Post your questions for the experts!

[#1]

Hi everyone!

We are going to host some Online Labs for the holidays, and we'd love to get your questions! The guests will be:

Top sellers: PalomasNest and BlackbirdTees. Ask them anything about selling during the holidays (or more generally, successful selling).
http://www.etsy.com/shop/palomasnest
http://www.etsy.com/shop/blackbirdtees

AND

Emily Bidwell, who is an Etsy merchandiser - she curates emails and on-site merchandised areas. Ask her about popular items during the holidays and her tips for getting your items featured!

You can see the schedule of the upcoming Labs here:

http://www.etsy.com/community/online-labs

Thanks in advance, everyone!

[PamGeorgeArt]

Emily

Do you think it is beneficial to change out my banner for the holidays to something festive and to give the shop a holiday feel? I am a newbie and don't want to waste money if you think it isn't necessary. Also, should I take down any jewelry that looks summery?

[Former_Member]

I want to know how to boost my sales! I would love a shop critique. Are my prices wrong? what about the layout? etc. It is just starting to pick up some, but would love to at least get one sale a week.

[Pauletta]

How do you accommodate all the shipping variances that need to be made with only the few 'fields' that are allotted?! How and when do you promote for XMas?
Also interested in shop critique.
thanks!

[Piekfotografie]

Hello!
I'm on Etsy from February this year but up till now, no sales. Which becomes a bit of a bummer. So the question is where to work on. Maybe could be that my prices are too high? I participate in different teams, and make treasuries. About the treasuries; i'm curious how it is that many get I don't know how much views and I get compare to those nearly nothing..is it timedifference? tags? Thanks!

[Former_Member]

I have one WISH: Please give me shop critique!!!
I think is everyone's wish and dream, it would great real help!
I sell women clothes in high-end, this is my day job, extremely hard job, I would love to have some return. I try to do perfect, to use quality & original fabrics, hot today style, excellent & expencive photographers & models.
Is it mistake to do so? this is my burning question.

[Former_Member]

I opened my shop on August 30th of this year. I am very new to the etsy world :) I have used the apps available that critique the shop and have fixed everything found. One user was kind enough to add me to her treasury and told people to stop by and check it out. I have had many views and a lot of people have favorited my earrings but I only have one purchase. Am I doing something wrong? Any feedback on my shop would be so greatly appreciated.

[Former_Member]

How do you compete when you first open a shop that makes custom listings? I can't make 100's of expensive bridal bouquets ahead of time just to take photos and list them in my shop - I will be taking custom orders mostly... but until I make sales, I only have 12 items listed and am drowned out by the big sellers who have been here for years.

[Former_Member]

top sellers:
how often do you renew items? and how many items do you renew / day.

does that still work? or am I missing out on the real tricks to get exposure?

[Former_Member]

What are some ways you bring new customers to your shop? I want to continue to grow, and am needing new ideas to keep growing. Also I would love a shop critique! :)

[BusyBeeCandles4U]

I would love to have my shop critiqued!

What is the best way to promote the shop for the holidays?

[Former_Member]

Hi top sellers (congrats for that!)

I opened in January and started listing a couple months after that... I work full time away from my shop and would love to know your tips on how to effectively walk the line of time management and burnout when working a full time "other" job during the week. Sure, we all have our 'I can't deal with all of this right now!' moments, but to keep those to a minimum, how do suggest someone in my position could find balance while still gaining momentum with my shop?

The helpful tools I have learned so far: make short lists and conquer a few tasks at a time instead of tackling a list a mile long, work one hour per night on my shop, take full advantage of free weekend time, and take a day off each week to re-set my focus and ambitions for the upcoming day/week/month!

Thank you!
=^-^=

[Former_Member]

Hi top sellers: Where do you draw the line when it comes to spending time promoting and creating new products? I find when I get too angsty, I need to chill and just create some new things.

[Former_Member]

I would love a shop critique. I have been on etsy since may of this year, I have many people liking my items and favoriting my shop however i have had very few sales. I would love some tips as to how to make my shop more viable especially with the coming holiday season.

Thank you for your time.

Hillari

[starlightwoods]

Top sellers: Not sure if this was asked already- did not read through this entire thread, but when does the holiday rush start? Do you offer Black Friday deals? I feel that I do not have much room to discount my items, not sure if i will be left out of everything if i do not offer them...What do you do after the holidays to keep momentum going for a bit longer?

[BackyardPatchHerbs]

I have not had a chance to look to see if this was asked, but someone told me my shop needed more cohesive photos. I am not sure what that means other than moving to a white background which does nothing for my herbs. I guess this is asking for a shop critique.

I make new herb blends constantly but seem not to be able to promote them well in the shop. Any suggestions from the Top Sellers?

[MollyFinds]

I would like to know about repeat customers, creating a mailing list etc.
Can we create one from previous customers with the option of them opting out?

[Former_Member]

Love the return of Online Labs! I find all the discussions to be very helpful.

[TangoBrat]

Top Sellers - Will I ever have lots of sales?

[Former_Member]

We are new to etsy so this will be our first Christmas here! Our products makes wonderful wedding anniversary gifts and baby gifts but we seem to be having diffculty gettting noticed and thus...getting our first sale.

Is there a way we could have an etsy member look at our shop and critique the collection? We wonder if if's too confusing for a potential customer to start a sale!

[SterlingJoyBoutique]

Maybe some one is monitoring these post. Every one is new again. Still no help for the questions asked.
:(
ETSY Don't start threads, if no one is going to answer questions.

[SUZOOM]

Hi! I'm also very interested in a shop critique. How do I go about getting one? I appreciate your help :-) Suzanne

[Former_Member]

I would also like a shop critique, how do we do this?
What would be your best advice for how you get more traffic to your site?
With international orders what do you find is the best way to ship?
Thank you.
Keri

[Former_Member]

Why do all the shops featured on the front page have photos with plain boring white backgrounds? I think it is much more interesting to see photos that have some color other than white!

[Former_Member]

Whoops. New at this. I was going to post a question. Sorry.

[ipaintitpretty]

How do I get noticed? I get some views but have only had one sale.