How has your shop evolved?

[#1]

We all start somewhere. I remember coming to Etsy, and thinking my shop could never measure up. My first photos were horrible. My titles and tags were ridiculous. My shop has gone through many changes in the year and a half since I started selling my bags here.

If you've been around for a while, and your shop has changed a lot since you first started, post a link to one of your oldest sales. I think it will help newer shops see how a lot of shops evolve over time.

(the idea for this thread was sparked from a discussion in the forums).

Here's mine. Look at how awful the background is. You can barely see the handbag! The tags are single words, and terrible.
https://www.etsy.com/transaction/65610045?

[LamplighterJewelry]

So awesome to see those early sales :) here's my first sale and one of my most recent for comparison....I think there must have been cosmic intervention on my first sale as it was sold within hours of being listed.
https://www.etsy.com/transaction/50472312?

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/126022885?

:) I was going to show my most recent sale but the photo wasn't the best, lol, still working on that skill.

[Former_Member]

I am loving reading/seeing this thread. I feel like I have already learned so much and have changed so much. More will change once I can purchase my new camera (doing my best with my cheap one for now). Saved half of what I need!

There is hope that I can improve....and that some of my current things will sell. lol.

[Former_Member]

Hello, my shop is only about ten days old, but I've already tried a few styles of photography, and am working through my tags, and I have to say these before and after listings are sooo helpful - thank you!

[Former_Member]

Julie, One of the things that I find interesting in these posts, is there are some shops where their photography and listings started out pretty fabulous. And then you look at where their shops are now, and their photography and listings are even MORE fabulous. It looks like no matter where we start, there's always room for improvement.

[Former_Member]

Come on, old-timers. Show us your very first listing.

[WilliamsGiftshop]

My first sale (June 2006):
https://www.etsy.com/transaction/86415
Transaction number 86415.....

I'm still selling these, but with much better product pictures:
https://www.etsy.com/transaction/108807
(And for much more money...)

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

I opened in 2009 selling my daughter's earrings and my cards and scrapbook embellishments. I sold a few die cuts to help pay my Etsy fees. I closed my shop for almost three years because I got tired of making cards but selling nothing but die cuts. I opened a second shop to concentrate on my daughter's jewelry but closed it when she lost interest. Now I'm back in my old (but renamed) shop making cards and selling lots of tags. I don't mind selling tags. I'm selling cards too but the tags seem to be the most popular items.

My first paper item sale:
https://www.etsy.com/transaction/19193959?

A friend bought it. Look at that awful cork background. LOL

[Former_Member]

This thread is great!!! I LOVE seeing how far you all have come ; )

Looking back makes me wonder how I ever managed to get those 1st few sales!

Here's one of my early ones (in truely terrible fashion!): https://www.etsy.com/transaction/53337382?

And a recent one:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/128153991/citrine-earrings-goldstone-chandelier?ref=shop_home_active

Still learning more and tweaking things on a regular basis; it's certainly a continually growth process.

[Former_Member]

holy crap Pam.

loud and noisy. Like Philadelphia

you have evolved

[Former_Member]

i love this thread! i know i have a long way to go before my shop is where i want it to be, but this was a great reminder that i have come a long way since i opened my shop 14 months ago!

here's my first sale:
https://www.etsy.com/transaction/72064425

compared to a more recent listing:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/123750217/new-jade-elephant-earrings

still far from perfect, but making progress!

[Former_Member]

I was here briefly in 2007. I had no digital camera. I think I used a throwaway.

not that it shows

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/5584304?

[Former_Member]

My first sale (June 2006):
www.etsy.com/transaction/86415
Transaction number 86415.....

I'm still selling these, but with much better product pictures:
www.etsy.com/transaction/108807
(And for much more money...)
........................

that first sale has better pics than I do now.

[JoArtyJo]

This is a fun idea :-)

Here is one of my first sales. I am actually a little embarrassed to post this!

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/61082402?

The tags are actually okay but that's about the only good thing I can say! Can't believe anyone bought it! Needless to say there aren't many this bad amongst my sold items.... I didn't really start making many sales until I started making my colouring pages. And I'm still selling the same ones over and over now about 18 months later!

[TheLandlockedSailor]

My first sale: https://www.etsy.com/transaction/24864440?

That black background is actually fabric, not Photoshopped-- Why didn't I use white?? Ha ha.

[Former_Member]

I love this topic! Thank you so much for posting this, it really is helpful!

[Former_Member]

Bea - Your old photos are NICE. Your new photos are REALLY nice.
Judy - huge difference!
Tequisha - Your old earrings photo reminds me of my old bag photos. Busy busy busy.
Janice - Oh my. I think you win the "i want my item to fade into the background" prize - hilarious!
Alex - your old is much better than my old!
Joanne - ugggh that red background is morbid! And it's blurry. Look how far you've come - wow!
Bosun - That black background is pretty bad, but not horrible. But your newer photos are really pretty!
Tara - I'm having so much fun looking at these. I think it helps to give a little perspective.

[Former_Member]

Can I post with any more exclamation points? !!!!!! Sorry about that. (!)

[Former_Member]

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/54656347

That was my first sale and unfortunately my pics have not improved much! Still my biggest challenge!

Pamela-

Your newer pics are fabulous!!! Love your shop!

[Former_Member]

Andi, your old photo is great! I feel like mine aren't that good yet. (and thanks) :)

[WhatCandySays]

My second transaction

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/38996172

................I sitll couldn't understand why it was sold....

then, compare with this one, (please look the second photo)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/128002946/you-are-my-reason-to-be-happy-milk?ref=shop_home_active

LOL~~~

[Orchiada]

My shop has had lots of changes also, however unlike most if not all of you here, I have just gotten my first sale two weeks ago. However, I have done lots of change in my pics and tags and promo and etc. Still though, here is a link to one of my first listings (lol, it is still listed and i will be redoing the pics for it)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/118874375/chip-bead-choker-and-bracelet-set?ref=shop_home_active

[SelkieCrochet]

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/31375198?

time for me to cringe...that was my first sale -- check out the 'lovely' background and fuzzy photos which I took myself -- it's hard to take a half-way decent photo of wrist warmers on yourself!

I still don't know why I listed that pair, when they weren't a perfect pair -- when they sold I very quickly made another pair, which DID match and sent them instead!

this would be I guess a more representative listing for me nowadays

https://www.etsy.com/listing/115506320/alpaca-fingerless-mittens-wrist-warmers?ref=shop_home_active

I know I have a long way to go still but at least my photos are in focus nowadays (generally!)

[SantasSockCentral]

I do actually like this picture of my first cushion cover sold:
https://www.etsy.com/transaction/52265909

I don't sell cushion covers anymore, they take too long to make and I don't like sewing on buttons. I realized I could never have enough in stock, although I enjoy knitting the cable patterns. Ironically, I get lots of views from pinterest for these sold listings.

[WilliamsGiftshop]

I like that picture too, Gigi!

Thanks, Pamela!

For us oldtimers you also have to remember that pictures on Etsy were smaller back in the days. I used 400x400 px back then. Now usually 500x500 px for my small items (even if Etsy claims they should twice that size, but there really is no need for that).

[mylittlemookie]

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/60503187?

My first sale....holy crap my tags were horrible!! I think my photos are a bit better now :)