Introduce Yourself

[#1]

Hi there new team members! This is your captain Sheryl, I run Noadi's Art here on Etsy and also write the Handmade Business Blog. I started the blog almost 2 years ago to share what I've learned running my shop.

Now that anyone can start a team here on Etsy I've decided to create this team for people to share and discuss business topics with each other.

Please use this thread to introduce yourself and why you joined the team.

[Former_Member]

I there my name is Valerie of EvieCrafts. I am a stay at home mom, that also works part time from home as well. Looking to learn how to sell my items!

[Former_Member]

HI, Have joined to receive/give advice and insight into etsy shop. I have had my shop open previously and had to have a break due to being pregnant with my now 6 week old twins. Now they are here and being kind to their mother, I am finding a few spare minutes here and there to do some sewing and computer time! I know I won't be going back to work any time soon (hopefully never) other then from home, so need all the advice and ideas for a successful etsy store.
I love making childrens clothing, banners, and adult clothes. I am also starting to make table cloths and possibly curtains...
I love Japanese fabric and combing beautiful fabrics into the one garment.
Looking forward to learning alot through this team.
Thanks, Amanda

[Former_Member]

Hi - I started my shop last June and am now in the process of moving my shop to a new name - ChelseaRainbow because I do more than just jewelry. I also design home decor accessories and knitting and crochet accessories so jewelry just didn't work any more.

I create beaded and precious metal jewelry as well as work in brass and copper. I sell to professional women who are over 30, in the $65k salary bracket as well as men who buy women jewelry as gifts.

I believe that jewelry is a powerful accessory for women to be able to wear in the office and move to the evening and the women who wear my work are active culturally and socially.

My new shop should be ready to launch in mid March.

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone I am Linda Stewart . I want to be apart of your team, I loved making handmade jewelry and playing with jewelry, I want my business to grow in sales, advertising and marketing, but I need some help in all three areas, when I join this team, I will received alot of advice suggestion , and point of views on making my business a very succesful one with all of your team support. Yes I want to be apart of this group very much, and I am looking forward to meeting all of you and learning so much from you in jewelry making and how to increase sales, how to advertise your products on the internet and in person, and how to market your products to get a sale snd everything else in between. Yes I want to join this team.

[Former_Member]

Hello all! I am Liz from South Jersey and I make everything and anything I like. I have two Etsy shops- ScrappThis and lizmmoran, the latter is lacking due to lack of time. The ScrappThis shop is paper crafts and supplies but I feel like I’m not keeping up with the competition. I know my photos need work but I don’t know where to start. Also, I feel like I am always online looking for more/better marketing and business advice but no matter what I do I am not making sales. I love the handmade world and the people and culture involved, but feel like I am drowning out here. I really hope we can all help each other out! Thanks!

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone! My name is Cristina Aguilar and my shop is called Creations by Cazzy. I just joined in January and am having a hard time of it. I am getting views but no feedback on what I can do better with my items. I sell etched glassware with names, images or both. I have made many sales through facebook but am trying to get my Etzy shop going. I am a stay at home mother of 3 after having my only boy last year (talk about a handfull).I love to create and even created my profile pic from a picture of my kids, something else I plan to sell in the near future. There are so many things to learn about running a successful shop and an email lead me to the Handmade Business Team. I am here to learn and help if there is any way in which I can. Happy Creating everyone!!

[Former_Member]

Hi I'm Angel and I play with metals.
I started my etsy shop 3 years ago, but haven't explored all that etsy has to offer. I was mainly using it as an easy website to say I have one. I sell my jewelry at a Saturday market.
I also gave birth to my first son 3 years ago, and now I have 2. I'm running on half a brain and hadn't had too much computer time over these last years. But now I have this handy iPhone, and am ready to take on the world from bed :-) sandwiched between my babies.
Looking forward to learning and sharing...

[SueMarieDesigns]

Hi,
I'm Sue and I like to play with silver and other metals, beads, beautiful stones, and anything purple :) I have been making silver jewelry off and on since high school in the mid-1970s and have accumulated a nice little studio full of stuff over the years for my hobby/passion.
I have a M.S. degree in Marital and Family Therapy and I have worked in the field of mental health, addictions and related social services off and on since 1992. My hobbies help keep me sane and bring in a little extra income.
I am not able to work fulltime anymore and am on Disability. I am not yet able to open an Etsy business shop because I am only allowed to make so much above my Disability check, but I am an active buyer of supplies on Etsy and have made a few friends of fellow silversmiths here as I admire and find inspiration from their work. (No, I don't copy others' work, I get ideas and gather courage to try out new things.)
I have taken a course in starting my own business so I have a little wisdom to offer members of this team here and there. I also hope to learn from you all in preparation for the day when I am able to open my own business here.
I have an awesome 26 year old son, his wonderful wife, a 9 1/2 month old granddaughter, and a sweet kitty who keeps me company and "helps" me play with wire.
I look forward to getting to know you...

[MulberryCreek]

Hi, my name is Melissa and I just opened my Etsy shop on January 7, 2011. I do a number of craft shows around the US and have now decided to start another avenue of my business. I am here to learn some of the best ways to promote and of course drive sales. So far I have discovered that Etsy provides a lot of help...a lot of info to help the newbie. Here are a few treasuries that I have created. http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d5317a3b1cf6d912826161c/for-the-love-of-coffee?ref=pr_treasury

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d558cf1f22b6d917fc3c8de/spring-forward?ref=pr_treasury

[Former_Member]

Hi all!
I'm newbie Tammy, aka TheEclecticJeweler!
Happy to be here & happy to share & learn...
I am a jewelry maker, glass blower, bead & pendant &... maker; spinner, knitter, weaver... I love to try new things (hence the number of "talents" lol) and the name of my shop!
I really want to do my best at making my shop as professional as possible- critiques welcome!

[BohemiaJewelry]

Hi everyone! I'm Nikki from Bohemia - glad to join this team. I live in Southern Europe but believe me, almost everyone of my sales has been from the US - mainly Texas! Please convo me if I can help with anything.

[DesignsByTenisha]

Hi Everyone,
I was just introduced to Etsy a couple of months ago, by a friend, and set up shop soon after. I currently design shop banners, scrapbook paper, invitations, greeting cards, gift tags etc. (digital files). But I am getting ready to add more items and focus on Wall Stickers & Printed Invitations. I love working from home, and hope to turn this into full time work. I look forward to getting to know all of our fellow team members.
Tenisha

Twitter: http://twitter.com/artbytenisha

[ShannonClarkPhotoArt]

Hi!
I'm Shannon of SSC Photography & Prints. I joined this team because I am a new Etsy shop owner (1 month)& want to learn all that I can about becoming a successful seller! I have an interested in marketing/advertising so I am especially open to learning new advice and techniques on that. If you have any advice to share please contact me :) thanks!

[ShannonClarkPhotoArt]

oh and i'd love any critiques and feedback on the work in my shop :) and if any of my fellow team members are interested in ordering any of my items, feel free to take 10% off with coupon code "TEAM1"

[bagzetoile]

Hi Everyone

This looks like a really useful team to get involved with. I am really enjoying having my etsy shop. I've had it just over a month now. No sales yet, but I know I need to be patient. I try and put on a new item daily when possible. I'd like to learn more on how to be a successful shop. I am concentrating on making bow ties for men. They seem so much more popular than the bags for girls that I make! My husband is a lover of bow ties which is why I started making them. Hope you get a chance to look at my shop. I will be taking a look around the team too. Cheers!

[Former_Member]

Hello everybody,
My name is Vick and I'm an artist & jewellery designer based in the UK. My shop is here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/vclinde?ref=hdr under the name V.C. Linde.
I decided to join Handmade Business because I've been working really hard on trying to get my business off the ground and want to take every opportunity to learn more.
I've recently been working on my branding over on my blog and it's now almost finished, I've had some great responses and it made me realise how much we can learn from each other.
If anyone is interested the first part is: http://bit.ly/fsiUIn
It's lovely meeting you all,
Vick.

[Former_Member]

I'm Roxanne and I'm on the road to an empty nest.

I left San Francisco's corporate America and now live in the Midwest.

My hopes are to create a line of reconstructed clothing while I continue to make jewelry.

I have 3 etsy shops and have done so to as an effort to focus on "branding". I also sell at a few "craft & music" venues as well as ebay.

My greatest fear right now is that people don't want my shop items because of it's "Christian" theme.

My greatest fault procastinating with writing descriptions and taking pictures, because of the diverse suggestions given. We're told here to use clean white light boxes, yet featured items have more character...confusing.

I want to overcome this insecurity.

[AdamRegesterDesign]

Hello,
My name is Adam and I joined Etsy at the end of last year. I have a MA( CSM ) in Design and Design Management and a teaching qualification. I have always loved painting and creating 'stuff' !
In my shop 'artyadz' I currently have a variety of items .... hand made cards, papier mache, paintings and knitting. I have over 100 items listed and have achieved 15 sales so far but am worried that my shop looks a bit of a mess with so many different types of items in it !!? I'm wondering if I should concentrate on one thing or split my stock into two shops .... art and knitwear !!? What do you think ???!
Am also wanting to promote my shop more to potential US and EU customers as I have only had one sale outside the UK. Maybe the postage costs put people off ?
Look forward to chatting to you soon !
ADam X

[Former_Member]

Hi i have just joined your team. Myself and my identical twin sister have opened up our jewellery shop last week and had one sale but need more help we feel with marketing and social networking, tags on items. We we researching it all on etsy but it would be nice to have comments and views or advice from helpful members.

[Former_Member]

hello everybody. let me be a part of this team also. hope to find some advices, ideas of .. well many 'how to's' :D
I'm from Lithuania, living near the Baltic sea in my town of dreams Klaipeda. I started my way with little drawings. Always searching for new ways of express myself. Painting on silk, mixed media painting, and now I came across that fabulous world of jewelry.. Can't go out ;)
here is some more photos of my wworks. Or maybe you;ll become a fan? kisses from winter-y seaskore of Lithuania.

[Former_Member]

oh, here it is: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/0juracoquet/117231698292142?v=photos

[Former_Member]

Hi, my name is Montse and my shop ELTREBOLDE4, I opened my shop mid December 2010, so I´m still quite lost in Etsy so any help will be welcome, and I´m ready to learn.

[kittykanzashi]

Hi there

My name is Isla and my shop is called Kitty Kanzashi. My business started out as a hobby but between the lack of job opportunities and running out of space to store my creations, I felt it was a good time to share my work to the world.

My dream would be to receive custom orders for my work from across the world however I am struggling to achieve regular sales. I can't tell if it is my prices being too high or my designs are just not appealing. I feel my prices are reasonable because my work is labour intensive but trying to convey this to my customers is hard.

You can find me at the following.

http://www.facebook.com/kittykanzashi
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kittykanzashi
http://twitter.com/kittykanzashi
http://kittykanzashi.blogspot.com/

[Former_Member]

Hallo, I'm Pauline, I run PurplePolly on Etsy, which is also known as Purple Princess Designs in the UK. I'm eager to learn new ways of bringing more business to PurplePolly and Purple Princess, because both are currently failing, and I don't know why.

Perhaps I could help others with a 'what not to do' post :?

thank you, I look forward to learning from the professionals.

[Former_Member]

Hello etsy friends, my name is Judy Horton. I am the owner of Jujubeans Designs Children's Clothing. I live in Bryan, Texas with my husband, two pekingese dogs and very spoiled cat.

I started sewing with my Granny at a very early age. I inherited her passion for creating and sewing. I now have six grand daughters that I love creating clothing designs and sewing for them.

I am very interested in helping others build their businesses, as well as drawing on their experiences and advice. And hopefully in the process growing my business. I am open to any advice you have to offer.