setting goals and changing them

[marylandquilter]

I've been thinking a lot about an Etsy post awhile ago about making a plan and sticking to it, not panicking if sales are really slow for a bit, just staying the course, working your plan.

So I'm tweeking my goal plan a bit. I was working toward the magic 100 listings. But then I realized my main desire was to make a certain amount every week. I am now trying to create and list the dollar amount every week whereby if it sells, I hit my goal.

I'm going to trust that some weeks it won't sell, some weeks it will sell more, but if I want to sell $100.00 worth of product every week, I have to list $100.00 worth every week. And I have to be careful reducing prices.This is probably obvious to all of you, but I'm slow with the obvious :)

[Former_Member]

Nope, I don't think it's obvious. But now that you mention it, it makes sense. :) Maybe it's like event planning though- if you want 100 people to show up, you have to invite 200. Know what I mean?

[PICFiberArts]

I understand that perfectly. Sometimes what we list can equal out to one item to meet that goal or twelve items to meet that goal. We just have to figure out what will work for each of us!

[Former_Member]

Interesting point Jamie. I think you are onto something here lol. I have been concentrating mostly on reaching my 50 mark first (sitting on 23 at the moment) so 100 seems wayyy off to me, but I will get there. Good point.
Thanks for bringing it up :)

[Former_Member]

Oh, I wish, i could have time enought to make good 50 items for my shop :D As in my shop are hand painted silk ties, it takes a lot of time to make an idea, to make the painting and all that stuff. At the beggining of this year I made a goal to reach 10 silk ites and 20 jewelry in my shop. In spring I got that I don't need to put earrings in my shop but focus more to silk ties, so my goal for this year is increased from 10 ties to 20 (at least 15). In January I had only 5, now there are 9, so I need to find a huge muse and work :)
Best wishes to all how are on the way to reach their goals! :)

[Former_Member]

If you are slow, Jamie, then I am slower! I had never thought of it that way....am going to have to see how to work that concept into my business plan! Thanks!

[marylandquilter]

You made a good point about the event planning comparison, Jennifer. All the points made make me think I need to keep my prices up and be more efficient in production if I'm ever going to meet my goals.

[spacefem]

I had that 100 item goal too... but dropped it. The most I ever had was 90 or so, and now I'm under 50. But I've learned so much more about what gets seen and sells, I'm not bothered by my goal anymore! I have half as many items as I ever did, but five times the sales.

I think all the different things I posted to do to get to 100 listings helped me learn a lot about what does and doesn't sell, so I'm still glad I had the goal, but the results it brought me were very indirect.

[hydeandstitched]

Don't forget goals need to be adaptable to work ;)

[Former_Member]

I guess I'm kinda working towards 100 items, but I'm working more towards a larger card line so I can begin wholesaling.

However, I think the idea of wanting to make so much per week vs. needing to create that amount per week is something to ponder! I guess I'm slower than you, Jamie! Thanks for sharing this thought... and Jennifer, good idea about the event planning.

[KriyaDesign]

I honestly don't like to stick too close to any goals. I do write down what needed doing, then tweaking and adjusting as I go along. I've learned to expect... everything and anything... the unexpected. Its easy said than done... ark

Seriously I didn't aim for 500 listings, but the store seems to have a mind of its own. Slaving myself to its whim :-)