Collection updates on the horizon

[Scott]

Hey everyone, we wanted to let you know about something exciting that you'll be seeing real soon. We posted an article in the News section (link), but figured that we'd start a discussion here so that everyone was aware. When we have more information we'll be sure to share it!

Edit July 24th: We've opened a new discussion forum for conversation relating to Collections Types: https://community.zazzle.com/t5/new-collection-types-information/bd-p/collections

[LemicheStudio]

Yes, it seems Zazzle is 99.9% focused on events and holidays.. :(((

I´m in small business supplies niche and it is actually quite a big piece of the overall market and in general always in high demand. I´ve started relatively recently expanding my digital template business into Zazzle, as I find its an awesome way for customers to get their small business packaging and supplies printed directly after personalization (even though Zazzle is still somewhat limited in terms of available product formats). I also see a lot of high-seller shops on Zazzle in this category. So I´m quite baffled that Zazzle would completely ignore this niche and all other great product niches for that matter and focus solely on event supplies. Like, why would they even offer then all other products?

My only hope that maybe they just started out with the events and will add more categories later on.... But it would be very nice if they could clarify this beforehand, as I don´t even understand what am I supposed to do now when adding new products and collections. 

[KeegansCreation]

But they aren't made exclusively for event/holiday supplies. There are subcategories of Business and Home and Living. And the examples given for Similar Styles/Themes, Different Styles/Themes and Gifts have non-event/occasion examples.

• Similar Styles/Themes- one of the examples given is business cards (presumably that are linked by something other than being business cards or they would go in Different Styles/Themes)
• Different Styles/Themes-one of the examples given is funny mugs. I have a collection of leggings that got auto migrated to this. It says "same or similar product type" so they don't have to all be exactly the same. I have an Organization collection of file folders, pocket folders and binders that I put in this category with a subcategory of Home and Living. 
• Gifts-although people give gifts for specific events/occasions, there is no reason why your collection of thematically grouped products have to be labeled as a specific sort of gift. My collection of dragon designs got auto-migrated to this. 

I don't think Zazzle wants the entirety of the Home and Living, Office Supplies, Accessories, Art, Electronics and Clothing departments to have nothing but Other collections so I have interpreted broadly.

[LemicheStudio]

I´m sorry, but which "subcategories" are you talking about? In the "Event & Occasion" line?

When I go to edit collection type the options for "Event & Occasion" are given exactly the same for all collection types. And yes, I can select the "Business & Corporate". But if I change collection type to "Similar" (instead of "Cross-Sell", which is what I actually need and what makes sense for my products) - then the "Zazzle Email" sales channel disappears, which means that I lose out completely on this feature even though it makes a lot of sense for cross-sell product collections like mines. So overall not a great option. 

[KeegansCreation]

What's wrong with Cross Sell as a type and then Business as a subcategory? It seems appropriate for what you are describing. 

[LemicheStudio]

It is indeed the most appropriate settings, but the problem is that when I select the "Cross-sell" type option all my products are not being "recognized" (and some even not shown at all) in this collection and are listed in a "bonus" section instead. So no slots or recommended products are shown. Meaning that it is basically useless for my products as they´ll never be shown as recommended and cross-promoted to customers, if I understand it correct.

So no idea what I am supposed to do with all that...

[KeegansCreation]

Ok I see what you mean. Welp, this whole thing is still being tweaked and they haven't actually rolled out the customer-visible changes so hopefully that will change. I have a similar situation with a collection for a BBQ (that is not tied to the 4th of July) and another for sellers at Farmers Markets. There seems to be an option called Custom-Grouped as an alternative to Recommended - which as you note the Bonus products don't fall into. However, choosing it didn't enable anything. I am wondering if the ability to "recommend" our own choice of products may happen later with this Custom-Grouped option which currently doesn't do anything that I can see.

[LemicheStudio]

I am wondering if the ability to "recommend" our own choice of products may happen later with this Custom-Grouped option which currently doesn't do anything that I can see.

---

Yes, exactly - I tried and see the same (Custom-Grouped option doesn´t do anything) and I also hope that they´ll roll out more options for us soon!  Fingers crossed, as overall it is a really great idea/feature! 🙂 

[CrazyMermaid]

Is it now necessary to have 4 different product types to have event collections show below products. So 4 different invitations won't get it shown? 
Also, my foam core signs and table top signs are now in the Bonus sections. Sometimes I see a slot for table top signs, but can't figure out how to get them there. (I did put my tabletop signs in the Party/Craft - Decor - Signs and Banners - Tabletop category. Do they need more time? 

[Laura]

The tabletop signs go here now: Weddings > Décor & Party Supplies > Décor > Wedding Signs > Wedding Tabletop Signs 

I don't know where the foam core signs are supposed to go... maybe large wedding signs but it wants them from either Weddings > Décor & Party Supplies > Décor > Wedding Signs > Banners or Weddings > Décor & Party Supplies > Décor > Wedding Signs > Posters & Prints. So maybe under the latter?

[CrazyMermaid]

But all my tabletop signs are not in Weddings. I have a lot of them in other events too! I have been putting them in the Party/Crafts section, if they aren't in Weddings. 

[Laura]

@CrazyMermaid To find where the collections are pulling things from, click on the slot (table top signs) or "consider adding" at the bottom of the recommended products section and it will open up the sidebar to add the product (or click on that slot once you're there). On the left upper top under search it reads "Matching results from:" and then you'll see the department tree category you need (at this time?).

[Cat]

My foam core signs seem to be stuck in the bonus section too - and it doesn't seem there's any way to manually move them to the signs section - even though I have them categorized as wedding signs. OY!

[CrazyMermaid]

Yes! You would think they would want all of the signs together!

[CrazyMermaid]

I just want to clarify that my questions are not complaints. I think the Collection redesign is amazing! I can see how it is going to allow me to really reach customers and I am very excited about it. I have already seen customer engagement increase with cover photos and this is definitely Next Level! Baby steps this morning. I am trying to do simple things and see how the pieces fit together. Can't wait to start designing the media with different collection items.... Oh and I really love the way I can see all the holes in my collections and what needs to be designed. It is like a giant To Do list! So many more revenue streams to be explored. 

[angelafuller729]

Agree on the collection holes!  I have 900 collections in 13 stores, so some of this I just have to add to an evergrowing To-Do List.  

[Connie]

I'm the exact opposite- I'm about ready to throw in the towel! I'm so burned out with doing cover photos for my products, which I'm not even half done, and now they want cover photos for COLLECTIONS?! Not to mention having to try to figure out where all the pieces of my collections are going! I'll never have any time for any designing any more!

[Barbara]

This new concept appears to be event-driven, but there are a lot of events missing, which pushes collections into the no-man's land of Other. For instance, where is the event known as a "Reunion"?

Any collection based on a single image (unless it's a wedding or similar type of image) seems destined for Other, and Other, I gather, is a polite word for Useless.

I might have a collection or two that goes into an acceptable event category, but this is a couple out of over 200 collections. I'm lost.

If a collection is "migrated," what exactly is it being migrated to? A new format? Is it showcased somewhere or is this only for designers with blogs?

The last time I was this confused on Zazzle was my first day here.

Colorwash's Home

[BevStuff]

Also in the Collection new format, you've made the shareable link HARD to locate. It needs to be readily available on the collection management page!! I only found the shareable link by clicking "view on Zazzle" which is in super small print and I wasn't even certain I'd find it then, but I did.

[alissag]

I am wondering if all the holidays under event/occasion are not built out yet. For example, I have a Valentine's Day collection, and notice that all the items come up under bonus products and there doesn't seems to any recommended/featured products.

[Sara_H]

@alissag There is an event - Look under Holidays - Valentine's Day. It looks like the bonus products are because Z doesn't see them as their preferred products in their Cross-Sell / Event Suite collection type - at least that's what I'm understanding. 

[BevStuff]

I figured out the only Collections that are "Cross sell/Event" category get the "email message enabled." (which only works with mixed products like holiday cards & holiday mugs in one collection or you get a "problem notice." But categories like "Holiday-Christmas" if it is all just Holiday cards, which are rated "similar," do not get "email enabled." Though, because Holiday cards are a seasonal event, I would like the option, even if they are all just cards, for that to count for "email enabling" because I would like customers to consider purchasing from my holiday card Collection in the future, too.  So you need category for "Season Event/Similar Products." 

[BevStuff]

The cross sell/event category will only work if you have different kinds of product in that collection; for example, a collection of all just wedding invitations will get a "problem notice," because it's all one type of product and you'll be forced to choose the "similar" category. On top of that, if you can't be in the cross-sell/event category, you won't get an "email enabled" option to send a message to your customers so more such collection can be promoted! I'd think all the wedding invitation designers would be up in arms!

[SwissVillage]

I just noticed that when you select "add to collection", but then find you don't have the collection you need yet, the option is no longer there to create a collection directly from that interface.  You can only add to existing collections.  We used to be able to immediately choose to create a new collection if we didn't find a suitable existing one.  I hope this feature can be added back in.  It suits the workflow for some of us who have many collections and may not remember if we have the right one yet -- so we are going to start with a search - and then create a new collection if we find we do not have it.

[Barbara]

A helpful addition to the Collections page would be the ability to sort them so "Ready to Migrate" collections were at the top.

Also, pay attention! Any of your tags that were phrases are now broken up into single words, which knocks out some of your original tags and often ends up making no sense.

Colorwash's Home

[Sara_H]

@Barbara I've found if you search by View By -  last updated - the ready to migrate ones appear at the top

[KeegansCreation]

The discovery that most of my collections now had 6-10 tags was maddening. I had to rewrite nearly all of them because of the disaggregation of tags like "st patricks day" and "mother of the bride".

[klstock]

The maximum collections allowed is 1000, currently.  I have 98 but that is going to increase shortly because many of my collections use one design for multiple purposes. For example, in one collection, using the same design, I would have  baby shower, wedding shower, birthday, anniversary, bridal shower invitations and napkins, paper plates and all that, but all in one collection. 

Now, it appears I need to divide those up and make new collections for each specific occasion. Over time, that is going to exponentially increase the number of collections - for what I already have and for future creations. 

Will the max number of collections allowed be increasing?

[Barbara]

How is anyone finding anything beyond "Event"? There aren't any choices for business stationery nor kitchen items nor anything else. All I'm seeing are events and not enough of those.

Colorwash's Home

[Fiorenzo]

There is, indeed, nothing for the ones of us not being focused on Zazzle's major events like weddings, baby stuff, and graduations, or events and holidays. Collectibles collections, product sets, design collections focused on specific designs or themes other than events/occasions, most will probably have to fall under the "other" category, which I presume won't have any relevant benefits.

[BevStuff]

There needs to be: office, kitchen, food, themed gift ideas (for like all butterfly themed products or all coffee themed products, etc,).

[LMGildersleeve]

I'm totally confused with a wedding favors board I have. I specifically don't have an invitation, menu etc. but the system won't be happy because the invitation is "required".

[KeegansCreation]

I have a similar situation with Gifts for the Wedding Party collection. I categorized it as Cross-Sell>Wedding and it flagged as problematic because there was no wedding invitations. I had to change Wedding to Other to make it stop flagging. I am guessing you ran into the same situation. They need to add way more subcategories or make it be acceptable that something is labeled Wedding yet has no wedding invitation.

I am guessing/hoping that things are still in flux. 

[CrazyMermaid]

I think this is the collection type for that. One product type with many styles

[CrazyMermaid]

You mean a wedding favors collection? Yes, if you are using the Cross-Sell Events categorgy you have to have a diverse collection. I am fighting with the categories required to get my personalized cookies out of Bonus hell right now. 

[Cat]

Ug. I have some wedding favor collections - had to separate them out into separate collections from the rest of the matching stuff because I was over the 300 item limit. With these new sections (or whatever they're called) it would be super helpful if we could do away with that limit so the wedding favors could go back with the rest of the collection where they belong. Also, seems like there's no section for wedding gifts or favors in a wedding collection - they all just get lumped into bonus items. 

[CrazyMermaid]

One of the collection types shows all different styles and designs on mugs. Just like different designs on favors. That is probably the one you should use. You really aren't cross-selling if they are all the same products. 

[Cat]

I'm thinking more like a whole variety of different products that are all designed as wedding favors with the same design theme - keychains, tote bags, t-shirts, flip flops, can coolers, jewelry, jewelry boxes, trinket trays, hand sanitizers, chocolate bars, match boxes, etc. 

[Barbara]

So how do we access anything other than events. Someone mentioned "cross sell." Is that the secret?

In other news, I'm going to halt even fiddling with this because, yes @LMGildersleeve , this is shades of the good old days. Throw it at us and then run for the hills. LOL

Colorwash's Home

[LMGildersleeve]

I have been using "cross sell" for anything other than an event.

[Marcia]

However, I've noticed if you do that & all your products end up in "bonus", not all of them show in the collection! I've been verifying that by using another browser, not signed in. In most instances, a few products are missing in "cross sell" mode, sometimes just 1.