Business Chat

[#1]

If you have any questions or pointers to give relating to the business of running your Etsy shops, please post those here.

[Former_Member]

I just visited shopvalue.com and found that most of the top 50 shops in sales on Etsy were shops that sell craft supplies. That was a very shocking find! I would have thought it to be 50 shops selling all of the wonderful and beautiful handmade items that I've seen on Etsy. Now I'm really wondering what kind of a chance I have in selling my vintage jewelry. Should I forget it and start selling all of the vintage stones and parts that I have accumulated in the past 30 years as a collector and a seller?

Marilyn

[HandiworkinGirls]

We are having tons of views from France over the past month. Anything we should know about shipping from the US to France? I'm trying to find out about any restricted items, but it looks about the same to me as shipping from the US to the UK. Does that sound right? I don't want to add another country to our ship-to list unless I'm sure about the restrictions.

[EurekaGuides]

@Marilyn, it is easy to sell supplies on Etsy because thousands of people are their target market. Moreover, supplies tend to be low value items so it is not surprising then that they sell much. You need to remember that low value items also require much more work, ie to list, to package and to ship. It's not always what it seems at first glance.

@HandiworkinGirls, there are no restrictions to Europe for your type of products. I ship from France to the US regularly without any problem. To find the correct shipping rates, weigh your items and packaging using a digital kitchen scale, then go online with your postal service and do a calculation for France. That way you'll have a very precise cost.

[Former_Member]

You are right that it is very hard work to sell supplies. Imagine all the photos one would have to take and edit. Not my cup of tea, I'm too lazy for that. :-) I wasn't complaining it just threw me that the wonderful artistry on this site wasn't at the top. Shows you how much I don't know about Etsy. I'm learning but have a long, long road ahead of me. Hope I live long enough! :-)

[HandiworkinGirls]

Eureka Internet Guides from EurekaGuides says

@HandiworkinGirls, there are no restrictions to Europe for your type of products. I ship from France to the US regularly without any problem. To find the correct shipping rates, weigh your items and packaging using a digital kitchen scale, then go online with your postal service and do a calculation for France. That way you'll have a very precise cost.
--------------------------
Thanks so much for the quick reply! I'll start working on adding option as soon as I recover from reviewing the international shipping rates again. And I thought it was high to ship to Canada... ;)

[WhiteCrossDesigns]

to @prairierosejewels ---- I have two shops on etsy; 1 sells mostly supplies & 1 (this one) sells all handmade items. I have much higher sales volume from the supplies shop; but have earned many more dollars from the handmade items shop. Both require a lot of work, but both have unique rewards. Either way, I believe I'm helping people/bringing them pleasure by offering them an item they need or want. If, however, I had to choose to do only one thing today, it would be making and selling a new bag/clutch/ etc., with no question!

[EurekaGuides]

@Jordan, I think you can't beat the process of creating something from scratch. I can relate. :-)

[MAKINGtheNESTofIT]

How do you all work in time for creating NEW items? I have very few OOAK items, so some of my items sell repeatedly. From a business standpoint, that's obviously good. From a creative standpoint, not so much! I am eager to try some new things and just get my newest supplies/tools out and 'play'!

[WelshWitchKnitting]

I agree.I start off with a ball of wool that catches my eye in a shop, or even better, a charity shop, and end up with the items that you can see in the shop. Even longer term- a piece of cotton canvas, a needle and a bundle of coloured threads, in either embroidery weight, or tapestry weight, and you stitch for a few hours, retire exhausted for a coffee, look back, and you've completed a piece about two inches square. BUT, the feeling of achievement is absolute, and knitting things like the "Reluctant Penguin", i was chuckling all the way through, anticipating other people's reactions to his blurb. See you soon, -Marlene.

[Former_Member]

I am in awe of the talent on this site. And the hard work that goes in to the creation of you talented peoples items must be tremendous. You actually have become my inspirations. When I get extremely bored and tired with taking photos and editing them or writing descriptions for my vintage jewelry I remind myself of all of you and how you not only do what I do but you also construct your item. That inspires me to get my act together, quit whining and push on. :-)

[EurekaGuides]

I think one way to get inspiration and get out of a rut of doing the same thing is simply to take a break. Take some time out to go and look at other crafters or artists and this can often change your perspective.

[WelshWitchKnitting]

Hi, 11.39 here, on Wednesday, reading back, and musing whilst doing other H(swear) work, using the long sucky thing, and the hot flat thing on the hot flat table, I thought back to the origins of the two little boy dolls in my shop.
I found them naked in a well known local charity shop, but the faces were naughty, mischevious. It was during the banking chaos, and through teaching I knew of lots of families who struggled in normal times, and then came things like Christmas.
I scrubbed them, dressed them, and took them to my sister's playgroup fundraiser before Christmas. The leader saw them, bought them,and immediately they went into the playgroup, being used in story time, singing time, and gradually going home at weekends with little children, and coming back on Monday mornings with entries in the little notebooks in their shoulder bags of their adventures over the weekend. They went shopping, camping, on picnics, fed the ducks on the pond etc. They aided children to speak through the dollies, who might have been reluctant before.
In amongst my order fulfilments, i am working on the twin of one doll, and lots more that I have collected. They will all be displayed as they become ready to gain new friends. When I see the prices of new, sometimes not very friendly, dolls, and think of little boys, who also like to play through the dolls, I feel as if I am helping other less fortunate families.
Two dollies I dresses and took to St Anne's Hospice Care last year, raised £18 each for their charity. I hate to see things like this going to waste, when they could bring so much pleasure..
I get a feeling of fulfilment, and I can use an ability that I have, to teach others , especially as time to teach crafts seems to have been cut from school timetables these days. And a recycled dolly can give so much pleasure, as long as you make sure that it has been cleaned thoroughly and sanitised. Any inspiration to anyone else? I hope so. If There's something you have always wanted to do, GO FOR IT. I only began my Etsy shop after retiring, being VERY seriously ill, getting better, getting bored, and starting knitting again. See you all later, All the best,-Marlene.

[CathySavelsArt]

Please only use this thread for business chat.

[Former_Member]

Good evening everyone : )

I was wondering if anyone had any pointers maybe on my photography ?
I have been re-editing, reorganizing and re-shooting some pieces and I was wondering if I could get a bit of feedback on them. That would be very appreciated.

I had a few mixed comments about my photography, so I was just wondering if I was on the right track. I really want to keep working on a shop make-over before the holiday season.

Thank you very much ! : )

[SantaFeKiss]

Maxime I love your images! The only issue I see is the same one I struggle with so I do not have an answer the the issue. But it relates to this lovely item of yours
;

https://www.etsy.com/listing/75043628/vintage-berry-ring-limited-edition?ref=shop_home_feat

Since your have white and or clear in your items that are next to your white background (up on top) it makes if hard to see that part of your item.

[Former_Member]

Hi Amy !

Thanks a lot for your feedback ! These items are hard to take picture of, since I can't put it on an black background and a grey background makes them look ''dirty''... :S But I agree, maybe the contrast background-clear beads can be worked a bit more.

Thanks a lot for your feedback ! :D

Your pictures seem all right with me, although they might need a bit more sharpness. Have you tried putting your camera on macro mode ? I think that would help you a bit. And you have a great product, I would like to see more of it. You should really use the five pictures spots to help your customer understand for instance how he-she can make your item hold on their belt ?

[Former_Member]

My biggest issue is not being seen. And when I do actually get a google search that brings someone ot my shop, google isn't providing the key words they searched. Does anyone know why and/or what I can do to get this information? I need to go through and redo almost all my listings and add keywords plus add more items... or try selling elsewhere. I can't seem to catch a break on Etsy.

[Former_Member]

Your photos are lovely. Perhaps you could use what I use for some of mine. I use a white background then place a black velvet piece of fabric usually at an angle down on the top of it. I then place my subject on top of the two pieces.

[EurekaGuides]

@Sue, If you use Google analytics, you'll be able to see the keywords as far as I know.

What kind of promotion are you doing?

[Former_Member]

I do postings on reddit and when I can I use Stumbleupon. I have a blog and I post on Twitter as well as Facebook.

[HandiworkinGirls]

Nice photo tips! We are constantly working on ours... the best backgrounds really depend on the items being photographed.

The black velvet looks very chic with the jewelry! Not a lot of the jewelry shops I've visited use black, so that surely helps with branding/shop recognition in Etsy search.

[EurekaGuides]

@MamaPictureThis Your Twitter and Facebook following is very low. You need an awful lot of followers, several thousands, in order to get a small percentage to see your tweets and act upon them. I did not see a marked improvement in sales until I hit around 20K. You have to actively follow new people each and every day.

With StumbleUpon, you really only have to work on this for 10 mins or so per day, it will work but you need to have patience with it.

[SantaFeKiss]

What do you suggest we do with StumbleUpon?

[Former_Member]

It has been so long since I've gone into my Google Analytics. I thought I had it set up but when I go into my account there isn't any data there. Can anyone guide me a wee bit?

[EurekaGuides]

@Sue, I don't use Google Analytics so perhaps someone else can guide you.

@AmyT - not sure what you're asking me. You use SU to get traffic to your listings. Not sure if you're using it. It's a tricky thing and you need to know how in order not to get your account blocked. I have a Guide.