Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Omwoods on March 26, 2011 at 1:29pm

I've had my Etsy store for almost a year now and on average I've sold one piece/month. I don't really promote it other than having a link to it on my blog sidebar... And there's a link to it on my profile here. My stuff is quite underpriced too. I'm not very good with it at all. But it's fun. I noticed when I posted more items, they got found more on searches and naturally then there is more variety for people to choose from. Also naming is important! When I named hairfalls after Grateful Dead/Bob Marley songs etc. they were _immediately_ placed on treasuries, like the next day.

Potentially I could do much better on Etsy if I made something else than hairfalls only, because people who wear them are so rare. (Well living in a vehicle, I have a storage space the size of two shoe boxes for all my Etsy world so...if I started making other things they would have to be tiny lol)

I think there's no loss really if you reopen your store, it's so cheap. It takes time though but I think you're doing macrame anyways ;) so just list them up and see what happens! I would be excited to see your shop.

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StudentPermalink Reply by Tangled Macrame on March 26, 2011 at 6:25pm

I love to give my creations names, especially from songs. As of now I think my plan is to knot like crazy until the sun comes back out and I can get some good pictures. Then start uploading to the shop.

 

If you want to check out some pictures, I have some on my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tangled-Macrame/151922128204668

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StudentPermalink Reply by Missina Lee on March 26, 2011 at 7:13pm

I love your pictures and can't wait to see what you'll be selling in your etsy shop :) 

 

I'm interested in this thread as well. I am wanting to start up a shop, but some supplies I ordered got re-routed to a different address, and I have been working for a couple months now (ugh!) to finally get it to my house, ha. In the meantime I have been reading the etsy blog which is really informative and gives lots of start up tips, but I'm interested in hearing from experienced users as well.

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ModPermalink Reply by Martika* of MartikasMysticDesign on March 26, 2011 at 8:27pm

Etsy is very simple to use, just takes time to set up shop. I've recently started my store and have had a little sells here and there.So far I've been selling three items a month but the last two months I've been busy performing I haven't had time to focus on promoting my store.My hoops are not the cheapest on the market but I put a lot of work and love into them. Selling hoops is not as easy as it seems to make money because the market is saturated with sellers that try to run a business of impossible low prices. Or sellers that try to under cut you by a couple of dollars.

 

For promoting I'd suggest getting business cards to pass around locally or when your at festivals.I got 250 free from vistaprint.com, but you still have to pay about $5 for shipping/handling fee. I pass them around whenever I go to a drum circle or hoop jam to get my store name out locally. I also will start busking at my local city market where i'll pass them out to. For promoting online Facebook is good, I'll add photos on hoopcity or stitchrippers of items I'm really proud of. Hoopcity has a market place where you can post free listing for items.

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StudentPermalink Reply by Tangled Macrame on March 27, 2011 at 8:50am

I sell hoops locally, but not on ETSY. Like you said, Martika, the market's pretty full and I don't feel I bring anything special to it. The macrame's a little different. There's still TONS of people under-pricing their work, but even if mine are more expensive, I believe/hope the attention to detail and unique designs will attract customers. 

 

And thanks for the reminder. I need to order some more business cards. 

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Permalink Reply by Ashli Hara on April 1, 2011 at 3:39pm

I' love to see your hoops, do you have any photos online?

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StudentPermalink Reply by WhirlWind* on March 27, 2011 at 10:41am

Hi. I recently opened up an Etsy shop: WhirlWind Loop Hoops

I don't really know how to promote it other than probably telling people word of mouth but I guess its better than having no shop at all. I'll see how it goes.

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Permalink Reply by Ashli Hara on March 28, 2011 at 2:09am

I've bee with etsy for a couple years and I love it. It is an amazing place to get your work out there and see what happens. I sell my clothes all around the world, which is still an exciting thought for me :)

 

I think the most important thing is to make quality things, and get great photos that really show your work well, in all detail. And also, it is fun to have a facebook page where you can interact with your customers and they can easily share photos and you can give update when you have new items or are doing promotions. I think it is best to offer items at different prices with a range based on the amount of time you put in and the cost of materials. People always tell me I should raise my prices but I like the idea of being accessible to everybody better than selling my things at overpriced rates, and I think customers enjoy that as well. 

 

I mostly offer tribal clothing inspired by elf and fairy fashion as well as by fashion in underground communities of artists and travelers and it is great for hooping and bellydancing!

 

If you want to check out my site, here is the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/elvenforestcreations

and here is the facebook page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elven-Forest-Creations/109198539098046

 

Good luck with your new store!!

 

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Permalink Reply by MissBubbles (April) on March 30, 2011 at 7:17am

Ashli, so happy you are a fellow hooper. I bought your butterfly dress a while ago and just love it!

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Permalink Reply by Ashli Hara on April 1, 2011 at 3:05pm

Yay! I'm so glad you love it! :)

I started hooping when I was just a kid, and loved it. Soon I want to learn contact staff, eventually with fire on the ends!

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StudentPermalink Reply by Tangled Macrame on March 31, 2011 at 6:28pm

Oh the photos! Laboring over those crazy photos is my clearest impression of my first Etsy experience. LOL!

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Permalink Reply by Ashli Hara on April 1, 2011 at 3:15pm

awww, thank you :)  My sister told me that when she looks at my store, it makes her want to turn into a faery and run off into the forest. Her words made such an impression on me, I sometimes wonder if anyone else feels that too. I do try to make the experience at my store a magical one :p    Thank you

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