Official Success Celebration Thread!

[#1]

This team is dedicated to sharing business advice in a supportive environment. From the day you first set up your shop to the day you think about quitting your day job, there's so much to learn. Luckily, one of the best things about selling on Etsy is the support and encouragement from other sellers.

Whether you’re brand new to selling on Etsy or you can count the years on both of your hands, you probably have some milestones that you’d like to celebrate with all of us. Post your milestone in this thread. Every month, we'll highlight some of our favorite posts, so join the celebrations!

Please also introduce yourself in your post if you’re new to the Etsy Success Team—describe what you sell and how long your shop has been open.

Here are some examples of milestones (but remember that all personal milestones big or small are worthy of celebrating!):

• You made your 1st sale / 1st international sale / 1st custom order
• You reached (x) # of sales
• You added (x) # of listings in your shop
• You have (x) # of views / favorites / admirers
• You received positive feedback from a buyer
• Your shop was featured in the press or in social media
• You recently opened your shop
• You’re celebrating your Etsyversary

[Former_Member]

I opened our shop in June with a goal of posting at least one item every day! I posted our 89th item today!

We started our social media campaign in July (with the wonderful advice from Etsy) and we hit 550 followers on Facebook today!

I just started rejiggering tags and descriptions this last week to improve relevancy and immediately got 2 new sales!

We are just starting out, but so far this has been an amazing experience and made for an incredible month!

[Former_Member]

I opened my shoppe this past November and during July, I made it to 1000 views! So excited!

[CrazyKnitterCreation]

Milestones for July : I got a new follower and my shipment was well received in Australia :)

[distractingme]

My shop has been open since April 2011.
I love Etsy! I am so humbled by all the creative people here!
Etsy allows me to be creative and take vacations without the worry of who will cover my shift! It allows me to keep dreaming!

[CasesLab]

In July I reached my 700th sale :)

[AzureBracelet]

Made my 10th sale! Yeay!! :)

[BeadworkAndCoe]

I am used to having months between each sale, but in July I actually had 2 in one month - Happy Dance :)

[umeone]

Although I missed my Goal of reaching 300 Sales, I am closer at 268! I did make my Goal of at least 150 items listed!

[designedbyuna]

Hello Everyone,
I opened my shop 10 days ago and had my first sale 8 days ago. I was thrilled to get my shop off the ground :-)

[Former_Member]

I opened my shop few months ago, (Nov 2013) and made my first sale in July 2014! I am still working to improve my shop and sale.

[Former_Member]

I sold my first order of bow ties! And I signed up for various social media outlets for my etsy shop in preparation for the Fall season.

[Michelleshandcrafted]

I had 26 sales in July, my biggest number of sales ever since opening my shop in December 2011.

[kaapoole]

Hi, all!

Although I'd been stagnating on Etsy for a couple of years, I finally got serious about it at the beginning of this year. At that point, I rededicated my shop to a new purpose - raising money for animal charities through my art, thus combining my two passions. I decided to pass on 100% of my sales proceeds to two of my favorite animal charities.

Sales started out slow but then began picking up, thanks especially to three repeat customers. My proceeds were accumulating, but I felt that I wanted my first charity donations from my shop to be substantial, so I waited until the "time felt right."

The time was right in July when I donated $750 to Idaho Black Bear Rehab and $750 to Fat Kitty City. I can't remember when anything felt as good as writing those checks! So that was milestone #1 - passing the money on.

Two others came from that. The first was that I shared that success with my customers by sending out the first of a bi-mothly newsletter through Constant Contact. After all, the success was really all of ours as each customer contributed to those donations.

The second was my decision to make regular bi-monthly contributions to correspond with future newsletters. (As an aside, writing the newsletter really helped me think through my business and what I'm planning for the future. J ust wish I could grow the mailing list - maybe with Etsy shoppers who have favorited me, but I don't see access to those email addresses.)

My shop process is slowly falling into place. Next, inspired by recent Etsy Success newsletters, I'm going to work on my shop cohesion.

Thank you so much for all the support you give Etsy sellers. We have a small local group of new Etsy sellers here in my town and your posts are a constant inspiration that we share with each other.

Kaaren

PS I just realized I can add an invitation to sign up for my newsletter in my shop info - will do!

[Former_Member]

It's been two weeks of "firsts"!!! I opened my hat shop and have been scrambling to do the bits I knew nothing about..shipping, tags, advertising, sites, and many more. As for goals- well, opening is the main one. I've been thinking about it for years!

At first, hardly anybody looked and that was depressing, but now it's over 100 and scattered over the globe. Exciting! So that's another goal achieved!
Next goal? A sale would be fantastic!

I've posted various headpieces from small clips to fascinators to cloche hats because I have no idea if there is any type that will be of interest...probably it will be the right person at the right time. Upward and onward!!

[Former_Member]

Is this the right place to ask a shipping question? International UPS flat rate- are there any taxes etc that I have to pay over the flat rate? If this is not the right place, I apologize.

[Former_Member]

I just sold my first four items. What a relief!! Keep thinking positive and good thing will happen!

[chattypress]

I have two shops here on etsy. I am thrilled that because of ETSY I was able to quit my day job (2 years ago) and haven't looked back! This july I hit a milestone of 10,000 sales. I never dreamed that was possible!

I am a firm believer that great customer service, a fun product and a passion for what you do makes all the difference

[Former_Member]

It has almost been a FULL YEAR since I decided to join Etsy! I absolutely love it! I have expanded as a business and have gotten opportunities I wouldn't be able to get by myself. I am VERY close to 100 sales and my baby shower baby food jars are such a huge hit! I am so glad I decided to go this route!!

Some months I am extremely slow, and others, like this month I have flourished... It is great to be able to get your product and name out there with the help of Etsy! Plus, people who purchase from Etsy know how much work it takes to making a handmade craft/product and it makes it much easier!

Thanks to you Etsy for helping me achieve my milestones!

[Former_Member]

I met my goals for July!

Made 3 sales (my goal was 2!)
Listed 10 more items in my shop!

I feel like there is still so much to learn from other sellers, and I am definitely appreciative of all of the information that is available on the teams and forums. I'm looking forward to learning more and tweaking as I go along.

Happy August!

[Former_Member]

I didn't meet any of my goals on July! However, I hope that August will be better and give me reasons to celebrate!

[woolpleasure]

3 sales yesterday
1 sale today
2 FP today

<3

[iLikeiLikeDesigns]

August is our anniversary month - THREE years on Etsy for us!! We started with jewelry and incorporated some hair bows, now we do hair bows, men's bow ties, PET bow ties and other pet accessories.

We've really learned to build our brand and find our strengths in the past three years. Pictures have been important for us and we continue to maintain our pictures to make them inviting. Also, we have made it a point to put a personal touch on all our shipments, usually in the form of a nice and short note to the buyer.

Love seeing others' celebrations and I hope with all anniversaries that you as a seller are learning new things every day. Etsy Success articles always help us brainstorm good and new things we can do.

[Former_Member]

Hello, I opened my shop on Jun 12, 2014. I have had 4 orders and celebrated my first International sale about 4 days ago. I thought about opening a shop for a long time before I did and now I am super happy that I did. For me this is not just what I love to do it is my dream. I pray everyday that I become more successful an am able to support my family doing this business of mine that I love and believe in so much. I have met some really nice knowledgeable and supportive people here on Etsy, I am greatful for that. I know that my Etsy shop will evolve into so much more on and off of the internet.
CONGRATULATIONS !! to all of you who are also celebrating things in your shop. May your dreams come true and we all support to help make it happen .
Sharie :)

[Former_Member]

I opened my shop on May , and now I've got 52 sales, there has many things I should to learn , ans your kindly advice will be appreciated

[Former_Member]

I made my first sale after being a member for quite some time!! I also noticed a surge of interest after I posted a very simple piece. It felt great to finally fill an order. :)