Store taking off? Or slow & steady?

[SpangGangDesigns]

Looking for a "crystal ball"...

Have been selling actively on Etsy since Nov 2012 and had a successful Christmas season. However, since then, sales have been pretty flat. Looking for advice on whether your store "took off" and after how long? Or has yours been "slow & steady". I loved the Holiday season, but since, I feel like I am doing more checking, altering keywords, trying promos, etc and it hardly seems worth it. Advice?

[Pleasingtodeye]

www.etsy.com/listing/127349782/bible-cover

[Former_Member]

Hi there Erica, I can't speak for others, but, I have sort of been slow and steady since I opened in February last year. I was busier in november, december and January, but have again, been slow and steady since. Hope this helps

[AuraRosesTreasures]

Would love to speak freely, but this discussion is public

[EleanorsVintage]

Definitely 'slow and steady'! After about a year, I have worked myself up to about 2 sales a week. Since I do zero promotion outside of etsy, I am not complaining. This is what I can handle!

Good luck to you, Erica!

[PiecesofMeCardsnMore]

My shop took off about two weeks after reopening in mid-October 2012. I concentrated on stocking for Christmas and I think that helped. Around mid-December it slowed way down and I now average about 7 sales a month. I'm okay with that because I never intended for my shop to put food on the table. I promote mainly on Etsy but recently I've started tweeting more with hash tags targeting a specific market. I had four sales over a 5 day period last week (one sale was for four items, which was pretty sweet!). Even though March was pretty slow views-wise, I've still averaged the same amount of sales. I guess I can classify it as slow and steady. :)

[SpangGangDesigns]

Aura, I wasn't asking for specific details and/or income. Sorry you don't feel comfortable speaking in a public forum.

Angela, Claudia, Judy - thanks for your replies :) I've seen some people post that their store "just took off" and I am kind of waiting for that. I certainly never intended to quit my job and be supported by Etsy, just kind of hoping things pick up a little.

Judy, as for twitter - I have NO experience with Twitter. I do know, and maybe I am ignorant, but I certainly don't want a zillion text messages. Can twitter be only done online? and not involve my cell?

[absolutelyevo]

Mine was very slow and steady until I started making leather books. I started putting them in my shop last summer, and last Xmas season (Dec) my store EXPLODED. (for me) January was also really awesome. This last Feb and March were slower, but still way ahead of the pace for what I was selling monthly on average over the past two years.

I tried the twitter and facebook thing, stopped twitter. I found it to be a waste. FB keeps people informed better, I like that you can post photos of new products etc. I've made a few sales to friends/family that way.

But things really "took off" for me when I tweaked my product. There was not really as much demand for paper cover books and leather cover books. I didn't change much on promotion. But I think that also makes a big difference.

[SpangGangDesigns]

Erica, your shop is BEAUTIFUL! What neat products :) Have marked them as favorites for future reference. Thanks for your input.