How did you make your first sale?

[#1]

Hi there Daily Etsy Sellers!

Browsing through the members list of our team and looking at all your lovely shops, I started noticing we are a very diverse group of shop owners. Some of us have been on Etsy for years, others are just starting off and have yet to make their first sale.

Let's start a discussion on making that first sale. We all know it's that one magical moment, just that one sale, we're all eagerly waiting for when just starting out on Etsy.

So let's share!

It doesn't matter whether you only had a couple of sales or hundreds: please share your 'first sale' experience so new shop owners can be inspired.

Here are some questions that could help share your story with us.

- What things did you try to make that first sale? Share your hustle!
- What effort do you think ultimately triggered it?
- How much time passed between opening your shop and making that sale?
- What lessons did you learn from making that first sale?
- If you could do it all over, what would you do differently?
- What is your best piece of advice for new shop owners?
- What do you think is the best path to follow in order to get that first sale?

I can't wait to hear about it!

- Deb

[Former_Member]

Our first sale was actually a sale to a friend, the listing was posted as a "reserved listing", but it did give us a good start. We have not been open very long at all, but have now had 3 sales. We continue to participate in the teams to gain views and favs from fellow Etsy Seller's. We're considering the promoted listings, is it worth doing that?? Thanks for letting us share!

[photographytandp]

This is my first sale TODAY! Very happy!
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/227115478/fine-art-digital-download-flowers-cherry?ref=hp_mod_rf
What I tried and what seemed to work;
-get your shop fave numbers up... I have just over 500 shop admirers now
-shop followers do not seem to help as much
-when you are featured in treasuries, promote them as much as you can
-play lots of different Etsy games (not just faving, but views, searches etc...)
-good photos are a must
-I didn't get a sale until I had almost 20 items in my shop. 35 is best I am told
Thanks :)

[Former_Member]

My first sale as a tote bag. It took about a month after opening up my shop.

I started off with tote bags, baby receiving blankets and misc. wheelchair accessories. I watched my competitors daily. Changing my tags as needed to help exposure. Got involved with teams and listed daily.

About a year later I wasn't satisfied with sales. I was making sales, but not enough. The competition was fierce and frankly much nicer than my stuff. So I changed my direction. I took out the receiving blankets. Kept the wheelchair accessories and started making special needs bibs. Those took off like a rocket. DAILY advertising on teams and other sites. Weekly changing tags if needed. And making my bibs as UNIQUE as possible.

I still wanted something else to fill in for the bib and accessories sales so I started making scrub caps. But the caps took so much time keeping up with orders that my bibs started to suffer. Instead of creative juices flowing I made the ordinary bib.

I am once again going to upgrade both areas starting Jan 2017. I feel one must constantly watch what your competitors are doing. Make changes as needed whether simple or complex. People always want fresh/new items to buy. Make your items available next day or if made to order, keep the time frame as short as possible but keep the quality up.

I have been in the manufacturing/marketing business for 30 years so I have an idea as to how to market, update, refresh often. Once you see sales slowing down, figure out if you need to improve or completing change your image. Daily work on the computer advertising along with physical work will pay off. Don't be afraid to think outside the box.

One last thing. Listen to your customer requests. You may not be able to use the suggestion right away, but keep it in mind for future use. I received 3 request that I eventually incorporated into my items with much success.

[FuseHues]

I have been an Etsy user for a number of years. I started in 2010 painting glass. Everything was going great and then someone ordered an item and as soon as I sent it they canceled payment. I then took several years off. I decided to become active again this year after learning how to fuse glass and got my own little kiln at home.
My first sale was to my mom. Second to my sister and the third to a friend from church. The friend from church is a seller and told me about the teams. Since then I have made several random sales.
I have done two craft fairs and included my business card listing my Etsy shop. I also send a magnet card out with each purchase.

[PaperDahlsLLC]

I joined etsy in 2006, and wasn't really serious about my shop until the last 3 years. I dont remember how long it took for my first sale, but it was a photo that I took for a Humane Society and I make a donation to them every time the photo sells, which might have prompted my first sale. And then I had some friends make purchases.

When I started to get serious about selling I started posting items everyday and using treasuries that brought a lot of traffic to my shop. Treasuries are no more though, so I've been focusing more on teams. The best thing to do I've found is get that word out there!

[Former_Member]

My first sale started when I opened, because I was facebook posting and boosting my greeting cards everywhere on tumblr, instagram and others, it turned out to be a family friend who bought the first card from facebook and my second sale came from a stranger after posting on a black business facebook page.
Never underestimate social media is my lesson!

Now I'm designing my second card line to hopefully boost very soon!

[SistersGardenIowa]

Our first Etsy sale happened one day after we opened our shop. I heard the "cha ching" from my phone and was beyond excited! It was a random little vintage planter with a frog figurine on the side. I was so grateful for that customer purchasing it from us with no previous sales, reviews, etc.

We have been in the business for about 22 years, but opened our Etsy shop in 2014. We usually sell 3-6 items a week on Etsy. It's a nice little addition to our business. Etsy is a wonderful community to be a part of.

[itemDesigns]

I joined etsy in 2015,
little bit sale yet but i am working so hard to promote my listings,
adding more items, working on photography ,
Thanks for sharing your first sale stories! They inspire me.

[DeUno]

My first sale was to Spain! Was very exciting! :)

[Former_Member]

I made the mistake in listing Christmas cards in February. Which of course, didn't sell. Since then, I've tried to stay ahead of holidays and normal card gifting days (Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc.) and upload cards that I like for those holidays. Always work on something new.

I want my ideas to be unique, when I'm ready to list and publish the items, I check online to make sure the prices are comparable.

Keep things new (something I have to do myself, being without an area to create for Etsy) and make sure you have plenty of photos.

I originally took a online class on UMEDY.com for selling on Etsy. Well worth the tips and advise for the class.

Good luck!

[BlablaBlythe]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/486607264/blythe-pink-hat-bonnet-beret-doll?ref=shop_home_active_1
https://www.etsy.com/listing/497262595/get-3-buy-for-2-boots-for-blythe-doll-by?ref=shop_home_active...
https://www.etsy.com/listing/482771572/blythe-brown-golden-purse-bag-by?ref=shop_home_active_7

[530Lemurian]

SALE!!!
Free Shipping For Your ENTIRE PURCHASE Coupon.
Code: FREESHIP (No Minimum Required)
Valid Until 12/24/16
Happy Holidays!!

Checkout New Gemstone Pendants!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/480711592/tanzanite-sterling-silver-pendant?ref=shop_home_active_44
https://www.etsy.com/listing/493390663/tanzanite-natural-sterling-silver?ref=shop_home_active_43
https://www.etsy.com/listing/480705858/tanzanite-natural-sterling-silver?ref=shop_home_active_42
https://www.etsy.com/listing/494206477/tanzanite-sterling-silver-pendant?ref=shop_home_active_41
https://www.etsy.com/listing/480706242/tanzanite-natural-sterling-silver?ref=shop_home_active_40

Follow My Shop For New Sales & Updates!
https://www.etsy.com/people/maximus221

[Former_Member]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/473613198/925-sterling-silver-bow-ring-tie-ring?ref=shop_home_active_10

this is my first sale.

[Former_Member]

Opened a month ago, still waiting for my first sale and kind of feeling like it will never come, but we'll keep working hard and waiting for it :)

[JGarloffDesign]

My first sale

Several team members were on a treasury frenzy and included my copper lamp, the right person came along, sale!!. I think treasuries are a good way to gain exposure when done tastefully with an artsy flair.

Happy holidays!!

Best wishes,
John Garloff

[Former_Member]

thanks to god first of all and then etsy.com

who give me opportunity to sale my handcrafted jewelry.

i have my first sale in third week after opening my shop
my first customer from France..
that's really a great moment for me when i have first sale on my shop.

Hope i have good business here.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you.
Good luck to all etsy members


Best Wishes
Mohammad

[Former_Member]

I Haven t any sales until now. !

https://www.etsy.com/shop/rumirug

[WanderingRockDesigns]

My first sale came about a month after I opened. It was a direct search for an item containing citrine and peridot. I had a Tree of Life Copper Wire Wrap on an Agate Slice that had a Peridot, Citrine, and Topaz set into the roots.

All my sales, only 5 so far after 2 months, have been from direct searches. None of my customers browsed the shop, because that was the only view during that time, and they were specific searches. Direct search traffic to an item is crucial to making sales. Learn how to title, tag, and describe your items to be found using SEO phrases. Color descriptions and sizes bring the most traffic to my sight vs style, technique, or category of items.

I'm still learning how to improve my listings and have redone, photos, tags, and titles , more than once. I still find a stray item that needs work from old listings....it seems like a never ending process.

[530Lemurian]

SALE!!!
Free Shipping For Your ENTIRE PURCHASE Coupon.
Code: FREESHIP (No Minimum Required)
Valid Until 12/24/16
Happy Holidays!!

Checkout New Gemstone Pendants!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/487201392/tibetan-tektite-gemstone-pendant?ref=shop_home_active_12
https://www.etsy.com/listing/500694927/tibetan-tektite-gemstone-pendant?ref=shop_home_active_11
https://www.etsy.com/listing/487247246/tibetan-tektite-gemstone-pendant?ref=shop_home_active_8
https://www.etsy.com/listing/487248126/tibetan-tektite-gemstone-pendant?ref=shop_home_active_7
https://www.etsy.com/listing/487202782/tibetan-tektite-gemstone-pendant?ref=shop_home_active_10

Follow My Shop For New Sales & Updates!
https://www.etsy.com/people/maximus221

[HelloAm]

I was thankful.
My first sale came within the 1st day I set up my shop.
Back then, I was selling something else.
As time went by, I kept on improving and found the right fit.

[BlablaBlythe]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/487199262/bonnet-blythe-helmet-hat-mint-by?ref=shop_home_active_1
https://www.etsy.com/listing/500218645/blythe-navy-blue-coat-by-blablablythe?ref=shop_home_active_3
https://www.etsy.com/listing/500220557/blythe-silver-purse-bag-by-blablablythe?ref=shop_home_active_...

[530Lemurian]

Checkout New Gemstone Pendants!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/480707768/hessonite-garnet-faceted-sterling-silver?ref=shop_home_active...
https://www.etsy.com/listing/479897444/hessonite-garnet-faceted-sterling-silver?ref=shop_home_active...
https://www.etsy.com/listing/480707432/hessonite-garnet-faceted-sterling-silver?ref=shop_home_active...
https://www.etsy.com/listing/480707120/hessonite-garnet-faceted-sterling-silver?ref=shop_home_active...
https://www.etsy.com/listing/493727613/rose-quartz-garnet-faceted-sterling?ref=shop_home_active_86

Follow My Shop For New Sales & Updates!
https://www.etsy.com/people/maximus221

[Former_Member]

My first item in this shop was through my blog. A very kind guy with a quirky sense of humor bought one of my Cyber characters.

[Former_Member]

It is so interesting to read that people have the first sale within 1 or 2 days after they have opened their shops. As for me my first sale was after 1,5 months on Etsy. And i am so thankful to the stranger that believes me and push a bottom "buy"! Now it is a silent but I hope that it will happens again!

[BlablaBlythe]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/500217829/blythe-navy-blue-sparkle-shoes-by?ref=shop_home_active_1
https://www.etsy.com/listing/500219179/cotton-dress-for-blythe-floral-dress?ref=shop_home_active_6
https://www.etsy.com/listing/486727026/blythe-cardigan-orange-clothes-by?ref=shop_home_active_2