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]

Yesterday I got to #140 sales :-) happy dance!!!

[Former_Member]

i'm celebrate because i just opened my shop
hope things going well for everyone of us :)

[Former_Member]

Just got my first sale!!

[OnePurlRow]

I opened my shop a few years ago but neglected it because I just didn't realise how Etsy works. This year I have been determined to give it a proper go. I've spent hours and hours building up an Etsian network, reading the Sellers Handbook, going through my items updating them to hopefully make them more Google friendly and promoting on various social media. I made a sale for 3 items last week. Yaay !!

[Former_Member]

Hello, I'm Kathryn. I just opened my shop in the end of October. I'm a photographer who loves making cards, invitations, flyers etc in Photoshop. I'm focusing on Christmas cards right now but I don't really know how to get people into my shop without spamming everyone on social media.

[VenusDanielle]

Just realized I reached my 100th sale! Working hard to improve everyday.

[SouthRanchCreative]

I just spent 2+ hours trying to figure out Etsy shipping profiles because I couldn't get it to calculate the right cost on multiple items and I FINALLY GOT IT!!!! I feel both a massive amount of relief and pride that I did it but also a little tinge of annoyance that it was so difficult. But my understanding of it multiplied about tenfold which is wonderful.

[Former_Member]

I am happy I reached this milestone. I opened my own shop. Lots of other milestones to cross. This thread has given me a reason to pat myself on the back ( My first mikestone was first sale)

[Former_Member]

Hit twenty sales, excited!

[hooknsaw]

I was just informed by a team mate (on an another team) that a set of our pot holders were shown in a TV series that we sold to earlier this year! Longmire, season 4 episode 7!

[RusticHandmadeMS]

Lisa and Don That's amazing! I love Longmire. I'll have to watch that episode again!

[CamCreativeDesign]

Just got my first 7 sales in the last week and yesterday, my first custom order! Two months of waiting felt like an eternity, but it finally feels like this might go somewhere!!

[Former_Member]

Thanks for this thread, it is really nice to share with the group as we reach our milestones.

My store has been open for about a week now. I sell glass jewelry and I recently had my first sale and then a few days after that, my first international sale! Very exciting!

[GeorgiaTeaberry]

Etsy contacted me and told me my sales were high enough that they will be sending me a 1099. Taxes, ugh, but I'll take it as a sign of success!

[Former_Member]

I have just finally after a year and a half made two sales on Etsy. I have a few followers and some people have favorited my items, but i feel lost here. I joined this group to help me make my store a success by getting advice from this group. I haven't really advertised. I sell a good bit to friends, co workers, and acquaintances but not on Etsy. What sucks is that my skin care products have really helped a lot of people with awful skin conditions and also ones without. I am just feeling a little defeated. Any advice?

[Former_Member]

Congrats on your recent sales, Angelia!

Your skin care products sound delicious (jasmine rose soap...heavenly!), and you seem to have a variety of products for different skin conditions. I think the main difference between selling online vs. in-person is, online, people cannot smell your products nor try them out. You therefore have to entice buyers with amazing product photography and packaging design that sets you apart from the pack. Some of your photos are blurry and your backgrounds distracting. I suggest using a solid backdrop for your photos and natural lighting. For instance, I shoot mine near a big window in my house at different times of day when the light is not direct, but ambient. (BTW, I'm never completely satisfied with my photography, but always trying to improve.)

Also, if you or someone you know has some graphic design or illustration talents, perhaps create some labels and packaging for your products that look more unique and less like a template. I wish you the best for a successful holiday sales season, whether online or off :)

I'm on this thread celebrating 100 listings and one-year in operation on Etsy.

[Former_Member]

My first milestone is getting my printable quote shop open. The next is to have everything in place for an official Grand Opening. I am working on Buy 2 get 3 promotion for the first week.

The best business advice I have found is a quote from Rachel Ray:

"Work hard, it gets you noticed".

It certainly has worked for her; she was "discovered" by Oprah!

Best of luck to all,
Marcie

[Former_Member]

Just got my first sale. Yeyyyy!!! :)

[Former_Member]

Hi, I have been interviewed by Etsy Melbourne team for our Etsy Local market. The link to this is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIEgEbQFB1U

[mjcreation]

I am very grateful Wow
Halloween was fantastic
and my customers are happy they send me pictures very happy
thank you

[PookieandJack]

We hit 800 sales! Our goal was to reach it by year's end, doing the happy dance!

[LadyDylana]

I put a lot of work into updating my tags and item names for relevancy and I must report that as of Oct 1, 2015 I have had 10 sales and approx. $600.00 in sales on Etsy. I am hoping to have 200 sales by Christmas. I have 3 Etsy shops and its so bitter sweet. Since opening back in 2009 I have a lot of setback with my health but I persevere and just keep doing what I am doing because I love it so much. My shops are what has kept me sane.

[EviApostolou]

My 50th order is already travelling to LA!
It feels so good!

[TheLuckyLily]

I've just made 150 orders, yay! Come on holidays, I'm ready for you!

Congrats to everyone who is reaching their milestones!

[Former_Member]

I was just able to take one day a week off from my day job to focus solely on Applesass. Such an enormous victory!

Congrats to all milestoners! (heh...that sounds funnier than intended)