Why wouldn't you buy from me?

[Porzana]

I'm at the point of considering returning to the traditional working world.

I feel useless and pointless because I'm not really making any money from my Etsy shop.

If I have to quit this job and go back to retail or food service, it will be like telling the world I'm a huge failure. That I'm not good enough to make it on my art. Because I tried it and utterly failed. And I've just wasted the last two years of my life.

I feel like I've worked really hard and have gotten so little in return.

SO. Before I give up entirely, I would like to know:

What's wrong with my shop?

Why are people looking and hearting, but not buying?

Why wouldn't you buy from me?

[Former_Member]

i don´t think anything is wrong with your shop.you have lovely items with good photography.
i don´t know about your promo but i think your items are in a niche. that might be good or bad i can´t say due to lack of experience with figurines and wood animal items.
have you considered adding more items?? 47 is not that much
have a nice weekend

[Former_Member]

Hello, Mandy

If it's any consolation, I opened my shop more than 6 months ago and got 4 sales so far. I too invested a lot of energy and resources in my shop and I'm at a loss as to why my items don't sell.
Don't give up yet, your items are really cute. Just keep marketing your shop, make yourself known and keep doing what you love, even if you don't rely solely on your Etsy shop for income.
Good luck!

[Porzana]

I am still working on the adding new items. Thing is, before I revamped my shop I had over 100 items and still no one was really biting. I cleared out the old stuff no one wanted and added all this new stuff.

It's really discouraging spending money on more materials when it seems like no one wants the finished product :\

I do promote a lot. I have blogs on Tumblr and Wordpress and use Facebook as well. Everyone seems to like my stuff, but no one will buy it :(

[Porzana]

I was even featured on the front page last week and still nothing! Lots of views and hearts but no sales :\

This past Tuesday was a good day, but that's ONE day out of a month of nothingness.

[Former_Member]

Hey, quitting probably wasnt the best idea, did you have a proper plan in place? Unless someone's business sets off and grows rapidly many people don't find their work sells enough etc. to completely support themselves on it.

Going back to work doesn't mean you're a failure, you made a big move unfortunately it just didnt work. Not many people would just quit and take the risk of relying on their own work to support themselves, going back and using the money from an ordinary job would give you the financial support and stability you need and the time and money you need to work on your own pieces. Have you tried consulting a business advisor?

[LovgrenandDaughter]

Honey, you have a lot of categorizes paintings, cards, moleskin, figurines. With 4 different sections, it's kind of hard to realize your passion is - what? Are you a card maker, journal maker, artist or sculpter?

I think that may confuse potential customers. And trying to make a possum as totem animal is going to be a stretch. I realize that you may not want to jump on the band wagon of owls or whatever is in trend now, but I like more people would be looking for kittens rather than possums.

right now the economy is not good for us. Most of us fulfill a want rather than a need. Which have been the first to go in a bad economy.

If you need to take a day job you're not a failure. You need to make some cash so you can buy supplies. There is no shame in that. Maybe you can use the cash to buy advertising.

Or expand your selections - like skunk in each section: a skunk totem, a skunk journal, a skunk painting and a skunk card that way it would seem to relate across mediums.

Just my 2 cents, I think your figurines are adorable. K

[Former_Member]

Mandy, You have a great shop. I love your work!
there are also some good tips here.

If you have to go back to the "day job" that certainly doesn't mean you are a failure. I've opened up my shop and I've only had one sale. Still at my day job, and working, studying, continually tweaking until I find what works here.
don't give up.
:)

[Former_Member]

I agree with the above to a point. I think your areas still follow a theme and are well done in keeping with your passions.

The items that were taken down may be ready for new photos and then relisted to make them fresh again.

Everything looks good on all areas. Your shop is 20 months old with 120 sales, so that it good. Maybe not enough to live on, but enough to keep it going and allow it to grow.

I have 3 PT jobs with my 2 Etsy shops still hoping to be able to work from home some day....sometimes it is not a one way kind of life.

The only reason that I would not be buying from you is due to a constant of lack of funds......I will favor your shop and some items to try to help you get more views.

Your shop and items are adorable!!!!

I wish you much luck!!

[Former_Member]

I don't see anything 'wrong' with your shop, but if you want to make it your full time source of income you will really need to work at it.

I've found that I need to add at least 2x the amount of product EACH day that I expect to sell. So if I want to have $100 in profit at the end of the day, I need to be adding items that will give me $200 in profit.

Marketing is a huge part of running any sort of business. Are you reaching your target customer?

Promoting is very different from marketing. Promoting is simply splattering your links all over the internet. Marketing is reaching your target customer.

You can promote all day but if you aren't reaching your market, why bother?

[Davs]

Mandy, the only reason I'm not buying from you is because I'm broke. But if I had the money I would, your work is awesome! I politely disagree with the:"Are you a card maker, journal maker, artist or sculpter?" and " trying to make a possum as totem animal is going to be a stretch" IMO, it's not a stretch, it's awesome. Your work, in my opinion is lovely. I'd totally buy a possum totem if I had the money. The fact is that there is a market for your work. And even in this economy there are buyers. How to find them and target them? I honestly don't know. I tweet, facebook, pinterest, wanelo, stumbleupon, reddit and participate in teams and still sales for me have been abnormally slow lately.

I do agree though that if you need to go back to a traditional job for the money it absolutely doesn't mean that you've failed. Do what you have to do to live, but don't let it stop you doing what you love either.

[Former_Member]

Have you ever thought of doing craft shows. There is a team called Craft Fairs...it's a living. The team can give you all kinds of tips to have a productive show. Someone on the team asked if more money is made on Etsy or craft shows. All the comments was Craft Shows! I also do fall craft shows and it's true. You don't have much competition with clay at craft shows.
I am a clay creator and I use colored clay so that I don't have to paint. I have been there and done that! It a pain and more work! You have the clay creating gift. Some of my best salers are dogs,cats and owls are in big time.
Ornaments and pendants are popular. Just convo. me for more info.

[IvoryCatCreations]

I think your shop is really good. Take the items you have removed and sell at craft fairs or farmers market. By the way I love possums and have had 2 as pets. We are out there, doesnt have to be a cat or dog.

[Former_Member]

Mandy you would probably sell 1 or 2 possums compared to 100 cats and dogs. Majority of people in this world own multiple cat and dogs compared to possum owners. I should know because I have been doing this for many years. Just trying to get you out of your slump.

[IvoryCatCreations]

Too true Tammy, you gave me a good laugh.

[andralynn]

Your art is wonderful! You are definitely NOT a failure if you have to get a traditional job -- sometimes it takes awhile to find your foothold in the art world. If I wasn't a starving artist myself, I would buy your art in a heartbeat. :)

[TagsForTails]

I still work full time and run my Etsy. My orders alone take about 5 hrs/week to complete plus all the other poking around I do on the site. It takes a lot to juggle it all, but its worth it. Don't worry about going back to work at a "real" for some cash, a girls gotta eat! At least you've tried, thats more that many can say. Going back to work doesn't mean you have to give up your shop completely.

[TwentyandUnder]

Hi Many,

It pains me to hear the frustration in what you've shared here and I wish in could give you the answer that would solve your problem pronto...like magic but the truth is...this is a process that is not dictated to by time. 2 years spent on the perhaps the wrong activities will not produce the desired results. Been there done that/my story too!

As others have wisely said...going back to work does not mean you failed. It's important as an entrepreneur that you stay fluid. Going back to work to bring in some cash flow is being fluid.

At this point it's okay to doubt just about everything you've done to build your business and consider what might need to be done differently BUT do not doubt your talent.

Don't doubt that you have a gift to share or a purpose to pursue!

Here's what you should doubt...

Doubt whether or not you're blogging effectively

Doubt if you have really hit a groove with your social media/social networking

Doubt if you brought enough traffic into your shop

Doubt if you shown your talent to it's finest degree! (i bet you haven't, i know i haven't)

Doubt whether you really truly have the marketing expertise--right now--to put Mandy on the Map!

Doubt whether or not you've been a good marketer thus far but don't doubt that you are wonderfully creative and extremely talented!

You are an artist and there's tons of things that your talent could lend it's self too. How many things have you explored?

It's more than okay to go back to the planning board. In fact, it's required. Every (business) plan should be revisited and modified as needed.

It's as simple as what you tried didn't work so you have to try something different until you find what works.

So here's the deal...supplement your income if you need to but don't give up on your dream!

Just do your homework.

1. Create a shop that works for you. This will require research and more research.

I did notice that you don't have any digital offerings of your art in your shop? Also, have you identified and studied the top shops on Etsy in your category?

2. Figure out how to effectively market that shop - again research and more research and then some more.

(i bet you're not getting enough product views for a high volume of steady sales.)

convo me and I'll help as much as I can. That's where i am right now and I'm seeing results and would be happy to share with you and point you in some good directions.)

3. Join my Twitter Team Etsy Meet N Tweet!...okay maybe that was not a real number number 3 but more of a shameless plug BUT i did notice you didn't have your twitter account associated with your shop and my team is a great group and good place to start. :)

Mandy I wish you the best of luck! I hope you stay encouraged and continue to add your creative light to the world!

Clarissa

P

[Former_Member]

I work full-time, too, and run my shop. I feel successful at both, because I love both!

Your shop is awesome, you've done quite well, and anyone who calls you a failure doesn't know what they're talking about. But my feeling is, you're being too hard on yourself.

You only just recently made changes to your shop. You need to give it time. The more people buy, the more *more* people want to buy, if you get what I mean.

In the between time, if you need to get another job, that's okay!

[gypseejewelrydreams]

I agree with evryone here! You have a GREAT SHOP! I usually don't even post to these but i am gonna chime in. If you love what you do then fight for it! get in there... Some days stink! Retail is hard... I have been in retail all my life, on Etsy only a short time and Etsy is a whole different ballgame! 1 thing I noticed is You don't have a lot of Keywords in your titles like this one:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/150646001/fox-gift-set-fox-felt-wallet-fox?ref=shop_home_active

That is a Great Set & it would be GREAT for a guy, and Father's day! so in your Title maybe add great guys gift, fathers day gift. I think maybe do that for a lot of your sets.
What you sell is Incredible, it is a matter of getting people to your shop, Do you belong to an SEO Team and there is also a great PROMO team that helps you promote within social sites like pinterest, weheartit, picsity, & stumbleon, called PromoJunkies that you might like.
I would buy from you it was a matter of finding you. Your shop is worth It, and I wish you good luck :)

[Porzana]

Thank you for all your encouragement and great advice! I will try to stop being such a negative nancy and work harder. I'm still toying with the idea of getting a job. Thankfully I am in a position where I don't HAVE to work, but when our money situation gets a little tight, I get really conscious of the fact that I'm not pulling my own weight and wish I could contribute more through my shop.

I know that possums are nontraditional but my main following on Facebook and Tumblr are huge possum fans (not to mention my own love for them, and the fact that they inspired my shop in the first place)! Unfortunately, many of my followers and friends are possum/wildlife rehabbers and therefore, have no money to spend on my items :\

I need to find out who my target market is (if they exist) but I don't really know how... :\

[MaxplanationPhotos]

your stuff is unique but also ver cute! adorable

sometimes it takes a while to find your niche customer.

when I first saw your shop I thought of nature and wildlife and all of the organizations out there that want to maintain wildlife. maybe reach out to organizations on FB or by email?

there are more customers out there for you, you just have not reached them ;)

[MaxplanationPhotos]

have you thought of also including other wildlife ? so you cover all animals ad broaden your audience?

[Former_Member]

Once you have developed your niche market im sure there will be more people buying and recommending your art (its very quirky and cute). I have to work full-time but love my crafting as its so different and is really good self care (very stressful job as a psychologist) so i really enjoy getting into making my stuff and using a different part of your brain...as long as you actually enjoy creating and making your art then i think thats the main thing...most of us starting crafting for love...not money...its just nice if we do get paid :)

[PiecesOfMePaperCraft]

I would never consider 121 sales in less than 2 years "a failure." Failure is such a strong word to describe yourself.

If money is tight and you're relying on Etsy to pay the bills, you may need to rethink things. A lot of Etsy sellers work outside the home while maintaining their Etsy shop (myself included). I don't do this to put food on the table because I know it will never be enough to pay the bills. However, I just took my daughter and me on a day trip to NYC, partly paid for with my Etsy money. To me, that's good enough. I feel pretty darn stoked that I was able to do that.