOwl]

Suggestion to add to this:

Follow the customer's description. If they say no blue, no blue. I found someone in the Adoptables saying: "Here's your art! I know you said no (different color then listed) purple but I think it looks nice."

If you keep adding colors the customer doesn't want, they might get upset and other people may see that and not adopt from you.

So,

Follow the customer's description. Don't add things they didn't list or did and clarified they didn't want it. Mainly just follow the ref/description and more people will adopt from you, seeing the customer is happy and likes the art they requested. Don't make it art *you* ordered.

Thank you!

[Hawkfire.]

Thanks this helps a lot I'll be sure to remember all of this when/if I make my own :)

[Whoviangirl]

Thanks for this thread!

[deltastar]

This was really helpful! I'll be starting my own art shop soon, and this really gave me good advice. Thanks!

-deltastar