January usually THIS slow?

[Former_Member]

Im new to etsy, but not new to retail, Im a laid off retail manager. Are January sales usually the slowest sales month of the year? Does it pick up when tax returns start coming in? Are federal holidays usually better for sales? I did better during MLK weekend.

[Former_Member]

We have had 650+ sales this month so not slow for us.

[Former_Member]

January has been my 2nd best month ever so far on Etsy.

So much depends on the kind of items you sell, how many items are in your shop, how good your photos are, HOW GOOD YOUR SEO IS, what you're doing to promote your items, etc.

[Former_Member]

What is SEO?

[1AEON]

It's going bur slower than usual, I'm sure it will pick up.
time to work on inventory, promoting, social media, networking, studying your "field" :)
Feb 1st! is a payday for many folks!

[Former_Member]

My January sales surpassed last years Jan.sales so my business continues to grow but I dont let up on improving it one bit. I'm always working on marketing, product lines and development. Just as any successful business does.

[GirlpowerKnits]

Cindy, SEO is search engine optimizer.

Been a slow Jan. for me, but better than last year (my first Jan on etsy, made 1 sale.)

[Former_Member]

Cindy, SEO is the difference between brick-and-mortar retail, and online retail. It's Search Engine Optimization, and it's the #1 thing you need to learn/use to be successful selling online. I'd suggest reviewing the seller handbook, or joining a SEO team.

[Former_Member]

Cindy did you see how much mustache stuff rhymeswithorange is selling?? Change this listing:Lunch bag insulated reusable fabric with mustache design

To: Mustache Lunch Bag, reusable, insulated

....and see if it makes a difference. It's the first three words that get picked up by SEO, so go with any trends

[NeedlesnPinsStichery]

January is not too bad for me. It really starts to slow down around March and then the summer is pitiful. :)

[Former_Member]

janet...i changed the mustache bag title ....ill keep you posted....thanks for your help!

[Former_Member]

Cindy, same thing with the cat bag. Plenty of people love cats, and don't know they want/need an insulated lunch bag...til they see one with cats! So call it a cat lunch sack!

[Former_Member]

It's definitely slowed down from November and December, but my business income this month has been 25 times that of last January so I'm not complaining. :)
It's taken a ton of work to get to this point.

[ReginaContreras2]

I've had zero January sales :( I know that people must be burning candles somewhere

[ForgedMettleJewelry]

Januarys have been pretty good to me, but then again that's when I was born so I'm thinking that is swaying my answer.

But Mays have also been pretty decent, which is when everyone here in the US get their tax check back...

[MetalRoosterOrganics]

I too am from a retail background, and can relate with you totally! I had a really unsuccessful home decor business with only one sale, and so I closed up shop mid-December and switched over to bath and body because while yes, it is slightly saturated, I would hopefully get repeat and consistent sales this way. I've used this month to basically polish everything, learn what really works and smells amazing as far as the soaps go, and am really working on making my own wordpress theme. I'm taking my time yes, but my shop will be all the more quality for it. January and August to me at least was very slow, so I've been using this month to basically get established, as well as I plan on expanding out in August before the school year to body wash, lip balms, and really working my blog presence. I hope by then I will have at least 100 if not more items, and will be on my way to the top. This year I'm going for the gusto at least.

[ValuableCr8tions]

This is my first January on Etsy and it seems slow to me, but I am hoping things will pick up soon :))

[TheSalvagedEdge]

In January I start to sell more items for people themselves and not as many gifts. I tend to sell different items in waves at different times of the year. The trick (along with good SEO and pictures) is to be able to have something "in season" all year long.

[TerraRhapsody]

January was slow for me- even slower than last year, but I have my fingers crossed :)

[NevaStarr]

Jan is generally my slowest month, I use it as a bit of a break to recover from Christmas. But then again I sell wind chimes & many garden type items.

[Former_Member]

well january is a little slower than the months before christmas, at least for me but i hope things will pick up again. i´m planning a few new things in the next months and i hope they will sell well.

[Former_Member]

The beginning of the month for me was busy busy but this week has been very slow... Hopefully this weekend I get some orders!!

[AmysVinylCreations]

I had an amazing November & December, Jan is slower for me, but I have only been open since Aug.. I am in the process of coming up with new ideas hopefully they will do well! Good Luck All! :)

[Former_Member]

Cindy, I had a look at your shop. Nice lunch bags! But I'm not sure why you are asking if Jan. is slow... You've only been open for 2-3 months and your Jan. sales look excellent! It's not often that a new shop can make hat many sales so quickly!! So you must be doing some things right, keep it up!!