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Share an unexpected story of support
Hi everyone,
There are countless examples and stories of sellers supporting one another through advice or tips in our Community threads. But what about the behind-the-scenes displays of support? Perhaps another seller messaged you with a few words of encouragement or maybe a fellow seller critiqued your listing, then later purchased from your shop? Did this seller become a repeat buyer or maybe you became shop friends? We invite you to share a story of a time when you received support from someone from the Community in an unexpected or special way. Share the love below!
Iridesent
Admin
AdminCommunity Manager
Posted 4 years ago·Last reply 3 years ago
37 comments
CreatingCary
·3 years agoI love my community online. It's not huge, but it's loyal and growing. Recently my instagram got spoofed, and my followers started messaging me – clearly protective of my/my work. Quite a few validating comments flew my way, it was great! I really enjoy feeling supported in that way and I look forward to continuing to be supported on Etsy as well, both by my buyers/followers, and by fellow shop owners!
Cary
StudioAvai
·4 years agoA colleague, at Cancer Research when I worked there voluntarily in September, mentioned that she thought my business was growing, which in itself encouraged me to continue to create products, promote products, and run my team Selling for Health. 6 months later I have had more sales, more support from boutiques for example in Richmond, and continue to be persistent in achieving my goals. I have had a slower month this month but am sure things will pick up soon.
EpiclesisConsulting
·4 years agoI have made some true friends on Etsy. One is across the country from me, and we exchange emails almost every day (more than one email, some days!). Another is in the next town over from me, and I'm helping her figure out how to set up a composting worm bin!
Trish O'Connor
Owner, Epiclesis Consulting LLC
IskenderWatchBox
·4 years agoOne of my first products was a marble watch stand, It was a really hard product since it has 3 different meterials; wood, marble and steel. İ had a real problem with the wood. One of my friend's friend helped me a lot for the production of the wood.
StudioAvai
·4 years agoI was busy making costume jewellery for my shop, a year and a half ago during lockdown. My mum came into my studio and showed me a pair that she bought on the high street, it had those tubes and stoppers. I noticed my mum kept them. I mentioned I usually throw those out thinking they are part of the packaging. She mentioned that they are so you don't lose the earrings when wearing them. I then went back to all my jewellery buyers and asked if they would like some tubes and stoppers for previous orders for free. One person said yes, so I ordered some from Amazon as it was lockdown, and through my jewellery orders went up.
TheClassicButterfly
·4 years agoI don't visit the forums much, but sales are a little slow, so I was poking around today and saw this question and my eyes drifted to a card from my dear friend who I never met... Leilani. I have been selling on Etsy since nearly the beginning. Years ago, I had a listing for a funny vintage cardboard chair. Leilani messaged me about it. I had made a joke in the listing and she thought it was funny. She ended up buying the chair for her sister. She started following my shop and would notice when I was at little milestones in the number of sales I had or something particularly weird and quirky I listed and she would buy just so she could help me hit that number. She confided that she had accumulated a lot of stuff and wanted to try selling herself, so I encouraged her and gave her all my best tips. We went through many seasons together... the loss of her sister, mother, and husband to cancer. An unexpected pregnancy for me. Always just writing via convos when we had a "feeling" that the other one was going through something. She sent an edible arrangement when we moved into our new house. I sent flowers when her husband passed away. Last year, she messaged that cancer had gotten to her as well. She had decided to forego treatment and enjoy the time she had left. All I could do was write a goodbye message. We were friends for 10 years over Etsy. It breaks my heart that she is gone. In front of my work desk, one of her fancy little cards is right in my line of view: "Dear V. Merci....for being my friend. Love, L." I have found many treasures over the years because of Etsy, but Leilani surpasses them all.
TeonisHomeAromas
·4 years agoI actually support this ladies business quite a lot because she has some lovely Witchy moulds. She once had a browse through our etsy and said our prices were too low with that being said she ordered so many items and when they arrived said the quality was amazing for the price. I was amazed as I thought my products were a fair price.
MunchyGifts
·4 years agoI have had lots of support from businesses on Facebook but I don't understand how to use etsy teams - yet!
Ghialover
·4 years agothank you I believe the best in people too,,
SwanCreekCottage
·4 years agoMy great buyers who leave super reviews take me up a notch, sometimes a couple of not so nice
but it all goes with the territory. We were not meant to be perfect!
MyDigitalWorldShop
·4 years agoI want to thank to all people who helped me a lot in the development of my shop, I'm still learning more, every tip the community gave is pure gold, thank for all, I appreciate too much your help!!
PinkLemonadeDuxbury
·4 years agoI had to close my shop in 2019 for several months due to an illness with one of our children. I posted a vague messages on IG telling my followers that I needed to close for a while and that I would be back when I was able. Another Etsy seller from my town, whom I know only from her shop - we'd never formally met - responded and said if I needed anything (post office runs, grocery shopping, etc.) that she'd be happy to help out. She's a busy mom/shop owner herself, and we were just starting the holiday shopping season so I can imagine how tight her schedule must have been, yet she still reached out. I'll never forget her kindness.
LyLydecorArt
·4 years agoI find the sellers on etsy really civilized. We have supported each other from sharing our store decoration experience to adjusting keywords to reach customers
I already have my first orders
dpa37svsjfl7hi22
·4 years agoI (like so many others), started a thread to ask what I was doing wrong in my shop and why I got no sales. I considered throwing in the towel, (after a month - crazy)... I got great advice, most of which I've been able to apply and two of those supportive shop people bought items from me, they helped me pay my listing fees later they also gave me 5 star ratings for some of the items they bought. I was also able to buy a few items for someone in need, because I don't have to worry about February's listing fees.
I'm still not where I'd like to be, but at least I feel like I can keep trying because someone's supporting my dream and they liked the stuff I was selling.
PAPERFLORISTS
·4 years agoI lived in the state o Mainr when I opened my shop 10 years ago. I startedit on a lark, really. I had no idea what I was doing. I had never heard of SEO or tags. I was invited to hoin yhe Etsy Maine team. I wouldn't have my shop without those team members. They taufht me about tags, SEO, everything. They were helpful, encouraging and fun! A group of us who lived in the area met for lunch a few times and we would also make a big group order of shipping bixes and supplies to cut costs. 3 years later I moved back to my home state of Massachusetts. I was happy to be going home. The hardest part was that I could no longer be a member of that Etsy Maine Team. I will always be thankful and grateful for them.
KimGalleryShop
·4 years agoI have had support here on the forum more than once from other sellers. It's so valuable to me and inspiring! It's especially valuable because most of the time we live on different continents, we have different cultures and lifestyles, but people don't remain indifferent to the questions and concerns of others. You know, often quite close to us people remain indifferent. and here I felt real support, infinite gratitude to everyone!
TheVintageChaser
·4 years agoI have 2 stories.
1. I did not ID the browser. I was selling what I thought was a cute saucepan with a flip cover. I was struggling with looks. Out of the blue, I got a message that the item was a throwback. This was a tobacco/cigarette extinguisher. Water would be placed in the 'pot.' and the cover prevented the permiation of the odor. I relisted and in about 2 weeks, the item was sold to a buyer in FL. It was joyous interaction. The critiquer was wary that the feedback would be seen as intrusive. I made sure to assure her that it was welcomed. ETSY has great people.
2. Another seller bought 2 items and she gushed in her reviews. She wrote a paragraph for each review. We have exchanged pleasantries and New Year greetings. Recently, I updated her on my younger daughter's recent engagement to be married and unexpected travel plans for a funeral. Nic is more than a seller. Her experience makes her a source of wisdom and guarded optimism.
I'll say the Etsy community of buyers and sellers is a cut .....above the rest. I have dabbled with Craig's List, Ebay and Poshmark: scammers' paradise in short.
ChillwolfArt
·4 years agoOne day I received a Message from a Seller. She was super nice to let me know that my Shop Location was not showing; I never noticed it. It had always shown and I couldn't figure out what changed. So I went through the motions to put it back in. It's important to me that Customers see where you are located when entering your Shop. And I was grateful to her for writing me about it. Thank You, @SpecialBeauty .
JenkaJewelry
·4 years agoI am new here in Etsy and I am trying to figure out different ways to learn more each and every day. I use all kinds of platforms to get more information in order to understand how Etsy works... But what I really find helpful and motivating is actually this forum. There are a lot of kind and good people here. Positive vibes have always been my number one inspiration and my secret to eliminate stress.
Thank you for sharing your experiences and your good energy!
Jxo
AmeeGondkar
·4 years agoI must share here that through one of the online Etsy meets, I found a fellow seller and we gelled so well together. On and off we speak to each other, we even discuss our work front. She is so sweet and kind and assures me that my products will do well, every time I get upset about no or slow sales. She is quite old on Etsy. Now we are more like family, so thank you so much Etsy, I found a close distant friend!
Iridesent
Yay shop friends! Thanks for sharing @AmeeGondkar!
CreativeMassbyBhoomi
·4 years agoI have received help from fellow sellers. As a new seller when i got first time sale from Australia and i was in trouble. I ask question in forum here. I got so many help from fellow seller. One seller is from Russia and another one is from US both of them are good seller here. I always get help from them. Thank you very much!!!
Tidalwove
·4 years agoI have received help from fellow sellers on how to set up my shop, understanding SEO, photo tips, etc. But what warms my heart the most, is when a fellow seller encourages me by giving me good review after purchasing or telling me my work is beautiful. I am truly humbled when another creative admires my work.
AmeeGondkar
·4 years ago@Tidalwove
Just walked my way through, your shop virtually and it's just awesome. Especially the colours. I loved the colour combinations that you weave in your scarves and other products. Lovely!
PS- I too do scarves...
ShaynaDesigns
·4 years agoI had a seller message me to tell me that another shop had my product picture in it. She'd found a few items that 'belonged' to other shops. I wrote to the shop and also reported to Etsy. Shop took down the listing (still waiting for response from Etsy!). I paid it forward and identified a few other items belonging to other sellers and notified them.
Iridesent
Thanks for paying it forward @ShaynaDesigns!
LittleCreekCardCo
·4 years agoI've had a few Etsy sellers make purchases from my shop and have found that they really go above and beyond with leaving great reviews because they know how important these are to a shop. I jump on the forums from time to time and try to give some helpful critiques of new shops. When their items are something that appeal to me personally, I buy them and always make a point of taking really nice photos of the items I receive and giving thorough feedback. Such a small percentage of buyers leave reviews that I am always so appreciative of the ones that do and try to give back in the same way that other Etsy sellers have supported me with their reviews.
Iridesent
Hi @LittleCreekCardCo! I'm sensing the reviews you write are just as thoughtful and lovely as your response here. Thank you for sharing!
ChillwolfArt
·4 years ago@LittleCreekCardCo
I have found that as well re: other Etsy Sellers leaving great, detailed Reviews. And it's very much appreciated.
I do the same (thankfully I've never had to leave anything less than a great Review).
EgoGraphix
·4 years agoSince starting Etsy I have really fallin on love with browsing the beautiful wears created by so many talented people. I have decided the gifts I buy this year will come from etsy. Supporting talent and creativity it so mu better than mass production.
MyDigitalWorldShop
·4 years agoI will Supportnew shops, that's a very good tip
CreatingCary
·4 years agoBelieve it or not I received support after supporting another seller. I found their Etsy after feeling inspired by one of their prints on their Instagram. I bought another print and after they offered a coupon and then posted the print I DID want, I bought that too. I didn't know how to use coupons and she was more than nice enough to teach me how and suggest I try it. After issuing just one coupon, I immediately got a sale. I was starting to wonder about my Etsy selling capabilities, but this totally renewed my hope!
Iridesent
Thank you for sharing @CreatingCary! I'm so happy to hear you received such wonderful support from another Etsy seller. It gave me the warm fuzzies.
EgoGraphix
·4 years agoSuch a nice story x Good to support each other.
KhanhDecor
·4 years agoCongratulations on finding your opportunity.
MyDigitalWorldShop
·4 years agoPrecious story I learnt the high value to support each other, thank you
DigitalMorphs
·4 years agoIts wonderful. Supporting each other help us to grow.