Advice: 1 store or 2?

[Former_Member]

Hi All,

Currently I'm selling jewelry & packaging supplies & got around 800 items in one store.

Need your advice....
Should I separate packaging supplies from my jewelry?
And set up one more store? or keep it the current way?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
Lingke

[Former_Member]

I am considering breaking my shop into 2. I started making custom silicone molds and they seem to be taking over my jewelry and miniatures.

[DebbiesBusyBee]

I made 2 stores because I sold craft things in one and decided to sell a lot of vintage buttons I inherited, plus collected which would clutter up that store so opened one to just sell buttons and doll clothes. I have had good success doing that and I keep it all separate. It makes it easier for customers to search for things within the store plus you have more shop sections to specifiy categories of things wihin the store (they only allow 10 per store) It really helped me.

[Former_Member]

Yeah, Debbie, I think about the shop sections too!
Keeping all supplies under one section isn't a good thing..

[SandysNatureFindings]

I have 2 stores, it's a pain, but it helps for me to keep things seperate. I have the supply store, then one for things I make and antiques.

[AllThingsAngelas]

Hello,
2 Stores... is my vote...

[DebbiesBusyBee]

It makes it more fun too, I thnk.

[MyDistinctDesigns]

2 stores would make it easier for customers I think.

[Former_Member]

Is it hard to manage 2?
Or, even it is, it worths? :)

[Former_Member]

QUESTION for the 2 stores vote though.....

Do you have to re-list the items that you want to transfer over to store #2? Do you get charged again? Or is there an option to transfer to store #2 from store #1 with no charge? How exactly does that work.....

[Former_Member]

I'm afraid have to pay double..

[ForgedMettleJewelry]

If you did open up another store, (which I'm pretty sure you would need another credit card and/or email address for) you would end up paying double for your listings because there is no way to transfer them.

In that case I would wait until they were just about to expire and then copy and paste them over to the new store...

[JudyStalus]

You need a separate email account for each store, however you can use the same Paypal account for both.

[RivendellRocksSedona]

When we opened our second store, we had to relist - and pay the listing fee. Tried asking admin for assistance - that convo, like several others we sent was never answered. Wish we had thought to put up a thread here - someone much wiser than us may have an answer to this problem,

[Former_Member]

yes, you should!

[Former_Member]

Would two stores be double the work?

[heartsabustin]

I have three shops, and it's really not that bad. Some days, one store will get more attention than the other ones, but if I manage my time right, it's no big deal.

I say split it up - all you need is a second email address - all your shops can go to the same PayPal account. I really can't wait for the day Etsy rolls out having all your shops under one account.

[Former_Member]

Definately have two stores. I sell handmade bridal items but then I also sell supplies because I kept finding things that I thought other people might want to use so now I have two shops. I think it makes it easier for your customers plus you can put things in more categories with two shops instead of one.

[Former_Member]

A question for those that have 2 shops, do you advertise one shop in the other ie if you like this check out my other shop" or do you keep them completely separate?

[GreenFoxStudio]

2 STORES! I split my stores in Feb and have seen a drastic improvement - one shop is quiet while the other is running me off my feet.

I also think it looks way more cohesive and it isn't alot more work.....good luck!

[AtHomeWithLolly]

This subject is popular in many team forums. I have put off doing it, simply because I can't afford confusion. Some handle the two shops well I see.

Please make sure you read all the Do's and Don'ts:
http://www.etsy.com/help/article/483#membership_multiple_accounts

[Former_Member]

Alexandra, you HAVE to disclose all accounts. I have all my shops listed in all my profiles. I also cross link in all my listings - so for this shop, at the bottom of each listing, I have:

Thank you for stopping by! I have two other shops on Etsy:

heartsabustin.etsy.com Handcrafted Artisan Jewelry

1madwoman.etsy.com Purses and Custom Bridal Clutches

You'd be amazed at how often I'll see one person heart stuff in two or all three shops when they check me out. So, yeah, I advertise all the shops.

[Former_Member]

I'm considering splitting into another shop as well - moving my crochet/knit items to their own once I have 100 items in the herb shop

[lippybrand]

You seem to be doing great as it is.

I set up another store for my older kids clothing. It was alot of work. You do get charged again for listing them all.

I forget to look at it and kinda just feel like closing it but figure I will wait untill they expire.

[Former_Member]

I recently went back to only one shop.
Moved my inventory from ecovintagevegan to my first etsy crudeco.
I just didn't have the time to spend on two shops. Went back to work part-time and with my full time normal job I just couldn't devote the time to promoting two shops.