I'm a little concerned

[EarthlieTreasures]

I'm just wondering with all the hype about the holiday season being so busy here, what happens in the first few months of the new year? This is my first holiday season here, and although I'm doing okay, I'm hoping it doesn't screech to a halt... I'm at this everyday and I don't mind working it, but do not want to get frustrated in those long winter months approaching... Anyone have any input? Thanks.

[artpassionsdesign]

Just keep doing what you're doing. It takes time to build a business here on Etsy. You'll have ups and downs. Just keep moving forward but stay in the moment.

[EarthlieTreasures]

Omgosh artpassion... Is that a record here for that number of sales!!!!!
INCREDIBLE!,,,,

[artpassionsdesign]

Remember, I sell supplies so it's not an outlandish number but it took 4 years to get there! That's why I advise you to be patient and vigilant and continue to work on your shop everyday! Your day will come.


BTW, there are suppliers that are in 6 digits of sales. THAT blows my mind!!!!!!!

[Former_Member]

November has been bad... not AS bad as October and September, but still awful. ://

Looking back at my stats, it looks like my most successful months were May and August. What about you all?

[Former_Member]

It depends on what you sell! Calendars sell really well for me in January, but not so much in July. My lowest view month this year was August, and January was just as busy as December, February as busy as November. It all depends on how you work with the flow of the seasons I think.

[PiecesofMeCardsnMore]

I just reopened this shop on Oct. 15 (it was closed for almost 3 years) and as of right now I've gotten 24 sales since Nov. 3. That blows my mind! When I reopened I figured I'd be lucky if I got one Christmas sale. Tonight I'm assembling 32 mini envelopes and 16 mini cards (six made-to-order sales from this weekend).

I'm also hoping it doesn't slow down after the holidays. But then again, after today's four sales, I've learned to be careful what I wish for!

[Former_Member]

It's always good to put back some of your profit for the next month just in case it's slow. but I believe January and February will be about the same, just different holidays to plan for.

[Former_Member]

January and February were two of my best months last year -- Valentine's Day.

[EarthlieTreasures]

Yay. So glad to hear all this. Trying to stay optimistic!!!!! Patience is not my best virtue!!!

[EarthlieTreasures]

Artpassion, I'll most likely be purchasing from you if I make it here!!!!!

[Former_Member]

Yes, gotta keep at it! This is my second Christmas season on ETSY. My first year the summer was very slow, fall/winter fantastic. This past year summer was much better, fall/winter a little slower than last year. I just keep plugging along. I do find when I have closer to 100 items in my shop, I sell more. I am at about half that now. I am trying to lower inventory though because I will be traveling to MO and staying there a few months, so I don't want to lug a bunch of stuff in the car. I'll stockup on inventory there because MO has some great items for what I sell. Just be persistent, keep a decent amount of inventory and the best thing about ETSY to me is the support.

[ScrapendipityDesigns]

I am curious to see how things will roll along as well, I am close to my 3rd month selling my patterns (started selling them Sept 12, 2012 even though my shop has been open longer) and things are ramping up nicely as of now, I am just hoping things don't stop either!! :) I do know you do just have to keep working at it though. Any business, online or offline, takes years to see consistent profits. Gotta keep reminding myself of that!!

Cheers!
Rachel

[CopperLeafStudios]

like others have said, it really depends on what you sell -- and also your marketing efforts. A lot of people spend their Christmas money in January, or may treat themselves to something now that they are done spending for others. If you sell items that would fit that type of purchase, you could do very well. As others have said, Valentine's Day can be a great time to market if you have items that make sense.

My shop is one of those that does grind to a halt at the beginning of the year -- I make a point to schedule larger commissions during that time, and I also take some time to relax, decompress, and catch up on administrative stuff. A break can be a good thing :}

[JudyStalus]

I agree with everyone that it depends on what you sell. I find that my photographs sell pretty evenly all year with a little spike in the spring probably because I sell a lot of flowers.
But I also have a knit accessory shop and I get about 70 % of my sales during the holidays.

[mimileather]

In theory, January and February will be when people use the Etsy gift card Santa brought them. ;)

[HeritageCurrentCo]

I noticed that Black Friday through Cyber Monday was busy for me, but it's slowed down a LOT since then. Definitely one of my slowest years, holiday-wise. Seems like people are waiting longer to buy, or are still skittish about the economy. Hmm.

[Former_Member]

I really appreciate the optimism and all the great words of encouragement !

[MythOfTheWild]

It usually does screech to a halt, I've not seen it slowly wind down at all. I usually get lots of sales, and then POOF, all gone. The views wind down, but the sales don't.
That's my limited experience, anyway.
I don't recall New Year, though. I don't think it's as busy, but January sales do start around then, so you never know.

[Former_Member]

This is my first holiday season selling online too, OP, so I understand the constant wondering. I'd like to be able to celebrate my 1st Etsyversary (in Feb) with a bang not a whine. For awhile (May-June), online sales were nonexistent, but I'm glad I persevered as I've made roughly half of my total profit since then. Proof that hanging in there is worth it.

I'm curious to see if/how my pattern of online sales will match my offline sales after the holidays. Last Jan/Feb offline, I was swamped! It was partly due to people spending the cash and Visa gift cards they received, and partly due to dancers needing costumes for their spring recitals and the spring-summer dancing workshops. I already have custom orders specifically purchased for those, so I hope it keeps going.

[LettersAndPine]

I have to admit, I'm a little worried too. I just opened my shop in September, so I'm seeing sales pick up, but I don't know if it because people are doing shopping for the holidays or if it's because my self-promoting is working. By this time next year, I should have some idea of what to expect.

Good point about the gift cards, though, Meg! I'm going to be keeping my fingers crossed for lots of gift card sales coming up!