Team Chat

[DapperCatDesigns]

Hi Team!

Here is your opportunity to chat about whatever is on your mind... Get to know your teammates, and start networking and building those relationships :o)

[Former_Member]

I can't believe how excited I was to get a package in the mail today! I ordered a bunch of little blue (teal actually) boxes to pack my jewelry in when it ships to customers. It's kind of a silly thing to get excited about but it made my day!

[DapperCatDesigns]

Definitely not a silly thing! I got my "thank you" stickers from vistaprint the other day and I had to resist the urge to stick them on everything! It's little things like this that validate what you're doing! So high fives!

[Former_Member]

Hello fellow teammates. I made handmade jewelry. I am fairly new to the Etsy thing. I have yet to have a sale; but I'm keeping my fingers crossed and head held high. I am a full time college student who will graduate at the ripe age of 51 next may with a triple major. Any advice you can give me to get this Etsy site off the ground is much appreciated. Thanks

[Former_Member]

I should have said I MAKE handmade jewelry..........sorry....

[Former_Member]

Diana-
You have some really pretty items in your shop but unfortunately they're a little difficult to see. When I first set up my shop, one of the first things I did was retake my photos. When a customer is looking at pages of tiny thumbnails, making yours stand out as much as possible is key. I still haven't had a sale yet, but my views have gone up a lot. I found the photography section in the Etsy handbook to be very helpful.

http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2010/uk-edition-photography-tips-with-heidiadnum-part-1/

Best of luck!

[Former_Member]

Hi,
I'm Snow. I'm new here (obviously). I'm a bit shy so I'm not really sure what to write about, but I hope that we can make a great team (with lots of new members along the way)
:)

[DapperCatDesigns]

Hi snow! Don't be shy, we're all new :o). And I just started this team this afternoon, so I agree!! I hope we can make a great team and help each other take over the world!! Or at least Etsy (wink wink). Welcome!!

[DapperCatDesigns]

Hi Diana,

Congrats on your upcoming graduation! I am actually starting a therapy group for non-traditional students in college, so I may convo you at some point to pick your brain if you're up for it :o)

As far as your shop goes, you certainly are off to a great start! I agree with Kristin that making your jewelry stand out a little more could be helpful... I would look into a light box if you primarily do jewelry, as it will help to make you stand out! If those are out of you're price range, I actually improvised one myself so I can offer tips if you need them :o).

Also, I know its easier said than done, but keep adding to your selection!! The more items you have, the more opportunity to be seen :o).

And of course, we are all here to help you along the way :o)

[DapperCatDesigns]

Hi team... Got a question for you all...I know everyone here is new, but we all seem to come from different knowledge backgrounds (which is awesome!!)... I was reading in the forums about packaging... Kristin, I know you are excited about your new jewelry boxes (I always am too!) but how do you guys plan (or do!) package your items? Do you feel that packaging and presentation is important?

[Former_Member]

Hi Nicole. I just viewed your shop and you're really talented. Love the scarves!
As for packaging (if I ever make a sale --_--) I would probably use cute drawstring pouches for the jewelry.

[MollyMacCollection]

I have been wanting to put labels in my bags but there are sooooo many sites on here that make/sell them. Anyone have any experience with ordering those on here...a good site?

[DapperCatDesigns]

Snow - thank you :o). And don't worry, you will make a sale! I use pouches as well for my jewelry... I hope customers continue to use the pouch to store the jewelry... At least that's my thoughts behind it :o)

Molly, what kind of labels? Like stickers? I ordered all my marketing from vistaprint so that everything could coordinate... They do sell stickers that I use to "tape" my tissue paper shut :o). If you are thinking more for little hang tags to put on your bags, I actually use my own printer for my labels. I bought heavy duty parchment paper from staples and just copied and pasted my logo a bunch of times with washing instructions and then I cut the labels with scissors and use a hole punch to tie them up with yarn :o). Hope this maybe gives you an idea :o)

[MollyMacCollection]

Nicole...thanks! I'm more thinking of cloth labels...either woven or printed, that I could sew into the bags! Thanks!

I also with there was a way that Etsy could notify you when you have team correspondences.

[Former_Member]

If you want to use like a tag-- I order mini b-cards from 123print .com and cut them in half, punch a 1/8 hole and attached using plastic thingys. I bought the plastic things on amazon-- works pretty good for me.

[MollyMacCollection]

that's an idea...but I need cloth labels to sew into my work! :)

[DapperCatDesigns]

Yeah, don't have much experience in that area... I do have a friend who is in fashion design, so I will pick her brain tomorrow to see if she has any suggestions :o)

[Former_Member]

Nicole- I know it's been a while since you asked, but I am so excited about packaging. I'm still working out the details but for now I'm thinking teal boxes with navy tissue paper inside. I bought grey jewelry cards/hangers. I will also put a sticker with my logo on each box. I'm thinking about tying a navy blue ribbon around each box too but I'm not sure. I have a tendency to go overboard. I would also like to send a thank you card and a small free gift with each purchase. I've been brainstorming for a while now. I was thinking about getting a "K" shaped hole punch and making a bunch of "K" shaped confetti to put into boxes....crazy I know.... probably won't happen...

[DapperCatDesigns]

Molly - this may help... http://www.etsy.com/teams/7718/questions/discuss/12704651/

Kristin - I don't think it's crazy at all :o). I think our packaging is the final "impression" we give a customer... If we want them to treasure our items, we should show that we do too :o). I like your idea for the ribbon around the box... It's like opening a little present! I think I ordered something from coach once and they did that and it definitely spoke to the luxury that is coach's image :o)

[Former_Member]

I do like your idea, Nicole, of using your stickers to tape the tissue paper closed. That would be much more attractive than sticking them on the box. I hope you don't mind if I steal that one :)

I had also played with the idea of putting the jewelry in little bags inside the box, but again, I don't want to overdo it. I was thinking about making little draw string bags from recycled jeans...

[MollyMacCollection]

That does help, Nicole! Thank you!!

[DapperCatDesigns]

So... How is everyone doing? Things have been quiet here, so perhaps we are all just working away :o). I hope everyone is having a great August!!

[CallunaMuse]

I think I'm on information overload at etsy university! Reading, reading, and more reading everything etsy I can get my hands on.

I am trying to get something down with my pictures, I think I've changed them about ten times in the two weeks I started, I probably look like a crazy person!

My tags still aren't working, and I've changed them up as well. Maybe I need to buy a book or something on how to get those things worded properly.

I'm also trying to get my facebook page to look normal, pinterest, and a blog. I'm not even sure I did the set up page of my facebook correctly, it has all these numbers attached to the url, it's silly to try to give it out all the time! I'm pretty excited about a blog though, I'd like to do some how to's and add them to my crazy looking facebook page! I had started but realized I needed to give myself a manicure stat or it'd be known more for the cruddy looking nails than informative how to!

And most importantly, I'm trying to restrain myself from buying everything I see on here! There are just so many amazing handmade things, it's like being a kid in a candy store when I start looking! I don't think a day has gone by I haven't seen ten things I could picture myself happily with!

[Former_Member]

I am feeling a bit over-whelmed at the moment. I am trying to learn Windows 8 on my new computer, learn Etsy do's and don'ts, create new designs, post them on Etsy, get ready for a craft show in November. Somewhere in there I need to find time to eat and sleep. Some days I wonder what I got myself into. I wonder if I'm too old for this much excitement. I hope it's just new shop/business jitters. Does anyone else feel like this? And how did you get over it?

[Former_Member]

Hello feeling a bit over whelmed also not the most tec frendly guy you will ever meet.Had to step back and catch up with other things fo a few days hope to get more items posted soon. In the middle of remodeling my house and my gardens are going nutty. I think stepping back and trying to enjoy the process helps .