Share your highlights from 2013!

[Former_Member]

Hi team,

As 2013 comes to a close and we look forward to the year ahead, it's also nice to reminisce on this year's highlights. Was there a moment (big or small) from 2013 that stands out as important in the life of your shop?

Was there an event or one thing that inspired you, made you change direction, or took your shop to a new level?

Can't wait to hear your highlights of the year!
Shannon

[MeghanandJulie]

I reached my goals. I am still in Shock. I never thought that I was worthy but people actually loved my stuff. I still get teary eyed even typing it. Trying to embrace and enjoy. Thank you for all your support. Xoxo

[rusticcraftdesign]

Our year started out with a 1-3 business day turnaround....then around Father's Day we got so busy we changed it to 3-5 business days and it was SO relieving!

Then again around the middle to end of Summer.....our queue kept increasing faster than we could clear it, and after a lot of nights of very little sleep, we made the decision to up the turnaround time to 5-10 business days.

That has been a huge change for us! I would say the events that changed us most have been surges in sales.

[Former_Member]

This necklace was the image representing personalized jewelry for a period this summer and was on the front page for about a week.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/160082439/personalized-necklace-custom-something?ref=shop_home_active


It brought my shops thousands of views and favourites, and a number of sales. I truly appreciate the exposure this brought my shop, and it inspired me to continue to work on improving my photography.

[PookieandJack]

Our goal was to reach 500 sales by the end of the year, we reached 542.
What an exciting year!
Also in awe of the map in Stats, amazing how many countries are viewing our shop!

[Parisxox]

My goal was to sell my wedding shoes wholesale and we are now selling them in bridal shops world wide!
Thank-You Etsy!

[EverBloomingOriginal]

Goal was to make 1000 sales this year! I reached my goal and even went a bit over. Thank you Etsy!!!

[Former_Member]

The Etsy Holiday Bootcamp was the hit for me, I learned a lot and made changes with all your feedback and it works!

I reopened my shop in august and I have more sales than ever...I really hope keep going and going.

Thank you to all etsy community!

[GulfCoastTshirts]

Thanks to Etsy, we've have MANY highlights this year but one of the biggest would have to be having UK's awarding winning author James Bowen wear our merchandise for numerous occasions from book signings to television interviews and he's even wearing one of our Real Men Love Cats shirts in a photo in his children's book "Bob, No Ordinary Cat". He mentions us in the exclusive interview he did with The Conscious Cats, Ingrid King. http://consciouscat.net/2013/08/10/exclusive-interview-with-james-bowen-author-of-a-street-cat-named...

Cheers to a purr-fect 2014!

[JeanieBeanHandKnits]

My sales have increased every year since I opened my shop. Many of my sales were multiple items per transaction which was one of my goals for this year. I've also had several returning customers - always a great feeling!

[ColorMyWorldCrochet]

Due to some issues with the company I was previously using, I changed yarn suppliers. I now feel I have an even higher quality product than I did before. I also changed the way I take my photos and got a new camera. These are just a few things that I believe really led to my increase in sales this year.

[Former_Member]

My highlights came from my wonderful customers.

Because of some of a few requests from my customers I started carrying another type of product which turned out to be wildly successful.

As I found out later, many of the local shops had stopped carrying these products for some reason or another so I'm one of the few people who are willing to carry the full line.

[Former_Member]

I know its not big to a lot of people that have commented already but it is to me... I made around 50 sales this year and also have had a couple return customers! Hoping to make more sales next year and get my shop known to more people!

[Former_Member]

This year turned out BIG for our company. We are husband and wife full-time business for few years, but only now started seriously thinking about expansion and hiring other people. The Christmas holiday shopping month made us go crazy and close the shop for 5 days at the most hot time! :) Etsy did a great job on Google promotion, so thank you so much! We couldn't be as successful without this helpful feature! We never had so many sales as this month :) Happy and prosperous New Year everybody!

[Former_Member]

Although I had two back surgeries, sales for the months of November and December were great! I always write a personal "thank you" to every customer. The other day I got a letter in the mail from Boulder, Colorado. I did not know anyone personally from there. When I opened the letter it was a "thank you" card from one of my Etsy customers. The item she bought was not very expensive, yet she absolutely loved it. Of everything that I accomplished this year, that made me feel most proud to be part of Etsy.

[Former_Member]

Although I opened a shop in 2010 I did little with it and soon removed the items for other purposes. Deciding to re-stock in 2013 with niche items, rare wools, resulted in consistent sales throughout the year and has added another dimension to my fiber pursuits. I look forward to creatively adding more in 2014!

[HuggableHound]

In mid 2011 I went from being employed full time at a 9-5 to being self-employed, 18 months later I have surpassed the goal I set for 2012 as well as the goal I set for 2013.

I feel so rewarded to be part of a growing Handmade community and I raise my glass in a toast for much success, health and happiness to my fellow shop owners!

Happy 2014!

[Former_Member]

My goal in 2013 was to focus on making custom stained glass hanging pieces and windows. Not only did I double revenue but I'm booked with custom orders into February. It is so fulfilling working with fellow etsy members to make art that they will cherish. Thank you all!
Marshall

[Former_Member]

2013 was the year of many things going on but Pinky Roo was so rewarding, we need to increase the turnaround time because I can only make so many items in a day but the sales keep coming, so in my busiest days I was working 16hrs a day to keep with the demand, We reach our goal of 1000 sales and a little extra I'm so thankful for all my customer specially the ones that are coming back each time they need a baby gift. I wish that 2014 brings not just sales but happy customers.

[saxdsign]

My biggest highlight this year was opening my second etsy shop and exceeding my financial goal.

The biggest highlight in my original shop was to take it to a higher level and surpass my initial financial goal, and list over 1400 items, which some how I did.

I see a big bright future selling supplies to etsy sellers.

[DebandBryCreations]

2 years ago we set a goal.. to get to be number 6 on the top sellers list for ceramics. The number 6 was chosen because a potter I admire very much was number 5 and I just wanted to sit under her :)
I set my eyes on the goal, did everything humanly possible to achieve it, and about a month ago we hit number 3!

[ObsidianandSnow]

Etsy articles to prepare for the selling season was a wonderful help and boost. The most valuable lesson I took to heart was the advice from Etsy to be prepared (shipping supplies, cards, materials). I was so glad I listened. I had online sales and lots and lots of craft show sales.
Thank you Etsy!

[Former_Member]

Being on Etsy for three years now we have seen how it has helped us grow. Our biggest highlight is always Xmas, where it pushes and test our skills to the max. Last year we had to take some of our products off line to control the demand but this year we tough it out and although demand beat us up we definitely learned how to handle higher volume sales in a timely manner. The key for us is to create and redesign our products where efficiency and quality go hand in hand. We like the pressure and the fact that we can't control our reviews from our customers.

[Former_Member]

Getting this shop open and finding that people around the world seem to like my cat tepees has been great. Sending these kiteepees around the world has been the greatest highlight for me. I lost my day job a few months ago so if I can make this work and build it into a really successful store this year I will be a very happy girl.

[WillOaksStudio]

My highlights in terms of views & sales came because of the time, around New Years week 2013, when a pair of my earrings was used on the Jewelry Browse "cover" page--otherwise, it was a struggle to get the number of daily views I had become used to before Etsy became so large & overwhelmed with "stuff"-- I haven't figured out how to go forward yet to regain the sales I had the years before all the 2013 changes took effect.