Logo

1. Put your name, your shops name and a landmark to your store in your creations container (bag, box or whatever) or in the vendor
2. Get a blog and blog about your arena (fashion, building whatever) weekly if not daily
3. Join the FashionPlanet rss feed
4. Join SL Exchange and OnRez - post your products there
5. Come up with and use a logo - put it on EVERYTHING you do!
   
6. Post your latest items on SL Forums, SL Exchange and SL Shopper
7. Take clear pictures at different angles to use in your advertising (I cannot stress this one enough, bad pictures do not sell your product and may even turn away potential customers.) See this article by Material Squirrel- Pet Peeves
   
8. Advertise on blogs (banners), in magazines and in-world (classifieds, billboards etc..)
   
9. Take part in charity events and offer your help or items
   
10. Cross-post - meaning that in your blog, notecard, listings, homepage etc.. you have links going back to your blog, shop slurl, SLExchange, OnRez
11. Join FashionConsolidated
12. Create an update group (Subscribe-O-Matic, or SL Groups)
    
13. Give out freebies - or dollarbies
    
14. Be nice to the customer - even if they are not nice to you
    
15. Offer to write for a magazine
16. Host a treasure hunt
17. Use your profile and your recent profile pics to market your store and items
18. Spend time in your shop and TALK to your customers, I have made so many sales this way and it also lets you know what your customers want. Plus word gets around that you are approachable.
    
19. Have a suggestions box in your store and a sign indicating where it is.
    
20. Create and release something once a week - if you can't do that, hold an event or sale on the weeks you don't make anything or release anything.
    
21. Buy, Build or have a Building made that looks and emulates the products you sell. That means if you sell "cutesy" clothing, your store should be "cute" - don't put cute clothes in a ghetto building. It just seems odd.
22. Know your customer - this one is a biggy. Know if they prefer "transfer/mod" or "Copy/Mod", Know if they prefer "Drawn" or "Photosourced" etc... Your customer expects a certain product - don't change it and expect them to keep buying. If you make goth clothing and suddenly decide to make Haute Couture - your customer base will drop and you basically have to start over and build up a new base.
23. Make your signs easy to read - even at a distance. Also consider adding a small description on them.
24. Price your items according to the market - don't price jeans at $L500 unless you KNOW they are damn good and you are SL's answer to denim. Look at others doing similar things and how they have priced their items. Don't low-ball either - this is a red flag to fashionistas, as most content thieves low-ball the prices on their items.
25. Join groups that are about what you do; If you build- join a builders group, if you design - join a designers group, etc...
26. CLEARLY label your items and include your name or your business name in the label - don't just call that new bookcase you made "bookcase" call it "WIDGET**Bookcase**Chestnut brown" - this makes it easier for people searching in their messy inventories, all they would have to type is WIDGET...
27. Send review packs - Don't wait to be asked. Find out who accepts review packs and how they'd like to receive them. Don't be discouraged or offended if they don't blog them. If they like your items, they will surely blog them or at least send you some feedback, which is always wonderful. ** Myllie Writer's comments
    

I just wanted to let it be known that SWA has suggestion boxes for those of you who want to comment on the clothing or if you have an idea or suggestion (or even a problem) - please let me know by putting a note in this box. This is safer than an IM and the box lets me know that someone has left a note as soon as I log in. I look forward to any and all comments/critiques or suggestions - REALLY! I want to hear from you.

Visit in-world: Secondwave Apparel
SL Exchange: SecondWave Apparel - Sioxie Legend
OnRez: Sioxie Legend

Ok the call was heard - and I have created fatpacks of the Camis, Capris, Leather Minis and the Mini-skirts. The Camis are only$L650 and include over 15 different camis, the Capris include not only the new capri but the older ones as well - there are over 20 pairs of Capri pants in the fat pack for only L$650! The Leather Mini Vest Set has all of the leather minis for only L$700 - this is way cheaper than buying each set for L$100. Now the Denim Minis have fat pack for each type - Hawaiian, Wild, Floral and Basics - each pack is L$200 and under.

Visit in-world: Secondwave Apparel
SL Exchange: SecondWave Apparel - Sioxie Legend
OnRez: Sioxie Legend

I am in a springtime mood and frankly I am tired of the dark, grey and very somber colors of winter. So - I created a TON of lovely Capri's and Cami's in several colors and prints. It will be hard for you to pick just one! The Capri's are L65 and come on 2 layers and the Camis are L45 and come on all 3 layers - plus both are transfer/modify.

Visit in-world: Secondwave Apparel
SL Exchange: SecondWave Apparel - Sioxie Legend
OnRez: Sioxie Legend

There was a post on someone's blog or in a forum somewhere on what you should do to market and sell your wares. I'd like to re-visit that idea and I welcome any and all comments. I'll compile the list and post it on the internet with a link from here - plus I'll put a copy in my store so that people in-world can grab the information. I think it would be helpful to new merchants as well as some of us who have been here a while. I'll start with 15 things and those of you who want to add-on, please do.

1. Put your name, your shops name and a landmark to your store in your creations or in the vendor
2. Get a blog and blog about your arena (fashion, building whatever) weekly if not daily
3. Join the FashionPlanet rss feed
4. Join SL Exchange and OnRez - post your products there
5. Come up with and use a logo
6. Post your latest items on SL Forums, SL Exchange and SL Shopper
7. Take clear pictures at different angles to use in your advertising
8. Advertise on blogs, in magazines and in-world
9. Take part in charity events and offer your help
10. Cross-post - meaning that in your blog, notecard, listings, homepage etc.. you have links going back to your blog, shop slurl, SLExchange, OnRez
11. Join FashionConsolidated
12. Create an update group
13. Give out freebies
14. Be nice to the customer
15. Offer to write for a magazine
    

Perfect Fit Denim Mini-skirt with denim fabric texture and in a plethora of colors and prints. Pocket and stitch detailing. Mini-skirt prim is modify so you can adjust it to your avi's size and shape. The shorts come on two layers and can be worn alone - so not only do you get a mini-skirt but you also have the option of wearing shorts. Perfect for the beach, or just hanging out. Only $L50 (in-world).



Available in Charcoal, Wine, Indigo, Indigo Stonewash, Crimson, Cocoa, Jaguar, Lynx, Cocoa-Zebra, Cheetah, Cowhide, Tiger, Hawaiian Fronds, Hawaiian Parrots, Hawaiian Blue, Hawaiian Yellow Hibiscus, CocoaFloral, PinkFloral, PinkBlossoms, Black with Red CherryBlossoms, GreenFloral and Damask.


Oh BTW - This skirt goes perfectly with SWA cami-tops!

Visit in-world: Secondwave Apparel
SL Exchange: SecondWave Apparel - Sioxie Legend
OnRez: Sioxie Legend

Yep - that's right the Designers in Seclusion Valentine's day hunt is still on and you can still get those fabulous freebies until midnight tonight. Secondwave is part of this hunt and you will find a complete set of the Peek-a-boo hearts bra and panties set (copy/mod). But never fear - after midnight tonight I will make them available at a discount in my store with transfer/mod privileges. I do hope you get a chance to get this great freebie while it lasts!

I have the V-day hunt poster in my store which has a landmark and instructions on where you can start.

Click here to go directly to my store for more information: Secondwave Apparel

There is a lot of content theft going on right now. And every content creator is panicking and hoping that they aren't next. There are those that think that everything in SL should be free, there are those who think that if someone spends a lot of time and effort on an item they should be rewarded, and then there are those who think that they can just rip anything off and resell it without repercussions (slime!). I have to tell you that creating even the most simple of objects/items take a long while and should at least be rewarded in appreciation if not then a monetary way. I want to walk you through the steps it takes just to create ONE piece of clothing for SL - just so you see exactly how painful it is to see your hard work stolen and resold for next to nothing or for way more that you'd charge on any given day.

Step one - Concept:

Spend a day or two coming up with a design for your item - let's go with a top. Hours spent on fabric, texture and fold - thumbnail sketches and initial design

Step two - Creation:

10 - 20 hours Creating and implementing the design in Photoshop. This ain't easy and it takes time. Even with a template or an existing design I have found that 10 hours is minimum.

Step three - testing:

5 hours - testing and checking to see if the seams match or if the pattern works in-world. Yes you can check in the SL previewer, but it doesn't always show all of the lovely UVW mapping problems. On average I spend close to L$100 per outfit just uploading the test images.

Step four - Creation In-World:

Once you have worked all of the glitches and you have made all of the patterns, colors and textures you want for that outfit; then you have to upload all of the images and make the item. Fun - this takes a really long time. The Roman Halter has 56 different textures/patterns, which means I had to upload 56 images and create 56 tops, 56 undershirts, and 56 jackets with that item. Tired yet? Hope not there's more...

Step Five - Set permissions:

Step Five can be done BEFORE four and should be if you have more than 1 item, usually I grab a top or item I've done previously and copy it into a new folder and rename it to the new item's name. This way I know the permissions are correct - although it doesn't hurt to check a few times, just in case SL borked something.

Step Six - Package the items:

Yes - whether you use vendors or signs you will need to put the items in a package or prim. If you use single prim signs, your "packaging" stops here. I usually put the item in a shopping bag or a seasonal object. I also make sure that the object has no mod/no copy permissions - I have had scripters actually use my prims to create "drop inventory" prims - YIKES!

Step Seven - Model Item and create signs:

You are not donewith Photoshop. You have to model the item and then go back into Photoshop and create the sign. Although this isn't too hard it can and does take a lot of time. You have to pick out hair, jewelry, shoes and make sure the makeup and lighting are good - just like RL. I usually take at least 50-100 pics of an item (3-4 poses and 1 pic of each pose in each color/pattern). Then I create the sign in Photoshop - lately I have been using the texture of the item as part of the sign. I also try to include 3 poses - front, back and full length. This isn't easy and it takes time - I hate that content thieves make light of any of this...


Step Eight - Put Items in vendor:

Yep - I use vendors, mainly because I usually create several iterations of the same item. Roman Halter - 56 plus 6 fatpacks, cross-tops 40 and 5 different fatpacks etc.. If I had a prim for every item I would quickly run out of space and prims. So yes I put items in a vendor, fill out the card (which can take a lot of time if there are more than 5 -10 items), test the vendor and then finally put in my shop(s). Oh yeah for each one of my signs I have to upload those textures too - so do the math, if I created 10 tops and had to create 10 signs and already uploaded 5-10 textures to check seams and other mistakes, the cost just to upload that item is 25-30 L.

Step Nine - Send the notice:

If you don't advertise, nothing happens. When I create a new item I send a notice on FashionCon and My own update group - plus I send the item to 5 - 10 bloggers and post a message on my own blog and put an advertisement on SLShopper.

Step Ten - Where you goin? You're not done yet! Put items in SLExchange box and OnRez box

You thought you were done! HA! You have to put items in the SLExchange box and/or OnRex box so that you reach another market... Once in the box you have to go to those respective websites, create those items, descriptions and upload the sign/image there too - more of what you just did! Yay!

I think I got them all.. Yeah I did. Anyway I am not including the tier fee, or land expense, not to mention the subscribe-o-matic, rent, advertising cost etc.. Let's not forget the internet cost, computer cost, software cost, texture and material cost (buying model pics, buying textures etc.). I mean the time and effort it takes just to make and market an item is enough to make one cry - yeah we do it for money but honestly most of it is because we love to create! If thieves keep on making it harder and harder to keep our heads above water then there will be fewer and fewer of us here. Support the original creator and only buy from them - they deserve it, they are the ones who put all of the effort into it.

P.S. - Yes I do use the SLCP previewer but it still has limited capability as far as showing pixel stretch and sometimes seams may look good on it and not in-world. As far as the Beta-Grid is concerned - I have just never really tried it - it seems time consuming, so as soon as I catch a break I will install it and give it a run. Thanks for any comments and suggestion though - I do appreciate it and I look forward to more. :)

Super sweet and uber cute - these corsets are so silky and fine that you will never want to take them off. The sets come in "Black" "Black Hearts" "Pink" "Pink Hearts" "White" and "White Hearts" - but I have included two pairs of stockings in each set so that you can mix and match your heart out. Corset comes on 3 layers, panties on 2, stocking on the sock layer. Individual sets are only L275 and the Fatpack is only L975. Transfer/Mod for those who wish to gift.

SecondWave Apparel