No interest in my handmade crayon tote bags on Marketplace

[Helensalsa]

Hi everyone,
I'm hoping for a bit of advice from fellow parents. 😊
I've recently started making handmade Disney-themed children's crayon tote bags and have listed them on Facebook Marketplace, but unfortunately I haven't had any enquiries yet.
I'd really appreciate some honest feedback from a parent's point of view. Is there anything that would make you more likely to buy one? Is it the photos, the description, the price, or is it just not something you'd look for on Marketplace?
I genuinely believe the quality and price are good, but I'd love to know what I could improve. I've shared them on a few Strood Facebook groups too, but still haven't had any messages or comments. Similar products seem to sell well in shops like Argos, so I'm wondering what I'm missing.
Any constructive advice would be hugely appreciated.
Thank you, Hels ❤️

It does look lovely but I'll give a parents view on why I wouldn't purchase for my son:

• he doesn't like Disney
• the bag is huge. He would never carry it and I wouldn't want another bag to carry. I just chuck some pens and paper in my mini rucksack I take on days out.
• the pens look like they'll fall out
• I don't know why the pens are on the outside
• FB marketplace place is dodgy and full of scammers, so I wouldn't purchase anything from there.

It looks too big and uncomfortable. And the pink part looks slightly wonky. If it’s supposed to be some sort of holder - would a bump bag type thing be better?

Sorry, this looks weird. A sharpened pencil could stab their arm. It makes no sense, the pens would fall out when you put it down and get wet if it was raining. What is it supposed to be? Other kids could just take their stuff. A baby could grab a pencil. Its just weird and not fulfilling a need.

You cannot sell Disney themed items or any other similar fabrics. You will get into big trouble if these large companies find out. By all means use child orientated designs, but not these ones. Also, I think the pencil pockets need to be deeper.

Before reading the comments my first thought was wow my daughter would love that, she’s always taking big note pads and pens with her that would be really handy, I’m surprised so many people are against it! How much are they out of intrerest

I think my little boy would actually like this. But I don’t see the value in it for £20

It’s a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist. Sorry.

I’ve never heard the phrase crayon tote bag before so I wouldn’t use it as a search term which would make it hard to come across your product when browsing. I also think if I was looking for something handmade I’d be on Etsy not marketplace.

If I were to be totally honest though, I’m not sure I’d buy one regardless of the price or quality because I just can’t see us using one. If I wanted colouring things I’d just use a pencil case for the crayons/pencils. Having them on the outside of the bag looks a little awkward and I’d worry they’d just fall out and get lost.

I would buy it but I wouldn’t buy it from marketplace or Facebook.

Make an Instagram account showing the bags and sell on Vinted, eBay or Etsy. Add the link to your Instagram account.

I’m guessing you’re posting here hoping we’d all
go out and buy one. Putting a picture of your daughter (?) is pretty outing.

Sorry, but the bag is nothing special and the pens would fall out.

Isn’t this just advertising? Is this allowed?

If it is can I put what I’m selling on FB marketplace on here to advertise it ask for marketing advice?

Those pens would fall out and get lost. I also think that tote bags are a dime a dozen and most people already have a million of them. A roll-up pen holder, like someone suggested, might be better?

I think they are cute too, and with a bit of refining, this could work.

Please be careful selling anything "Disney-themed" even if it's just the word 'Disney' that is used sparingly in your descriptions. Don't use Disney fabrics. There is a saying amongst those of us who make and sell handmade products: "the mouse will go after your house".

It isn't just Disney, either, so look into this further; read up about copyright/ trademark infringements. There's a whole host of things we can't do and it is a bit of a minefield. That said don't let this put you off, OP. We learn as we go along.

Anything sold for children - make sure you are compliant. I can't advise with this as I don't sell items for children, but I do know there are rules and regulations for this which are rather stringent.

If you sell outside of the UK, it's another minefield again with various regulations not just with the child safety laws, but postage, packing, customs etc. If you aren't selling abroad or intending to, ignore this paragraph!

Your photos need a bit of work, have a look at best sellers in your niche on sites like Etsy and get a feel for how they are marketing similar items.

Good luck and keep going. It's a learning curve, and it can be a lot of work, but I do think your products are cute, you just need to refine things a bit more. If this is something you're passionate about, keep going! x

Just mentally walking through the use of the bag.. each crayon has it's own little pocket? They wouldn't all stay in the pockets; crayons being using by small children tend to end up in a pile on the table in front of them so that they're ready to be used. I would think that pulling a single crayon out, using it, then sliding it back into it's specific pocket would be cumbersome.

Also I don't know what your price point is, but I'm guessing it's too high. Though I wouldn't be in the market for it regardless of price, for the reasons listed above.

Not sure if others have suggested this but I'd be much more open to a similar design but as an apron with crayon/pen pockets on the front, my LO is messy colouring!

To me at first glance it looked like an apron, which got me thinking that it would probably function better with one - if a kid is doing arts and crafts having somewhere to pop their pens would be a nice feature. Convertible tote apron perhaps for adventures on the go? 🤔

I really don't understand the point of the bag.

No sorry I just don’t see the need for a bag like this. Young children don’t tend to carry bags around routinely do they? And I’m not really getting the whole crayons outside the bag thing. Also others raise an excellent point about copyright when using Disney images.

Of course this is just advertising and the OP trying to drum up sales through a massive user base on this site. For everyone who has been on here criticising (for reasons I agree with) there will be some who will have gone off, found it and bought it so I am sure job done as far as she is concerned.

My first thought was the face of the child should be covered. I think the bag looks cute but I dont think I’d buy it for £20. It doesn’t seem that practical. Fabric tote bags can be bought quite cheaply and I’d probably use one of those and a pencil case. I think maybe something else would be more successful.
Also, I only look to at facebook marketplace for used items, I think Etsy might be better for selling things you’ve made. Good luck x

I've never been part of MN, but have been part of forums in the past. I really just popped on to make you aware that MN does post these on FB. This has randomly come on my feed and I've clicked a link to see this.
Your child's photo is currently all over social media.
So I have joined just to ask you to please remove this photo for your childs safety. (I wont stay!)

I also agree with everyone else. 😊

I did a quick search on Facebook and if they are the ones priced at £20 that is a crazy high price point for the product imo. The pictures / backdrop look really low quality as well. Feel free to ignore if not your listing.

I am surprised Mumsnet haven't deleted this thread.....has the OP offered them all free bags 🤔

Don't even need to put that effort in, more photos and her full home address are advertised on Facebook. I've reported the thread, it's made me really uncomfortable that it's either someone malicious or incredibly naive.

That was my first thought though my children have really bad balance.
They are cute bags.
I would drop the pencil pocket and make a pencil case to go inside or clipped onto the bag with a zip lock.