Artfire Revamps Buyer Accounts

This week Artfire revamped its buyers' accounts, renaming them Patron accounts, think Patron of the Arts. As a seller you may be think what does this mean to me. Artfire doesn't require my customers to have an account to buy anyway, is this going to change.

Nope, no account buying isn't going away but Artfire is making it easier to set up a Buyer Patron account.It can be set up using, sign in through Facebook, during check out or the usual way of setting up an account. You can set up an account with a single click or check button.

Why is Artfire doing this now, they seem to be doing well without requiring an account?  Repeat customers and making Artfire a destination site for buyer. However Artfire isn't stopping at making it easier to sign up, they are offering real benefits to those who do, by giving sellers the tools to offer various discounts to Patrons.

Sellers can optionally choice to offer a discount to Patrons, meaning if you offer a discount, they will see a the regular and the reduced price. Someone who is not logged in won't see this but when they check out, there is a check box to join Artfire for future discounts. That buyer won't get a discount this time but they will next time if they buy from a seller who offers a Patron discount.

Why would anyone want to offer a discount just because a buyer has a Patron account? Think of those loyalty cards you probably have on your key ring. I bet you actually do tend to favor the stores that actually do get you a discount. It doesn't have to be a big discount, just enough to entice. It could be similar to a repeat customer discount.

I hear the skepticism in many. You're think why should I bother? Well you don't have to but the more people who regularly come to Artfire and stay connected, the more people who will have a chance to find your shop. Making Artfire a destination site goes both ways. Artfire can make it easier to have people sign up but the sellers need to give them the reason to buy and to stay. Artfire is giving sellers tools, they have to use them.

Stay tuned for the next post, there is still more!