Do you own two Shops????

[byTheArtBug]

Hi!
Though I am bit new to Etsy, But I have now added about 70 items in my shop, I have received this advice before also, and now I too feel that I should have two shops, One for cute stuff and other for decor.

Please help me decide, is it too early for two shops?
Is it a bad idea??
Easy to manage etc. etc.?

Any tips would be helpful.

Thanks in Advance.

[byTheArtBug]

any tips would help. please....

[Former_Member]

I have two shops, www.broodbaby.etsy.com and www.JwrobelStudio.etsy.com . I started with everything in one shop and quickly decided that the look was too disjointed and my audience was confused. I separated out the baby stuff form the adult and home and haven't looked back. Merchandizing, marketing, everything is easier. The only thing that I wish is that Etsy would let you log in once to manage all your shops.

[byTheArtBug]

so you have to log out of one to log into other. hmm.

[Former_Member]

I have two shops... http://www.etsy.com/shop/LostnowFoundVintage and http://www.etsy.com/shop/IntimateRetreat

I knew right from the beginning I was going to have two shops.. One for vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories, and one for my lingerie. Has worked out well so far.

[Former_Member]

Do you think my shop looks disjointed? I dont know which of my items is going to be the most successful so I don't know where to focus my energies...

[Former_Member]

Have have two shops. . .

[Former_Member]

jwrobel, your stuff is awesome, you are super talented! I especially love this pillow
http://www.etsy.com/listing/70960700/sunflower-hooked-pillow

I just feel like I dont have the energy to fill two shops...

[CalicoBloomVintage]

I also have two shops, http://www.etsy.com/shop/CalicoBloomVintage?ref=si_shop AND http://www.etsy.com/shop/CalicoBloom?ref=si_shop

As others have mentioned, combining baby knits with vintage clothing was disjointed. By splitting, I feel that the vintage has sold better than it would have mixed together.

It is a chore sometimes to log in and out. Aaargh. Also, it could mean double-time in teams, treasuries and favorites etc... That being said, a cohesive shop is probably a more successful shop. Good luck!

[byTheArtBug]

LostnowFoundVintage you have great shops!
Thanks for the advice.

[Former_Member]

If you use two different browsers you can stay logged into two different shops, works a lot better for me than to keep logging in and out all the time. :)

I use Firefox for: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Modrn
And Chrome for: http://www.etsy.com/shop/QuirksAndCrafts

[Former_Member]

CassyzCutiez,

Thank you for the compliment - I have worked really hard on improving my pictures and getting them just right (this is Lostnowfoundvintage I'm just working in my other shop) and Quirks.. that is a really great idea. That would save me a lot of time logging in and out.

[twopennylane]

Quirks, you clever jellybean! I never thought of that!

I'm a two-shopper - this one for my vintage style jewellery, and http://www.etsy.com/shop/twobadbananas for my kawaii jewellery. If you take a peek you'll see they're outrageously different. I did sell both styles in twobadbananas originally, but realised pretty quickly that whilst I'm happy to dress like Japan-threw-up-on-me one day, and then like a vintage belle the next, the rest of the world generally sticks to one style! I don't regret splitting them, in fact, I'm so relieved I had the foresight to do it - marketing is SO much easier for me than it would be.

[Former_Member]

Yay, I've always wanted to be a jellybean! \o/

[Former_Member]

i have two shops because i make two completely diferent sets of things. and it is not too much trouble logging off one and onto another. and sometimes i put one shop on vacation and focus on the other.

[byTheArtBug]

Thanks CalicoBloomVintage!
Quirk that' so clever, thanks.

[PeonyandThistle]

Have just opened a second shop (we started here in February) because we felt our handmade was getting lost in amongst the vintage. We want to expand on the handmade too (once we get a chance) and stock supplies so keeping everything in one shop was going to look a real jumble.

So far I'm finding it a bit hard to keep track of and try to promote 2 shops but I'm sure I'll get used to it!

Our shops are:
Vintage - http://www.etsy.com/shop/peonyandthistle
Handmade and supplies (still in its very early days and waiting for its first sale!) - http://www.etsy.com/people/HandmadebyPandT

[byTheArtBug]

Thanks P&T,
All the best for your new shop.

[PatrisCorner]

QuirksAndCrafts says

If you use two different browsers you can stay logged into two different shops, works a lot better for me than to keep logging in and out all the time. :)

I use Firefox for: www.etsy.com/shop/Modrn
And Chrome for: www.etsy.com/shop/QuirksAndCrafts
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is the diference between the browers?
Which do you think works better with Etsy?

[ConcertinaPress]

I have two shops and two different looks for both:

RuthBleakley.etsy.com for my handmade books

ConcertinaPress.etsy.com for invitations

I find that I don't give equal attention to both now, and spend most of my time on this account - but I think it's good to narrowly target your audience instead of a catch all store. I know my invite store has done better than my catch-all books+art+stuff store (but then again, I do pay more attention to this one!)

[Former_Member]

Using different browsers for each shop is also helpful for GA, Craftopolis and other like sites. If you're using those, you're not just logging in and out of Etsy, you have to log in and out of those and/or re-import the data.

[Former_Member]

I do not own two shops but I will say from a buyer's perspective that if your shop has a collection of unrelated items it is not interesting to me. If I want baby clothes I will stay in a shop that exclusively has baby clothes - not one with a few baby things and vintage housewares (just using these categories as an example). As others have said it makes promoting your shop much easier if you stick with like items. If you don't have the energy for two shops (one shop sure is all I can handle!!) then go with what you like the best. Good luck.

[Former_Member]

PatrisCorner says

QuirksAndCrafts says

If you use two different browsers you can stay logged into two different shops, works a lot better for me than to keep logging in and out all the time. :)

I use Firefox for: www.etsy.com/shop/Modrn
And Chrome for: www.etsy.com/shop/QuirksAndCrafts
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is the diference between the browers?
Which do you think works better with Etsy?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They're very similar in functionality, I can't say I miss anything when I'm using either of them. Both have lots of addons available, and good support. Chrome is my main browser as I prefer its clean look and found it very intuitive already when it was in beta. It's a great for "browser newbies" too, I've installed it for both my little brothers and my grandmother . :)

In regards to your second question I'd have to say that right now Firefox seems to be more Etsy friendly. Not based on my own experience, as Chrome has treated me well, but I've seen several bug reports involving from Chrome users on the Etsy forums over the past month. Of course these things change with each site and browser update.

[WrappedToPerfection]

I have two shops, also... and I keep two browsers open so I log between both at the same time. (Firefox and IE) I think Firefox is easier to maneuver for Etsy.

Originally, I just had Wrapped to Perfection, but then I started adding vintage things. Now I've moved most of my vintage items to Anabelle's Attic http://www.etsy.com/shop/AnabellesAttic?ref=si_shop and it's much better.

I'm actually thinking of opening a third shop because I may expand my line of note cards... haven't decided yet though.

[Former_Member]

I currently have only one shop for my artwork and handmade sketchbooks. They're different items, but I think they work well together (if they don't, someone please tell, lol!)

I'm going to be adding some make-up bags as well to this shop, but if they do well I might move them over to their own shop, but I'm not sure yet...