How do you get ahead?

[Former_Member]

I opened my shop in Feb. and sales have been slow but I get lots of views - Until this week! Views have renained the same but I made 6 (YES 6!!) sales PLUS one custom order, 1 item on reserve and a serious enquiry!! YES I'M A HAPPY CAMPER!!
It's kind of bittersweet because I've been working so hard to get my inventory up and now with the sales I need to build again.
Believe me I'm not complaining but how do people get lots of items while still selling?

[Former_Member]

I don't know how to answer that question, but I had to say, I love your shop! Your items are so cute! Also, we opened up shops in the same month, and I haven't had any sales yet. Hopefully things start looking up for me as well as they have for you! Good luck!

[kitticaps]

Nice job!!! You definitely deserve it - your items are precious. I can't really answer your question - I only have 7 sales - but usually it's a good idea during a slow time to make the most out of your time and create create create, so that when you get a lot of sales at once, you can spread the listings out once a day or every other day to list...

I was super excited when I got two sales on the same item within 12 hours. I went to sleep happy with the sale and then woke up SUPER happy to another sale! It's a great feeling.

[WendyHodgsonMudPups]

Completely agree! With the time I spend on reviewing, updating, correcting Etsy and networking, posting on Facebook and photographing then picasaing I don't get nearly enough time for actual sculpting and more important - quiet time to just think up ideas. But it is all so much fun and the lovely people I've met make it all worthwhile, love this internet stuff!

[NewBrideCo]

Hi Shannon,
Congratulations! you are doing great stuff.
One suggestion: If, you can make again the same items you sold, just list them again, you alredy have the photos and wrote everything about it; It'll save you time while you get inspired for your next project:)

[Former_Member]

One of the ways that I keep my inventory up is to do what NewBrideCo suggests and relist an item as soon as it has sold, but list it as a custom order. That way i don't have to have quite so much stock cluttering up my living room and I can show a good range of styles in different colourways without them all having to be made up and ready to go.

[WendyHodgsonMudPups]

That's what i do Emily, NewBride, I have a section called Custom Completed. I relist sold custom items and think of it as advertising. It keeps my numbers up and shows all my different styles of work.

[Former_Member]

I'm speechless! Congratulations! I just read the whole thread and then looked at your items and LOVE them! Great job! I do the same - meaning relisting a product as "made to order" once an item has sold and I know I have al the materials to finish it ASAP. Good luck!

[Former_Member]

Agree with the others. I love to relist custom items that I've sold because my customers sometimes come up with the greatest ideas & color combinations that I myself never thought of.

[Former_Member]

Oh my goodness! Your notebooks are soooo soooo cuteeee! I love them! Well, I just opened up shop in January so I don't think I'm that qualified to answer your questions. But like Michelle L., I use my slow time to create but I also use my just-before-I-drift-to-sleep time to think up new ideas.

[OffOnAWhimJewelry]

Congratulations on the sales! Nice! I always plan for re-listing items. Whatever I make becomes my 'inventory', that way I don't actually make the item until it's ordered. If life slows down, I work on new designs and ideas, but lately it's been busy with customized orders, that I have less time for actual new designs...

[Former_Member]

Thanks everyone for your kind words. I will sometimes use the same basic design but my papers and embellishments are always different making each book one-of-a-kind. I too lie awake in the wee hours of the morning thinking up new designs/ideas. I need to get busy and treat this 'hobby' as more of a business - and hopefully increase my inventory.Thanks again!

[Former_Member]

I have to say, I have been struggle with my shop for just over 12 months and and some of the simple idea's are the best. I recon - I have had just as many custom order's as sales - my total sales is around 45- and listing my custom orders as actual items is brillent! why didnt i think of that. Thanks for the tip, I will make use of this as well. Keep crafting Shannon thats all I can say as I know it will come!

[Former_Member]

So glad I found this discussion. I feel like I am always running to catch up. I sometimes sell things at shows or to friends and never even take pics. That will be so helpful at times, like now, when I
Just can't seem to get caught up enough to concentrate on something new.