Solved: Etsy Merchandising Dates

Former_Member · ‎01-15-2013

Etsy Merchandising Dates to be ready for straight from the Etsy Merch Desk!

Here you will find important monthly dates and strategies to be prepared for!

This is also the place to stay up to date with tags and listing updates

Don't just glance this Thread - IT IS IMPORTANT! <3

Former_Member · ‎10-19-2013

**************OCTOBER********************
Our central merchandising will focus on autumn, Halloween, and preparing for the holidays. While emphasis will be placed upon the seasonality of the Northern Hemisphere, it’s important to remember that the Southern Hemisphere is preparing for summer. Maintaining seasonally appropriate options year-round is good practice for boosting international and overall sales.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: An annual international health campaign to help raise awareness. The color pink and ribbon symbol embody the universal themes surrounding this cause.

HALLOWEEN: Halloween searches are in their prime right now. Make sure to take advantage of the next three weeks of seasonal shopping by tagging
your Halloween products appropriately and offering extended shipping options — think last minute Halloween costumes and treat ideas.

AUTUMN: Home decor, entertaining, woodland motifs and nature’s symbols. Harvest themes encompass fall planting, preserving the summer garden’s bounty, rustic farm references and fall foods. Tagging tip: “Autumn” is a more global seasonal association than the American-based “fall” term; try including both as descriptive words.

THANKSGIVING: October is Thanksgiving in Canada and when Americans begin planning for November festivities. Classic Thanksgiving symbols include the turkey, cornucopia, Pilgrims and Native Americans, seasonal food, and fall foliage. Hostess gifts, table settings, and hearty treats are all items shoppers will be looking for.

FALL FASHION: Shift in materials, colors, and layers in the categories of clothing, accessories, and jewelry. More specifically, key basics, layering elements, the introduction of winter accessories and outerwear components, thick fabrics and rich leathers, autumnal tones, vintage boots and heavy-weight all-weather bags. Tagging tip: Try adding the term “fashion” to your appropriate items to reach a broader shopping audience.

WEDDINGS: Woodland and autumn weddings are currently underway; take advantage of seasonally-themed gift ideas, guest attire, as well as any final details that last-minute buyers may still need to purchase. Coinciding with our Halloween promotions, unconventional approaches to pulling off a creative event will have their time to shine. Don’t forget to stay a step ahead for brides currently planning and shopping for 2012 winter and spring weddings.

THE HOLIDAYS: Now is the time to list your full, holiday-focused line. Emphasis should be placed upon gift ideas, decor, and options for entertaining. Shoppers are already planning and searching for holiday-themed gifts: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Now is also the time to get ahead of the game by listing your 2012 calendars.

BOSS DAY: From the sophisticated to funny, there is a wide range of products that would make ideal gifts for the boss (and also work as gift ideas for coworkers throughout the holiday season).

BIRTHDAYS: October is the month to give Opals. And don’t forget the autumnal astrological signs are Libra and Scorpio (September 24 – October 23: Libra, October 24 – November 22: Scorpio).

OCTOBER TRENDS:

HALLOWEEN: Celebrity references, film and pop culture reinventions, clever costuming plays on words, pet costumes, baby costumes, group options, last-minute ideas, vampire themes, folk and vintage decor, photobooth props, and the classic color combinations (orange, black, yellow, white, red, green, purple).
Wizardry, magic, owls, and mysticism with the release of the final chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

VAMPIRES: They’re back on the radar with shows like HBO’s True Blood and November’s premiere of Twilight: Breaking Dawn.

PERSONALIZATION: Gift ideas with monograms, initials, text, numbers, zodiac, constellations, portraits, custom labels, stamps, fingerprints and family trees.

SPORTS: Football, baseball, and horse racing (in Australia) are in focus this month.

WEDDINGS: Handmade and vintage variations on the wedding dress, engagement rings, creative invitations, save the dates, and signage are on the rise.

FASHION: Fall and winter accessories, vintage boots, patterned leggings. Sheer layers, lace sleeves, brocade, trenches, tailored jackets and blazers. Bright solids paired with black, platform pumps, cocktail rings, tribal and native references.

COLORS: Pantone’s color trend report for fall 2o11 includes quarry, cedar, and teal greens, nougat and coffee browns, orchid and phlox purples, bamboo mustard yellow, honeysuckle pink, and ember-glow coral. We’re also noticing interest in scarlet, golds, pale hues of gray, pink, and lilac, classic neutrals and nudes, rustic fall colors, jade greens and mustards.

GARDEN PRESERVATION: Canning, jams, preserves, and stocks.

CULINARY TRENDS: DIY culinary kits are on the rise. Classic cocktails, home brewing, beer and wine accessories, herb infusions and kits, garden to table.

DESIGNER VINTAGE: Authentic fashion, collectibles, bikes, and auto accessories.

LETTERS NUMBERS AND SYMBOLS: Large vintage signage letters, letterpress blocks, monogram housewares, and typewriter keys.

NATURAL HISTORY: Woodland forest themes and animals, namely birds, owls, squirrels, hedgehogs, chipmunks, bunnies, butterflies, feathers, nests, eggs, acorns, leaves, trees, branches, woodgrain, and natural colors.

Lockets, secret hiding places, skeleton keys, arrows, diamonds, paper cuts, silhouettes, fortune cookies, wishbones, constellations, fortune telling.

Large scale vintage and handmade paper maps, botanical and anatomy charts.

Upcycled lights, lamps, exposed bulbs, and chandeliers.

Creative gadget cases, docking stations and accessories.

Bike caddies, baskets, and creative accessories.

Shabby chic decor and accessories

Video game-inspired references

Writable chalkboard surfaces

Feather hair extensions

Wall and laptop decals

All things steampunk

Vintage cameras

Braided hair

Mermaids

Peacocks

If you make items that would fit well with the themes outlined, try stocking up and listing them in advance to take advantage of potential shipping deadlines and site features. Do you already have items in your shop that meld well? That’s great! Now it’s time to revisit those items to make sure your tags, titles and descriptions reflect keywords that shoppers might be looking for during this time of year. This is also a great opportunity to revamp your item photography with a new look. Check out some great how-to’s for item photography to get started.

For those of your who enjoy making Treasury lists, we’ll be looking to highlight lists that interpret these themes in a creative and cohesive ways throughout the site. Please tag your treasuries accordingly. Treasury Tagging tip: Labeling your treasuries with a single word, or a multiple word that is meant to be a multiple word, will help us find your lists. Tagging with multiple words that do not relate to one another might be detracting from your list from being found. For example, using a single tag for “skeleton key” will help you get found in tag searches for “skeleton key,” though using the tag field for “skeleton key nostalgic pink” would not be returned in tag results pages for “skeleton key.”

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:

October is Breast Cancer Awareness, international drum, and vegetarian awareness month.
October 1-3: National Day, China
October 2: Daylight Savings (Australia)
October 12 – November 5: Spring Racing Carnival (Australia)
October 3: German National Reunification Day
October 3: Oktoberfest winds down
October 7-8 Yom Kippur
October 10: Columbus Day
October 10: Thanksgiving Day, Canada
October 14: Winnie The Pooh published, 1926 (UK)
October 12-19: Sukkot, sundown
October 17: Boss’s Day
October 24: United Nations Day
October 26: Deepavali
October 30: Switch to wintertime (France)
October 31: Halloween
October 31: German reformation day

(Dates may differ from above!)

View solution in original post

Former_Member · ‎01-15-2013

Thing's to look out for this month! ♥

JANUARY!!!
The Etsy Merch Desk hasn't published a report for this month yet!!
However I grabbed last years report - The events are still the same.

January is known as: National Blood Donor Month, National Hobby Month, & Hot Tea Month.

Golden Globe Awards
Martin Luther King Day
Australian Open, the Grand Slam of Asia Pacific
Men’s fashion week (FW), Paris (2012)
Edgar Allan Poe’s birthday
National Hugging Day (UK)
Haute Couture FW, Paris (2012)
Chinese New Year (Dragon)
National Pie Day (UK)
Foundation Day (Brazil)
Robbie Burns Day (Scotland)
Australia Day
Republic Day (India)

Don't forget to 'tag' Acordingly <3

Former_Member · ‎01-15-2013

THANK you!!! This is appreciated <3

Former_Member · ‎01-15-2013

Very Welcome Langlea.

This is also a place to help each other brainstorm appropriate tag's!

So if you have an item and you are having trouble filling your 13 tag's, Share your listing here and we will brainstorm some more for you!

More Brain's are better then 1!! <3

Former_Member · ‎02-06-2013

Where do we find this info (esty Merch Desk)
Ugh Tags I'm terrible at that

Former_Member · ‎02-20-2013

***************FEBRUARY!!*************

February marks the transitional month between winter and the buds of spring.

February’s Trends:

Black History Month: Motivational quotations and inspired art.

Leap Year: Birthdays, celebrations.

Valentine’s Day: Red, pink, white, hearts, lockets, Cupids, arrows, love, anti-Valentines, cards, jewelry, lingerie, gift ideas for him and her, children’s outfits and accessories.

Super Bowl: Football, team colors, game day, commercials, and recipes.
Organization and Storage: Creative and innovative takes on solutions for getting organized.

Weddings: Vintage style and accents, photobooths and props, fingerprint guest books, DIY decorations, and creative takes on the little details from save the dates all the way to favors.

Gadget Accessories: Innovative gadget cases, docking stations, speakers, amplifiers and accessories, especially geared around the iPhone 4S, iPad and Kindle Fire.

Personalization: Gift ideas with monograms, initials, text, numbers, zodiac, constellations, portraits, custom labels, stamps, fingerprints and family trees.Wizardry, magic, owls, and mysticism with the DVD release of the final chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Cottage: Chic decor and accessories.

Home: Window curtains, drapes, shower curtains, bedding and hardware.

Fashion: Winter accessories, leggings, boots, embellished shoes and a look ahead to spring collections.

Culinary Trends: DIY culinary kits are on the rise. Classic cocktails, homebrewing, beer and wine accessories, herb infusions and kits, garden to table.

Designer Vintage: Authentic fashion, collectibles, bikes and auto accessories.

Letters, Numbers, and Symbols: Large vintage signage, letterpress blocks, monogram housewares and typewriter keys.

Natural History: Woodland forest themes and animals, namely birds, owls, squirrels, hedgehogs, chipmunks, bunnies, butterflies, feathers, nests, eggs, acorns, leaves, trees, branches, woodgrain, and natural colors.

Lockets, secret hiding places, skeleton keys, arrows, diamonds, paper cuts, silhouettes, fortune cookies, wishbones, constellations, fortune telling.

Large scale vintage and handmade paper maps, botanical and anatomy charts.

Upcycled lights, lamps, exposed bulbs, and chandeliers.

Vintage cameras, especially Polaroids with film.

Bike caddies, baskets, and creative accessories.

Video game-inspired references

Writable chalkboard surfaces

Wall and laptop decals

The little black dress

Mermaids

Peacocks

This is also a great opportunity to revamp your item photography with a new look. Check out some great how-to’s on item photography to get started. For those of your who enjoy making treasury lists, we’ll be looking to highlight lists that interpret these themes in a creative and cohesive way throughout the site. Please tag your treasuries accordingly.

Up n' coming EVENTS:

President’s Day
Mardi Gras
Brit Awards (UK)
Shrove Tuesday (UK)
Annual Academy Awards (Oscars)
Ready-to-Wear Fashion Week, Paris

Former_Member · ‎02-20-2013

****************MARCH!!*****************

March brings an official change in season and a new frame of mind.

Our central merchandising themes this month focus on spring, fashion, weddings, and Easter. This emphasizes the seasonality of the Northern Hemisphere, but it’s important to remember that it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Maintaining seasonally appropriate options year-round is good practice for boosting international and overall sales.

Spring: With the official start to the season later this month, think in terms of bright spring colors, fashion, spring cleaning, outdoor activities, seasonal holidays and spring breaks.

Gardening: It’s spring planting time. Consider indoor, outdoor and urban gardens, tools, containers, vertical solutions, heirloom seeds and composting.

St. Patrick’s Day: Classic symbols of this holiday include parties and celebrations, the color green, shamrocks, Irish references and beer.

Mothering Sunday: The U.K. equivalent of the U.S.’s Mother’s Day. Consider offering gift ideas for moms to account for both dates of this holiday.

Easter: With Easter Sunday falling in early April, March is the ideal time to list your full line of Easter offerings for holiday shoppers. Think in terms of decor, clothing, accessories, and all the fillings for easter baskets. Classic symbols of this holiday include rabbits, baskets, eggs, sweets, small toys, lambs, chicks, pastel colors, crosses and light, bright formalwear.

Fashion: With Paris fashion week underway, all eyes are on new lines. Consider introducing your newest collections of clothing, accessories, jewelry and fashion related lines now. While labels are introducing fall lines, spring clothing and accessories are key for shoppers. Take advantage of spring break and vacation season by offering your lines of swim, beach and resort-wear now. (Tagging Tip: Try adding the term “fashion” to appropriate items to reach a broader shopping audience.)

Weddings: Wedding season is in full swing; determine how your line of goods could expand into wedding offerings and tag accordingly if appropriate.

Seasonal Escapes: Offerings for seasonal destinations: spring breaks, resorts, beaches, cruises, and ski excursions, along with appropriate luggage, travel gear, fashion, and gadgets.

Birthdays: March’s Birthstone is aquamarine and star signs include Pisces and Aries (February 20 – March 20: Pisces, March 21 – April 20: Aries).

MARCH TRENDS:

April Fools: Gag gifts and practical jokes abound.

Gardening: Planters, vertical solutions, tools, garden markers, heirloom seed varieties, compost bins, terrariums, bird and bee houses.

Sports: Time for both college basketball and baseball spring training. Think in terms of teams, colors, brackets, predictions and wagers.

Vintage Fashion and Decor: Expect to see inspired vintage collections trending once again.

Weddings: Vintage, retro and rockabilly references, photobooths and props, fan programs, Mad Libs, personalized wine labels, fingerprint guest books, DIY decorations, and creative takes on the little details from save the dates all the way to favors.

Organization and Storage: Spring cleaning! Fresh solutions for getting organized.

Gadget Accessories: Innovative gadget cases, docking stations, speakers, amplifiers and accessories, especially geared around the iPhone 4S, iPad and Kindle Fire.

Personalization: Gift ideas with monograms, initials, text, numbers, zodiac, constellations, portraits, custom labels, stamps, fingerprints and family trees.

Cottage: Chic decor and accessories.

Home: Window curtains, drapes, shower curtains, bedding and hardware.

Fashion: Spring basics and accessories, lighter layers, leggings, and bright colors.

Wizardry, magic, owls, and mysticism

Culinary Trends: DIY culinary kits are on the rise. Classic cocktails, homebrewing, beer and wine accessories, herb infusions and kits, garden to table.

Designer Vintage: Authentic fashion, collectibles, bikes and auto accessories.

Letters, Numbers, and Symbols: Large vintage signage, letterpress blocks, monogram housewares and typewriter keys.

Natural History: Woodland forest themes and animals, birds, owls, squirrels, hedgehogs, chipmunks, bunnies, butterflies, feathers, nests, eggs, acorns, leaves, trees, branches, woodgrain, and natural colors.

Lockets, secret hiding places, skeleton keys, arrows, diamonds, paper cuts, silhouettes, fortune cookies, wishbones, constellations, fortune telling.

Large scale vintage and handmade paper maps, botanical and anatomy charts.

Upcycled lights, lamps, exposed bulbs, and chandeliers.

Vintage cameras, especially Polaroids with film.

Bike caddies, baskets, and creative accessories.

Video game-inspired references

Writable chalkboard surfaces

Wall and laptop decals

The little black dress

Mermaids

Peacocks

UPCOMING EVENTS:

March is known as: National Craft Month, National Poetry Month, and was named for the Roman god, Mars. March is also Prostate Cancer Awareness month in the UK.

Ready to Wear FW, Paris
St. David’s Day (United Kingdom)
Official start of Autumn (Australia)
Ethical Fashion Show (Paris)
International Womens’ Day
Labor Day (Victoria)
Plant a Flower Day
College spring break
Daylight Savings
Pi Day
National Quilting Day
Patrick’s Day
Mothering Sunday (UK)
Spring equinox
Human Rights Day (South Africa)
World Poetry Day
British Summertime Begins
Earth Hour

<3

Former_Member · ‎04-23-2013

***********************APRIL*********************

THEMES TO PLAN FOR:

Our central merchandising themes this month focus on spring, fashion, weddings, and Mother’s Day. This emphasizes the seasonality of the Northern Hemisphere, but it’s important to remember that it is fall in the Southern Hemisphere. Maintaining seasonally appropriate options year-round is good practice for boosting international and overall sales.

EASTER: With Easter Sunday falling in early April, now is the time to state any expedited shipping and local delivery/pickup options clearly within your item descriptions to take advantage of last-minute sales.

SPRING: Bright spring colors, fashion, spring cleaning, outdoor activities, seasonal holidays and spring breaks.

EARTH DAY: Falling on the 22nd this month, Earth Day celebrates the environment and all the things we can do to be kind to the earth. Think in terms of reclaiming, recycling, upcycling, eco and environmentally friendly solutions, planting, conservation and energy savers.

GARDENING: It’s spring planting time. Consider indoor, outdoor and urban gardens, tools, aprons and gloves, plant markers and signs, containers, vertical solutions, heirloom seeds and composting.

FASHION: Spring looks that can transition into summer — think light layers and bright accessories. Take advantage of spring break and vacation season by offering your lines of swim, beach and resort wear now. Tagging TIP: Try adding the term “fashion” to appropriate items to reach a broader shopping audience.

WEDDINGS: Wedding season is in full swing; determine how your line of goods could expand into wedding offerings and tag accordingly if appropriate.

PROM, PARTIES and GLAM: Party-style dresses, vintage frocks, and the glamourous accessories to complete the perfect look. Also trending: makeup, false eyelashes, nail polish and stickers, and hair pins.

MOTHER'S DAY: April signifies the start to Mother’s Day shopping. Think in terms of gift ideas incorporating personalization. Other popular gift categories include cards, vases, bath and spa sets, jewelry, fashion accessories, smartphone accessories, edible gift sets and creative takes on family portraits.

INTRO TO GRADUATION: College and university graduations take place in early to mid-May while high school ceremonies usually take place in early to mid-June. Think in terms of keepsake gifts, personalization, milestone achievements, and innovative ways to present cash gifts. Don’t forget about those end of the year gift ideas for teachers, too.

SEASONAL ESCAPES: Offerings for seasonal destinations: spring breaks, resorts, beaches, cruises, and ski excursions, along with appropriate luggage, travel gear, fashion, and gadgets.

BIRTHIDAYS: April’s birthstone is diamond; star signs include Aries and Taurus (March 21 – April 20: Aries, April 21 – May 20: Taurus).

APRILS TRENDS:

GARDENING: Planters, vertical solutions, tools, garden markers, heirloom seed varieties, compost bins, terrariums, bird and bee houses.

GADGET ACCESSORIES: Innovative gadget cases, docking stations, speakers, amplifiers and accessories, especially geared around the iPhone 4S, iPad and Kindle Fire.

REFERENCES to Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Mad Men & Alice in Wonderland — all trending in pop culture. Think in terms of symbols like arrows, birds, wizardry, magic, enchanted forests, rabbits, whimsy and mid century modern fashion and decor.

VINTAGE FASHION and DECOR: With the return of Mad Men‘s season 5, expect to see inspired vintage collections trending once again.

WEDDINGS: Engagement rings, both handcrafted and antique. Vintage, retro and rockabilly references, photobooths and props, fan programs, Mad Libs, personalized wine labels, fingerprint guest books, DIY decorations, and creative takes on the little details from save the dates all the way to favors.

NAILS: lacquers, polishes and stickers.

INFINITY STYLES: Rings, scarves, bracelets & necklaces.

SPORTS: Time for baseball season, hockey playoffs and golf: The Masters! Think in terms of teams, colors, and sportsmanship.

ORGANIZATION & STORAGE: Spring cleaning! Fresh solutions for getting organized.

PERSONALIZATION: Gift ideas with monograms, initials, text, numbers, zodiac, constellations, portraits, custom labels, stamps, fingerprints and family trees.

COTTAGE: Chic decor and accessories.

HOME: Window curtains, drapes, shower curtains, bedding and hardware.

FASHION: Spring basics and accessories, lighter layers, leggings, and bright colors.

CULINARY TRENDS: DIY culinary kits are on the rise. Classic cocktails, homebrewing, beer and wine accessories, herb infusions and kits, garden to table.

DESIGNER VINTAGE: Authentic fashion, collectibles, bikes and auto accessories.

LETTERS, NUMBER, and SYMBOLS: Large vintage signage, letterpress blocks, monogram housewares and typewriter keys.

NATURAL HISTORY: Woodland forest themes and animals, birds, owls, squirrels, hedgehogs, chipmunks, bunnies, butterflies, feathers, nests, eggs, acorns, leaves, trees, branches, woodgrain, and natural colors.

Lockets, secret hiding places, skeleton keys, arrows, diamonds, paper cuts, silhouettes, fortune cookies, wishbones, constellations, fortune telling.

Large scale vintage and handmade paper maps, botanical and anatomy charts.

Upcycled lights, lamps, exposed bulbs, and chandeliers.

Vintage cameras, especially Polaroids with film.

Bike caddies, baskets, and creative accessories.

Embellished, painted & customizable shoes.

Video game-inspired references

Writable chalkboard surfaces

Designed Fabric Yardage

Wall and laptop decals

The little black dress

Mermaids

Ear cuffs

If you make items that fit well with the themes outlined, try stocking up and listing them in advance to take advantage of potential shipping deadlines and site features. Do you already have items in your shop that match? That’s great! Revisit those items to make sure your tags, titles and descriptions reflect keywords that shoppers might be looking for during this time of year. This is also a great opportunity to revamp your item photography. Check out some great how-to’s on item photography to get started. For those who enjoy making treasury lists, we’ll be looking to highlight lists that interpret these themes in a creative and cohesive ways. Please tag your treasuries accordingly.

Upcoming EVENTS:

April is known as: International Guitar Month and National Poetry Month (U.K.)
April 1: April Fools
April 2: Children’s Book Day
April 5-8: Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta
April 4: Ching Ming Festival (Hong Kong)
April 6 – 14: Passover
April 6: Good Friday
April 8: Easter Sunday
April 11-15: Pictoplasma Festival, Berlin.
April 12 – 14: Grand National (U.K.)
April 17: Tax Deadline
April 22: Earth Day
April 23: St George’s Day
April 25: Anzac Day (Australia)
April 27: Freedom Day (South Africa)
April 27: Arbor Day
April 30: Queen’s Day (Netherlands)
April 30 – May 4: 2012 Australian Fashion Week

(Dates may differ from the above!)

<3

Former_Member · ‎04-23-2013

*****************MAY*********************

THEMES TO PLAN FOR:
Our central merchandising themes this month focus on spring, fashion, weddings, and a look ahead to summer festivites. This emphasizes the seasonality of the Northern Hemisphere, but it’s important to remember that it is fall in the Southern Hemisphere. Maintaining seasonally appropriate options year-round is good practice for boosting international and overall sales.

MOTHER'S DAY: Extend the shopping season for your Mother’s Day offerings by offering clearly marked expedited shipping and local pickup options for your line of goods.

FATHER'S DAY: With little under a month until Father’s Day (and Germany’s Father’s Day falling on May 17), now is the time to list your full line of offerings to commemorate dad. Think in terms of classic gifts, new dads, and don’t forget about gifts for granddad. Popular gift categories include gadgets, phone cases, docking stations, sports gear and accessories, fashion accessories for men, cards, and ways to let dad sit back and relax.

GRADUATIONS: College and university graduations take place in early to mid-May while high school ceremonies usually take place in early to mid-June. Think in terms of keepsake gifts, personalization, milestone achievements, and innovative ways to present cash gifts. Don’t forget about those end of the year gift ideas for teachers, too.

FASHION: Spring looks that can transition into summer — think light layers and bright accessories. Take advantage of spring break and vacation season by offering your lines of swim, beach and resort wear now. Tagging TIP: Try adding the term “fashion” to appropriate items to reach a broader shopping audience.

WEDDING'S: Wedding season is in full swing; determine how your line of goods could expand into wedding offerings and tag accordingly if appropriate to show up in Etsy’s newly launched Weddings experience.

SPRING: Bright spring colors, fashion, spring cleaning, outdoor activities, seasonal holidays and a look ahead to summer.

GARDENING: It’s spring planting time. Consider indoor, outdoor and urban gardens, tools, aprons and gloves, plant markers and signs, containers, vertical solutions, heirloom seeds and composting.

PROM, PARTIES and GLAM: Party-style dresses, vintage frocks, and the glamourous accessories to complete the perfect look. Also trending: makeup, false eyelashes, nail polish and stickers, and hair pins.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: Long weekends and summer holidays — think in terms of outdoor activities, festive colors, party decor, and cooking outside.

BIRTHDAY'S: May’s birthstone is emerald; star signs include Taurus and Gemini (April 21 — May 20: Taurus, May 21 — June 21: Gemini).

MAY TRENDS:

THE WORLD IN SPORT'S: Equestrian, bright colors, fascinators and horse racing themes back in the spotlight with the Kentucky Derby and tennis gear; fashion and matches with the French Open.

GARDENING: Planters, vertical solutions, tools, garden markers, heirloom seed varieties, compost bins, terrariums, bird and bee houses.

GADGET ACCESSORIES: Innovative gadget cases, docking stations, speakers, amplifiers and accessories, especially geared around the iPhone 4S, iPad and Kindle Fire.

REFERENCES to Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Mad Men & Alice in Wonderland — all trending in pop culture. Think in terms of symbols like arrows, birds, wizardry, magic, enchanted forests, rabbits, whimsy and mid-century modern fashion and decor.

VINTAGE FASHION and DECOR: With the return of Mad Men‘s season 5, expect to see inspired vintage collections trending once again.

WEDDINGS: Engagement rings, both handcrafted and antique. Vintage, retro and rockabilly references, photobooths and props, fan programs, Mad Libs, personalized wine labels, fingerprint guest books, DIY decorations, and creative takes on the little details from save the dates all the way to favors.

NAILS: lacquers, polishes and stickers.

INFINITY STYLES: Rings, scarves, bracelets & necklaces.

ORGANIZATION & STORAGE: Spring cleaning! Fresh solutions for getting organized.

PERSONALIZED: Gift ideas with monograms, initials, text, numbers, zodiac, constellations, portraits, custom labels, stamps, fingerprints and family trees.

COTTAGE: Chic decor and accessories.

HOME: Window curtains, drapes, shower curtains, bedding and hardware.

FASHION: Spring basics and accessories, lighter layers, leggings, and bright colors. Summer dresses on the radar.

CULINARY TREND'S: DIY culinary kits are on the rise. Classic cocktails, homebrewing, beer and wine accessories, herb infusions and kits, garden to table.

DESIGNER VINTAGE: Authentic fashion, collectibles, bikes and auto accessories. Letters, Numbers, and Symbols: Large vintage signage, letterpress blocks, monogram housewares and typewriter keys.

NATURAL HISTORY: Woodland forest themes and animals, birds, owls, squirrels, hedgehogs, chipmunks, bunnies, butterflies, feathers, nests, eggs, acorns, leaves, trees, branches, woodgrain, and natural colors.

Lockets, secret hiding places, skeleton keys, arrows, diamonds, paper cuts, silhouettes, fortune cookies, wishbones, constellations, fortune telling.

Large scale vintage and handmade paper maps, botanical and anatomy charts.

Upcycled lights, lamps, exposed bulbs, and chandeliers.

Vintage cameras, especially Polaroids with film.

Bike caddies, baskets, and creative accessories.

Embellished, painted & customizable shoes.

Video game-inspired references

Writable chalkboard surfaces

Designed Fabric Yardage

Wall and laptop decals

Cannes Film Festival

The little black dress

Mermaids

Macarons

Ear cuffs

If you make items that fit well with the themes outlined, try stocking up and listing them in advance to take advantage of potential shipping deadlines and site features. Do you already have items in your shop that match? That’s great! Revisit those items to make sure your tags, titles and descriptions reflect keywords that shoppers might be looking for during this time of year. This is also a great opportunity to revamp your item photography. Check out some great how-to’s on item photography to get started. For those who enjoy making treasury lists, we’ll be looking to highlight lists that interpret these themes in a creative and cohesive ways. Please tag your treasuries accordingly.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

May is known as: National Barbecue, Photograph, and Bike Month. National Book Month and Postcard Week is during May in UK.
May 1 May Day
May 1 Fete du Travail, Labor Day
May 5 Cinco de Mayo
May 5 Kentucky Derby
May 7 May Day (Bank holiday) (UK)
May 8 National Teachers Day
May 10 VE Day
May 13 Mother’s Day
May 16-27 Cannes Film Festival
May 17 Father’s Day (Germany)
May 18 International Museum Day
May 18 National Bike to Work Day
May 21 Victoria Day (Canada)
May 26 – 28 Shavuot
May 27 – June 10 French Open
May 28 Whit Monday
May 28 Memorial Day
May 31 National Macaron Day

(Dates may differ from the above!)

<3

FlowerMoundEscape · ‎06-12-2013

I am horrible at tags. This is SO helpful! Thank you

Former_Member · ‎06-12-2013

omg - IT is JUNE ALREADY!!! Thanks for knocking me into reality Melinda!!

***********************JUNE**************************

THEMES TO PLAN FOR:

Our central merchandising themes this month focus on Father’s Day, graduations, summer, fashion, weddings, and a look ahead to summer festivities. This emphasizes the seasonality of the Northern Hemisphere, but it’s important to remember that winter is approaching in the Southern Hemisphere. Maintaining seasonally appropriate options year-round is good practice for boosting international and overall sales.

FATHERS DAY: To account for shipping deadlines, make sure your line of Father’s Day items take expedited and local options into account. Think in terms of classic gifts, new dads, and don’t forget about gifts for granddad. Popular gift categories include gadgets, phone cases, docking stations, sports gear and accessories, fashion accessories for men, cards, and ways to let dad sit back and relax.

GRADUATIONS: Mid-June wraps up the typical season for graduations, especially of the high school variety. Think in terms of keepsake gifts, personalization, milestone achievements, college preparation, and innovative ways to present monetary gifts. Don’t forget about those end-of-the-year gift ideas for teachers, too.

FASHION: Summer styles are the main focus. Think in terms of lightweight fabrics, sleeveless and open toe designs. Take into account swim, beachwear and accessories. Take advantage of summer dress styles fit for wedding, party, and graduation season. Tagging Tip: Try adding the term “fashion” to appropriate items to reach a broader shopping audience.

WEDDINGS: Wedding season is in full swing; determine how your line of goods could expand into wedding offerings and tag accordingly (if appropriate) to show up in Etsy’s newly launched Weddings experience.
Summer: June marks the official start to summer. Think in terms of bright summer colors, fashion, grilling, camping, picnics, markets, festivals, outdoor activities and sports, seasonal holidays and long weekends.

GARDENING: Consider indoor, outdoor and urban gardens, tools, aprons and gloves, plant markers and signs, containers, vertical solutions, heirloom seeds and composting. With summer’s bounty coming into harvest, also think in terms of canning, food preservation, recipes, and culinary kits.

BIRTHDAYS: June’s birthstone is pearl; star signs include Gemini and Cancer (May 21 — June 21: Gemini, June 22 — July 22: Cancer).

JUNES TRENDS:

FATHERS DAY: Gift ideas and personalized options specifically for dads.
Graduations: Announcements, invitations, party decor and gift ideas.
The World in Sports: Biking and tennis come back into focus with the impending Tour de France and Wimbledon Tennis Championship; also trending are this summer’s upcoming Olympic Games, scheduled to kick off in late July.

GARDENING Planters, vertical solutions, tools, garden markers, heirloom seed varieties, compost bins, terrariums, bird and bee houses, chicken coops and egg baskets.

HOT COLOURS: peach, mint green, neon and nude combos.
Gadget Accessories: Innovative gadget cases, docking stations, speakers, amplifiers and accessories, especially geared around the iPhone 4S, iPad and Kindle Fire.

NAILS: Lacquers, polishes, art and stickers.

FASHION: Summer dresses (especially maxi dresses), sheer and crochet panels, neon hues, open toe shoes, retro inspired swimwear.

REFERENCES to Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Mad Men & Alice in Wonderland — all trending in pop culture. Think in terms of symbols like arrows, birds, wizardry, magic, enchanted forests, rabbits, whimsy and mid-century modern fashion and decor.

VINTAGE FASHION AND DECOR: With the return of Mad Men’s season 5, expect to see inspired vintage collections trending once again.

WEDDINGS: Engagement rings, both handcrafted and antique. Vintage, retro and rockabilly references, photobooths and props, fan programs, Mad Libs, personalized wine labels, fingerprint guest books, DIY decorations, and creative takes on the little details from save the dates all the way to favors.

INFINITY STYLES: Rings, scarves, bracelets & necklaces.
Organization and Storage: Spring cleaning! Fresh solutions for getting organized.

PERSONALIZATION: Gift ideas with monograms, initials, text, numbers, zodiac, constellations, portraits, custom labels, stamps, fingerprints and family trees.

HOME: Outdoor living and furniture, fireplaces and pits, outdoor kitchens, string lights and lanterns, window curtains, drapes, shower curtains, bedding and hardware.

CULINARY TRENDS: Food preservation and canning. DIY culinary kits are on the rise. Classic cocktails, homebrewing, beer and wine accessories, herb infusions and kits, garden to table.

DESIGNER VINTAGE: Authentic fashion, collectibles, bikes and auto accessories.

LETTERS, NUMBERS & SYMBOLS: Large vintage signage, letterpress blocks, monogram housewares and typewriter keys.

GALAXY: Stars, space, and constellation motifs.
Native: Tribal and native inspirations. Bohemian, feathers, and tribal-inspired geometric patterns.

TRIBAL GEOMETRY: Tribal meets bright, bold colors and graphic geometrics.

NATURALHISTORY : Woodland forest themes and animals, birds, owls, squirrels, hedgehogs, chipmunks, bunnies, butterflies, feathers, nests, eggs, acorns, leaves, trees, branches, woodgrain, and natural colors.

Lockets, secret hiding places, skeleton keys, arrows, diamonds, paper cuts, silhouettes, fortune cookies, wishbones, constellations, fortune telling.

Large scale vintage and handmade paper maps, botanical and anatomy charts.

Upcycled lights, lamps, exposed bulbs, and chandeliers.

The Queen and her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Vintage cameras, especially Polaroids with film.

Bike caddies, baskets, and creative accessories.

Embellished, painted & customizable shoes.

Cottage Style: Chic decor and accessories.

Video game-inspired references

Writable chalkboard surfaces

Embellished faux eyelashes

Designed Fabric Yardage

Wall and laptop decals

The little black dress

Mermaids

Ear cuffs

If you make items that fit well with the themes outlined, try stocking up and listing them in advance to take advantage of potential shipping deadlines and site features. Do you already have items in your shop that match? That’s great! Revisit those items to make sure your tags, titles and descriptions reflect keywords that shoppers might be looking for during this time of year. This is also a great opportunity to revamp your item photography. Check out some great how-to’s on item photography to get started. For those who enjoy making treasury lists, we’ll be looking to highlight lists that interpret these themes in a creative and cohesive ways. Please tag your treasuries accordingly.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

June is known as: LGBT Pride, candy, rose and dairy month
June 1 Official start of Australian Winter
June 2 – 5 Celebratory weekend of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee
June 3 Mother’s Day (France)
June 7 Feast of Corpus Christi
June 8 – July 1 Euro Soccer Cup
June 9 Belmont Stakes Horse Race
June 12 Philippines Independence Day
June 13 Sewing Machine Day
June 16 Lailat al-Miraj
June 17 Father’s Day
June 18 Etsy’s Birthday
June 20 Summer Solstice
June 21 Fête de la musique (France)
June 23 Dragon Boat Festival
June 24 LGBT Pride Day
June 25 St. Jean Baptiste Day
June 25 – July 8 Wimbledon Tennis Championship
June 27 – July 1 Men’s Fashion Week, Paris
June 30 1st Harry Potter book published 1997 (UK)
June 30 – July 22 Tour de France

(Dates may differ from the above!)

<3

Former_Member · ‎06-12-2013

And to stay ahead of the game here is:

*******************JULY***********************

THEMES TO PLAN FOR:
Our central merchandising themes this month focus on back to school, summer, fashion, weddings, and a look ahead to fall festivities. This emphasizes the seasonality of the Northern Hemisphere, but it’s important to remember that it’s wintertime in the Southern Hemisphere. Maintaining seasonally appropriate options year-round is good practice for boosting international and overall sales.

PATRIOTIC CELEBRATIONS: Canada Day, The Fourth of July and Bastille Day are all celebrated this month. Patriotic colors, folk art, party decor, summer activities, festive outfits and firework displays are popular items coinciding with these holidays.

BACK TO SCHOOL: Emphasis on college planning, dorm decor, small space solutions, gadget cases and accessories, clothing, school supplies, organization and the home office.

SUMMER OLYMPICS: Summer sports, athletics, athletes and London will come into focus as the Olympic games kick off in late July.

FASHION: New collections come into play with Fashion Weeks in Paris and Berlin. In general, summer styles are still relevant with a nod to “back to school” fashions underway. Think in terms of lightweight fabrics, sleeveless and open toe designs. Take into account swim, beachwear and accessories.

WEDDINGS: Wedding season is in full swing; determine how your line of goods could expand into wedding offerings and tag accordingly (if appropriate) to show up in Etsy’s Weddings experience.

SUMMER: Think in terms of bright summer colors, fashion, outdoor entertaining, grilling, camping, swimming, picnics, markets, festivals, outdoor activities and sports, seasonal holidays and long weekends.

GARDENING: With summer’s bounty beginning to come into harvest, think in terms of canning, food preservation, recipes, and culinary kits. Indoor, vertical and container gardening supplies are on the rise.

HALLOWEEN: Shoppers begin planning and searching for Halloween gear as soon as July on Etsy. Get ahead of the game by listing your full line of Halloween decor, costumes and accessories this month.

BIRTHDAYS: July’s birthstone is ruby; star signs include Cancer and Leo (June 22 — July 22: Cancer, July 23 — August 23, Leo).

JULY'S TRENDS:

PATRIOTIC REFERENCES: Red, white and blue, Americana, primitives, folk art, flags and symbols.

THE WORLDS IN SPORTS: Biking and summer sports take the central spotlight as the Tour de France and Olympic Games take place in July.

GARDENING: Planters, vertical solutions, tools, garden markers, heirloom seed varieties, compost bins, terrariums, bird and bee houses, chicken coops and egg baskets.

HOT COLOURS: peach, mint green, neon and nude combos.
Gadget Accessories: Innovative gadget cases, docking stations, speakers, amplifiers and accessories, especially geared around the iPhone 4S, iPad and Kindle Fire.

NAILS: Lacquers, polishes, art and stickers.

FASHIONS: Summer dresses (especially maxi dresses), sheer and crochet panels, neon hues, open toe shoes, retro inspired swimwear.

REFERENCES to Harry Potter, Brave, Alice in Wonderland — all trending in pop culture. Think in terms of symbols like arrows, birds, wizardry, magic, enchanted forests, rabbits, and whimsy.

WEDDINGS: Engagement rings, both handcrafted and antique. Vintage, retro and rockabilly references, photobooths and props, fan programs, Mad Libs, personalized wine labels, fingerprint guest books, DIY decorations, and creative takes on the little details from save the dates all the way to favors.

INFINITY STYLE: Rings, scarves, bracelets and necklaces.
Organization and Storage: Back to school! Fresh solutions for getting organized.

PERSONALIZATION: Gift ideas with monograms, initials, text, numbers, zodiac, constellations, portraits, custom labels, stamps, fingerprints and family trees.

HOME: Outdoor living and furniture, fireplaces and pits, outdoor kitchens, string lights and lanterns, window curtains, drapes, shower curtains, bedding and hardware.

CULINARY TRENDS: Food preservation and canning. DIY culinary kits are on the rise. Classic cocktails, homebrewing, beer and wine accessories, herb infusions and kits, garden to table.

DESIGNER VINTAGE: Authentic fashion, collectibles, bikes and auto accessories.

LETTERS, NUMBERS & SYMBOLS: Large vintage signage, letterpress blocks, monogram housewares and typewriter keys.

GALAXY: Stars, space, and constellation motifs.

NATIVE: Tribal and native inspirations. Bohemian, feathers, and tribal-inspired geometric patterns.

TRIBAL GEOMETRY: Tribal meets bright, bold colors and graphic geometrics.

NATURAL HISTORY: Woodland forest themes and animals, birds, owls, squirrels, hedgehogs, chipmunks, bunnies, butterflies, feathers, nests, eggs, acorns, leaves, trees, branches, woodgrain, and natural colors.

Lockets, secret hiding places, skeleton keys, arrows, diamonds, paper cuts, silhouettes, fortune cookies, wishbones, constellations, fortune telling.

Large-scale vintage and handmade paper maps, botanical and anatomy charts.

Upcycled lights, lamps, exposed bulbs, and chandeliers.

Vintage cameras, especially Polaroids with film.

Bike caddies, baskets, and creative accessories.

Embellished, painted and customizable shoes.

Cottage Style: Chic decor and accessories.

Video game-inspired references.

Writable chalkboard surfaces.

Embellished faux eyelashes.

Designed fabric yardage.

Wall and laptop decals.

The little black dress.

Mermaids.

Ear cuffs.

If you make items that fit well with the themes outlined, try stocking up and listing them in advance to take advantage of potential shipping deadlines and site features. Do you already have items in your shop that match? That’s great! Revisit those items to make sure your tags, titles and descriptions reflect keywords that shoppers might be looking for during this time of year. This is also a great opportunity to revamp your item photography. Check out some great how-to’s on item photography to get started. For those who enjoy making treasury lists, we’ll be looking to highlight lists that interpret these themes in a creative and cohesive ways. Please tag your treasuries accordingly.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:

July is known as national hot dog month and national ice cream month
June 27 – July 1 Men’s Fashion Week, Paris
June 30 – July 22: Tour de France
June 2 – July 5 Haute Couture Fashion Week, Paris
July 1 – Canada Day
July 4 Independence Day
July 4: Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island
July 12 – 22 Community Christmas in July Sale
July 13 – Embrace your Geekness Day
July 14 – Bastille Day
July 16 – Marine Day (Japan)
July 20 – August 18 Ramadan
July 27 – August 12 2012 Summer Olympics (in London, UK)
June 27 – July 31 National summer sales (France)
July 29 – August 4 Shark Week

(Dates may differ from the above!)

<3

OneOfaKindHardToFind · ‎06-12-2013

You just overwhelmed me! ;)

Former_Member · ‎06-12-2013

;) I hope it was a GOOD kind of Overwhelmed!

Former_Member · ‎06-12-2013

Great information... thanks, :D

Former_Member · ‎06-12-2013

Welcome everyone! - If I am unable to update - you can find this month by month info on the Etsy Blog's Just type it into the search bar. :) <3

Former_Member · ‎06-13-2013

Awesome tips and information as always! I suppose it is time to start looking toward fall colors now. I am drawn to the Christmas in july idea. I think it may be time for a push!

Former_Member · ‎06-20-2013

Wonderful Point Cindy - It is TIME TO PUSH FOR CHRISTMAS IN JULY!! ;) <3

Former_Member · ‎10-06-2013

Thank you so much! This is very helpful!

Former_Member · ‎10-19-2013

**************OCTOBER********************
Our central merchandising will focus on autumn, Halloween, and preparing for the holidays. While emphasis will be placed upon the seasonality of the Northern Hemisphere, it’s important to remember that the Southern Hemisphere is preparing for summer. Maintaining seasonally appropriate options year-round is good practice for boosting international and overall sales.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: An annual international health campaign to help raise awareness. The color pink and ribbon symbol embody the universal themes surrounding this cause.

HALLOWEEN: Halloween searches are in their prime right now. Make sure to take advantage of the next three weeks of seasonal shopping by tagging
your Halloween products appropriately and offering extended shipping options — think last minute Halloween costumes and treat ideas.

AUTUMN: Home decor, entertaining, woodland motifs and nature’s symbols. Harvest themes encompass fall planting, preserving the summer garden’s bounty, rustic farm references and fall foods. Tagging tip: “Autumn” is a more global seasonal association than the American-based “fall” term; try including both as descriptive words.

THANKSGIVING: October is Thanksgiving in Canada and when Americans begin planning for November festivities. Classic Thanksgiving symbols include the turkey, cornucopia, Pilgrims and Native Americans, seasonal food, and fall foliage. Hostess gifts, table settings, and hearty treats are all items shoppers will be looking for.

FALL FASHION: Shift in materials, colors, and layers in the categories of clothing, accessories, and jewelry. More specifically, key basics, layering elements, the introduction of winter accessories and outerwear components, thick fabrics and rich leathers, autumnal tones, vintage boots and heavy-weight all-weather bags. Tagging tip: Try adding the term “fashion” to your appropriate items to reach a broader shopping audience.

WEDDINGS: Woodland and autumn weddings are currently underway; take advantage of seasonally-themed gift ideas, guest attire, as well as any final details that last-minute buyers may still need to purchase. Coinciding with our Halloween promotions, unconventional approaches to pulling off a creative event will have their time to shine. Don’t forget to stay a step ahead for brides currently planning and shopping for 2012 winter and spring weddings.

THE HOLIDAYS: Now is the time to list your full, holiday-focused line. Emphasis should be placed upon gift ideas, decor, and options for entertaining. Shoppers are already planning and searching for holiday-themed gifts: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Now is also the time to get ahead of the game by listing your 2012 calendars.

BOSS DAY: From the sophisticated to funny, there is a wide range of products that would make ideal gifts for the boss (and also work as gift ideas for coworkers throughout the holiday season).

BIRTHDAYS: October is the month to give Opals. And don’t forget the autumnal astrological signs are Libra and Scorpio (September 24 – October 23: Libra, October 24 – November 22: Scorpio).

OCTOBER TRENDS:

HALLOWEEN: Celebrity references, film and pop culture reinventions, clever costuming plays on words, pet costumes, baby costumes, group options, last-minute ideas, vampire themes, folk and vintage decor, photobooth props, and the classic color combinations (orange, black, yellow, white, red, green, purple).
Wizardry, magic, owls, and mysticism with the release of the final chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

VAMPIRES: They’re back on the radar with shows like HBO’s True Blood and November’s premiere of Twilight: Breaking Dawn.

PERSONALIZATION: Gift ideas with monograms, initials, text, numbers, zodiac, constellations, portraits, custom labels, stamps, fingerprints and family trees.

SPORTS: Football, baseball, and horse racing (in Australia) are in focus this month.

WEDDINGS: Handmade and vintage variations on the wedding dress, engagement rings, creative invitations, save the dates, and signage are on the rise.

FASHION: Fall and winter accessories, vintage boots, patterned leggings. Sheer layers, lace sleeves, brocade, trenches, tailored jackets and blazers. Bright solids paired with black, platform pumps, cocktail rings, tribal and native references.

COLORS: Pantone’s color trend report for fall 2o11 includes quarry, cedar, and teal greens, nougat and coffee browns, orchid and phlox purples, bamboo mustard yellow, honeysuckle pink, and ember-glow coral. We’re also noticing interest in scarlet, golds, pale hues of gray, pink, and lilac, classic neutrals and nudes, rustic fall colors, jade greens and mustards.

GARDEN PRESERVATION: Canning, jams, preserves, and stocks.

CULINARY TRENDS: DIY culinary kits are on the rise. Classic cocktails, home brewing, beer and wine accessories, herb infusions and kits, garden to table.

DESIGNER VINTAGE: Authentic fashion, collectibles, bikes, and auto accessories.

LETTERS NUMBERS AND SYMBOLS: Large vintage signage letters, letterpress blocks, monogram housewares, and typewriter keys.

NATURAL HISTORY: Woodland forest themes and animals, namely birds, owls, squirrels, hedgehogs, chipmunks, bunnies, butterflies, feathers, nests, eggs, acorns, leaves, trees, branches, woodgrain, and natural colors.

Lockets, secret hiding places, skeleton keys, arrows, diamonds, paper cuts, silhouettes, fortune cookies, wishbones, constellations, fortune telling.

Large scale vintage and handmade paper maps, botanical and anatomy charts.

Upcycled lights, lamps, exposed bulbs, and chandeliers.

Creative gadget cases, docking stations and accessories.

Bike caddies, baskets, and creative accessories.

Shabby chic decor and accessories

Video game-inspired references

Writable chalkboard surfaces

Feather hair extensions

Wall and laptop decals

All things steampunk

Vintage cameras

Braided hair

Mermaids

Peacocks

If you make items that would fit well with the themes outlined, try stocking up and listing them in advance to take advantage of potential shipping deadlines and site features. Do you already have items in your shop that meld well? That’s great! Now it’s time to revisit those items to make sure your tags, titles and descriptions reflect keywords that shoppers might be looking for during this time of year. This is also a great opportunity to revamp your item photography with a new look. Check out some great how-to’s for item photography to get started.

For those of your who enjoy making Treasury lists, we’ll be looking to highlight lists that interpret these themes in a creative and cohesive ways throughout the site. Please tag your treasuries accordingly. Treasury Tagging tip: Labeling your treasuries with a single word, or a multiple word that is meant to be a multiple word, will help us find your lists. Tagging with multiple words that do not relate to one another might be detracting from your list from being found. For example, using a single tag for “skeleton key” will help you get found in tag searches for “skeleton key,” though using the tag field for “skeleton key nostalgic pink” would not be returned in tag results pages for “skeleton key.”

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:

October is Breast Cancer Awareness, international drum, and vegetarian awareness month.
October 1-3: National Day, China
October 2: Daylight Savings (Australia)
October 12 – November 5: Spring Racing Carnival (Australia)
October 3: German National Reunification Day
October 3: Oktoberfest winds down
October 7-8 Yom Kippur
October 10: Columbus Day
October 10: Thanksgiving Day, Canada
October 14: Winnie The Pooh published, 1926 (UK)
October 12-19: Sukkot, sundown
October 17: Boss’s Day
October 24: United Nations Day
October 26: Deepavali
October 30: Switch to wintertime (France)
October 31: Halloween
October 31: German reformation day

(Dates may differ from above!)

Former_Member · ‎10-19-2013

*********************NOVEMBER*******************

Our central merchandising themes will focus on autumn, winter, entertaining, and the holidays. While emphasis will be placed upon the seasonality of the Northern Hemisphere, it’s important to remember that the Southern Hemisphere is preparing for summer. Maintaining seasonally appropriate options year-round is good practice for boosting international and overall sales.

MOVEMBER: An annual month-long event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November. Charitable events are held to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues. Think moustaches!

ENTERTAINING: The season for holiday parties begins. Think invitations, hostessing, hostess gifts, table settings, accessories, food, cocktails, recipes, seasonal decor, lighting and favors.

HOLIDAYS: The holidays consist of two central themes — decor and gifting. Shoppers are already planning and searching for holiday-themed gifts: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Major gifting categories include price, recipient, and type of gift. Think in terms of the following groupings: under $25, under $50, under $75, statement gifts, women, men, teens, children, babies, coworkers, friends, the person who has it all, pets, personalization, eco-friendly, cards, calendars, gadgets, jewelry, fashion, one-of-a-kind, gag gifts, decor, DIY options, and parties & entertaining.

THANKSGIVING: Entertaining, family, food and football. Classic Thanksgiving symbols include the turkey, cornucopia, Pilgrims and Native Americans, seasonal food, and fall foliage. Hostess gifts, table settings, and hearty treats are all items shoppers will be looking for.

WINTER FASHION: Shift in materials, colors, and layers in the categories of clothing, accessories, and jewelry. More specifically, key basics, layering elements, the introduction of winter accessories and outerwear components, thick fabrics and rich leathers, autumnal tones, vintage boots and heavy-weight all-weather bags. Tagging Tip: Try adding the term “fashion” to appropriate items to reach a broader shopping audience.

AUTUMN & WINTER: Home decor, entertaining, food and recipes, seasonal activities, woodland motifs and nature’s symbols.

WEDDINGS: Late autumn and winter weddings are currently underway; take advantage of seasonally-themed gift ideas, guest attire, as well as any final details that last-minute buyers may still need to purchase. Don’t forget to stay a step ahead for brides currently planning and shopping for 2012 spring and summer weddings.

BIRTHDAYS: November’s birthstone is Citrine and astrological signs are Scorpio and Sagittarius (October 24 — November 22: Scorpio, November 23 — December 21: Sagittarius).

NOVEMBER TRENDS:

Wizardry, magic, owls, and mysticism with the DVD release of the final chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Vampires: They’re back on the radar with November’s premiere of Twilight: Breaking Dawn.

Mustaches & Beards: In honor of Movember.

Personalization: Gift ideas with monograms, initials, text, numbers, zodiac, constellations, portraits, custom labels, stamps, fingerprints and family trees.

Sports: Football, college basketball, and horse racing (in Australia) are in focus this month.
Weddings: Handmade and vintage variations on the wedding dress, engagement rings, creative invitations, save the dates, and signage are on the rise.
Fashion: Fall and winter accessories, vintage boots and patterned leggings. Sheer layers, lace sleeves, brocade, trenches, tailored jackets and blazers. Bright solids paired with black, platform pumps, cocktail rings, tribal and native references.

Colors: Pantone’s color trend report for fall 2o11 includes quarry, cedar, and teal greens, nougat and coffee browns, orchid and phlox purples, bamboo mustard yellow, honeysuckle pink, and ember-glow coral. We’re also noticing interest in scarlet, golds, pale hues of gray, pink, and lilac, classic neutrals and nudes, rustic fall colors, jade greens and mustards.

Culinary Trends: DIY culinary kits are on the rise. Classic cocktails, home brewing, beer and wine accessories, herb infusions and kits, garden to table.

Designer Vintage: Authentic fashion, collectibles, bikes, and auto accessories.

Letters, Numbers, and Symbols: Large vintage signage letters, letterpress blocks, monogram housewares, and typewriter keys.

Natural History: Woodland forest themes and animals, namely birds, owls, squirrels, hedgehogs, chipmunks, bunnies, butterflies, feathers, nests, eggs, acorns, leaves, trees, branches, woodgrain, and natural colors.

Lockets, secret hiding places, skeleton keys, arrows, diamonds, paper cuts, silhouettes, fortune cookies, wishbones, constellations, fortune telling.

Creative gadget cases, docking stations and accessories, especially geared around the iPhone 4S and iPad.

Large scale vintage and handmade paper maps, botanical and anatomy charts.

Upcycled lights, lamps, exposed bulbs, and chandeliers.

Vintage cameras, especially polaroids with film.

Bike caddies, baskets, and creative accessories.

Cottage chic decor and accessories

Video game-inspired references

Writable chalkboard surfaces

Wall and laptop decals

All things steampunk

Mermaids

Peacocks

If you make items that would fit well with the themes outlined, try stocking up and listing them in advance to take advantage of potential shipping deadlines and site features. Do you already have items in your shop that meld well? That’s great! Now it’s time to revisit those items to make sure your tags, titles and descriptions reflect keywords that shoppers might be looking for during this time of year. This is also a great opportunity to revamp your item photography with a new look. Check out some great how-to’s for item photography to get started. For those of your who enjoy making Treasury lists, we’ll be looking to highlight lists that interpret these themes in a creative and cohesive way throughout the site. Please tag your treasuries accordingly.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER:

November is known as Real Jewelry Month, Peanut Butter Lovers Month, Aviation History Month and Movember.

October 12 – November 5: Spring Racing Carnival (Australia)
November 1 & 2: Dia de los Muertos
November 1: All Saints’ Day
November 1: Emirates Melbourne Cup Day (Australia)
November 5: Guy Fawkes Night a.k.a. Bonfire Night (UK)
November 6: Daylight Savings time ends gain one hour of sleep
November 6: Eid-Ul-Adha
November 11: Beginning of German Carnival season & St. Martin’s Day, children parade with paper lanterns
November 11: Veterans Day
November 11: Remembrance Day, Canada
November 24: Thanksgiving
November 25: Black Friday
November 28: Cyber Monday

(Dates may differ from above!)

Former_Member · ‎02-25-2014

*******FEBRUARY!!******

February marks the transitional month between winter and the buds of spring. Our aim with Etsy merchandising is to create a healthy balance between promotions for traditional holidays, seasonal changes, cultural events, and lifestyle trends. If you’d like to stay engaged with upcoming merchandising themes, use them in your own artistic voice as you add to your shop. They can be translated in your listings, photos, shop announcements, descriptions, tags, titles, sales promotions and more.

Promotional Opportunities for Sellers:

Valentine’s Day Social Hashtags: Etsy’s social channels will be promoting the Twitter hashtag #EtsyXO. Feel free to incorporate this hashtag into your promotional plans for Valentine’s Day. For those of you who enjoy making Valentine’s collections, we’ll be keeping an eye out for Treasury lists tagged with EtsyXO.
Treasury Tip: Create and label treasuries fitting seasonal themes for a chance to have your collection featured on Etsy’s homepage or linked from promotional emails and new shopping pages.

Themes to Plan for:
Our central merchandising themes this month will focus on Valentine’s Day, weddings, winter solutions, and hints of spring. While emphasis will be placed upon the seasonality of the Northern Hemisphere, it’s important to remember that the Southern Hemisphere is in summer months. Maintaining seasonally appropriate options year-round is good practice for boosting international and overall sales.

Super Bowl: Football, parties, and all the food, drink, sportsmanship and rivalry that game day brings.
Valentine’s Day: Primary areas of focus for this holiday will include gifts for her, gifts for him, gifts for kids, jewelry, lingerie, love notes and cards, personalization, fashion, sweets & recipes, parties & decor, gag gifts, anti-Valentine, engagements & weddings, flowers & vases, and DIY ideas. Think love, hearts, Cupid and his arrow, red, pink, and white. Take advantage of last minute shoppers by offering expedited, rushed, and local shipping options.
Fashion: With New York and Paris fashion weeks taking place this month, all eyes will be on new lines. Think about introducing your newest collections of clothing, accessories, jewelry and fashion related lines now. Tagging Tip: Try adding the term “fashion” to appropriate items to reach a broader shopping audience.
Celebrations & Glam: Not only will Mardi Gras and Carnival bring out the party spirit and celebration of costuming, but award shows this month, including the Grammys, Academy Awards, and Brit Awards, will bring glamour, high fashion and Hollywood allure into the spotlight.
Seasonality: Focus on winter with hints of spring to come — home decor, nesting, entertaining, food and recipes, seasonal indoor and outdoor activities, fashion, gardening, woodland motifs and nature’s symbols.
Weddings: Wedding inspiration and planning is underway; now is the time to list your full wedding line for brides planning their big days in 2012.
Seasonal Escapes: Offerings for seasonal destinations, including resorts, beaches, cruises, and ski excursions, along with appropriate luggage, travel gear, fashion, and gadgets.
Birthdays: February’s birthstone is amethyst and astrological signs are Aquarius and Pisces (January 21 – February 19: Aquarius, February 20 – March 20: Pisces).

February’s Trends:

Black History Month: Motivational quotations and inspired art.
Leap Year: Birthdays, celebrations.
Valentine’s Day: Red, pink, white, hearts, lockets, Cupids, arrows, love, anti-Valentines, cards, jewelry, lingerie, gift ideas for him and her, children’s outfits and accessories.
Super Bowl: Football, team colors, game day, commercials, and recipes.
Organization and Storage: Creative and innovative takes on solutions for getting organized.
Weddings: Vintage style and accents, photobooths and props, fingerprint guest books, DIY decorations, and creative takes on the little details from save the dates all the way to favors.
Gadget Accessories: Innovative gadget cases, docking stations, speakers, amplifiers and accessories, especially geared around the iPhone 4S, iPad and Kindle Fire.
Personalization: Gift ideas with monograms, initials, text, numbers, zodiac, constellations, portraits, custom labels, stamps, fingerprints and family trees.
Wizardry, magic, owls, and mysticism with the DVD release of the final chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Cottage: Chic decor and accessories.
Home: Window curtains, drapes, shower curtains, bedding and hardware.
Fashion: Winter accessories, leggings, boots, embellished shoes and a look ahead to spring collections.
Culinary Trends: DIY culinary kits are on the rise. Classic cocktails, homebrewing, beer and wine accessories, herb infusions and kits, garden to table.
Designer Vintage: Authentic fashion, collectibles, bikes and auto accessories.
Letters, Numbers, and Symbols: Large vintage signage, letterpress blocks, monogram housewares and typewriter keys.
Natural History: Woodland forest themes and animals, namely birds, owls, squirrels, hedgehogs, chipmunks, bunnies, butterflies, feathers, nests, eggs, acorns, leaves, trees, branches, woodgrain, and natural colors.
Lockets, secret hiding places, skeleton keys, arrows, diamonds, paper cuts, silhouettes, fortune cookies, wishbones, constellations, fortune telling.
Large scale vintage and handmade paper maps, botanical and anatomy charts.
Upcycled lights, lamps, exposed bulbs, and chandeliers.
Vintage cameras, especially Polaroids with film.
Bike caddies, baskets, and creative accessories.
Video game-inspired references
Writable chalkboard surfaces
Wall and laptop decals
The little black dress
Mermaids
Peacocks
If you make items that would fit well with the themes outlined, try stocking up and listing them in advance to take advantage of potential shipping deadlines and site features. Do you already have items in your shop that meld well? That’s great! Now it’s time to revisit those items to make sure your tags, titles and descriptions reflect keywords that shoppers might be looking for during this time of year.

This is also a great opportunity to revamp your item photography with a new look. Check out some great how-to’s on item photography to get started. For those of your who enjoy making treasury lists, we’ll be looking to highlight lists that interpret these themes in a creative and cohesive way throughout the site. Please tag your treasuries accordingly.

Upcoming Dates to Remember

February is known as Black History Month and Ovarian Cancer Month (Australia)
February 2: Groundhog Day
February 5: Superbowl Sunday
February 9 – 16: NYC Fall Fashion Week
February 12: 54th Annual Grammy Awards Show
February 14: Valentine’s Day
February 17 – 21: Carnival
February 20: President’s Day
February 21: Mardi Gras
February 21: Brit Awards (UK)
February 21: Shrove Tuesday (UK)
February 26: 84th Annual Academy Awards (Oscars)
February 28 – March 7: Ready-to-Wear Fashion Week, Paris

(Dates may differ from above!)

Former_Member · ‎02-25-2014

*********MARCH!!!*************

March brings an official change in season and a new frame of mind. Our aim with Etsy merchandising is to create a healthy balance between promotions for traditional holidays, seasonal changes, cultural events, and lifestyle trends. If you’d like to stay engaged with upcoming merchandising themes, use your own artistic voice to translate them into shop listings, photos, shop announcements, descriptions, tags, titles, sales promotions and more.

Promotional Opportunities for Sellers:

Treasury Tip: Create and label treasuries matching seasonal themes for a chance to have your collection featured on Etsy’s homepage or linked to from promotional emails and shopping pages.
Our Seller Education Team is dedicating the month of March to helping you “Get Found!” Tune in to the Seller Handbook all month for strategic content culminating on March 30 at the Etsy Success Symposium. To apply to attend this event in person at Etsy’s headquarters in Brooklyn, you can submit an application here.
Themes to Plan for:
Our central merchandising themes this month focus on spring, fashion, weddings, and Easter. This emphasizes the seasonality of the Northern Hemisphere, but it’s important to remember that it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Maintaining seasonally appropriate options year-round is good practice for boosting international and overall sales.

Spring: With the official start to the season later this month, think in terms of bright spring colors, fashion, spring cleaning, outdoor activities, seasonal holidays and spring breaks.
Gardening: It’s spring planting time. Consider indoor, outdoor and urban gardens, tools, containers, vertical solutions, heirloom seeds and composting.
St. Patrick’s Day: Classic symbols of this holiday include parties and celebrations, the color green, shamrocks, Irish references and beer.
Mothering Sunday: The U.K. equivalent of the U.S.’s Mother’s Day. Consider offering gift ideas for moms to account for both dates of this holiday.
Easter: With Easter Sunday falling in early April, March is the ideal time to list your full line of Easter offerings for holiday shoppers. Think in terms of decor, clothing, accessories, and all the fillings for easter baskets. Classic symbols of this holiday include rabbits, baskets, eggs, sweets, small toys, lambs, chicks, pastel colors, crosses and light, bright formalwear.
Fashion: With Paris fashion week underway, all eyes are on new lines. Consider introducing your newest collections of clothing, accessories, jewelry and fashion related lines now. While labels are introducing fall lines, spring clothing and accessories are key for shoppers. Take advantage of spring break and vacation season by offering your lines of swim, beach and resort-wear now. Tagging Tip: Try adding the term “fashion” to appropriate items to reach a broader shopping audience.
Weddings: Wedding season is in full swing; determine how your line of goods could expand into wedding offerings and tag accordingly if appropriate.
Seasonal Escapes: Offerings for seasonal destinations: spring breaks, resorts, beaches, cruises, and ski excursions, along with appropriate luggage, travel gear, fashion, and gadgets.
Birthdays: March’s Birthstone is aquamarine and star signs include Pisces and Aries (February 20 – March 20: Pisces, March 21 – April 20: Aries).

March’s Trends:

April Fools: Gag gifts and practical jokes abound.
Gardening: Planters, vertical solutions, tools, garden markers, heirloom seed varieties, compost bins, terrariums, bird and bee houses.
Sports: Time for both college basketball and baseball spring training. Think in terms of teams, colors, brackets, predictions and wagers.
Vintage Fashion and Decor: With the return of Mad Men‘s season 5 late this month, expect to see inspired vintage collections trending once again.
Weddings: Vintage, retro and rockabilly references, photobooths and props, fan programs, Mad Libs, personalized wine labels, fingerprint guest books, DIY decorations, and creative takes on the little details from save the dates all the way to favors.
Organization and Storage: Spring cleaning! Fresh solutions for getting organized.
Gadget Accessories: Innovative gadget cases, docking stations, speakers, amplifiers and accessories, especially geared around the iPhone 4S, iPad and Kindle Fire.
Personalization: Gift ideas with monograms, initials, text, numbers, zodiac, constellations, portraits, custom labels, stamps, fingerprints and family trees.
Cottage: Chic decor and accessories.
Home: Window curtains, drapes, shower curtains, bedding and hardware.
Fashion: Spring basics and accessories, lighter layers, leggings, and bright colors.
Wizardry, magic, owls, and mysticism
Culinary Trends: DIY culinary kits are on the rise. Classic cocktails, homebrewing, beer and wine accessories, herb infusions and kits, garden to table.
Designer Vintage: Authentic fashion, collectibles, bikes and auto accessories.
Letters, Numbers, and Symbols: Large vintage signage, letterpress blocks, monogram housewares and typewriter keys.
Natural History: Woodland forest themes and animals, birds, owls, squirrels, hedgehogs, chipmunks, bunnies, butterflies, feathers, nests, eggs, acorns, leaves, trees, branches, woodgrain, and natural colors.
Lockets, secret hiding places, skeleton keys, arrows, diamonds, paper cuts, silhouettes, fortune cookies, wishbones, constellations, fortune telling.
Large scale vintage and handmade paper maps, botanical and anatomy charts.
Upcycled lights, lamps, exposed bulbs, and chandeliers.
Vintage cameras, especially Polaroids with film.
Bike caddies, baskets, and creative accessories.
Video game-inspired references
Writable chalkboard surfaces
Wall and laptop decals
The little black dress
Mermaids
Peacocks
If you make items that fit well with the themes outlined, try stocking up and listing them in advance to take advantage of potential shipping deadlines and site features. Do you already have items in your shop that match? That’s great! Revisit those items to make sure your tags, titles and descriptions reflect keywords that shoppers might be looking for during this time of year.

This is also a great opportunity to revamp your item photography. Check out some great how-to’s on item photography to get started. For those who enjoy making treasury lists, we’ll be looking to highlight lists that interpret these themes in a creative and cohesive ways. Please tag your treasuries accordingly.

Upcoming Dates to Remember

March is known as: National Craft Month, National Poetry Month, and was named for the Roman god, Mars. March is also Prostate Cancer Awareness month in the UK.
February 28 – March 7 Ready to Wear FW, Paris
March 1 St. David’s Day (United Kingdom)
March 1 Official start of Autumn (Australia)
March 2-4 Ethical Fashion Show (Paris)
March 8 International Womens’ Day
March 12 Labor Day (Victoria)
March 12 Plant a Flower Day
March 10 – 17 College spring break
March 11 Daylight Savings at 2:00 a.m.
March 14 Pi Day
March 17 National Quilting Day
March 17 St. Patrick’s Day
March 18 Mothering Sunday (UK)
March 20 Spring equinox
March 21 Human Rights Day (South Africa)
March 21 World Poetry Day
March 25 British Summertime Begins
March 31 Earth Hour

(Dates may differ from above!)

Former_Member · ‎02-25-2014

*****APRIL!!!!****

Promotional Opportunities for Sellers:

Treasury Tip: Create and label treasuries matching seasonal themes for a chance to have your collection featured on Etsy’s homepage or linked to from promotional emails and shopping pages.
Press Tip: Media publications are currently working on their long lead stories for fall 2012. Increase your chances of landing a print feature by making your seasonal collections available now.
Themes to Plan for:
Our central merchandising themes this month focus on spring, fashion, weddings, and Mother’s Day. This emphasizes the seasonality of the Northern Hemisphere, but it’s important to remember that it is fall in the Southern Hemisphere. Maintaining seasonally appropriate options year-round is good practice for boosting international and overall sales.

Easter: With Easter Sunday falling in early April, now is the time to state any expedited shipping and local delivery/pickup options clearly within your item descriptions to take advantage of last-minute sales.
Spring: Bright spring colors, fashion, spring cleaning, outdoor activities, seasonal holidays and spring breaks.
Earth Day: Falling on the 22nd this month, Earth Day celebrates the environment and all the things we can do to be kind to the earth. Think in terms of reclaiming, recycling, upcycling, eco and environmentally friendly solutions, planting, conservation and energy savers.
Gardening: It’s spring planting time. Consider indoor, outdoor and urban gardens, tools, aprons and gloves, plant markers and signs, containers, vertical solutions, heirloom seeds and composting.
Fashion: Spring looks that can transition into summer — think light layers and bright accessories. Take advantage of spring break and vacation season by offering your lines of swim, beach and resort wear now. Tagging Tip: Try adding the term “fashion” to appropriate items to reach a broader shopping audience.
Weddings: Wedding season is in full swing; determine how your line of goods could expand into wedding offerings and tag accordingly if appropriate.
Prom, Parties and Glam: Party-style dresses, vintage frocks, and the glamourous accessories to complete the perfect look. Also trending: makeup, false eyelashes, nail polish and stickers, and hair pins.
Mother’s Day: April signifies the start to Mother’s Day shopping. Think in terms of gift ideas incorporating personalization. Other popular gift categories include cards, vases, bath and spa sets, jewelry, fashion accessories, smartphone accessories, edible gift sets and creative takes on family portraits.
Intro to Graduation: College and university graduations take place in early to mid-May while high school ceremonies usually take place in early to mid-June. Think in terms of keepsake gifts, personalization, milestone achievements, and innovative ways to present cash gifts. Don’t forget about those end of the year gift ideas for teachers, too.
Seasonal Escapes: Offerings for seasonal destinations: spring breaks, resorts, beaches, cruises, and ski excursions, along with appropriate luggage, travel gear, fashion, and gadgets.
Birthdays: April’s birthstone is diamond; star signs include Aries and Taurus (March 21 – April 20: Aries, April 21 – May 20: Taurus).

April’s Trends:

Gardening: Planters, vertical solutions, tools, garden markers, heirloom seed varieties, compost bins, terrariums, bird and bee houses.
Gadget Accessories: Innovative gadget cases, docking stations, speakers, amplifiers and accessories, especially geared around the iPhone 4S, iPad and Kindle Fire.
References to Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Mad Men & Alice in Wonderland — all trending in pop culture. Think in terms of symbols like arrows, birds, wizardry, magic, enchanted forests, rabbits, whimsy and mid century modern fashion and decor.
Vintage Fashion and Decor: With the return of Mad Men‘s season 5, expect to see inspired vintage collections trending once again.
Weddings: Engagement rings, both handcrafted and antique. Vintage, retro and rockabilly references, photobooths and props, fan programs, Mad Libs, personalized wine labels, fingerprint guest books, DIY decorations, and creative takes on the little details from save the dates all the way to favors.
Nails: lacquers, polishes and stickers.
Infinity Styles: Rings, scarves, bracelets & necklaces.
Sports: Time for baseball season, hockey playoffs and golf: The Masters! Think in terms of teams, colors, and sportsmanship.
Organization and Storage: Spring cleaning! Fresh solutions for getting organized.
Personalization: Gift ideas with monograms, initials, text, numbers, zodiac, constellations, portraits, custom labels, stamps, fingerprints and family trees.
Cottage: Chic decor and accessories.
Home: Window curtains, drapes, shower curtains, bedding and hardware.
Fashion: Spring basics and accessories, lighter layers, leggings, and bright colors.
Culinary Trends: DIY culinary kits are on the rise. Classic cocktails, homebrewing, beer and wine accessories, herb infusions and kits, garden to table.
Designer Vintage: Authentic fashion, collectibles, bikes and auto accessories.
Letters, Numbers, and Symbols: Large vintage signage, letterpress blocks, monogram housewares and typewriter keys.
Natural History: Woodland forest themes and animals, birds, owls, squirrels, hedgehogs, chipmunks, bunnies, butterflies, feathers, nests, eggs, acorns, leaves, trees, branches, woodgrain, and natural colors.
Lockets, secret hiding places, skeleton keys, arrows, diamonds, paper cuts, silhouettes, fortune cookies, wishbones, constellations, fortune telling.
Large scale vintage and handmade paper maps, botanical and anatomy charts.
Upcycled lights, lamps, exposed bulbs, and chandeliers.
Vintage cameras, especially Polaroids with film.
Bike caddies, baskets, and creative accessories.
Embellished, painted & customizable shoes.
Video game-inspired references
Writable chalkboard surfaces
Designed Fabric Yardage
Wall and laptop decals
The little black dress
Mermaids
Ear cuffs
If you make items that fit well with the themes outlined, try stocking up and listing them in advance to take advantage of potential shipping deadlines and site features. Do you already have items in your shop that match? That’s great! Revisit those items to make sure your tags, titles and descriptions reflect keywords that shoppers might be looking for during this time of year. This is also a great opportunity to revamp your item photography. Check out some great how-to’s on item photography to get started. For those who enjoy making treasury lists, we’ll be looking to highlight lists that interpret these themes in a creative and cohesive ways. Please tag your treasuries accordingly.

Upcoming Dates to Remember

April is known as: International Guitar Month and National Poetry Month (U.K.)
April 1: April Fools
April 2: Children’s Book Day
April 5-8: Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta
April 4: Ching Ming Festival (Hong Kong)
April 6 – 14: Passover
April 6: Good Friday
April 8: Easter Sunday
April 11-15: Pictoplasma Festival, Berlin.
April 12 – 14: Grand National (U.K.)
April 17: Tax Deadline
April 22: Earth Day
April 23: St George’s Day
April 25: Anzac Day (Australia)
April 27: Freedom Day (South Africa)
April 27: Arbor Day
April 30: Queen’s Day (Netherlands)
April 30 – May 4: 2012 Australian Fashion Week

(Dates may differ from above!)

Former_Member · ‎02-25-2014

**************MAY!!!**************

Promotional Opportunities for Sellers:

Treasury Tip: Create and label treasuries matching seasonal themes for a chance to have your collection featured on Etsy’s homepage or linked to from promotional emails and shopping pages.
Press Tip: Media publications are currently working on their long lead stories for fall 2012. Increase your chances of landing a print feature by making your seasonal collections available now.
Etsy Weddings and Registries: Learn how to make the most of Etsy’s new Weddings and Registries launch in this article.
Themes to Plan for:
Our central merchandising themes this month focus on spring, fashion, weddings, and a look ahead to summer festivites. This emphasizes the seasonality of the Northern Hemisphere, but it’s important to remember that it is fall in the Southern Hemisphere. Maintaining seasonally appropriate options year-round is good practice for boosting international and overall sales.

Mother’s Day: Extend the shopping season for your Mother’s Day offerings by offering clearly marked expedited shipping and local pickup options for your line of goods.
Father’s Day: With little under a month until Father’s Day (and Germany’s Father’s Day falling on May 17), now is the time to list your full line of offerings to commemorate dad. Think in terms of classic gifts, new dads, and don’t forget about gifts for granddad. Popular gift categories include gadgets, phone cases, docking stations, sports gear and accessories, fashion accessories for men, cards, and ways to let dad sit back and relax.
Graduations: College and university graduations take place in early to mid-May while high school ceremonies usually take place in early to mid-June. Think in terms of keepsake gifts, personalization, milestone achievements, and innovative ways to present cash gifts. Don’t forget about those end of the year gift ideas for teachers, too.
Fashion: Spring looks that can transition into summer — think light layers and bright accessories. Take advantage of spring break and vacation season by offering your lines of swim, beach and resort wear now. Tagging Tip: Try adding the term “fashion” to appropriate items to reach a broader shopping audience.
Weddings: Wedding season is in full swing; determine how your line of goods could expand into wedding offerings and tag accordingly if appropriate to show up in Etsy’s newly launched Weddings experience.
Spring: Bright spring colors, fashion, spring cleaning, outdoor activities, seasonal holidays and a look ahead to summer.
Gardening: It’s spring planting time. Consider indoor, outdoor and urban gardens, tools, aprons and gloves, plant markers and signs, containers, vertical solutions, heirloom seeds and composting.
Prom, Parties and Glam: Party-style dresses, vintage frocks, and the glamourous accessories to complete the perfect look. Also trending: makeup, false eyelashes, nail polish and stickers, and hair pins.
Memorial Day Weekend: Long weekends and summer holidays — think in terms of outdoor activities, festive colors, party decor, and cooking outside.
Birthdays: May’s birthstone is emerald; star signs include Taurus and Gemini (April 21 — May 20: Taurus, May 21 — June 21: Gemini).

May’s Trends:

The World in Sports: Equestrian, bright colors, fascinators and horse racing themes back in the spotlight with the Kentucky Derby and tennis gear; fashion and matches with the French Open.
Gardening: Planters, vertical solutions, tools, garden markers, heirloom seed varieties, compost bins, terrariums, bird and bee houses.
Gadget Accessories: Innovative gadget cases, docking stations, speakers, amplifiers and accessories, especially geared around the iPhone 4S, iPad and Kindle Fire.
References to Harry Potter, Hunger Games, Mad Men & Alice in Wonderland — all trending in pop culture. Think in terms of symbols like arrows, birds, wizardry, magic, enchanted forests, rabbits, whimsy and mid-century modern fashion and decor.
Vintage Fashion and Decor: With the return of Mad Men‘s season 5, expect to see inspired vintage collections trending once again.
Weddings: Engagement rings, both handcrafted and antique. Vintage, retro and rockabilly references, photobooths and props, fan programs, Mad Libs, personalized wine labels, fingerprint guest books, DIY decorations, and creative takes on the little details from save the dates all the way to favors.
Nails: lacquers, polishes and stickers.
Infinity Styles: Rings, scarves, bracelets & necklaces.
Organization and Storage: Spring cleaning! Fresh solutions for getting organized.
Personalization: Gift ideas with monograms, initials, text, numbers, zodiac, constellations, portraits, custom labels, stamps, fingerprints and family trees.
Cottage: Chic decor and accessories.
Home: Window curtains, drapes, shower curtains, bedding and hardware.
Fashion: Spring basics and accessories, lighter layers, leggings, and bright colors. Summer dresses on the radar.
Culinary Trends: DIY culinary kits are on the rise. Classic cocktails, homebrewing, beer and wine accessories, herb infusions and kits, garden to table.
Designer Vintage: Authentic fashion, collectibles, bikes and auto accessories.
Letters, Numbers, and Symbols: Large vintage signage, letterpress blocks, monogram housewares and typewriter keys.
Natural History: Woodland forest themes and animals, birds, owls, squirrels, hedgehogs, chipmunks, bunnies, butterflies, feathers, nests, eggs, acorns, leaves, trees, branches, woodgrain, and natural colors.
Lockets, secret hiding places, skeleton keys, arrows, diamonds, paper cuts, silhouettes, fortune cookies, wishbones, constellations, fortune telling.
Large scale vintage and handmade paper maps, botanical and anatomy charts.
Upcycled lights, lamps, exposed bulbs, and chandeliers.
Vintage cameras, especially Polaroids with film.
Bike caddies, baskets, and creative accessories.
Embellished, painted & customizable shoes.
Video game-inspired references
Writable chalkboard surfaces
Designed Fabric Yardage
Wall and laptop decals
Cannes Film Festival
The little black dress
Mermaids
Macarons
Ear cuffs

If you make items that fit well with the themes outlined, try stocking up and listing them in advance to take advantage of potential shipping deadlines and site features. Do you already have items in your shop that match? That’s great! Revisit those items to make sure your tags, titles and descriptions reflect keywords that shoppers might be looking for during this time of year. This is also a great opportunity to revamp your item photography. Check out some great how-to’s on item photography to get started. For those who enjoy making treasury lists, we’ll be looking to highlight lists that interpret these themes in a creative and cohesive ways. Please tag your treasuries accordingly.

Upcoming Dates to Remember

May is known as: National Barbecue, Photograph, and Bike Month. National Book Month and Postcard Week is during May in UK.
May 1 May Day
May 1 Fete du Travail, Labor Day
May 5 Cinco de Mayo
May 5 Kentucky Derby
May 7 May Day (Bank holiday) (UK)
May 8 National Teachers Day
May 10 VE Day
May 13 Mother’s Day
May 16-27 Cannes Film Festival
May 17 Father’s Day (Germany)
May 18 International Museum Day
May 18 National Bike to Work Day
May 21 Victoria Day (Canada)
May 26 – 28 Shavuot
May 27 – June 10 French Open
May 28 Whit Monday
May 28 Memorial Day
May 31 National Macaron Day

(Dates may differ from above!)

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