Preparing for the upcoming virtual market season | Etsy Success

HazelBea · 2020-08-24T16:51:15.628000Z

Hey there! I’m Kate, the maker and the mama behind the hook at Hazel Bea: a crochet goods and patterns shop. I started my shop in 2016 when my youngest daughter had some health issues requiring me to leave my full-time job. I’ve been organizing markets for the past few years, and for the last 18 months I have taken on planning Etsy Made in Canada / Made Local Markets in my home province of New Brunswick. Organizing markets is honestly one of my favourite things. I get to discover amazing shops and curate incredible shopping experiences! We are coming up to my favourite time of year: market season! This is typically the time of year where we get to connect with other sellers and customers face-to-face, get inspired, and tell our stories… but this year's market season is looking different than many of us were planning for. Over the past few weeks Canadian and UK Etsy sellers have been participating in some pilot pop-up style markets online. Both in-person and virtual markets have their pros and cons but I’ve put together some tips to help you rock your virtual market! 1. Oftentimes at markets sellers are confined to a single table or a booth, but online markets allow sellers to bring the customers into their creative spaces. Whether it is being held on social media or some other platform, sellers get to represent themselves in their own light. Don’t be afraid of this! Show customers who you are, what inspires you, and where you work. 2. Keep it professional—just because you are inviting customers into your space doesn’t mean they want to see you in your pajamas eating cereal. If you wouldn’t do it in person, don’t do it online. 3. Make sure to optimize your shipping prices. Many customers will be first-time online shoppers, and many will be unfamiliar with the costs associated with shipping. Offer free shipping if you can, but if not, let buyers know if you offer shipping discounts or free local pickups. You can do this in your shop announcements or even right in your listing descriptions! 4. In-person markets give customers the opportunity to touch, smell, and try items on before buying, so your photos really need to WOW the customer. Make sure to use all your allotted photo spots to really entice your customer. 5. One of the best things about online markets is not having to prepare stock unless you make one-of-a-kind items or sell vintage goods. Use the time you would have spent making and collecting wisely, making sure your item descriptions are accurate, your policies are rock solid, and your About section tells you the customer who you are and why you do what you do. How are you preparing for the upcoming market season?

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Preparing for the upcoming virtual market season | Etsy Success | Etsy Community