Modern Atelier - 2009 Survey Results

I'm so pleased with the response from the first-ever Modern Atelier customer survey. It did exactly what I hoped - let me know what people like and what they'd prefer to be different. Finally, my graduate classes in sociology and survey design are paying off!

Without further ado, here's the results. Survey Says:

Q1. ModernAtelier.net was launched about a year ago to be an improved site for customers compared to the Modern Atelier etsy store. How do you feel about the new site?

Easier - 32.00% /8
More Attractive 40.00% / 10
Faster - 20.00% /5
Other 36.00% / 9

My take: I created the website almost exclusively because Etsy doesn't offer drop-down menus for scent choices. Some people do find it attractive but many have either not used Etsy, don't find it to be any better or worse, and a few prefer the Etsy store. A website redesign is in the works for Modern Atelier.net. I feel like it's functional enough now that I can tweak the visual experience for the better without making it less easy to use.

Q2. Modern Atelier currently uses Paypal checkout, which allows you to enter a credit card safely and easily, without having a Paypal account. What type of checkout method do you prefer?

Paypal is preferred by 88% of customers who took the survey. If you insist you can always mail me a check or money order, but it will delay the processing of your order.

Q3. Currently I send out e-mails to customers on an intermittent basis. What would be your preferred frequency for receiving promotional e-mails from Modern Atelier?

The vast majority (84%) said monthly. This is good to know because so many e-tailers send out weekly or even daily e-mails. Obviously I'm not going to send out an email when there's nothing to update, but new scents and sales will be occurring on a more regular basis.

Q4. We are thinking of expanding our product line to include bath and body products. What type of products would you most be interested in purchasing?

Shower Gel 20.00%/5
Body Lotion 44.00% /11
Body Butter/Creme 56.00% /14
Body Scrub 36.00% /9
Cold-Process Soap 36.00% /9
Shampoo/Conditioner 16.00%/ 4
Foot/Hand Care 32.00% /8
Not interested in Bath & Body products 20.00% /5

I found this very interesting. I thought shower gel would come in at #1 with lotion at #2. Shows what I know. I've already got a body scrub recipe that I like, so body butter/creme, foot care and cold process soap are now on my radar. I'm hoping to get them locally produced by a very experienced natural products expert. More on this really soon!

Q5. How do you feel about Modern Atelier's scent choices?

84% feel there are the right amount of scent choices. Good thing, because I'm nearly overwhelmed by them some days. You try keeping track of 200+ of them!

Q6. What scents do you most wish Modern Atelier would begin to carry?

This was an open-ended question. The answers were AWESOME. Rest assured I'll be going through and trying to take them all into account. For example:

Foody, seasonal

Stay focused on unique scents that you have designed. There's TONS of etailers out there that sell perfume. I like Modern Atelier because they have UNIQUE scents I can't get anywhere else and then while I'm ordering those, I sometimes pick up a scent or two that other places carry as well.

More of the hard-to-obtain "designer" and vintage fragrances.

I really like CSP fragrances. I would like to see more dupes of these.

Some more citrusy-herby scents, maybe unisex

Would love it if you could reproduce the Tocca scents, Kai perfume, and/or a version of Child perfume.

I'm more of a light and airy smell kind of person

i love the florientals with tobacco

buttered popcorn~! Or maybe you have that already :)

more of the earthy, natural scents - they are done so well...would love to see more.

Oil-based roll-ons for those sensitive to alcohol (jojoba, sweet almond oil etc. )

Would be interested in more orientals.

perhaps a make ur own kit with three little notes to arrange as we desire...

7. What type of promotions are your favorite?

Percent off is preferred to Free Shipping by about 3 to 1. Maybe some day I'll go crazy and do BOTH!

Q8. Modern Atelier uses re-used/recycled packing material when possible. How do you feel about the quality of packing that you have received?

84% of respondents feel that it is packaged well and like that it is recycled. There were options for the packaging to be prettier/more colorful and not one person chose this response.

One person pointed out that it can be both well packaged AND recycled. When we're dealing with glass, I always err on the side of over-packaging. If only there were recycled bubble wrap. Fortunately my bulk glass bottles come in so much bubble wrap I usually have plenty on hand!

Q9. Free For All: Do you have any comments, suggestions, or other issues that you'd like to share with us?

Many folks said some variation of "keep doing what you're doing!" and I really appreciate that. I got some great constructive answers as well. Some gems:

I wish you had a storefront... (Me too!)

A few website requests like increased descriptive info of the items (volume, weight, materials), and one report of strangely high shipping quotes are being looked into/implemented right now.

Two requests for lower priced samples or sample pack deals. I will be doing a sample pack special in the near future.