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?

[Former_Member]

Thank for sharing, everyone! So fun.

Haleigh, that sock monkey onsie was adorable!

[Former_Member]

Thanks for this thread, Pamela! It's cool to see how everyone has evolved :)

[TashinkaBeadingHeart]

Wow, this is a great thread! It is so interesting to see how shops have evolved: photography, product, color schemes - everybody is doing so well!

I have a long way to go, but I think I'm improving in some areas, anyway - first sale:

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/59871856

and here's my most recent:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/128159568/boho-tribal-multitiered-necklace-brown

[Former_Member]

Hanna, I like your older and your newer photos. I'm impressed when I see shops who start out pretty much ready to go. My shop definitely was not that kind of shop.

Come on people, don't be shy or embarrassed. Show us where you started.

[EmmaDickieDesign]

This isn't my very first transaction, but it shows just how bad my photos used to be! https://www.etsy.com/transaction/62475840 It was a lovely scarf, but I can't believe someone bought it based on such a terrible photo!

There's still room for improvement but my photography skills have definitely come on by leaps and bounds since then!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/128704014/cable-scarf-neckwarmer-pink-chunky-wool

[Former_Member]

Emma, Thanks for sharing!

That first photo was pretty bad. Your new photos are nice, clean and bright!

[annakingjewellery]

This is a really interesting thread. I often wonder how I got noticed at all when I first started. Here is one of my first sales:

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/46671126

The photo is awful, the title is minimal and the tags don't even include the words "felt" or "necklace" and I haven't included the colour of the necklace either. I had the word "striking" as one of my tags - I'm sure that will have created lots of views :s

Here is a similar item I sold recently:

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/122349241

The photo is a lot clearer and brighter, the title is a lot more descriptive and the tags are hopefully more effective.

With all this compare and contrast I feel like I'm back at school.

Anna

[CCNdesigns]

Okay, here's my first sale on Etsy.

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/59893066

The lighting in this photo was horrible and I can't believe this netted my first sale, particularly with keywords like "clock" and "book". I didn't even know what SEO stood for at first. LOL.

I don't actually sell these kind of bookmarks anymore which is one way that my shop has evolved. I've refined my product offerings over time and am getting ready for another round soon. :)

Here's a current listing:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/85041663/fabric-coasters-in-multi-color-flower?ref=shop_home_active

[RubyRobinBoutique]

Ha I love this thread, it's really making me smile :)

God my early pictures are so embarrassing, I can't figure out how I wasn't mortified by them considering how fussy I am just a few months on. Oh god it's so cringey...

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/95882439

[marokel]

Wow, this is really interesting. My tags really were very bland
and my pictures have improved.

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/20056391

https://www.etsy.com/listing/128728103/bronze-age-crystal-necklace?ref=shop_home_active

[Former_Member]

This is my first sale two weeks after opening my shop.
https://www.etsy.com/transaction/26202922?
at least I don't have have to deal with the light at 7800ft anymore. Cringe worthy pictures and tags. LOL I'm still working on it :)