Seriously Thinking of Quitting

[#1]

So discouraged lately. I've been open for over a year and have only made 50 sales. I can't afford to do this as a hobby and it has been my dream in forever to have my own little business. I have to work part time at an outside job to make ends (barely) meet so I can't devote 100% of my time to my etsy shop. I've joined teams, made treasuries, worked on SEO, advertised in and outside of Etsy. It seems like nothing works. My views are low and the favs I get are mostly from participating in team threads ("like an item from the shop above you"). I've been working on my photos and think I have improved them. Tried to improve my product and offer new items, slowly working my way towards the magic 100.

Right now I just feel like crawling into a black hole and not coming out. Is my stuff just bad quality? Am I just fooling myself to think that I deserve to do better? I come from a large family and have always compared myself to my brothers and sisters, who are successful, and thought, "well, Martha, you're just not good enough." I thought that being creative was one way I could make my mark. I'm definitely having those old feelings of being inferior and wanting to just disappear. Somebody tell me what to do with all this jewelry and supplies when I do, though.

[GabriellasTreasures]

OMG - I just looked at your Shop - Truly Amazing!!!!!!!

You really should check into some local high end juried shows for the upcoming season - you could make a killing - keep us posted please!!!!!!!

[Former_Member]

I would take a white or creme colored plate or platter to use on the background (that is what I use). i think your camera is picking up the background more and blurring some of you jewelry. Also see if you can branch out. Do a show. See if a friend would do a trunk show. your items are wonderful!

My fave quote: I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and dog-gone it, people like me.
Al Franken, Stuart Smalley in Saturday Night Live, catchphrase

[Former_Member]

First - your rings are gorgeous. :)
I agree with many above on working on photos some..... don't try to tackle it all at once. I work on my listings as I post them (so one or two per day).

Second - I would work on offering more price points. While I love your rings, I am in no position to drop over $50 on anything right now. :( Between the economy, and well the economy, I think people are trending towards lower priced items (not all people but enough).

I was just looking at another shop, fell in love with her ring, but couldn't afford it. BUT I could afford a similar design in a toe ring for about 1/3 of the cost. :) Done deal.

Its not about underpricing to the point you don't make anything, but making items in varying levels so all sorts of people who find your shop can find something to buy.

Oh - and technically I've been here a year. But started very slow and then took over 3 months off. I am just now really putting time and my heart into this. Am I happy I only have 25 sales? Nope. But I am working on setting realistic goals (like sales for this month only) and being happy with hitting those.

Good luck!!

[SAStudio]

agree with most of the comments here. Your jewelry is lovely. Work on your photos to make them pop. Join an SEO team to help with your titles and tags. I belong to http://www.etsy.com/teams/10713/cindylouwho-team and have learned a TON.

:-)

[Former_Member]

I think your items are simply gorgeous but I agree about the fact that your backgrounds distract from the beauty of your work. The picture quality is great but I have a hard time focusing on your pieces. Just keep promoting. Does your business have a facebook? blog? google+ account? Do you do craft shows? Do you promote on twitter?

I think you have a really wonderful product. Don't give up!

[Former_Member]

It's my experience that negative speak hurts my steam. For me Etsy is an affordable venue to practice all it entails. Everything in life constantly changes, and I think it is fun working to stay malleable. I find making relationships with people who are local really helpful, fun, and beneficial for my "hobby." I try not to tie expectations to my hopes and dreams because they always turn out way different, and most oftentimes, much better than I am capable of envisioning. Thoughts of inadequacy and whining are a waste of breath. Sometimes things don't work, (how do you define "working") doesn't mean have to throw in the towel, sometimes just means change things. First thing I always look at is my attitude, then I move on to what's the next best step.

Your shop is lovely, imo your photos aren't a problem, always room to play and play, but even very bad photos sell items. Why not keep it open as a nice platform for expansion.

[Former_Member]

I've been here for almost 4 years. I understand where you are coming from. I almost closed up a few months ago. I have reall y been slow these past few weeks. But I'm trying to tell myself it will get better as the holiday season comes near. I would stick it out till Jan. if you can, the summer is pretty slow, so you need to just keep adding to your shop, and think good thoughts. I wish you good luck, and do hope you will give it more time... :)

[Former_Member]

As a fellow jewelry artisan, believe me I understand. I have made a few changes within my shop recently and I have watched my sales double every month for the past 3 months.
For me the trick wasn't more items (as I have less than 40 items and had 53 orders in Aug.) it was detailed photos and titles.
In order to get views you need to stand out in the search results.

-I know the white background is boring but it is an effective way to make items pop out. You can use other colors, but try to stay away from dull colors, keep it bright. Bright gives the feel of being professional. You also need to make sure your photos are clearly focused on your item and cropped to a perfect square so when you upload the photo, your item or the detail you want focused on, are centered in the photo.

- Detailed Titles. Don't be afraid to add extra keywords to titles. Example
http://www.etsy.com/listing/108169304/fork-ring-sterling-silver-fork-ring

You have the words "fork ring" used 3 times in the title. You only need it once. If it were my listing I would have put something like-

*Reclaimed Sterling Silver Adjustable Fork Rose Ring- Gift, Roses, Up-cycled, Fashion*

Lots of title keywords get you noticed. After a bit see which keywords are getting your item noticed by checking your items stats and adjust your key words accordingly.

Hope this works for you.
-Cassie

[PennyBirchWilliams]

Success on etsy, for most sellers, seems to be a gradual process. I have seen so many jewelry sellers on forums say how competitive that it is for them, so perhaps your initial expectations were somewhat overoptimistic. One year is not a long time to make your mark here. You are selling, just not as much as you want to. Yet .

Success is as much about persistence and perseverance as it is getting the right photos and prices, etc. If this is really what you want to do, then don't quit. See if you can come to a new understanding with yourself about growing your business and working part time as long as you need to until it can support you. Explore new directions to take your creativity and your shop.

Feelings of being not good enough, being inferior...that is only going to defeat you. If you are feeling depressed and stalled, perhaps some time with a counselor or life coach would help. Being happy with who you are and what you do, need not be a competition with your siblings or with your internal ideal of who you think you should be, or what you think you should have achieved by now. I totally relate to this also, but I promise that you can make peace with those feelings, with some introspection and healing.

I hope you won't give up. You do have a lovely shop and wonderful jewelry. Everyone's advice on photos, tags & titles, trying craft shows, and perhaps a line of lower cost items sound very helpful. For me, this is a journey, and I'll just keep moving forward and see where it takes me. From my perspective, you are already successful and I hope you will continue going forward!

[TerraRhapsody]

I think your work is great- your photos are pretty awesome on the whole- The jewellery ones look great on the wooden backgrounds etc. I think this one lets you down a little bit- perhaps think of a quirky way of displaying the vase in the same theme as your other pictures:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/77879369/vase-faux-stained-glass-hand-painted

As for further marketing, have you got some business cards you can sneakily leave places- library books, notice boards
Have you tried posting flyers around your neighbourhood to entice local sales? Have you got great friends that could recommend you or pass business cards on? Have you searched on twitter for people taking about jewellery and replied to them? Or crafts? Have you joined any craft or art websites to further spread your word? I use deviantART and I have a jewellery group for jewellery and craft promotions: http://devious-jewellery.deviantart.com/
Sometimes little things helps- I've had a few sales from the deviantART and it does give me a fair amount of traffic

I get discouraged all the time- even more so when my full time job starts getting to me as well. Sales have been very slow for me since Christmas, but I'm keeping my head up and trying to improve my own shop as well. I think you'll find this is a very big boat, and fortunately, lots of life rafts when the water gets choppy for us all :)

[Squintphotography]

I completely understand where you are coming from. I've been here over two years and only have 22 sales! But I keep plugging along, adding more work and promoting myself on other outlets. I'm getting exposure, views and faves, just need to get the sales!!

I've felt like giving in many times, but love what I do too much to give it up.

Believe in what you do and love, keep at it, work hard and derive satisfaction from it.

You make beautiful jewelry, btw!

[ArtistLydiaMakepeace]

I just posted this reply in another thread and I hope it helps you to take heart and know that you are not alone.

Sometimes I feel like a phony and that I'm delusional to think that anyone would want to buy ANYTHING at all that I make. I've even had family say that I expect too much for my creations and that I should sell my stuff cheap or give it away for free just to get it "out there".

Well, I've been giving myself away for years and I want to have more confidence. I don't want to put myself on sale anymore. I want to fight to know that I deserve respect and that my voice and creative point of view are worth something. I need a lot of support fom my supportive friends and family. My husband has been my leader and greatest champion. He believes in me even when I don't believe in myself.

It helps to know that everyone experiences doubt at some time in their creative process.

[Former_Member]

Try not to get discouraged Martha!! I know I am very new, so I cannot give the kind of informed advice that some others may. I do know that comparing yourself to others will only lead to discouragement. You have individual gifts that only you can offer! When I start to compare myself to other shops- I have done it quite often- my mood immediately changes, and it's hard for me to stay motivated. Instead of doing that how about concentrating on creating new items. This is the most fun part for me! :)

Have you thought about starting a blog? I know that is really popular, and helps you get a following. Just a thought.

Dont give up! I really love your items! I just favorited a couple! :) I hope everything works out for you!

God bless!
Taralah

[Former_Member]

I have sold less than 50 and have been open for more than 1 year.LOL
My prices are moderately low on Etsy and still not a whole lot of traffic. LOts of competition on here for sure. I would lower your costs some and see what happens. Don't be discouraged. Being successful doesn't happen overnight.

[ecarlateboutique]

I have been around since 2010 and it was a slow start... The best advice I can give is what everyone has been stating on the thread. photos photos photos. I got frustrated and have been changing up my photos all along. I thought in the beginning that since I live in Palm Springs CA I should take advantage of the natural sun light. I took photos in different areas and now looking back they weren't that good. I invested in photoshop since I don't have a fancy camera. This really helps with the brightness and contrast and I cannot state how much this has helped. Also, participate in arts/crafts fairs in your area so you don't have to rely on the ups and downs of Etsy.

[1AEON]

Don't quit! Because! you DO have everything you need for a great shop!

[MadMeadow]

Don't quit! I've only had 5 sales and I've been open just over a year. 50 sales is so very NOT bad. I'm sure not giving up. Your work is beautiful and is obviously of quality. Right now is not the time to quite anyway! Now is the time to do any little tweaks and pushes to get your views up. The holiday shopping season will kick in before you know it!

[WilliamsGiftshop]

It looks to me like you started your shop with unrealistic expectations.
- There are half a million (a wild guess) jewelry sellers on Etsy.
- You have a job next to it.
- Are your products, your shop, your listings, your marketing and promotion efforts absolutely perfect?
- Do you stand out from the huge crowd? How?
There is no way one can make a fulttime living out of a jewelry shop on Etsy without giving it 200% (and then chances of succeeding are still small).

[Former_Member]

Oh Martha you sound like ME!!
Jewelry is HARD. Your stuff is quality.
I've been on Etsy for 2 years and had 32 sales (I just had to look to see).
I want more than anything else to be able to run my own business without a retail store. Etsy is not my only locale. I invest in some local craft shows and sell quite a bit more. Every one of my bags has my business card in it and I shamlesly promote myself in my kids' school directory (we can pay for advertising) and I donate to all sorts of raffles and auctions.
Every sales receipt gets a coupon code for their next visit - I am investing in my customers the way I want them to invest in me.
Stick to it and don't quit. :)

[Former_Member]

Please don't quit until you try this guide from SASsy Critiques:
http://etsymentors.blogspot.com/p/critique-your-own-shop.html

It'll change your life.

[philosophiacreations]

Don't give up! Your shop & items are beautiful, truly! I personally think that your pictures are quite lovely, but you might want to consider doing what I did - I took a sample of my listings and photographed each a few times on a white background. Then I promoted those + a couple regular listings equally to see if people liked my white background photos more. I actually had my first FP feature within two days of doing this, I've just had a hard time finding the time to take more pictures.

I also constantly tweak & play around with tags, titles & descriptions.

Good luck! I added you to my circle, hearted your shop, hearted some listings & will see if I can include a couple of your pieces in some new treasuries.

[Former_Member]

Back to the "I used to compare myself to my brothers and sisters....." whose voice do you hear saying "you won't make it"? If it's yours, change your tape. You CAN. I did. If it's your mother, brother, sister, whoever, STOP listening. They are not the boss of you.
Trust me. I know, I have been there. So many years I went through this until I learned to define where that voice was coming from. Once I did that, I could then change it or ignore it. And this is an old saying but I believe it is true. "If you say you can't, then you can't." Because in the end, it doesn't matter what any of us say. It's what we say that you CHOOSE to listen too.
(BTW, I was a Case Manager/Social Worker in my old job). You Can do this, but only if you choose too.
You are getting alot of great ideas; it's up to you now.
Sorry for talking so much, I'm just used to it :)

[Former_Member]

Listen to Christine - it may be hard to believe but some people even those who love us don't want us to succeed. It's threatening to them. Don't give up - you have a great shop. I fav'd a few items. Good luck.

[Former_Member]

Hi Martha. My only advice to you is to not concentrate on the number of sales. The cheapest item you have in your shop is $20 dollars. I had to sell 400+ items just to make $2,000 dollars in one year. I of course can't live off of that, but it's a start. I've had other people ask me how am I "successful" in such a short period of time. But I don't think I am, I can't live off of it yet, even when by sales number it may seem I have a lot. That's why I keep coming back here, seeking advice, reading. That's one thing. The other thing, keep listing. Is your shop good for SEO? That's a big one. Join an SEO team and learn from them. I learned in business school to find a niche. Find your niche and target it. I could keep going, and true, I don't do jewelry, but some things are very fundamental. Be patient, Rome was not built in a day. It's easy to go and try to compare ourselves with others that are successful, but for them, it didn't happen overnight either. I honestly think 50 sales in one year is very respectable for the over saturated category that you're in. Best of luck and hard work to you!

[StefanieSheehan]

Everyones comments on your pictures are great, and you really do have great jewelry. No need to feel like a failure! I think what could really benefit you is having either the white background in your pictures more or pictures with your items ON! As a lover of jewelry I can see that your work is beautiful and would also be on, but others don't have that ability, they need to be SHOWN how great it will look on.

I know all this critique from everyone will be overwhelming! But take it a day at a time and just keep improving what you think you should improve. Don;t give up!