| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Leezard |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 4:25:20 PM
Do you have an etsy with no sales yet? Show me what you've got! I haven't had any either and I'm often without a working sewing machine so I haven't been able to add any aprons to sell yet so I thought I'd see if there was anyone else out there that's not doing well in the sales department. I'm up for doing a little buying at the moment so let me see what you've made 
http://ruby--slippers.blogspot.com/
www.leezard.etsy.com |
| 22 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Hearthside Cottage |
Posted - Nov 20 2007 : 10:27:12 AM
Barbara,
Hope you have fun setting up your store! Let me know if I can help with anything! :)
Jennie
Come by for a visit at HearthsideCottage.etsy.com |
| Duchess |
Posted - Nov 20 2007 : 10:17:40 AM
Hi All,
Glad I found this area of Farm Girls, I am in process of starting an etsy store. Finding other people to chat with and get hints from is great. Oh, concerning the sewing machine issue, I have 2 that work great that I got from the thrift store. They are both old Singers and I got machine and cabinet, one for $8.00 and the other which is much older for $25.00. You might give it a try.
Best to all, I plan on visiting your stores and I will pass the word for sure.
Happy Thanksgiving, Barbara
http://theclarkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
| Hearthside Cottage |
Posted - Nov 20 2007 : 10:05:42 AM
Hi Everyone! This would be a GREAT time to try again on Etsy! Sales are really picking up, and Christmas items are selling big time! They beat their sales record on November 15th at 11,000 some sales in one day! I posted in another thread today about how important it is to post often AND renew your store items often! I do that especially on the weekends, when the most people are shopping! If you renew often, your items appear on the time machine often, and your items will be seen. I often get lots of views and hearts on the weekend, with surprise sales on Mondays. It's as if people see something they like but want to think about it for a while first. I would also make sure your pictures are excellent ( you can searcg the forums for hints and tips) and make sure they are close enough to catch attention at a glance. Your second or third picture on the detailed page can be frther away.
I wish you all great success! Please check out our new Farmgirl Flair street tem! It is a group of etsy sellers who are also MJ Farmgirls! It's really fun and you can be a part of it too!
Thanks for listening, and I hope some of this helps! I'm certainly no expert but I read a lot and experiment a lot too.
Have a blessed day!
Jennie
I haven't had anything but a positive experience so far (knock on wood). I do try to avoid negative posts on the forums- they get me down. Some threads are very helpful though!
Come by for a visit at HearthsideCottage.etsy.com |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Jun 20 2007 : 10:41:28 AM
ETSY is more passive of a site than say ebay... It requires YOU to do the promoting of your products and acts simply as a storefront. I have been on ETSY for awhile and you have to do a few things -
1) ADD NEW ITEMS FREQUENTLY because the most recently added items used to get a pic on the categories page...not sure what's happening now...but the more often you add something, the more chances you have of your store being visited.
2) PROMOTE, PROMOTE, PROMOTE... make up cards with your ETSY URL and pass them out to EVERYONE! Promote in your emails (using a tag with a working link) and send periodic emails to prior customers (not too often but every few months)...
3) FREE GIFTS - send a little something extra to any customers - one of my favorite sellers sends me her business card (with each order) for a 10% discount on my next order (with an expiration date). I've ordered from her a TON of times because I feel like I'm getting something for free. She also has her discount policy CLEARLY posted on her ETSY Store page.
4)stick with what sells. You want a well-made unique product that will sell. It's easier to sell only a few variations of one thing than to try to sell a zillion different items. Also try to pick an item that isn't seasonal. Mine is seasonal and so I only get sales in the winter. Once you find something that works, stick with it.
5) If you offer custom items, make up a listing for custom orders... i.e. an adult knit hat made in their choice of colors for $18...
6) if something has set there for awhile and hasn't sold, discount it and then try something a bit different...
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| mikesgirl |
Posted - Jun 20 2007 : 08:58:31 AM
I really think it depends a lot on your pics and for me, interaction with the customer. Like I said before - zero sales over 6 months, as compared to over $1000 a day at shows. |
| queenofdreamsz4u |
Posted - Jun 20 2007 : 01:59:34 AM
Hey, I know through the years of selling on Ebay that once school lets out all the moms are real busy with the kids and don't do much shopping and then after school starts back they have much more time for shopping
So I always spend the summer working on stuff for the fall and winter seasons...
I have a etsy shoppe but haven't listed anything on it yet...I have heard the same complaint about the slow sales...I do know it's about the rotation of goods that get listed and about the number of listings that you keep going...If you can list even one item a day then your numbers will grow and you'll have a better chance of staying in that rotation.
Just my two cents worth 
Peace, Stephanie
www.dreamkingdomdesigns.com
A Creative Journey
"hold close your inner child and always listen to the gentle whispers" ~queenofdreamsz
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| BotanicalBath |
Posted - Jun 19 2007 : 9:03:15 PM
I just added all of you to my favorites. Hopefully this wil help everyone. If you want me to add you.... just post it here.
E-
BotanicalBath@peoplepc.com www.Botanical-Bath.com www.BotanicalBath.etsy.com http://botanicalbath.blogspot.com/
"I do my housework in the nude. It gives me an incentive to clean the mirrors as quickly as possible." |
| lamarguerite farm |
Posted - Jun 19 2007 : 8:14:22 PM
I was having good sales weekly, but mine have slowed down a lot too. I think it does have a lot to do with the summer months. I could hardly keep up during the fall and the holidays and it continued that way until around March and then slowed way down. Just stick with it and try to post new items as often as you are able. It is very inexpensive and I do promote my store as I would a website.
Blessings,
Missy
If you have a dream, even if you don't feel qualified to accomplish it, just try your hardest.-Maggie Jensen
http://18happyhens.blogspot.com
www.LaMargueriteFarm.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Jun 19 2007 : 2:46:16 PM
Hi ladies!
I hope your sales increase soon! I am going to getting my mom's items listed on Etsy here soon so I hope the sales start picking up! I don't know how many people list one of a kind paintings though.
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| sherone_13 |
Posted - Jun 19 2007 : 07:32:16 AM
Sales are slow here too. I had one sale first off, then not a whole lot of interest. I have been tracking the hits on my site and there semms to be an increasing number of hits. I think it may be you guys, which is great. I would be willing to put samples or cards in my sales, when I get more! I would also like to have some of my cards out there too. Email me if interested.
www.taylorscountrystore.etsy.com
http://sheronesgarden.tripod.com/
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| Mumof3 |
Posted - Jun 19 2007 : 06:32:02 AM
I have also experienced snail's pace sales. In fact, I've only had two- and those were to our sweet mima!! I am trying to get more things to put on there, just to keep it fresh. (But things have not been as calm as I would have liked them to be here this summer so far.) I am going to make up some business cards and start taking them with me. That way, when people ask what I do, I can hand them one and let them go to the site directly. I think self-promotion is key to this type of selling.
Glad to know I'm not in the boat alone. :)
Karin
Wherever you go, there you are.
Come visit me at:
www.madrekarin.etsy.com
www.madrekarin.blogspot.com |
| cmandle |
Posted - Jun 19 2007 : 05:20:34 AM
I just sold my first item on Etsy last night! But, I've had my shop open for a couple of months now with no sales, so yes...I am in that boat too. I was thinking that what Tina Michelle said about a slow summertime might be the case. I have plans to get a few more things up there by fall for the holidays.
Catherine :)
My Blog: http://yogurtandgranola.blogspot.com
My Etsy Shop: http://yogurtandgranola.etsy.com
Buy Nothing Summer Blog: http://buynothingsummer.blogspot.com |
| Leezard |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 8:40:44 PM
Well, something I've noticed a few of the people I've bought from doing is sending samples of other sellers wears with their packages. Like from one purchase I got some handmade beads from another seller and from another some handmade pins and in a few I got business cards from another seller who sold something that might go along with what I bought but that the seller I bought from didn't make...if that makes sense...lol I'd be very interested in doing something like that once I'm able to get back to having a working sewing machine on a regular basis and able to put up more items then we'd be advertising for each other.
http://ruby--slippers.blogspot.com/
www.leezard.etsy.com |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 8:30:13 PM
I must say I have been disappointed already as well. I read their forums tonight that said basically etsy doesn't advertise..you have to be willing and able to promote yourself in some fashion..so I sometimes mention new items on my blog and on here on occasion.
but none the less it still gets a bit frustrating.
I've even lowered prices lately too.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
| Leezard |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 8:03:42 PM
Yeah, I know it takes time and it helps to add new products as often as possible, I'm just looking for anyone else that's sales challenged still so maybe I can help someone else out since I've got a bit of extra spending money right now :)
http://ruby--slippers.blogspot.com/
www.leezard.etsy.com |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 5:42:04 PM
I also try to add at least one new product a week if I can.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 5:41:01 PM
I have been visiting the etsy chat rooms to help promote my items more..at least amongst the etsy folks..but even then..sales are slim..I have heard alot of the etsy folks say recently that all of their sales decline during the summer months then start to pick back up in September for the holiday season.
By the way..all of you have nice items for sure.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
| mikesgirl |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 5:33:58 PM
We'll try this link:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x281/mikesgirl_012/IMG_0040.jpg |
| mikesgirl |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 5:31:53 PM
I've posted on here before about how disappointed I was in etsy. I have very successful shows all the time, selling over #1000 and I did not sell ONE thing on etsy. I'm not sure if it was my pictures or what, but I will try and post a sample of what I sell. Have to be in another post because I have to check how to do it again. |
| BotanicalBath |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 5:25:42 PM
To be honest, I have only had one sale. But I didnt expect for them to be pounding down the door.
But it is cheap to keep up and it is a good place to list one of a kinds.
When I pour a batch of soap, depending on what I add to that batch, I have some left over. I am pouring the rest in a single bar mold and embedding a brush. I have a bunch more to list and photograph. But I also made stickers with the my etsy site on it to stick on the backs of my business cards. My soaps at shows are $8 each... on the regular web page they are 3 for $20(no mix and match, it is designed for people who have bought before at shows)... So I am selling this Huge bars 6ish oz for $5 + shipping. So we will see how that goes after this show, I have a big one coming up this weekend. So for my regulars customers... this will be a big discount, and getting a unique "pour" woth a brush.
Pulling no punches... I have not done well on etsy.
E-
BotanicalBath@peoplepc.com www.Botanical-Bath.com www.BotanicalBath.etsy.com http://botanicalbath.blogspot.com/
"I do my housework in the nude. It gives me an incentive to clean the mirrors as quickly as possible." |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 5:23:04 PM
Mine goes in fits and spurts too. I do notice that when I list anything at all I tend to sell something soon..it can be something that has been listed quite awhile sometimes. YOur stuff is really sweet Liz!!
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| lamarguerite farm |
Posted - Jun 18 2007 : 5:20:54 PM
Liz- you almost have to list something every week with etsy, otherwise it gets pushed way back in the listings. I've found that if I don't keep up on it and list at least one thing, then I have little or no sales. I wish you all the best!!
Blessings,
Missy
If you have a dream, even if you don't feel qualified to accomplish it, just try your hardest.-Maggie Jensen
http://18happyhens.blogspot.com
www.LaMargueriteFarm.com |
