Question for Fabric Shops

[DorothyPrudieFabrics]

I think the way to constantly improve one's shop is by sharing information and ideas. So, I would like to ask my fellow fabric shop owners to discuss the following:

1. How do you track inventory/sales/etc.? Do you use a computer program? If so, which one and it is integrated with Etsy?

2. Do you use a Blog or Facebook Page? If so, do you feel it brings you customers?

3. Do you feel with the cost of fabric increasing that the new advertising on Etsy will be worth it in the end?

I will answer for my shop. We are implementing a new accounting program at the start of the year and hopefully it will be easier than year's past. We have had a blog, but have found that the maintenance of that and our own website is very time consuming. So, we are at a stalemate as to re-opening both of those. Advice is always appreciated. We have started a Facebook page recently and have had some very good success with it. I'm on the fence on Etsy advertising program. We advertised faithfully with the old program. But, I'm not sure on this new one. It seems way too high for the price point of our items. Happy fabric selling to all.

[TheFabricScore]

It appears no one ever responded to your questions, so I will start, though I don't know how much you can learn from me.

1) I currently do not have an inventory tracking system but with well over 600 items in my shop, this is getting bumped up on the priority list! I will probably use Excel spreadsheets as I've heard it's a good way to track.

2) I have a Facebook page but not many followers yet. I have had a couple sales that I know of, but not many. I have been hemming and hawing about starting a blog but am concerned about the time it will take to maintain it at an effective level.

3) I have not used Etsy's advertising (I assume you mean search ads) for my fabric shop but have used it for my other shop where I sell handmade purses. Not sure it really helped much. As far as the cost of fabric, I get mine pretty cheap at thrift stores, etc so I still am able to make enough. I did raise the price of many of my fabrics by $.50 about 6 months ago.

[TheFabricScore]

Update: Since last posting I am well into the process of setting up an inventory tracking system on Excel. I assigned stock numbers to each individual item and put this number in the listing title as well as the listing description. Putting it into the listing title means I can do a search using just the stock number to find that specific item. I also have photos of each listing on the spreadsheet so I can quickly look to see what that item looks like if I need to find it. Additionally, I added stock numbers to the folders on my computer that hold photos for each item. Then I can quickly do a search on my computer for that stock number and come up with where the folder is located so I can delete it or whatever, when I need to.
Am still in the process of adding shelf numbers to my Excel spreadsheet for each item so that I can find it when it sells! That was my biggest motivation for getting this started. Too much time wasted trying to find fabrics that have sold so I can ship them out!!

AND...since last posting, I have also started a blog! It's a work in process and it remains to be seen how much it will help my sales (everything I hear, though, is that blogs are very helpful for increasing visibility). Anyway, here is my blog url: www.terrytillman.typepad.com

Keep plugging away! Every year, as I add more items and implement more strategies for getting my items seen, my sales have increased (doubled, in fact). I'm not ready to tell my husband he doesn't have to work anymore (haha) but the business is being built layer by layer and I seem to be moving in the right direction!

[TheFabricScore]

P.S. You have a terrific looking shop and way more sales than me. Not sure why I'm giving YOU advice! haha

[Former_Member]

Just thought I'd add to the thread. I just put my total stock into Etsy. So if I have 5 metres and I sell be 1/4 metre cuts, I put in 20 in the amount. Every time anyone buys it automatically realists - as it hash't been sold out and it reduces my inventory.

Its a bit tricky at the moment for me as I've just started my own website too - www.blacktulipquilts.com.au and now I have to make sure I reduce stock manually from the one it wasn't bought from. I might have to come up with a new system, the website is only a few days old.

[TheFabricScore]

Yes, that would be tricky. I do think there are web platforms (I don't really know what to call them) where you can hook up your physical shop with your Etsy shop as far as inventory and they sync with each other. Maybe. I seem to recall something along those lines. Craftybase, maybe?

[TheCalicoCatFabrics]

Not sure how much I can contribute but here goes!!

1. I currently dont use a computer inventory system but REALLY need to find one (I am currently moving my shop from one platform to another and while I transitioning to selling elusively on Etsy and my own website (well thats my goal of course!!) inventory control is getting to be a hassle

2. Facebook...ahh Facebook....changes in Facebook have made it difficult to drive business your way I think...Personally I think a blog is the way to go to get visibility

3. I have never used the advertising on Etsy (yet) for the time being I think my money would be better spent on some carefully chosen ad space on Quilting and crafting blogs with a large following....I also think there are some free ways to advertise your items such as starting a Pintrest board etc...I have seen some success with driving traffic my way with that

Not sure my answers will help anyone...I have been in business over 7 years now but very new to Etsy....Good luck to everyone!!