Etsy-along! Let's get our shops going!

town hall · Joined: 24 Oct 2007 Posts: 2112 Location: UK

I need to start listing again. That would probably help. I've plans for (& have registered) a new shop name, since my old one got used by another company (grr), but I want to spend time on designing the banner, etc, and I just haven't had the opportunity. Plus my graphics tablet does not work with my operating system. But these are just excuses; I'm being lazy and uncreative at the moment.

I did make a sale the other day, though, to the lovely m.k.carroll!
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mk.carroll · Joined: 08 Mar 2005 Posts: 349 Location: Honolulu

Shade · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 654 Location: NJ

I have so dropped the ball on my Etsy! I've barely had time even for my craft shows ever since the semester started, I've just been so stressed with schoolwork. I listed something last week for the first time in two months though, and I'm hoping to get some more pictures taken today. I really don't want to miss out on the holiday season!
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snoopy · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 2939 Location: SF

I totally slacked on my etsy yet again and most everything expired. So I relisted a few of them and took some new pics of some old items. I think I'm going to push the Etsy avenue rather than my own website for now. See how that goes.

It takes me FOREVER to take photos. I have a hard time taking a compelling photograph of something flat (paper/cards) and conveying a theme (i.e. Japanese-inspired).

And I'm bad at promoting. I need to get better at this.

rhizome · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 1705

snoopy!

build a light box
http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-make-a-inexpensive-light-tent
or
http://www.strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html (i used this one)

get some bendy lamps (two table lamps for the sides, and a tall one to look down at the light box)

for the background, use cute japanese fabric - just thumbtack it to the cardboard box, it'll be cropped out later - or a big sheet of japanese paper maybe?

then put your cards on a small easel [img]http://www.easelsgalore.com.au/Small%20Easels/Business%20card%20easels.JPG [/img]to display your stuff?

once you have it all set up the picture taking itself goes by in a flash! (sorry.)

for promotion, GET THEE ON TWITTER, and set it up so everything's automated and you don't have to do more then check on things once a week.

as for stomach foot dot etsy dot com, things are going well! i made two sales today, a small one and a medium one. my biggest roadblock is figuring out shipping, but it's getting easier.
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IrmaVep · Posted: Oct 28, 2009 1:55 am Post subject:

snoopy · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 2939 Location: SF

Thanks for the tips and great ideas. I built a light box a couple years ago, but then tossed it when I moved. I've used mini easels in the past and they are great. Thanks for reminding me about them. Lighting isn't a problem though since I have a tripod, light stand, reflectors/diffuser, and all that stuff. For me, the styling is the hardest part.

And yes, Twitter and FB are definitely awesome ways to promote. I need to get on that.

Here's my etsy:
http://akemidesigns.etsy.com/

Thanks for keeping me motivated!

rhizome · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 1705

i just looked at your store - the pictures you have up look great, and you have really good descriptions. i noticed that you don't use all 14 tags available for each item - very important!! if i remember correctly, 70% of item views are from etsy's search at the top of the page. you could add 'christmas' 'gift wrap' 'holidays' 'xmas present' 'wrapping paper' 'wine bottle charm' 'bottle tag' 'christmas card' 'holiday card' etc to a lot of them, a lot of people are doing xmas/holiday-related searches right now. and definitely use colors as tags - blue, green, white - people search for 'blue cards' etc.

oh and the birth announcement spinny things are suuuuper cute but i don't exactly understand how they work? maybe more about how to use them in the desc would get them moving?
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cinderelly · Joined: 19 Jan 2005 Posts: 301 Location: seattle area

i have an etsy too. http://www.etsy.com/shop/cinderelly i have not sold anything though, even after i took the prices way down. not sure if i want to continue with it, but i only have a few things in it. i sure do buy a lot of stuff on etsy though! lol!
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rhizome · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 1705

cinderelly - in the 'business' section of the etsy forums, start a new thread with a title like 'dancewear makers check in here!' or 'who else makes bellydancing costumes?' and be active on that thread. talk about why you love what you're doing. that will get ya some more hits to your shop, and give you a list of other etsy shops to take a critical look at to see what you can do/avoid in your own shop. it also means that any time someone searches the forums for 'bellydancing' in the title of a thread, your shop will pop right up.

also, i'd go to a few bellydancing message boards or forums outside etsy and be a little active on those, and have a link to your etsy in your sig.

you could also have a twitter account about bellydancing, with a link to your etsy in your profile.

i gotta tell ya - it really helps to have more listings in your shop! you might be having a slower start because you have four listings. the more unique items you have, the higher the chances of someone wanting something from your shop.

just work on increasing your visibility. your price point is great, there are buyers out there, they just need to be able to find you.
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cinderelly · Joined: 19 Jan 2005 Posts: 301 Location: seattle area

thanks for the tips rhizome! i will try some of those. i am on several bellydance boards, and my link is up, but i think there are many of us selling on etsy too! i will try the glitter thing, i have not been very active on glitter lately, but i have been coming here more recently.
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snoopy · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 2939 Location: SF

I finally feel like I have a decent number of items listed. And I created a twitter account. Whew!

With the holidays upon us, are you doing anything differently? Any holiday promotions? I'm thinking of offering free shipping on all items (as of now, it's just the art) and giving some kind of discount on the cards�maybe buy two, get one free or something.
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annie_r · Joined: 11 Jul 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Burlington, VT

Hi all,
I haven't checked in here since summer! We moved cross-country and things have been super, super busy ever since. It seems like a lot of you are having more positive things happening with your shops- congrats! I think I'm just going to keep this tab open in my browser from now on so that I can remember to check in here and see what everyone is up to :)
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letsdothings · Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 1208 Location: UK

I'm working on my 4th sale at the moment - a commission from a girl who saw my stuff at a craft fair last weekend.

I'm almost finished decorating my new studio (Can't wait to post pictures!) and then I'm going to be making my shop my proper full time job - working between 4 - 9 hours each day, mostly when the kids are in bed :) I've devised a weekly schedule that includes a marketing day and regular blogging to start building up a folllowing and I've got some fun ideas up my sleeve for next year.

I'm excited, I really think I can make this work!

scaredsi11y · Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 2792

I'm finally getting myself in gear.

I got a bulk order from a domestic violence shelter last week - twenty menstrual calenders! I've never even come close to having such a big order, and I was really honored to help their cause. I gave them a 20% discount for the bulk order because I wanted them to get as many as possible to give to women who come to the shelter.

I used the money from that sale to order 50 custom one-inch buttons with my shop name. I'm going to be listing a new zine at the beginning of December... at which time I hope to unveil my snazzy new etsy banner (made by our own scarymonster) and buttons. I'm also going to take better photos of my current items. When I listed them, I had a crummy, ancient camera. I have a new one now, so I need to put it to good use.

I'm so glad this thread is here. I've been re-reading the previous pages and finding myself inspired by how far you have all come. :-)
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