Why My sells have been stopped since January? Can be the delay on delivery to US?

[#1]

Hi,
I am on Etsy since May 2010 and every month I have had few sells, not so much, between 1 and 3. So it was ok so far although of course I would love to have more.
My items have been included in 18 beautiful treasuries, I am port of some teams, circles.....I try to interact and buy also items from other shop....
My items are totally handmade, mainly miniatures (for dollhouse or home decor) and also miniature food earrings....
And suddenly early January I had my last sell and since then I have a lot of new hearts (more than usual) but no sell.
My last three shipments to US (I am Spanish) had a very big delay (around 6-7 weeks) to arrive because of the Increased of security measures. It seems that the United States department of Homeland security has increased security measures for items carried on passenger airlines. As a result, mail entering the US from around the world and including the Spain which would normally be sent via passenger aircraft must now travel by other means including ships and cargo planes.
Do you think that American people is avoiding to buy to European sellers?
What can improve in my shop?
Please I will appreciate any feedback :)
Thank you so much and forgive me if there is any grammar mistake in my English.
Love from Spain

Eva

[Former_Member]

I have bought a showcase for my miniature food earrings for next March 15th. Let see how it works. Anyway I think that is better to think in future and the next summer and try to adjust shippment fees.
I announce also to all my costumers that could be a deleay in the delivery and not for my fault.

[gracedesign]

Jan, Feb and even March are always tough sales wise. I don't think your location would be a deterrent for most people. That's what is so wonderful about Etsy, it is international! I sell my bags to people in Australia and vice versa. People are looking for interesting original items and the location is irrelevant I think unless they need it right away.

[Former_Member]

I'm amazed by the details you are able to create in your beautiful pieces! You truly have a talent!

After reading this thread, it seems like this is a slow time on Etsy-- but for me I've been more busy than ever. I have many team members who's sales are up as well so I don't think it's completely true across the board. I think the trick is finding your niche and marketing to your target market. Get involved with social media (as dreadful as it is!) and get your name out there! Since I began Twitter my shop has been so busy that I've actually had to hire an assistant and limit sales. And honestly, my products aren't even my best work. I am working on taking better quality photos of my newer pieces to post once things slow down again.

Something that might help a little- show the scale in more of your photos. Maybe photograph them next to a spool of thread or something more universal. I do notice that some of your listings include this, but as an American (if you want to target the US), I really don't know how large the Euro is. I've never even held one or seen one in person before. If you want to appeal to me, I need to see something I can relate to.

Also, I think it might help to update your shipping to include United States specifically. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this does make a difference in some search results.

Have you thought about making more Christmas ornaments? I bet you could have great sales around the holiday season and it would help widen your target market. You have a few great ones listed but there's no reason why you can't have more listed year round.

Hope this helps and I hope your sales pick up soon!! :)

[HawaiiEssentials]

I did very well in February for a shop that only opened in January, but since then I haven't had any more sells. I don't know why I had such a big slow down either:(

[Former_Member]

Jessica Lam thank you so much!!
I think that I will follow some of your advises on put specifically shipping taxes only for USA.
And put an object on the pictures to see clearly the scale (sometimes there is my hand).
Thank you for being so kind and also for follow my facebook page!!! :)

[ruffledflamingo]

I normally am a little concerned when something comes from overseas. I ordered from a seller in Hong Kong and she eventually refunded my money because I never received the package. I now really think twice before I order overseas.

[Former_Member]

I buy a lot over seas and I have never had a problem.
Anyway I always send my items through registered mail becaus I think it is safer although more expensive
Do not give up!! :)

[Former_Member]

You're welcome! I hope it helps! :)

I ship overseas quite often and haven't had any problems to date. I do know problems can occur, but I don't think it happens enough to be wary of buying from other countries. If I didn't offer overseas shipping I would lose a good portion of my business.

[TanjaDesign]

I have mostly overseas buyers. my sales are much slower now than in November and December, but I found my niche and I have a tons of custom orders. If you have a very spcific item (and your buyers find your shop), you'll have sales. I started with handpainted silk scarves a year ago and had sales. But silkpainters who make scarves live all around the world. Than I offered custom made handpainted (bridesmaids) dresses, now I have orders almost every week, sometimes not just for one dress. :)

[KristianJessie]

Well... do you guys know how to get over 5000 people favourite your shop and get 3 sales every day (on average)? I found some shops are making money everyday without much promotion. People just can't help buying from them.

I can get occasional sales only. Need more energy to continue running my shop.

[Danideng]

It's very helpful to read this discussion for me, even i didn't make any sell so far.

thanks u guys.

I think i really need more energy to continue running my shop.

[WirequeenJewelry]

Yes, shipping prices may have something to do with it. I do free shipping worldwide. I just had a sale to Germany and the shipping is going to be one third 1/3 of the selling price. I'm going to have to rethink that free shipping world wide quickly. I'm honoring this sale, of course, but I'm going to have to go through my shop and add some kind of shipping cost for outside the US and Canada.

[Former_Member]

sorry i have not read all of the previous posts.
My sales have not slowed down like i have heard others have.

I think what we have done is really narrowed in on where our steady buyers are. Find your target market and get off etsy and into the rest of the internet. Not saying close your shop on etsy but look at where your shoppers hang out. who would buy your product and get it in their faces.
hope this helps.
we are now going to start expanding out side of our target market and try and reach a different crowd.
good luck to you!

[GraniteMountainGems2]

audreytolove says "Well... do you guys know how to get over 5000 people favourite your shop and get 3 sales every day (on average)? I found some shops are making money everyday without much promotion. People just can't help buying from them."

Yes, I would like to know what they have going, too!

[apocketofposies]

I buy from overseas shops all the time! It is often quicker to get here (Canada) then orders from the US ...I think due to the US customs process!

[GraniteMountainGems2]

hotacrossbuns says "I think what we have done is really narrowed in on where our steady buyers are. Find your target market and get off etsy and into the rest of the internet."

That's what I think is my big issue... I need to connect with horse lovers who like me want some nice simple jewelry that they would want to wear (realistic or stylized). I've seen recommendations to hang out on forums for your target market, but honestly, I don't have the time to chit chat on riding forums enough to get "in" without being spammy. (I've also heard that the horse owners don't have money to spend on jewelry, and I can relate to that, so I need to find non-horse-owning horse lovers, but where do they hang out?!)

I have tried to improve the SEO of my items (especially titles since I recently read Google is big on titles, and not the Etsy tags), so my things show up better when people search on Google. Hope it helps!

[Former_Member]

well that is the other option, get your target market to find you easier.
although its a lot less work then searching them out and showing them your work. its almost a lost art to figure it out.
maybe switiching up titles, and checking your google analytics.
its a tough one.

[Former_Member]

Also people need to realize Etsy is saturated with products. In the beginning of 2009 there'd be 1500 pairs of hairsticks, now there are 4500-5000.

As far as networking off Etsy, I have 2400 people at my FaceBook my pull from there to Etsy is minimal at best maybe 5 clicks per Etsy listing I post.

Alot of my traffic comes from the Hair forums.... I dont post in them but I get I do wander thru them. I also YouTube also minimal views.

But, Ive actually had a awesome year so far with 180 sales. Creative thinking ....... onward

[Former_Member]

i think what you need to do to get sales from facebook, (i actually get more views from facebook then i do from etsy, twitter, google etc. more then half.)
is really befriend those people that are going to use those products. if they are your target market then they must have something in common with you.
if you need to make a new profile that you leave open to the world, talk about your life with your product, befriend those people that love your product and take an interest in their life
i have taken all my personal information off my facebook profile and now have 1500 friends and 1100 facebook likes. they are not the same people either.
facebook is an amazing tool but if you have like all the etsy sellers you can find, those are probably not the people that are actually going to buy your products on a consistant basis if at all.

[Former_Member]

My sales are way down from last month, 80% less! not sure what I done wrong here but I have tried so many different things, I figure the more I try the less sale I have :(

[Former_Member]

It does not matter where you live, just tell your buyers about an estimated delivery date.

I have sold overseas and no problem at all!

Arriba Espana! Estoy flipada tia!!!!