aeilkema ,Zev0 ,mrsparky : Half to say you all are the coolest of the cool Venders.
I've been asking about working as a vender since 1998.

May the CGI Gods .
Bless you all with unending inspiration
and Keep you all in the good graces of the community.

Most sincerely thanks a lot you all.

Guys, let's hope many aspiring vendors will read all of the valuable information given here! Thanks Mr Sparky for showing some numbers also and even going beyond that, showing what can happen over time.  That's why I never made a business of it, knowing what can happen from month to month. I haven't made these figures from one product, my best selling one has done $800, still not bad, but after the initial nice sales, things slow down.

I also agree about seasons, but I've noticed something strange last year. Normally higher sales start around thanksgiving and ending Januari or a bit later and the slow down again. Summer is always slow. But last your I suddenly had a huge peak starting in March and ending May. Made 3 times as much as I did around the Christmas season. I still don't know what happened, I guess divine intervention, but the timing was perfect, needed a new laptop and my little store paid for it. Still it was kind of odd, never happened to me before.

Quote - aeilkema ,Zev0 ,mrsparky : Half to say you all are the coolest of the cool Venders.
I've been asking about working as a vender since 1998.

May the CGI Gods .
Bless you all with unending inspiration
and Keep you all in the good graces of the community.

Most sincerely thanks a lot you all.

Lol anytime:) I like to help where I can because I was in the same position in the beginning, fishing for answers and getting no straight answers.

Also, I have to wonder, like my other hobby, Flight Simming, do people sometimes in this hobby have to have the latest and greatest new clothes/props/accessories for thier figures?  I would have to think that might be the case too with some sale increases.

My latest sketchbook is coming, working on the final pieces now on my first product, and will be hitting the "Upload" button shortly.

Have a good one everybody, will be back later. 

Quote - Guys, let's hope many aspiring vendors will read all of the valuable information given here! Thanks Mr Sparky for showing some numbers also and even going beyond that, showing what can happen over time.  That's why I never made a business of it, knowing what can happen from month to month. I haven't made these figures from one product, my best selling one has done $800, still not bad, but after the initial nice sales, things slow down.

 

I also agree about seasons, but I've noticed something strange last year. Normally higher sales start around thanksgiving and ending Januari or a bit later and the slow down again. Summer is always slow. But last your I suddenly had a huge peak starting in March and ending May. Made 3 times as much as I did around the Christmas season. I still don't know what happened, I guess divine intervention, but the timing was perfect, needed a new laptop and my little store paid for it. Still it was kind of odd, never happened to me before.

Ye..Since I do not live in the states I miss out on all the holiday type sales like haloween since we do not celebrate it here. Guess I need a holiday calender lol. During that time people release the themed products, something I have never done..So there is another example of an opportunity to generate sales. Have a clothing product? Release a halloween texture set for it. Might not bring in much but it gives added value to your product and can lead to back catalog sales.

Quote - Also, I have to wonder, like my other hobby, Flight Simming, do people sometimes in this hobby have to have the latest and greatest new clothes/props/accessories for thier figures?  I would have to think that might be the case too with some sale increases.

My latest sketchbook is coming, working on the final pieces now on my first product, and will be hitting the "Upload" button shortly.

Have a good one everybody, will be back later. 

Latest and greatest? No. Just something that has functionality and has appeal. Everybody has different tastes. So your product will appeal to somebody providing it is of a certain standard in terms of quality and is what they are looking for.

..do people sometimes in this hobby have to have the latest and greatest new clothes/props/accessories... Nope. One of my freebies is for V3, been years since it's made and artists are still downloading and using it. It can also be a good thing to ensure your model can be used in other apps. For example poser shaders can't be used in studio or vue, so there you'd include a basic texture set which means the model can be loaded OK in most apps. While still keeping the functionality for the app you use. One way of doing this and increasing sales and visibility is make it as a freebie.

OK here's the plan.
I'm making a female medieval fantasy outfit.
That would fit in my 2D Art Gallery,the zBrush Gallery's ,On a girl standing by the river styx.
The out fit is rather a complex high end mesh.
After the out fit is finished a month or two from now ,hopefully.

I'm going to post the out fit and ask if anyone wants to be my partner.
I have no objections to have one partner for V5 and another partner for V4
and any partners for any other characters any one want's to support.

Also I would rather work with a team.I know a lot of Venders work solo.
But the most successful vender is DAZ. DAZ is not a solo vender.

I need partners to help tech me how to be a good supportive vender for are customers.
I'm going to make HTML based tutorials for are customers.
I need partners to help tech me how to make all this work correctly in there app's.
I have no doubt there's questions I need answered that I don't know to ask yet.

Yes I need money to pay the bills just like every one.
I care more about being the best at what I do.
I would rather make high end meshes and sell 10 then make trash and sell a 100.

Let me know ya thought on this ,Thanks.

PM me RorrKorn...

In response to the OP, why not call yourself an Entrepeneur, everyone knows what one is and normally shut up after you drop that on them as they realise they have just opened the door to a driving desire to succeed in something and you are now about to tell them your life story LOL

I think there are many aspiring vendors, probably more now than there ever have been, but the dream of making a living from it is far different then the reality shown above. I think and this is only observation not preference or opinion, that "slut wear" and certain other morphs,poses,etc will always outsell vehicles, hair, textures, lights etc, and if you are prepared to take your products over to the side of the adult entertainment industry you have a better chance of survival. Some people are morally opposed to their products being distributed on sites like Otica (btw Rorrkorn just as a matter of fact Genesis and V5 are poorly supported over there, only 3 products I could find), for those that sell their products on sites like that and there are quite a few Renderosity Merchants over there, I say bloody good luck to you, you've got your heads screwed on and done your research.

Secondly as MrSparky mentioned unless you are prepared to diversify, use your skills in as many genres as you can ,you will struggle and as so often happens, become disillusioned, quit and in a few years time wonder whether that 10 grands worth of software and the expensive PC were anything more than the equivalent of the apple offered to Eve in the garden of Eden.

Is quality really the answer anymore? I think there is a fine line between quality and price, and sometimes the wrong one wins.

For the average modeller I reckon the chances of making a living from it are about as good as winning the $5000 scratch card every month.......

BTW I know the original post was specifically aimed at Vendors but we are all part of that big circle called the market.

Yea once we get technical, 3d artists do have the ability to make most peoples eyes glaze over in seconds :) You're also right some product types do tend to sell better than others. Theres also the element of luck as well, sometimes things just become zeisty. I've even had stuff thats not sold a single copy for months, then all of a sudden it's just rocketed. For the adult market, to be honest I don't know. While I don't have personal issues with that kinda stuff, some funding sources can, so if you're borrowing check that out. Also a trusim about diversification and most certainly with equipment. A 600-700 camera can easily lose 500 in 2 years. PC's even more. Quality and price is a harder one. My aim for quality and beyond low prices, which for sites which need to charge per mb or by item count can cause debate. It can also upset other artists who prefer higher prices over quality. Though your last line is the most important, it's vital to get and react to feedback. Not just customers either, but from the community as well.

This is why I only make freebies. Well, that and I don't think my stuff is good enough to sell...

I'm in a hurry fixen to run out the door.

Any out fit ya make to sell ,
If they payed for the out fit then they have the right to use it as they see fit.

I know since V5 there are now 2 queens n country's.
I'll do my best to rock both with some of the wickect cool out fits they've ever seen.

Quote - This is why I only make freebies. Well, that and I don't think my stuff is good enough to sell...

LOL That's pretty much where I'm at. I am not a vendor really, although on occasion I have put something up in the store, backgrounds, more for fun Than any thoughtif profit.Honestly I just wanted moremoney to spend here, and I got a little cash that i promptly spent in the store on stuff from the other amazing 3D Creators. I also post freebies for fun.

I thought some consumer  advice might also be helpful. Strictly speaking as a consumer, (I spend about 1,500 a year) I have an enormous collection of stuff I have purchased and I am alwaysnlooking for the next best thing. I love new hair. I am always looking for fantasy adventure type outfits for V4/M4 and my new favorites Anastasia/ Tyler. Good Luck. 

AetherDream - that sounds like a pretty good way to do it. Being a full timer is nice, the freedom is amazing, though as with all forms of self employment, you've gotta be dedicated, realistic and incredibly adaptive. Oh and be able to drink lots and lots of cola :)

I wounder if all the members at turbosquid ,cgtalk ,etc etc sites are all the same members here.

Anyways there's a lot of Cars ,Bikes at turbosquid.

Seems like Cars ,Bikes either look like toys
or
There realistic n bloody expensive.

Maybe people would appreciate a realist affordable Car ,Bike.

Just what I had in mind, and did RorrKonn....... 

Uploaded tonight, hopefully will be live shortly.

Do you mean you uploaded it to the store, John?

Quote - I wounder if all the members at turbosquid ,cgtalk ,etc etc sites are all the same members here.

Anyways there's a lot of Cars ,Bikes at turbosquid.

Seems like Cars ,Bikes either look like toys
or
There realistic n bloody expensive.

Maybe people would appreciate a realist affordable Car ,Bike.

How about a realistic free one? I finished my chopper. You can read about it here and decide if you want it. I am going to rig it only for the kickstand if it gets enough interest for me to bother posting it in the freebies section.

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2863171

rokket :

There's sites that have front,back,side,top etc etc photos of real vehicles.
Don't have the link but somebody round here probably does.
or ya could just google vehicles.

If you spend weeks modeling a freebie.
What would you have to lose if ya spent a few more weeks modeling a realist vehicle for sell ?

If you have the drive,skills to model ya bike then you have the drive,skills to model a realist bike.

rokket - the detail on that is amazing - that could easily be a product!

"If you spend weeks modeling a freebie.
What would you have to lose if ya spent a few more weeks modeling a realist vehicle for sell ?"

That's an interesting question, RK. Perhaps the answer comes down to artistic temperament, identity, and goals. And this applies to all facets of making, whether renders, modeling, or simply discussion. Suppose it's very person specific.

Considering this is a thread about commercial endeavors with 3d digital art, which in a sense is a form of mass production and communication after the fact, I'll return to observing.

It is a very nicely made model, Rokket.

That's an interesting question, RK. Perhaps the answer comes down to artistic temperament, identity, and goals. And this applies to all facets of making, whether renders, modeling, or simply discussion. Suppose it's very person specific. Totally. Theres also the question of will a freebie work as product. Like my recent stuff is often semi-political or word play seasonal toons, while fun and loads of people enjoy them I know they wouldn't sell. I've also not released 'product' for a few months, am working on a long winded one, but mostly I've felt that releasing freebies works better for me right now. Yea sure that can badly affects sales, but with arty things it's not always about the cash. It's also about what you what to say as an artist. Or even just have fun :)

count me in for the chopper rokket, gets my freestuff vote :)

My response was in response to

Rokket's quote
This is why I only make freebies. Well, that and I don't think my stuff is good enough to sell...

If Rottet's good enough to model this

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2863171

Then Rokkets good enough to model this ,If he spends a little more time on it.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=CCQ&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=harley+davidson&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42261806,d.aWM&biw=1280&bih=615&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=QMkaUaPzJMSVrAGU74Bo#um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=HCQ&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=harley+babes&oq=harley+babes&gs_l=img.3...35923.37067.0.37572.5.5.0.0.0.0.122.449.4j1.5.0...0.0...1c.1.2.img.Sq_S5cTOI2A&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42261806,d.aWM&fp=dd887064c0876013&biw=1280&bih=615

I think part of it is
if you sell low end meshes then your make low end money.
If you sell High End Meshes then your Make High End Money.

if you sell high end meshes that lots of people want to buy

then you may make high end money,

 but if you sell high end meshes aimed at a small specific

market and hope to make large volumes of sales

then I think it's less likely that you will make the

sort of money you may aspire to. Just my take on it,

not definitive by any stretch but working on simple

economics of supply and demand........But it depends

 on what your expectations and desires are.....

.I always think of that old adage, ,

"Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day,

 teach a man to fish and you'll never sell him another fish"  LOL

I just wanted to say thanks to all the contributors to this thread!! Great reading and information here on a variety of closely related topics.

Johnny - looking forward to seeing your vehicle!

Rokket - Really nice bike!

This is an intresting thread and I wonder how Renderosity would feel about posting sales figures for everyone to see?

Anyway, there are so many factors that influence sales that it's impossible to just say "make a good product and it'll sell".

How do you know you've made s a good product? Sure, it may be technically good and have a lot of features or moving parts, but what you think is good may not "click" with the market.

Look at the best-selling products here to see what's selling the best (duh). Can you make products like that? And even if you can, will you (as a new merchant) be able to compete with the top-sellers who have been doing this for years and who have built up a reputation?

And that's the next issue: how do you, as a new merchant, market yourself and build up a reputation? You can't just make a model, upload it for sale, and expect it to make $2,000 for you.

As other people have said, you need to do your research. If you think you have the greatest idea in the world, look through the marketplace to see if anyone else has made one. If there is one already, can you make a better model? Will your model include more features or more textures?

What about your pricing? Will you try to sell low to get more sales? Or do you think your product is the best in the world and you'll charge $50 for it, even though no one will pay $50 for a Poser model?

Do you have the patience to survive the "low times", when your "best product ever" barely sales 2 copies in a month? What happens when you spend the next two months making another great product and it also only sells 2 copies? Again, the product may be great, but if you don't have any marketing, or a reputation, or previous customers, then you won't get any sales.

Yes, there are some people who make thousands of dollars a month, but there are also hundreds (or thousands) of merchants who barely make any money. Basically, your chance of making a lot of money is roughly the same as a high school kid becoming a professional athlete: sure, there are plenty of people who do it, but it takes a lot of talent, practice, and hard work.

This issue comes up every few months, so I suggest searching through the Renderosity forums for more ideas.

I can't tell anyone else what they should do or how they should do it.

I can just say what I think or how I see it.

Roman never liked me using cars scenario to compare TrueSpace R.I.P. to Lightwave.

But it's the best way I have to explain things.

If you could have a lamborghini or a chevy what car are you going to chose ?

If your stores a chevy store then ya make a chevy income.
and probably need some gov. to bail ya out of bankruptcy.

If your stores a lamborghini store then ya make a lamborghini income.
and ya winning the rat race.

Your store is your business your company your Empire.

Quote - My response was in response to

Rokket's quote
This is why I only make freebies. Well, that and I don't think my stuff is good enough to sell...

If Rottet's good enough to model this

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2863171

Then Rokkets good enough to model this ,If he spends a little more time on it.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=CCQ&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=harley+davidson&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42261806,d.aWM&biw=1280&bih=615&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=QMkaUaPzJMSVrAGU74Bo#um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=HCQ&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=harley+babes&oq=harley+babes&gs_l=img.3...35923.37067.0.37572.5.5.0.0.0.0.122.449.4j1.5.0...0.0...1c.1.2.img.Sq_S5cTOI2A&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42261806,d.aWM&fp=dd887064c0876013&biw=1280&bih=615

I think part of it is
if you sell low end meshes then your make low end money.
If you sell High End Meshes then your Make High End Money.

I can see your point. I did pretty much create this thing without a single reference picture. I could probably do a decent job of creating a few real/realistic choppers. But I would still not sell them. I got into this hobby to fill up my free time and keep me from drinking myself to death. I never once thought of it as a money making venture, even when I found out that it could be done. I had assumed that the content created for Poser was done by people employed by SM for that purpose. I know better now, but it doesn't change my view.

I know I can create a decent quality product if I decided to. I have almost mastered my software to the point that I can do pretty much anything I set my mind to do within the constraints of the programming. But I would lose the satisfaction that creation and completion brings me. If I was selling these things, they would never get released because I am never satisfied with them. Every time I look I can see a mistake here, or something that could have been done differently there. So I release freebies when I feel I have something I am proud of and want to share.

And just for the record, this whole bike took me about a week to produce once I got past the frame. The frame took the longest because I wasn't sure what I wanted out of it when I started.

Quote - https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=CCQ&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=harley+davidson&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42261806,d.aWM&biw=1280&bih=615&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=QMkaUaPzJMSVrAGU74Bo#um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=HCQ&tbo=d&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=harley+babes&oq=harley+babes&gs_l=img.3...35923.37067.0.37572.5.5.0.0.0.0.122.449.4j1.5.0...0.0...1c.1.2.img.Sq_S5cTOI2A&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42261806,d.aWM&fp=dd887064c0876013&biw=1280&bih=615

That is the single greatest link I have ever followed.

Attached Link: sponsored by

two words  "harley davidson" seems to be the motorcycle equivalent of the

second coming. I knew "Hippo Lighters" missed a trick there.........

product placement sneaks into the forums by the back door

in response to RorrKonn

*"*If your stores a lamborghini store then ya make a lamborghini income. and ya winning the rat race."

Thats great if you live in Monaco, or millionaire central, but if you live in down town anywhere where average Joe makes 12k

per year after taxes, are you still going to set up your

Lambo shop and go broke by month 2, or are you gonna

sell Chevys and make some money ?

Yeah, but, girls and motorbikes.  Is there anything finer?

hmm Lemmee think, Lets see "American Chopper", dysfunctional family",

Jesse James, getting divorced, Hells Angels, Devils Disciples...........

nope sounds like a fun way to die to me. 150mph straight road to Hades :)

oh yes and the answer is "To be in Carolina in the morning" :)

Yeah, but GIRLS and BIKES.  Screw the rest.  We were all 18 once, unlike the angels (small "a") who never made it. Forgive me, Pauline, the greatest angel of them all.

Paul Francis : I'm glad you enjoyed the link.It was meant to be inspiring.
 
Saxon3d : I googled "Harley Babes".

Most TV shows or movies about Bikers I don't care much for.
One biker club will be nothing like another biker club.
Independents are each individuals.
TV,Movies are not necessarily real life.
People that don't live a bikers life alt not make TV Shows & Movies about
what they know nothing about.
The movie "Mask" with Cher ,About the only Biker movie I 1/2 way liked.
There are Harley sponsored rides that raise money for worthy causes.
Since you said Carolina guess you know about NASCAR & Richer Petty.
Richer Petty's boy Kyle goes on Harley sponsored rides that raise money for worthy causes.

My Lamborghini & Chevy scenario had nothing to do with Lamborghini or Chevy.
I would rather have a 1969 Chevy Camaro then a Lamborghini any day of the week & twice on Sunday.

BSA Bantam - nuff said :)

Tiger Cub every day for me, Ariel Square 4 even :) or maybe a recon black shadow

Triton, or a clasic '68 Bonny in two-tone paint.

Big Wheel with a tricked out clicker.

Back to the topic...... enough motorcycles and babes :biggrin: A warning with the girls would have been nice, I thought the link would show me cool machines, but instead there something very distracting in those photographs as well, which made the machines go unnoticed.

Quote - This is an intresting thread and I wonder how Renderosity would feel about posting sales figures for everyone to see? Yes, there are some people who make thousands of dollars a month, but there are also hundreds (or thousands) of merchants who barely make any money. Basically, your chance of making a lot of money is roughly the same as a high school kid becoming a professional athlete: sure, there are plenty of people who do it, but it takes a lot of talent, practice, and hard work.

Even if Rendo would want to do so, the biggest hurdle would be the vendors. Some would be very unhappy and I'm sure most wouldn't want Rendo to this...... there are quite a few who like to keep up their appearance.

Indeed there are some of us who make a lot, but most make hardly anything and some in between, but that shouldn't keep anyone from trying. You just need to either have some exceptional, unique, or something that others aren't willing to try/do. We sure don't need another hundred pieces of clothing as the biker ladies are wearing, the stores are full of them.

One thing I've noticed lately at some of the stores though...... sales are down. How to know? The sex sells strategy is in place again. Lot's of promo's with ladies wearing next to nothing, while the whole product isn't about skin or the clothing at all. Some of the stores are screaming for attention and their products will not catch you eyes for sure, so other methods are used to get your attention. Some of the stores look more like erotic magazines these days then content stores. Some of the promo images are even absurd and the ladies are so out of place or so wearing the wrong clothes, if you can even call it clothes, for the scene or product being promoted.

So, that's another strategy as well..... if you've got a product that isn't (worth) selling, try using the good old sex sell marketing strategy.

It's the squirrel in that new Dreamland Models and BB furniture set that really sold it to me ;)

It's practically naked...

I had to see that for myself, it's not just a naked squirrel ...... it's a naked squirrel in the mirror, outrageous :lol:

I agree with your "Sex Sells" comments aeilkema, but it's not just here anymore, it's media wide, you can't even buy a cd, dvd, yoghurt, soft drink, or bar of chocolate without some random image of a haf nekkid woman or man flashing across your brains advert memory storage.

I guess it is just something we have to accept, and in some regards what potential vendors have to be prepared to do to break into the market place. Also it is IMHO, more than that, you have to look at the primary use of Poser and similar programs. Personally I'm just about saturated with nekkid vikkies posed badly, wearing the latest off the shelf skimpwear.But if that is what people buy Poser for, then creating revealing outfits and outrageous gravity defying, contortionist poses is always going to outsell any other content. Yes there will be the exceptions, usually from established vendors with a history of scene or non sexual content creation. It's all about what floats your boat and if you want to make money as in any context in life, it is about what you are prepared to do to make it happen.

Will the market ever change?, I'd be surprised, the only thing I think will happen is that with the massive improvements in web tutorials, free and easy to obtain modelling software, the market will become saturated with new vendors wanting to take a piece of the pie. I did a rough scan through the forum threads for recent months and there are literally hundreds of posts from different people with modelling/rigging/texturing questions. Will they all become vendors, unlikely, but with enough FREE content and an increase in it, the vendors share is going to reduce significantly, IMHO

Yes, especially if the free stuff is good quality. I looked back through the freebies section a couple days ago. I clicked on Poser Ready Props and just ran through several pages. The newest stuff that is on there is really good quality modelling; compared to the very early stuff that was posted there which isn't bad, but pales in comparison to some of the newer things that are totally free.

Yes, the quality of free products sure is good these days, even better then it used to be. I've released a few items and I know they get downloaded a lot more then the items I do sell. A lot of Poser users hardly buy items, there is so much good stuff free, so I don't blame 'm. I do it myself, if I need something, I first check if it's free somewhere, if not, I start looking to buy it. If I can't find it, it's time to create it :thumbupboth:

I do think that a beginning vendor also needs to realise it's hard to break into this market and many of the stores' attitudes and policies sure don't help. Small vendors get punished for being small and big vendors get rewarded for being big. Even stores that claim they treat every vendor the same, still do give the ones selling the most extra benefits. Once a store brings in a 'big fish' they treat them differently then the small fish...... while the small fish need all the help they can get to grow. A lot of sales, promotions, advertising and other things are only available for the big fish, allowing them to grow fat, while the small fish starve.

Another good reason not to be a vendor.

And even if I decided that's what I wanted to do, I don't own a V-anything, and I look around at how much content is created and sold for that model and realize that I wouldn't have much of a chance.

Finding a good niche ain't easy. I can see that already. I am pretty decent at props, but I suck at making clothing. Anything beyond a superhero costume and I'm done. And there are plenty of temples and swords out there...

So where do you go?

Well Rokket, the cliched standard response seems to be "Find a gap in the market, do your research, market it, release the odd freebie extention pack" and Bingo you are rolling.

Personally I think that gap is so small, and the demand for it would be so minimal that it isn't worth the effort. The solution seems to me to be to take on the big boys at their own game, create the skimp wear with a few added bells and whistles, create the bizzare poses and do really amazing promo images. The promo image has to be the shop window, how many times have we walked past a store in the real world that has a badly outfitted tailors mannequin wearing the latest fashions and thought, urgh, that sucks, yet 6 doors away seen the same items in a modern well lit well thought out display and been swayed to purchase. I'm only coming at this from a purchasers point of view, but so many market place items "turn me off" by really bad promo images. I'm not disputing that the product may be good, but in this era of mass marketing, multiple product choices, we really do more often than not judge a book by its' cover.

If I were even to consider becoming a vendor I seriously think I would have to work twice as hard as in the past, a constant flow of freebie items to keep your exposure up, exemplary textures, pristine uv maps and gold standard customer support are in my mind the difference. Oh yes and not forgetting my latest product is now reduced in price to $3.99, is it all actually worth the effort?

aeilkema : What can I say ,Hope you enjoyed the distractions.

Half to say even news ankers & weather forecasters back in the day.old dudes.
Now all young and the girls look like there dressed for a night club.

If I see two stores .
One has High End Quality Merchandise.
the other just sells low end stuff.

I would expect the low end store is doing poorly and the High End Store is doing well.

Artist know the quality of there renders depends on the quality of there runtime.