When do you throw in the towel?

[Former_Member]

When is it time to throw in the towel? my shop views have gone down to about 1/3 of what they were a year ago and i've tried changing tags, titles, descriptions etc etc.... it doesn't work. I've been here over 2 years, and struggled the entire time, so is it time to just admit defeat and close up shop? I decided to close last Christmas, but thought I'd give it a while longer. It has made no difference. What do you think? should I stay or should I go?

[PerlaSegovia]

I love your work Sam! I have been debating over the same question, and will decide after the Holidays. You have talent, whatever you decide keep doing what you do!

[IvoryCatCreations]

You have a very nice shop...and average 11 sales a month since opening. before I gave up I would try for less cluttered backgrounds so that your designs take center stage. At least hang in until the few months after Christmas.

[Former_Member]

Thank you for your advice and lovely comments :0)

I will try to hang on, but the last 3 months I have barely covered the fees (quite a lot for over 390 items) and I don't I know if I can be bothered anymore. It's been way way too much work for the amount I've sold. I think I would have one of the worst paid jobs if I divided sales into hours, supplies etc.

Maybe Etsy is just for the big players now? I see many of us struggling that were previously doing quite well. I'm sorry you are in the same position Perla it sucks, but we're not alone. I think unique handmade goods maybe aren't the focus her anymore?

Thank for listening!

Good luck to you both and many happy sales :0)

Sam

[Former_Member]

Ps I forgot to say, Linda I've tried lots different backgrounds, plain, busy, cute, bright, edgey, but it's to no avail unfortunately. Thank you for your thoughts though these are always welcomed :0)

[Former_Member]

Your items are gorgeous, Sam, and I love the way you style your photographs - I think it offsets the pieces beautifully. It can get disheartening when sales don't come as often as we'd like and only you know when enough is enough; but perhaps if you just took a break for a bit - ? I've seen so many amazing shops here that I think should be doing a lot better sales-wise so you're definitely not alone. Perhaps it just isn't the right venue for some of us as you say.

Wishing you well with whatever you decide to do :)

[Former_Member]

Just a thought, Sam - maybe you could consider opening up a supplies shop - they tend to do pretty well here from what I can gather and you have some beautiful and unique pieces

[PennyBirchWilliams]

Hi Sam! Everything you make is so beautifully detailed. I think your shop is wonderful (and I always have!) You have come a long way since we first 'met' on etsy.

You are not alone in seeing a big drop off in views and sales from last year. I can't explain it either, though I too suspect the resellers have something to do with it. Or changes to the etsy site. Whatever the cause, many are struggling like we are.

For myself, I decided I have to give up working full time on my art business on Etsy. I just found a good part time job that pays reasonably well and has some benefits, and I feel very lucky to have been chosen for it. My husband has been supporting us and we both hoped my shop would do better, but it hasn't, and we need more steady income to pay debts and save for the future. I probably should have gone for a full time job but they are hard to come by. The part time job will allow me to continue with my shop here, even though I will have less time to create. At least the pressure to succeed (and despair about not succeeding) will be reduced, and any sales that come along will be a welcome addition to our income. It feels a bit like a failure to go back to a job, but I'm trying to be realistic about what our needs are and how I can best contribute.

Sam, no one can tell you how to decide because its such a personal choice that depends so much on your circumstances, your options, your opportunities, and of course, how you feel. Personally I hope you can keep your shop going. I would be so sad to see you leave etsy!

[PatriciasMess]

You've had hundreds of sales.

Hundreds of sales.

You've put a lot of work into this and have been successful thus far. If you're trying to support yourself full time off this, it is not going to work. You'll need to seriously step up your game.

However, if you're just enjoying what you're making and not spending more than what you're making I would not quit.

[littleglamour]

I think your shop is very sweet! Jewelry is tough on Etsy (geez - I know!) but I have to agree with a previous post about less cluttered backgrounds to show off your pretty colours.....and good SEO can work wonders :)

[Former_Member]

I love your items and to me your shop is doing good. It's probably not enough to make a living off of but as another person said if you are doing it as a hobby and it is covering your costs then I would keep at it. That is where I am - I quit for a while last year to grieve the death of my husband but have now gotten back to it. In no way would it support me but I enjoy it and the little sales I make help pay for supplies.

[Former_Member]

Sam, your titles are actually good for Etsy search. The problem is you don't have tags that exactly match every phrase in your title. Every single phrase that you use in the title should appear exactly in a single tag where possible or split into two if not possible.

For instance, this listing:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/191527469/retro-flower-necklace-pink-floral

That title should have the following tags to match the title plus some others that don't duplicate these:

Retro Flower
Flower Necklace,
Pink Floral Pendant
Poppy Cameo Necklace
Cameo Flower Pendant
Flower pendant Necklace
Polymer Clay Pendant
Polymer Clay Jewelry

Unless you have matching search phrases in both title and tags, Etsy search will never find you...

[Former_Member]

You quit when either when you no longer enjoy what you are doing or when you can no longer financially afford to stay open.

But if I were you I would look seriously at your titles for a moment. If you were to walk into a B&M shop would you ask for

""Pink Retro Earrings kitsch Mint Bow Earrings Pink Vintage Repurposed Dangle Earrings Kawaii Retro Jewelry Pink Jewelry Repurposed Jewelry""

You have repeated the word 'pink' three times, earrings 3 times, jewelry twice.

Based on the title my best guess of what it is that you are selling is a pair of pink mint bow dangle earrings made from another piece of jewellery.

This is the piece that I'm referring to
https://www.etsy.com/listing/202326651/pink-retro-earrings-kitsch-mint-bow

I would suggest that you tidy up your titles and tags so that they actually describe what you are selling.

And I'm not sure what you mean in the description when you say

""Gift For her, Bridal Jewelry, Retro Jewellery, Vintage Jewellery, Polymer Clay Jewelry, Vintage Jewelry
Vintage Repurposed, Vintage Necklace, Vintage Earrings, Artisan Perfume OIl, Fragrance oil, Solid Perfume, Solid Fragrance, Vintage Bracelet, Statement Necklace Kawaii, Kawaii Jewelry, Kawaii Jewellery Sweetystuff, BrambleBerryandRose, Retro Jewelry Christmas"""

It really doesn't make much sense.

What you may want to do instead is tell some of the backstory about how what your inspiration was

[Former_Member]

Patricia, unfortunately I have worked full time for the majority of this time on my shop and have had only an average of 2.5 sales a week. It's not enough pay off for this in my opinion. I personally don't consider the amount of time and effort put into my shop versus the amount of income worthwhile. I didn't expect to make a fortune on here, just some money to help my severely disabled son, but it's not worth the effort I make I feel.

For the amount I have paid in supplies (thousands of dollar), fee's, and the many other costs I have, I probably have made even, but not really made any profit sadly. Because of the amount of items I have, I've spent over a $1000 on Etsy fee's alone lol. If you add in direct checkout fees, paypal fees etc it is a lot more.

I have also changed titles, tags, descriptions goodness knows how many times (probably hundreds) according to this or that about relevant SEO etc, and they seem to all have different opinions. To do 390 listings that takes even more serious work, it just doesn't... work I mean.

I think I'm too tired of this now and sick of playing the Etsy guessing relevancy game.

Penny, how are you? long time no speak. Your shop looks amazing! You have so many seriously beautiful pieces.

I'm really sorry you have to return to work, but I think given the amount of effort required here now, it's the only viable option for many. A part time job is great idea for you, you're so creative, with so much talent that without that outlet you might suffer to not be able to let that out.

Penny you're wrong to feel like a failure, but I can't say much as I often do, however we are small fish in an ever increasing big manufacturing pool. I don't feel that's within our control though.

I absolutely agree that we need to be realistic about this. I've known you for a few years now, and I feel we've both given it a good try. We can't fault our commitment and given it our best :o)

At least we met some lovely people along the way hey Penny ;o)

Megan you're so right about those amazing shops, with few sales. That doesn't fill me hope either though. If there are that many awesome shops that are doing poorly here then that tells me there is a serious problem.

I also have a supplies shop which is doing poorly too, as you need a lot of items to make a dent and I can't afford to spend anymore money on my failing venture.

PS I know this is irrelevant, but my son broke is £600 or roughly about $1000 Ipad I saved up for last night (can't help it, he has severe autism), so this example is one of the reasons I needed the shop to work, but it doesn't so I need to put my efforts elsewhere I think.

Thank you ever so much for all your time everyone and so sorry for the massive reply.

XXX

[Former_Member]

Hi there Crochetgal,
For some reason the commas have been taken out of the title and they are there for the Etsy buyers, when they are in place it makes more sense. Also the reason it's written like that is for Etsy search. Basically you have to describe your item in as many relevant ways, to throw your net a wide as possible, to attract as wide an audience as possible. Plus my work comes high in most of the search categories I'm trying to reach.

I also feel that absolutely it is understood what I'm selling here by my title. Look at the picture, read the title, it's obvious in my opinion. You have to describe your item in the many terms that buyers might search to find your item. That's the point.

But yes my item is a pair of earrings made out of vintage jewelry with some new parts.

And the confusing part at the bottom of description, under the line is there for SEO purposes.

Crochetgal thank you for your opinion, and that you're were trying to help, but in all honesty I wasn't asking for opinions on my shop. I was asking how long is long enough. I thank you for your help anyway.

[PaperPlanePrints]

I think if you no longer find joy in what you are doing, then it's time to stop, or at least take a break. There are other "jobs" you can do that, even if low-paying, are a consistent paycheck. This is something that, even when it's not working, it makes sense to do because you love it. But if you dislike it, it causes you excess stress or sadness, I just can't see it being worth it.

But I think you should take a break, rather than quit. It looks like you put a lot into your shop, and it's clear that it once brought you joy. Maybe a hiatus will reenergize you.

[Former_Member]

Sam - just trying to help. That is the system I have adopted and also tested from Day 1 when I opened almost a year and a half ago and I average about 2 sales a day in jewelry. It definitely works. But it sounds to me like you are ready to move on and no one can decide that for you but yourself.

Good luck whatever your choice is!

[Former_Member]

Thank you Paperplaneprints, you have no idea how much you and everyone else has helped me :o) You said that's it's ok to stop if you longer enjoy this and I think I needed to hear that. I tried very hard for over 2 years and I need to step back now. I will be glad when the stress of trying to make something work is gone, and I can just play silly games with my kids instead :o)

Thank you all so much

[Former_Member]

Felisa I've been doing it already today :o) Not gotten much done but trying none the less. Thank you for the great advice :o)

[WilliamsGiftshop]

You might want to take crochetgal's advice at heart.
She is a long time very successful Etsy seller.

When do you throw in the towel?
When you want to quit rather than improve.

[Former_Member]

I'm at the same place as you. Although I sell completely different items, I understand the frustration you are feeling with the fees and costs, and feeling like the time put into the shop is not worth the return. If you feel worn down and tired of what you are doing, then maybe it's time to move on, or change the direction of your shop. Jewelry is a huge category here on Etsy, and you're not the only one feeling discouraged--I've heard it from so many others who are also in that same category, unfortunately. This should be fun for you, not an extra burden in an already very busy life! If I were you (and this is what I'm doing in my shop), I'd just stay open until the holidays are over, and then just let the items expire--I'm not making anything new, just trying to sell what stock I currently have.

[KIVVERS]

I like your photos too; however, they area bit "busy." Maybe your lead photo should have a more simple background. I find that I'm distracted by the pretty colors and props rather than seeing the object for sale!

I wouldn't give up yet! I would think that jewelry would be a big seller during the holidays...you just have to find a way to reach your market! I don't think I would add any more items either. So many pages to look through seems a daunting task! But that's just my personal opinion. Hang in there!

[Former_Member]

I see that you live in the UK. Have you tried selling on the local markets such as Folksy or 'Not on the high street'? It might help if you get a small but steady stream of income from several venues.

[stitchednbooks]

I'm in the same spot as you. I've been open since December 2010 and have only had 14 sales so you've done better than me. I've done everything I can think of, followed a lot of advice from other sellers and the sales don't come. I'm giving it until the end of the year to see what happens for the holiday season. My shop might close and as much as I don't want to, I think I might not have a choice. I can't keep spending around $600 a year on fees and supplies to only make $20 a year in revenue. Good luck to you. I hope things pick up.

[Former_Member]

Thank you for your advice it's much appreciated. :0)

I will try as best I can until Christmas, but that's really pushing it. I have more important things to be doing than repeatedly/constantly trying and working on different things to make just a few sales. I think I'm ok admitting defeat now. I know how hard I tried, so I don't have to justify it to myself anymore. And you know what...nobody is a failure that has given it all the have got, they just have accepted it for what it is and want to move on to try something else.

Great advice from here, thank you! :0)

Good luck to all and I wish you many happy sales