The Ripple Effect of Customer Reviews in the Handmade Marketplace Skip to Content
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The Ripple Effect of Customer Reviews in the Handmade Marketplace

The Ripple Effect of Customer Reviews in the Handmade Marketplace

In the cozy corners of the internet, where creativity flourishes and the warmth of human touch is felt through every product, small businesses like ours at Forged Flare® thrive. We pour our hearts into creating each Mother’s Angels® ornament, ensuring every piece carries a piece of our spirit and the timeless beauty of handcraftsmanship. Imagine the delicate dance of sunlight through the vibrant colors of a Mother’s Angels® ornament - that’s the magic we aim to share.

But here’s the thing about sharing our magic online: it’s a bit like whispering in a bustling market. Unless folks around start to echo your story, it’s hard to get heard. That’s where customer reviews come in, not just as feedback but as the lifelines that tether our dreams to the vast digital expanse.

Love my honey bee angel. I have it sitting on my window sill at my office desk and can look at it every day! The sunlight shining through it makes it so pretty! My order shipped SUPER fast. The packaging was so fun, and the product itself is perfect. It's so beautiful and you can tell it's made with so much thought and care. What a creative product!

Why Every Review Feels Like a Warm Hug

When someone takes a moment to leave a review for one of our ornaments, it’s like receiving a warm hug (or in the rare instance of a less favorable review, it can feel like a stab through the heart 🥺). It tells us, and everyone else, that what we’re doing matters. On platforms like Etsy, Michaels, and Amazon, where the sea of options is endless, these testimonials are our guiding stars.

For example, despite not offering incentives for reviews, we've been lucky to receive a galaxy of mostly 5-star reviews. It's like each one is saying, "We see you, and we love what you're doing." And that’s huge for us. It builds trust with folks who’ve never held one of our ornaments, letting them know that there’s something special waiting for them.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Perfect for a gift!

"I found this company through an ad on social media, so I wasn’t sure if it was real or not. Luckily it is real!! It was so hard to decide which one to get!! This is the perfect gift for my mom. Can’t wait to give it to her. Also, this shipped in record time."

Meghan W.

But it's not all sunshine. Sometimes, like that one harsh review on Etsy, we get a reminder that we can't always reach everyone in the way we hope. And yet, without a word from the buyer, we were left without a clue on how to make it right. It's like missing a step in a dance without knowing why.

2-star review saying For the price I thought the item would be better quality. It is pretty small and lightweight. Wouldn't purchase again.

And then there's Amazon - oh, Amazon! It’s a wild ride where despite hundreds of happy dances out the door, only a handful of folks drop back in to share their joy. It feels a bit like sending your kids off into the world and only hearing back from a few.

Authenticity Is Key

In the bustling digital marketplace, where authenticity sometimes feels as rare as a hidden gem, we have stitched together our own little patch of honesty with the way we handle customer reviews.

Here’s what we did. To keep our corner of the internet as genuine as possible, we’ve crafted a system where only those who have purchased our work can share their thoughts. When you welcome one of our creations into your home, and only after it’s arrived safely, an email will find its way to your inbox. This invitation to share your thoughts is as heartfelt as our thanks to you for choosing us. And here’s the key – it's linked directly to the email you used to invite one of our pieces into your life, keeping those rogue internet bots and scammers at bay.

We can’t tweak these reviews of your experience any more than we can hold back the sunrise. It’s all you, unfiltered and real. This isn’t just about keeping our review garden free from weeds; it’s about building a bridge of trust, plank by plank, between us and you. It’s our way of saying, “We’re here, we’re real, and we’re listening,” all while ensuring that the feedback you read from others is genuine. So, when you see testimonials on our listings, know they’re the real deal, heartfelt endorsements from folks who want to share their experience.

The Other Side of Reviews

It’s not all about the stars, though. Feedback is more than just a scoreboard. They’re conversations, opportunities to grow, and sometimes, they're even a bit puzzling. Take Amazon’s quirky math that turns a sprinkle of less-than-perfect reviews into a storm cloud over our 5-star parade. And don’t get me started on the mysterious vanishing act of some verified reviews on our items on Amazon!

Then there's the weird math. Let's examine how Amazon weights the various reviews we've received for our products. As depicted in the image below, despite having 23 reviews with 20 being five stars, the platform disproportionately amplifies the weight of lower scores. For instance, a single 2-star review, for which no comments were provided, significantly impacts our overall rating.

Amazon reviews table showing the weight distribution among stars.

This weighting system can obscure the overwhelmingly positive feedback we've received, leaving us and potential customers puzzled. Without comments or direct feedback from the customer, we're left without clues on how to address or understand what might have gone wrong. This system of review weighting highlights the challenges artisans face in maintaining their product's reputation in a highly competitive online marketplace.

Yet, for all their quirks, customer reviews are the heartbeat of online shopping. They can lift you up or weigh you down, depending on the day and the platform. But should they be the be-all and end-all? I don’t think so. They're just one piece of the puzzle.

Beyond the Stars

Here’s the scoop: what we do, the pieces we create, they’re about more than just satisfaction. They're about sharing a piece of beauty, a moment of awe. Our Mother’s Angels® ornaments are whispers of love, crafted by hands that care deeply about the art and the people who welcome that art into their homes.

So, while the digital world scrambles to make sense of stars and algorithms, let’s not forget the human touch behind each creation. Reviews or not, it’s the connection, the shared moment of beauty, that truly counts.

A woman admiring the Mother’s Angels® Playful Purple Butterflies ornament.

Let's keep the conversation going, beyond customer reviews. Because at the end of the day, it’s about more than just a product; it’s about the stories we share, the moments we create, and the community we build together. That's the heart of Forged Flare®, and it's a beat that resonates well beyond the digital marketplace.

If you've never shopped with us before, we warmly invite you to check out our customer reviews. You're welcome here! Stay awhile, and find that perfect gift for someone special or a treasure for yourself within the Forged Flare® collection.

Find A Gift With Personal Meaning

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About Jen Street

Jen Street is the Founder & Creative Director of Forged Flare®, a business that specializes in creating unique ornaments that are reminiscent of stained glass. Handcrafted in Texas and perfect for gifting, her Mother’s Angels® ornaments make people feel seen, appreciated, and loved. Sign up for the newsletter and save on your first handmade ornament today.

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