Worrying about sales... how do you handle it?

[SinonaDesign]

I placed a large order on beads yesterday. Paid it out of my own pocket even though I had decided not to put any more of my own money into the shop... I want to be able to stock up for the holiday sales, and I have not had enough sales to cover the purchase with the shops income.

Of course, now, I'm really starting to worry, what if my sales never pick up? What if I never get back what I have invested in the shop? Not that my economy is dependent on it, I work full time. But, I dream of my shop becoming a success and perhaps even being able to quit my day job in the future. With a only about 0,5% of my views turning into sales I seem to be way off *sigh*

[Former_Member]

Your pictures are fantastic and your jewelry is really beautiful. I think you should take a deep breath and let yourself dream. Everyone keeps saying this is the slow season. Just focus on promoting and getting prepared. If you put a little money into this and the holiday season flops for you, re-evaluate then. :)

[WithLoveFromLucille]

GORGEOUS pieces!!!

I can only advise to promote anywhere you can:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6452187

Good luck to you!

[Former_Member]

Hi Camilla, try to ignore the feelings of discouragement. Your items are gorgeous! Photos are beautiful, tags are good, shipping is affordable. I think you just need to have faith in yourself and your product. I predict your shop will be a big success. Marked you as a favorite, and I already plan to return closer to Christmas for gifts for my nieces. Good luck!

[Former_Member]

Your shop is lovely! Your photos are simple, neutral, but still allow the pieces to stand out and speak for themselves.

I think this is a slow season around Etsy. It's been slow for me, too, but I'm trying not to lose heart! If you're still getting started on Etsy, it does take some money in the start-up of a business, so I'd not stress too much over it.

Definitely re-evaluate after Christmas, though. I've tried to not use any money but my business money since I've started, and so far I haven't had to use my personal funds (except for paying for my internet costs, which eventually I'd like the business to take over)! Right now it's just barely supporting itself, so I hope to get it to the point where it is making a profit, as well as paying for itself!

[SinonaDesign]

Thank you guys! I keep getting good feedback on my shop, but if it is in such good shape, why are only 0,5 % of my views turning into sales? Even had a bracelet on the first page of Wanelo yesterday, but still no sales!

Ok, taking a deep breath, and going back to work on my next listing.

[Former_Member]

I have the same worries sometimes...I have put in a lot of my (or should I say husband's lol) money into this and I am nowhere near making anything back yet...the few sales I did go right back into the shop for supplies or Etsy fees. I heard people say it took them a year before they started making a profit, which I guess seems realistic to me, so I keep that in mind.
You have beautiful pieces, btw, I think you're doing great!

[Squintphotography]

I completely understand how you feel. I think promotion is really the key. Letting everyone out there know what you have and you will find the market for what you make.

Keep plugging away, that's what I'm doing. You're work is lovely, btw! :)
Good luck!

[BethsBannerBoutique]

Your jewelry is gorgeous! Your shop is great....lovely pics, tags are good, etc. I think you're doing awesome for a new shop! Just keep adding new items....I think you'll see your sales begin increasing big time! :)

[Former_Member]

I'm afraid I can only empathise with your frustration of people (on Etsy and elsewhere) being so enthusiastic about your work but it not translating to sales. It does dampen your enthusiasm for creating new items.

I think thee only answer is persistence and self belief!

[SinonaDesign]

Thank you for your comments, it feels good to know that I'm not alone in my worries. Lets hope that the holiday season will be good to all of us!

[ShopGreyweather]

I go through this same feeling periodically (in fact yesterday was my worry day). I just pick myself up, dust myself off, and decide to keep truckin along until I decide it isn't worth my time anymore. I hope holiday sales help rejuvenate business for all of us because my summer has been sloooooow. :)

[Former_Member]

I am having the same feelings. I bought a ton of Christmas material (also with my husband's paycheck) hoping I would sell dresses here or at a craft fair. It's a very panicky feeling! At least my girls are little- they might have to wear the same Christmas dresses in bigger sizes for the nextv5 years!

Love your stuff though- hope it starts picking up for you!

[DecalInnovations]

I always reassure myself that you have to spend money to make money. You are running a small business. Most small businesses start with a loan from someplace and if you can offer one from yourself I dont think you should feel guilty. As long as you have a plan in place of how you are going to work on building your business keep the positive thoughts! sales/views % will always look depressing but when you think that there are so many people out there just "window shopping" or maybe early looking around for christmas gift ideas....i know i do the same thing. I drool over other shops know I don't have the money to spend on "me" things right now.

[AllieBlankets]

I worried about this too in the beginning. Don't worry, you will probably make it all back at least. I keep an excel spreadsheet of every item I have made with costs and how much it is sold for, etc, where I can see overall how much I have made so for including the materials that went into items that haven't sold (making the profit lower). At first the number was very low and now increasing due to buying materials for ready to ship items, but slowly and surely the number got higher and higher.

My advice is to not worry about it. My husband explained it to me this way: if we don't actually make any profit doing this overall, we will just count it as a hobby and move on.

[Former_Member]

Some of the buyers out there may be saving up for purchases. Many may be recovering from vacation and back to school expenses. Christmas shopping will begin soon.

That's what I keep telling myself. I'm still trying to improve my pictures, some are just way too blurry. I'm going to keep working on new items to share between my Etsy shop, local customers, and the upcoming craft fair. (I'm nervous about that as it'll be my first. It's in December which doesn't feel all that far off!)

I really want Etsy to do well, but for now I prefer to focus on my in-person sales (no pictures required!) I have several repeat customers who like buying my items because I'll let them pay in increments. (Something I can't do online.) They can see and try on my items. It's also easier to offer services such as size/length adjustments, changing clasps, and offering jewelry repair.

[WolfandFirefly]

Try not to worry, and know that it takes time for most people to really start getting a lot of sales on etsy. For me, the magic numbers were 100 items listed and 1 year selling on etsy. The last Christmas season wasn't great for me, but shortly after that was my 1 year anniversary here, and things suddenly picked up a lot. I also joined Wanelo shortl;y after that and I am sure that helped a lot too. :) I still have days like today, where sales are low and I get scared, (this is my day job now), but most of the time, as long as I am doing my promoting, and working hard at the whole thing, my shop is doing well. Your items are lovely and I think you will do well too, if you just breathe deeply, don't give up and work through the slow times. :)
All the best!
Ari

[Former_Member]

i opened my shop almost a year ago and i JUST started getting consistant sales D: it gets frustrating but im just so happy that ive started to be able to make some money and pay a bill or two. and ill be honest i dont think ill ever get back all the money ive actually invested into my shop haha

good luck! dont get frustrated you will get sales :))

[CaseyHPerez]

Ok. I just looked at your shop and you have nothing to worry about, no lie. You are doing great so far. It takes a long time for your name to get out there, build up inventory, perfect the tags and SEO, and getting an outside etsy following. I see you don't have a twitter. Twitter has been a great source of traffic into my shop. But in all seriously, you've been open since June and have 22 sales already in the most saturated market (jewelry) on etsy. Sometimes it takes shops this long just to make their first sale! And this has been a very slow summer for a lot of shops. If you continue what your doing and continue working on your promoting outside of etsy you'll make it back in no time, I'm sure.

[EZCraftingStore]

Your shop looks great and you have only been on etsy for a couple of months. Deep breath, relax. Sometimes, it takes time. I have invested a lot of money in my shop and have been a a year tomorrow. You have to have faith that it will work.
Keep going don't give up on yourself.

[thevicagirl]

I stopped worry long ago. To me etsy is a game. I put some money into it when I started, and now I just get to play around and watch my money grow. Granted, it probably helps that I don't pay myself, anything. But, if I was to stop right now I would have more money to take out of my account than I put into it. I make sure and every year make a budget and try and stick to it, that way I know that I will have enough money for another year. I am hoping Christmas time will pick up however, because if it doesn't, I don't know if I will have much for next year. Good luck and enjoy what you do.

[Former_Member]

Camilla, having only been open for a few months you are doing extremely well!

If I were you I'd step up your marketing campaign now to bring people in to your shop so that when people are buying more for the holidays they will remember you.

Don't wait too long though as it takes time to build up a following.

[Former_Member]

Whenever I need a motivational kick up the behind, I think of what I could be doing and where I could be working instead *shudder This usually sorts out my mood, and I get cracked in with knitting or crocheting something.

[SinonaDesign]

Woke up to a sale today and suddenly everything feels better :)

[Former_Member]

I think there is a lot of us who feel the same way sometimes, I have invested lots of money in wool so that i can make my products for my shop, I have made sales but I have at the moment reinvested the money on a new sewing machine, knitting needles, cotton, lace etc. I, at least am prepared to do this initially, and am hoping that this will pay off in the long-term. I tried a business back in 2009 and failed miserably, mainly because I didnt want to keep investing. This time, it is working out for me at the moment, between Etsy and my wednesday market stall, it is finally beginning to pay off. I wish you luck for the future, stick with it, i am sure that it will all pay off, with a little patients and a lot of self belief in yourself and your product