Updated July 28, 2020.
There are bazillions of needlepoint canvases out there and even the most well-stocked shop will only be able to carry a few. As shopowners they need to balance a ton of things (and not just the tastes of their clients) to stock their shop. Many of them, thanks to the Internet and catalogs, can extend that inventory virtually and allow customers to order through them especially these days when so many of us shop online.
But for many stitchers even visiting a shop in person is a rare occurrence. And this brings me to my point. Has eBay become the default LNS for many stitchers?
From time to time I spend entire afternoon looking through listings for needlepoint on eBay and Etsy. There were over 65,000 needlepoint canvas listings on eBay. While in some areas, such as thread, finishing supplies, and needles, eBay and Etsy can’t come close to your local shop or to shops with an Internet storefront, for canvases they far exceed what you can buy at your LNS. I would say canvases fall into three categories:
- new, currently available canvases selling at or near retail prices – These are not people destashing, but new product, presumably immediately available, from people who are functioning as canvas shops (more about this below) This was close to 3/4’s of the canvases I saw
- new canvases from artists who sell primarily on eBay and/or on Etsy as one of their channels – Here the artist sells to you directly. Many artists got started this way and it’s a great channel. This is probably another 10% or so of what’s there.
- canvases sold by individuals – This type of item predominated on eBay a few years ago. It’s an eclectic mixture of destashing, vintage, shop closeouts, etc.
There are designers whose work is found in the first category and designers whose work is not. And I’m not making any judgments one way or the other. But the whole thing got me thinking and I have lots of questions and would love you to add your own thoughts and answers (mine are after each question).
Is the presence of new canvases at retail on eBay driving up the price of older canvases? I think it is. Starting prices seemed higher across the board and not just on new pieces, often out of line with past prices for similar items.
Do you, as a stitcher find this an effective way to shop? I would think it has the advantage of immediate delivery, possibly no sales tax, and bigger selection. Let me know if you use it and why.
As a designer or shopowner how do you feel about it? Are they unfair competition? Do they really have the canvases in stock? I’m thinking this is a hard model to make work. eBay and Etsy want you to ship quickly and buying and keeping theses canvases is a considerable outlay, is it equal to a shop’s overhead or significantly less? If it is close is it really “unfair” to the shops? If less, is it “unfair” to the shoppers?
I have no stake in this race, but I know it generates lost of emotion and I’d like to hear what you have to say.
In all cases, if you want your comment to be confidental, email it to me using the contact form (link at the top) and I’ll post it for you.
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
I do shop bay but I usually am looking for older canvases or projects that are not available anywhere else. As designers retire or die many wonderful charts, canvases and designs are lost. I particularly look for people who are cleaning out their stash.
I got sent this from a designer who wishes to remain anonymous:
“Well, you know how I feel probably. As a designer with no more sales reps getting orders from shops I have to sell somewhere! I would rather sell to shops but if they don’t order I need to sell them any way I can. I also know there are many stitchers that do not have a shop near them to go to if they wanted to. States like Wyoming where I grew up. There were no shops like that. I do not have the canvases in stock so I am madly painting them when they sell so I can get them in the mail the next day. Ebay makes that hard because a lot of shoppers don’t bid until the last minute. The cost of canvas doesn’t allow for a designer to have an inventory that is just sitting. I do love the shops and want to support them but it goes both ways. The designers need them to order too. Good topic! Yes, please don’t publish my name. I have a relationship with shops also!!”
Posted on behalf of Audrene Shahrdar (hshahrdar@sbcglobal.net):
‘I feel that supporting the LNS is the only way to go…..I feel that it is like “copyright infringement” when shopping E-Bay…..’
For the most part, I shop at local stores. In this difficult economy, it is important to support local businesses. When vacationing, I often look around for a needlework or quilting store to visit. For older canvases from specific artists such as Russell House, I’ll order from their source or check e-Bay for a listing if my local store is unable to order it for me. Have downsized a lot but still have more canvases and projects than I’ll be ever able to finish in my lifetime. The ones I still have, I love and most will eventually find their place onto my working frame.
Hi Jane,
There is a smaller version of Ebay called Etsy. It’s all individuals – not companies.
They have
a) handmade things, from baby clothes to coasters to toy trucks
b)vintage things (LOTS of fun to be had in there – the embroidery tools – I just got 3 carved bone awls for $18, the threads etc
c) supplies for the artist.
You can search in each or all of these categories.
People are very friendly, and I’ve remained friends with a couple of them. It’s more …. of a community sort of feel.
Although Etsy has some limitations. It’s not possible there to do the finely tuned searches you can on eBay. And, to be quite honest, they have nowhere near the selection of needlepoint items and supplies eBay does.
I’d love to be able to recommend Etsy, but, to be quite honest (and I use it lots), it just isn’t very good as an alternative for needlepoint.
Keep Stitching,
Janet
At a time when we are seeing so many NP shops closing down I try to shop my local shop as much as possible. However, the lure of all the canvases on ebay is too tempting not to shop there. I search every day for the canvases that appeal to me. I have special ordered canvases from my local shop but purchase most of my canvases on ebay. The selection is great and over the years I have been able to find some real bargains. Like many stitchers, I have more canvases than I will ever be able to finish and from time to time I thin my stash by selling on ebay.
I buy a lot from E-Bay. The closest LNS is probably 1100 km away. There are shops a little closer but they deal with cross stitch only so while there is some overlpap most things are only available by mail order. Shipping in Canada is atrocious. I can get things from the US at less than 1/2 the shipping it would cost within Canada. When I do travel I will check out the LNS if there is one so I can see the products and usually buy some stuff for my stash. With the cost of canvas being so high, the pricey equipment and tools, the cost of finishing, and the high cost of threads needlepoint is becoming a very elite art. I am lookin at stands right now. I have a couple of cheap ones but find them fustrating.
I am self taught, no classes around here, and since a flight to the nearest hub is $750.00 and then add the cost of further travel, hotels, & class costs I will not be attending classes either so used books from Ebay are also on my list.
Ebay’s global shipping is putting a bit of a crimp in things though as it does not allow for combining items and the postage on them is almost double what it would be otherwise. It also charges import fees which I have never paid when other shipping methods are used. Canada Post does collect the federal sales tax ocassionly but I have never been charged any import fees or duty.
I have acquired quite a stash now and if costs keep going up I’ll start using it exclusively and will only need to buy the occasional threads. I will be retiring in about 8 years and won’t have the disposable income then to buy needlepoint supplies. All that being said I would love to have an LNS even if their stock was limited if they would do special orders and have some classes.
Our local promotional embroidery company has bought a fabric printer and we are going to investigate printing on canvas. Any artist want to sell pdfs for self printing? I expect this method will get cheap enough for individuals to purchase printers for themselves or for a local printing company to offer the service.