Prepping for Christmas

[Former_Member]

Have you started yet?

[Chanchala]

No!!! I'm having enough trouble keeping up with summer :)

[Former_Member]

Christmas? Is it getting close? I'm concentrating on Aug,Sept. craft shows, as well as my etsy shop. HELP

[PotteryLodge]

I haven't started prepping for Christmas yet...this will be my first Christmas on Etsy so I am very nervous.

Mother's day was my first holiday on Etsy and it was CRAZY!! I had a very popular nesting set that kept selling and finally had to pull the listing because there was just no way I could make them in time. With this said, I am so nervous about the Christmas season.

Do you typically make extras of your most popular items? What if an item becomes popular during the season and you can only make so many in a short period of time?

Would love to hear how others prep for busy holidays.

[Former_Member]

I'm building up my ready-to-ship section but I have so many more ideas than time but isn't that everyone's problem???? lol

[TheDorothyDays]

I have lots of craft fairs coming up so trying to prepare for those and also listing like crazy on here too. I am trying to get my stock numbers up especially with my handmade items and I will start listing some items for the Christmas season too during the summer months. I am trying to prepare and list now for the autumn as last year I was super busy through the Christmas period and didn't get much time for making.

[Millennialgirlboss]

it's bit early for christmas? or should i start preparing now? im not sure and i don't really know?

[SpangGangDesigns]

^^^^^^ Exactly what Natasha said!!!! We are gathering ideas and starting to plan for fall and Christmas. We, too, are bulking up our "ready to ship" section!

[WithLoveFromLucille]

I was planning on it, but it turns out Father's Day season is longer than I've anticipated. [Gladly of course]

So as soon as things slow down, my shop will be headed in the Winter/Christmas season!

:)

[Former_Member]

I have all ready sold Halloween, Christmas, Fall and Thanksgiving wreaths. So............I would be on Christmas, like in February of this year! I have learned over the years that I need to stay AHEAD of each season by 4 months. This is wreaths, of course.

For example: Sold my Valentine Wreaths in Dec. and Jan. - Made them Oct.

Feb. and Mar. I made Christmas to list in July. Also, Christmas sells year round for some shops.

[Gardenmis]

Started ~ yes! Excited about some new collections that I shall debut in a few months just for Christmas! :)

[IndigoEmber]

Yes, I am working adding some new Christmas items to my store before June closes out.

[Former_Member]

I'm prepping for Halloween, but not Christmas yet. Summer is super busy for me, Halloween is crazy busy, but Christmas not quite as much.

[Former_Member]

I'm trying to build inventory but it's slow going!

[Former_Member]

Oh goodness. I am barely keeping my head above water with Father's Day!

[Mollymoojewels]

It's crossed my mind, but that's about it. I seem such a long way off.... perhaps I should get my butt into gear!

[Former_Member]

i have a few ornaments left over from last christmas so i will have something to list in first place and i think i will start making them somtime in august so i can start listing in september.
and of course i will continue making other things because friendship bracelets are sold all year long

[Pininkie]

Yes, I've started this week, to list next month.

[Former_Member]

I've slowly started making and listing holiday tags, lately I've been in the mood to make Halloween, and Christmas Tags. I debated back and fourth over it but I get a few views and I recently had a sale on one of my holiday listings. So I will continue to make holiday items.

[hipposdream]

A bit too early for me , summer is still to come and a lot of other holidays too....

[Former_Member]

You bet I've started!

I start prepping for one holiday as soon as its over.

My prep for Christmas 2012 started on January 1st.

[Swiejko]

oh gosh .. Christmas? already?
I must stock my shop with regular items, than I will start preparing for Christmas. I hope it will be october maybe... But ... maybe it will be too late?! Maybe I should start earlier!

[Former_Member]

If you are planning on selling for the Christmas season, I've found that many people start shopping around August.

Most post offices have international deadlines of around the end of November in order to guarantee Christmas delivery

[TandMArtsandCrafts]

Christmas Arrgghhh!! Trying to see past the summer first, but also trying to keep up a big supply of ready made bits so that when orders come in it is quicker, this way I hope I can keep on top of it all!!

[TerraRhapsody]

Yes!
I've booked myself into 3 craft fairs in September, October and Novembver, so I'm rapidly increasing the amount of stock I have for those, as well as setting aside a legion of items for my etsy shop- I keep them separate from my craft fair items to avoid the possibility of double sales.
After last year and having trouble keeping up with demand, I'm getting myself organised this year!