Just added another box of cards if anyone's interested ;)

Ifi

Glad you're making sells, still haven't gotten to add more to our store yet, things as usual got crazy here because I made the mistake of planning to do something ;-)

I'm honored!
 

I got one of my wooden Waldorf toys (domino set) put on a 'Vintage Holiday Toys" treasury list!! :)

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/OTU3MzM...-fashioned-and

I'm started to realize that 'friends', 'circles', 'favorites', 'treasury lists' & 'feedback' are really important for advertising. I'm still figuring out how it all works and what things are called though! :D

Hey, just thought I'd update you guys...This is the first week I've really had time to list a bunch of things - got 30+ things listed in my store this week and have already made 3 sales! Also have someone who is coming back to buy a bunch more that I'm listing tomorrow! So far Etsy has proved better then I thought. :) How are all of your store/sales going in this new year?

Oh Yeay! That is so encouraging. I'm not sure if I even finished opening my store, got so busy for a bit and still have to more committments to fill. Then I'm going to set one up for my furs. The right people have to be out there somewhere.
Good for you! Just for that, I'm going to visit your store.

I'm working on some stuff that I'll be putting up either tonight or tomorrow night.

Ifi

Good to hear back from you guys!

I listed more all day today, made another 2 sales! I'll get back at it and list more tomorrow...:D I'll be sure to check out your stores as well.
I think the key is GREAT pictures, and make sure you put your item in the same catagory that everyone else is using for items similar to yours...

I listed this last night. What do you think? I'd love to get feedback, it's been hard to get feedback, I guess because it's only my friends who see it.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/90174829/baby-announcement

And if you have time, take a look at my FB page in my siggy, I posted some pictures of some decoupage letters I made. Once I perfect them, it'll be something more to try on etsy. Thoughts?

Ifi

Nice cards Ifi! As for feedback, since you are listing items that will be for custom orders, have you changed the default in your shop settings that says you don't accept them?
If not, click on your shop name at the top of Etsy, then click on 'options' under 'shop settings' on the left menu. At the bottom there is a place where you can click either 'enable' or 'disable' for allowing buyers to send custom orders in when they convo you. :)

I have an etsy store, but there is nothing in it right now. I am working on it. As soon as there is stuff, I will post my store link.

happychick, thanks for the compliment and the tip! I had it disabled, I didn't know any better, thanks for letting me know. Now it's enabled ;)

Ifi

lonelyfarmgirl, what will you be selling?

Ifi

You're welcome Ifi! Anything on computers always has these defaults that say things we don't want them to. :) I thought about changing it for my store, but am not ready yet. Hopefully soon though, as I will be listing a line of hand woven Celtic knot jewelry I make soon!

Lonelyfarmgirl -
make sure to share your store link when you're ready. If you have any questions put them in this thread and we'll see if we can help as a team. That was my whole idea of starting this thead. :)

return question
 

While I'm thinking about it: does anyone understand how returns work on Etsy? I know I had to make a return policy with my eBay store for the sake of dealing with not so nice people, but haven't done anything on Etsy yet because I'm not sure and haven't needed to...How can you say you accept returns if you're items are handmade and you take good pictures in the first place? You can't do returns on custom items?!

happychick, I haven't read anything "formal" about returns, but logically, if the item is custom made, such as someone asked me to make an X number of cards with their names, etc, I wouldn't accept a return. But if the item could be re-sold, then I probably would. Excluding shipping and they would have to pay to return back to me. So I would say it depends on the item. Of course I don't know if there's a formal etsy policy that we have to follow or not.

Ifi

I'm on Etsy too...have been since November of 2007. I would sell a LOT more if I would get with it and list more often. It seems like I go in spurts where I list and list and then I get bored with it and don't list anything for months.

If anyone has any questions, I can try to answer them. Etsy has changed a lot since I first set up my shop.

For some reason, I can't seem to get my link to show up in my signature...it used to be there, but it's gone now. Anyway, my shop is http://www.etsy.com/shop/PrinkerWink?ref=si_shop

Hi mamma, that's some nice stuff you're selling! I just favorite'd your store and added you to my circle :)

Ifi

Hey mammabooh,
Nice store. With over 100 sales you ought to take it more seriously! I added you to my circle as well. :)

Thanks...I added both of you also. Yes, you're right that I should take it more seriously! I don't have any shows scheduled, so I'd better get with it and list some of my goodies.

Thanks for the kick in the behind.

Just added a new card last night
 

Hi ladies, I just added a new card last night. DO you like it?

Ifi

Etsy & taxes??
 

Ifi - Very nice. Your store looks great with your new username pic & store banner!

I listed some new cards too, check them out and tell me what you think!

Well, I really buckled down and got serious with Etsy this week, listed over 75 items...I've already made 11 sales this in 3 days!!! :D :D

Taxes:

My sales have increases dramatically on eBay to the point that I am trying to learn more about taxes...I wonder if there is a certain point you get to on Etsy and you have to start doing them too?

I have my vendor's license and am a sole proprietorship. I've been claiming everything legally since the get-go. We have to claim it in Ohio. Is it different in your state? I think it's especially important to do everything legally when you do business on-line since everything is so traceable.

happychic, do you paint those cards yourself? They're gorgeous!

Ifi

Well, the thing is I consider my selling eBay a 'business', but I'm not technically speaking 'registered' as one. Anyone can sell on eBay without taxes- it's just a matter of when it counts as one...I don't really know what IL's laws are in that area either.

Thank you!
I do the Irish knotwork, and my mom does the painting. :) She's great at drawing & watercolor painting. We're both artists (read our Etsy profile)!

(she made the 'happychick' account really, but I do all the posting & internet store work because I'm good at computers) :D

I just ordered some wooden letters from ebay so I can decoupage them and try my luck there, haha. Well, actually a set I'll make for a friend who is about to have a little baby girl any time now, but the rest, "Welcome", I'll decoupage and put up on etsy. Now I'll just have to be patient and wait for my package to arrive...

Ifi

I am not really sure what I will sell. I make such a wide variety of stuff, its hard to stick to one category, so I guess the most appropriate answer, is homemade, or home decorated stuff.

'Shop Stats'
 

Made another 2 sales today! :)

Wanted to share something I learned today with you guys: 'shop stats'. log in and hover on your store name at the top of the Etsy page, then click on 'shop stats'. It automatically tracks all buyers activity in your store!! You can see what items are getting the most viewed, what time of day is your peak, how many people clicked on a item of yours vs your shop, what website people are coming from finding your items from, etc! For example I now know that 36 people have clicked on my store link from HomesteadToday.com. :) It shows your daily/weekly/monthly revenue at a click of a button. REALLY cool - check it out!

Lonely farm girl, I too am selling a bit of this and that. I'm seeing what handmade items become the most successful, and will be expanding on whatever that is. Seems like a good plan so far. :)

happychick, I'm addicted to the shop stats, lol, but I yet haven't seen my revenue, lol. Patience I guess ;)

Ifi

Well, I'm addicted to shop stats now!! Wish eBay did that...
I think part of getting more views AND revenue is having LOTS listed. I had 5 items listed for about a month, looking back I got maybe 50 views total. I listed over 70 items this week, and have been averaging at 80-110 views a day! :)

Etsy has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me...

happychick, looking at your store, seems like you sell stuff that you didn't make yourself (or your mom), am I right? For example, that light switch, which is so pretty. Can you explain to me how that works?

Thanks,

Ifi

Sure! You can sell 3 different kinds of things of Etsy. (1) anything handmade, (2) supplies for making things, (3) vintage items (made before 1993). Anything that is listed that isn't handmade by us, or crafting supplies, is vintage. :thumb:
The porcelain light switch came with the older farm house we moved to. :)

so the rule for vintage is pre 1993? Well that makes me feel old, haha! Or should I say vintage :D

Ifi

I'm only 18 and it even makes ME feel old! :D

If you scroll to the bottom of this page, it explains what you can and cannot sell: http://www.etsy.com/sell?ref=si_sell :thumb:

I should go through my mom's ribbons and lace to see if I can get rid of anything. She gave me a whole bunch of lacy ribbons a couple of years ago, and I haven't been able to incorporate in my cards yet. I should dig them out to see if I can find a good use for them ;)

Ifi

How is everyone's new years sales doing?
 

Well, I am just so excited with Etsy - I just have to share! :D
I have nearly 120 items listed now, and have made 39 sales, with 71 shop admirers - only been listing since about 2 1/2 months ago! :)

How is everyone's new years sales doing? What have you done recently to open or improve your shop? Anything new you've learned?

Right now I am testing Etsy to see how well it's viewed, and if my items have a market. So far I have been very encouraged, (shop stat records for one day's number of views was 330!). I would just love to eventually transition to Etsy full time...I'll just have to see how it goes one step at a time though... :)

happychick, unfortunately I can't share your enthusiasm :( Of course I don't have many things listed, as I'm still building my inventory, but I think I'm goint to take a little break from etsy and just showcase my cards/decoupage letters on facebook. I'll probably do a craft show in March. Right now what I'm working on is coming up with a nice business name, so I can make this official ;) But in the meantime, check out my fb page, I have some new pictures there!

Ifi

I'm sorry to hear that Ifi. But - getting yourself out there on as many different sites as you can is a good thing. I have seen several people on Etsy who have a lot of the exact same items listed on eBay, just so they can get more traffic. Coming up with a name and getting your inventory and things together may not feel like you're accomplishing much in the $ department - but those things are key to your long term success. :)

Checked out your facebook page - very nice! (sent you a PM)

happychick, I replied to your pm.

Actually I got an order for decoupage letters on fb, woohoo! They're ordering "the best of times", and we already went through the process of selecting the font and the paper combinations. I placed the order for the letters, and I'm very excited!!!
At the same time I ordered the customers letters, I ordered some more so I can start building an inventory, but I believe as far as decoupage letters go, they'll be mostly custom orders.

Ifi

My Etsy shop is in my signature. I sell felted things, goat milk soap, and soon I'll be selling lip balm. I've had nothing but good experiences with Etsy!

I find blogging and facebooking about the shop brings a lot of traffic. Also, relist those items! It really helps to sell stuff if you relist stuff frequently. It's $.20 per listing to update it, but really worth it. :grin: