What do you have a bunch of an item that doesn't sell?

[Former_Member]

Awhile back Frilly scarves were really in. I saw the frilly yarn on sale one day and picked up about 20 balls of it. I made scarves out of all of it, and they just don't sell. There are so many people that also make them. I have them in a big bag at home. I don't have them all listed but the ones that I do have listed don't even get viewed.
I've lowered the prices of the significantly. At this point I just want to make the money back for the yarn and screw any profit.

Has this ever happened to any of you? If so what did you do?

[AuntBsAttic]

Do you do craft shows? I have several items that I don't even list on line - but have trouble keeping stocked for local fairs. Regional demand and sales are DRASTICALLY different than the on line market.
Good Luck

[Former_Member]

I did two craft fairs this season and both were total flops. Granted I didn't do well known fairs and didn't pay much for my tables but I didn't even make my table money back.

[WilliamsGiftshop]

This is one of those risks involved in having your own business.
If you follow fashion trends, you risk things falling out of fashion and not making your money back.
Why not be original and set your own trends?

[Former_Member]

Mine still sell. They don't sell like they used to so I don't buy the yarn more than 1-2 balls per color. I didn't lower my prices. I still make a profit on them. Now I just make other types of scarves more often.

Just keep trying to sell them. I wouldn't lower the costs (I know you already did so just put them back up). Do a "2 for 1" deal or something. A lot of the people who buy mine buy them in two different colors.

[Former_Member]

How would I offer a two for 1 deal?

[CatherineMarissa]

If I have inventory that sits for too long, I sometimes will donate it. There is a group in my area that collects clothing & accessories for women that are looking to get back into the work force. This year, I was thinking about donating to some of the shelters.

[Former_Member]

Offer it as one listing and have the title and description mention that it is a 2 for 1. Then they just have to choose the colors they want when they order.

[Former_Member]

I have a bunch of fabric. I'm a fabricaholic. I have so much I have to start selling it off. I haven't sold any yet, but I'm waiting to sell it.

[Former_Member]

I've found that the ruffled scarfs are selling like hotcakes at the local festivals but really don't sell very well online at all.

My girlfriend just did a festival before Christmas and sold the ruffled scarves and they all sold for $50 each. They were the one ball Sashay scarves. This is a festival that we've been doing together for a number of years and normally I would have gone with her but I've been rather ill so she did it on her own.

Its all about the marketing and selecting the right shows for your products.

If you don't want to donate them you can offer a 2 for one or put them on sale. But again its all about the marketing to bring the customers to your shop.

[SageNThymeDesigns]

I've seen people offer buy two get one free deals and the like on Etsy in a couple of ways.
1- just have all those particular listings say buy 2 get 1 in the title and description. They purchase two scarf listings and just tell you in the 'note to seller' which option they want for the free scarf. I see people doing this for finished products like skirts, etc.

2- have a special listing that says buy two get one free that's priced for two scarves and they list all three options they'd like in the note to seller at checkout. I see people do this more for selling patterns, etc.

[MuttsnBones]

I've had something similar happen but sometimes after several months, BAM they start selling...remember styles change, come back, go, come back so I would keep them around.

[Former_Member]

crochetgal $50 each? That is quite the profit for Sashay! Wow! I'm going to send your friend mine and she can sell them for me! HAHA!

As for everyone else, thanks for the advice on the buy 1 get 1!

[WilliamsGiftshop]

Selling your creations calls for good marketing skills, just like creating them calls for creative skills.

[Former_Member]

Around here they sell for $15 and the are at every craft fair, craft mall and craft show you see. I never got into making them because they just dont appeal to me but I've also found with samples I've made that dont sell or I choose not to sell for one reason or another, it pays to donate them. Reduces my inventory and I get the tax write-off. I donated 40 hats to the local neighborhood center at Christmas, they were thrilled as I had hats for every, age sex and size. It made a lot of peoples Christmas and made me feel good too.

[thekitestring]

I think everyone here has good ideas to get rid of these. I also agree with MuttsnBones, trends come and go. Though, generally I think anything as lovely as these will withstand trending (I particularly like the pink and grey one). If you feel the problem might be the views I would consider changing up your titles and/or tags.

Consider that your customer might not necessarily be looking for a scarf. Using the pink/grey scarf as an example, maybe take "scarf" out of the phrases and only use it on it's own. That way you'll still get hits for frilly scarves, but also for just plain "frilly". It just casts a wider net, which I find helpful when my own listings become stale. Some lucky girl is going to stumble on it and love it :).

[MyDistinctDesigns]

Also keep in mind by lowering your price you are appealing to a different target market. If they are bargain hunters they are shopping for price.
Putting the price back where it was and offering a buy one get one sounds like a good idea.

[Former_Member]

Would you all suggest putting "Buy 1 get 1" in the title?

[Former_Member]

I have bunches of everything that doesn't sell. I was planning to take it to some local craft fairs over the holiday season, but I just didn't have the time.

[WilliamsGiftshop]

Just a general tip: don't decide too soon that some items are not selling!
Sometimes items can sit in a shop for a long time before that one person comes along that wants to buy it.

Last year I sold three out of a series of four bags that had been sitting idle in my shop for almost four years.
(First I gave one as a gift. If I had believed in good karma, I would have said that is what got them started.)

Of course the items must be worth the listing renewal costs....
Always take some renewals into account when pricing your items.