Chat Thread for 2014

[#1]

A new thread for a new year!

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i chi gyd!
A very Happy New Year to you all!

Here's hoping we all have a prosperous and productive 2014 here on etsy!

Rosemary X

[FragmentDesignsEtsy]

Hey guys,

Quiet week on here at the mo, but the last few weeks have been pretty decent so fingers crossed it starts up again, it's 9.30 on a Tuesday eve and I'm writing some blogs etc for the week in the hope I can drive some traffic to the shop. No rest for the wicked!

[ModernClocksByCraig]

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Kind regards
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https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/205457320/a-handmade-modern-retro-abstract-glass?ref=shop_home_activ...

[Former_Member]

Hello Welshies

Online sales have been a bit up and down across all the e places for me - I've just listed a few mor ACEOs so fingers crossed.

I hope things are picking up for everyone.

I'm off to a trade fair this weekend near Swansea - so I hope that will be a fun few days with lots of sales! I pick up my first calendars today - just waiting for the bags now so I can pack and send off!

Happy sales everyone!

Gayle

XXXX

[sewmuchfrippery]

Very quiet here too. I think it's all the recent etsy changes. Starting to panic a bit now as this is pretty much my only income at the moment. I just keep listing more (here and on ebay) as I'm not really sure what else to do!
I'm also keeping my eyes fixed on the forums in the hope of finding out what on earth has happened to views and sales! It appears to be happening to lots of sellers, across the board.

I know I should be doing more to promote - e.g. a blog - but I would need to be able to take some 'time out' in order to get over the initial learning curve - and that's not really feasible at the moment. Still, I have lots of blogging ideas.
Do you find that it actually helps with sales Sarah-Jane?

The weather is gorgeous here today so I will be busy taking photos in the back yard - providing my dogs leave me to it. One of my dogs did once eat a favourite vintage corsage that blew over in the wind!!

Good luck with the trade fair Gayle. I hope it brings you lots of pre-Christmas sales.

Rosemary X

[FragmentDesignsEtsy]

Hi guys,

Quiet week for sales but trying to get on top of stock for the few shops I'm sending stuff to over the christmas so go go go.

Rosemary I think the blog helps some, it gives me an excuse to post links without spamming people and when I haven't blogged in a while, cause I'm very irregular, and I blog I seem to get a few sales, it could be coincidence but what have I got to loose! ...should probably get a post done in the next few days :P

[Former_Member]

Hello welshies

I've only got a blog on the Artists and Illustrators website and I did post a bit on it but felt like I was shouting in the dark. I have a wordpress blog for my research but that's football based so not too helpful for my art really! Unless I start doing drawing of footballers I guess!

Trade fair went well and my calendars are selling well - about third of stock sold on pre-order already so that's great as it's a leap of faith for seasonal stock in quantity.

Should be getting the keys for the gallery soon! ( at long last)
Have a great weekend full of sales folks!

Gayle X

[sewmuchfrippery]

I'm pleased the calendars are selling well Gayle. Any news on the gallery yet? How exciting!

Etsy is eerily quiet at the moment. Maybe they are trying to create the right ambience for Halloween!
Seriously though, I have never known it this quiet. My sales are the worst they have been for four years.

I was hoping to start browsing on etsy soon for some Christmas presents - but Christmas will be cancelled if things don't start picking up soon.

How are you all doing?
Rather better I hope

Best wishes to all, Rosemary X

[Former_Member]

Hi all
Hi Rosemary ! Yes a lot of people have said Etsy (and eBay particularly for some people) have slumped dramatically in views and sales.

Not sure how you guys are finding the online outlets?

We are in the gallery and part of it is open with some of my art prints/cards in, with the exhibition and other artists work coming very soon. See www.facebook.com/workersgallery for pictures!

Halloween seems to be getting a bigger deal here in the UK now.

Gayle X

[FragmentDesignsEtsy]

Such a good Halloween! Lots of partying and lots of orders to get to work on tomorrow.

Gallery is looking great Gayle :)

[sewmuchfrippery]

Yes, the gallery is looking good Gayle. Let's hope it goes from strength to strength.

Still plodding along here, listing bits and bobs when I can. But the bottom really does seem to have fallen out of etsy lately. Lots of disgruntled sellers with pointed pitchforks in the forums. Hopefully these problems will get ironed out soon as Christmas is almost upon us.

Hopefully you will all be swamped with orders over the coming weeks. I'm not expecting to be particularly busy - although I find that people do often buy crafty stuff to work on over the holidays

It has got really chilly here over the past couple of days. I need to find my Winter tights!
Take care, Rosemary X

[Former_Member]

Hello folks!
Hope sales are going well and picking up for your all as the rain comes in ( and then some!)

The Gallery is now open 10am - 6pm Fri-Sun. If you lovely welsh chatters are around Sun 16th 2-5pm we'll be having tea and cakes there! www.facebook.com/gaylerogersart all welcome!

Well back to it!
Cheers
Gayle X
Gayle

[sewmuchfrippery]

I hope the tea and cakes went well Gayle.
Thank you for the invitation. Unfortunately it's difficult for me to venture too far at the moment. I have about as much chance of getting to the North Pole and back as south Wales at the moment!

Things are still eerily quiet here on etsy. Shouldn't it be starting to get busy by now?!

[FragmentDesignsEtsy]

Hey guys,

Hope you're well, I'm recovering from a laparoscopy that was a bit more involved then I expected and really could have done without it getting in the way of the Christmas rush, I've had to message lots of customers to apologise for stuff being late, I expected to miss a days work, I'm on day 3 and still barely walking :( No fair! Hopefully I'll get all better over the weekend, fingers crossed!

You guys seen the sales start coming in yet? Etsy has been doing pretty well for me, a lot of UK and Wales in particular sales although also had a bunch to Australia last week.

[Former_Member]

Hello folks
Hope you feeling better Sarah Jane - they are no fun - take it easy XX

No change on etsy for me - usual odd sale here and there - but the gallery going really well and sales are good!

Hope you are all getting ready for the big push!

Cheers Gayle X

[sewmuchfrippery]

I hope you are on the mend now Sarah-Jane. This is the worst time of year to be 'under the weather'.

Sales have actually been better than expected - given all the changes that have been going on with search recently. I can't complain, all things considered.
I don't sell a Christmas gift product, although I do often find that people buy craft projects to work on over the holidays. I know that when I worked 9-5 in an office, I used to look forward to the Christmas holidays so that I could really get stuck into a knitting or needlework project!

My sales seem to be following the same pattern as yours Sarah-Jane. Several to Australia last week! I find that sales seem to rotate - one or two regions at a time. UK sales are definitely on the up.

Hope you are all keeping warm. I had to put the heating on this week for the first time this Winter. I held on for as long as I could. Once I could no longer feel my toes it was time to flip the boiler switch!!

All the best, Rosemary

[Former_Member]

Hello all!

We had to put the heating on weeks ago - real chill off the mountains round here!

The gallery is looking lovely and we've opened proper hours now. It's lovely to see people of all ages coming in to see all the art and use the reference library and reading room.

Sales have started to get a Christmas push so all good!

Hope things are good with everyone on all fronts!

Cheers Gayle

[sewmuchfrippery]

That's great news Gayle. Projects such as yours can quickly become the hub of the community. Let's hope it goes from strength to strength.

Etsy sales also seem to be picking up - so, yes, good news on all fronts!

We seem to be a dedicated - but dwindling - band on this thread now. When it was first started, a couple of years back, there were numerous Welsh sellers (and buyers) who contributed on a regular basis. I suspect that some have now left etsy - possibly slightly disillusioned (getting sales here can be like pulling teeth at times). Others are members of numerous teams and I'm sure it can be difficult keeping track of them all!

As with most teams, I'm sure there are many members who pop in from time to time - scan the posts - but never actually join in the discussion. If you are a 'lurker', please take the plunge and say hello! We would love to hear from you! We need you!!

All the best, Rosemary XX

[Former_Member]

Yes! Come on lurkers...what's new? Be lovely to hear from the lovely welshies :)
Thanks Rosemary for putting a call out :)
Gayle X

[teabreaks]

I try not to lurk but belong to 34 teams. ...I am Captain of 3 and a leader on 4 others....(not sure HOW I became Captain...just woke up one morning and someone had promoted me....mmm....!!)
I am doing better on here than other sites but sales have been poor over the summer...however they are now picking up a bit, which is good . Sadly hubby is not too good and son nearly died in the summer...oh my what a year. Son is a healthy 42 year old keep fit fanatic who is a fireman but one day he felt unwell and had caught a virus that attacked his heart. Thanks to a quick thinking friend he was rushed to hospital (despite the doctor saying it was just a bug) and had major heart surgery. He is now back at work thank goodness. Now I have to deal with hubby who keeps having blackouts and is waiting for an appointment with the cardiologist....But I do manage to keep painting !!!!!!! ...sigh......
hope everyone is getting sales.....I do try to pop in and read the messages but as I hope you can appreciate, life has been kind of hectic lately...xx

[sewmuchfrippery]

So good to hear from you Brenda! I wondered how you were getting on.
Sorry to hear about all your trials and tribulations. What a relief to hear your son has recovered. Hopefully hubby can now access the help he needs. I hope all goes well.

Gosh, that's a lot of team activity. I am in awe! I wonder how you have time to paint!!
I appreciate you have a lot on your plate but it's lovely to catch up with you once in awhile. I hope the Christmas sales are going well.

Rosemary X

[FragmentDesignsEtsy]

Yikes Brenda you've had a year of it, hope everyone gets better soon.

I'm mostly recovered from laparoscopy, back on my bike this week which was great, managed to hammer my thumb today though so in a bit of a state :( did however get two little foster guinea pigs today, they're fab little fellas :) One bunny doesn't care, the other is freaked out.

Sales are pretty busy this week, last weekend was great, hoping it keeps up for the few weeks yet to go :)

[teabreaks]

hope the thumb is better now Sarah Jane....
waving Rosemary

[sewmuchfrippery]

Waving back at Brenda!

Sorry to hear about your poorly thumb Sara-Jane. It's not a good time of year to have one hand tied behind your back, as it were.

I'm trying to get lots of nice new stock listed at the moment, in the hope that someone bites! People often stock up on crafty projects to work on over the Christmas hols. We can live in hope ...

Bye for now. Rosemary X

[BellaRosinaJewelry]

Hello,

I was able to find a vintage linen pillowcase with embroidered lace at the thrift store next to Caerphilly Castle! I was disappointed that there were not more vintage linens for sale.

I visit this site every day and am particularly interested in handmade Welsh creations!

Carey Ann

[sewmuchfrippery]

Hi Carey Ann. Good to see you. I'm afraid that I can't help with the handmade Welsh creations at the moment but I'm still working on it! There just aren't enough hours in the day!