Do You Sell On Etsy?

RedHeadedTricia · #**161** 08/22/12, 07:58 PM

okay guess I can ask here.....
I'm looking to list soem small quilty items like tablerunners - some fancy redwork stitching or as a 5 piece table sets, small wallhangings, multi-tasking mats, etc.

is this something that would be good for homesteaders and do I work under "ready-made" store or do I have to set up my own store front?

RHT

happychick · #**162** 08/22/12, 08:59 PM

Hi RedheadedTricia!

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHeadedTricia

okay guess I can ask here.....
I'm looking to list soem small quilty items like tablerunners - some fancy redwork stitching or as a 5 piece table sets, small wallhangings, multi-tasking mats, etc.

On Etsy, the only items you can sell are 1. handmade items YOU made, 2. vintage items (20 years old or more), or 3. supplies (for all kinds of crafting). If your items you want to sell fit in these, you can sell on Etsy!

Quote:

is this something that would be good for homesteaders and do I work under "ready-made" store or do I have to set up my own store front?

Your shop is created with Etsy, basically you have a template page and you can fill in the details, add and create your shop easily by just filling in the blanks. Add profile & shop banner pic, add sections/catagories for buyers to use, write a profile, pretty easy set up. However you do need to think about how you will receive payment. Do you have a paypal account? If not, you need to get one (linked to your bank account). Etsy also accepts credit cards now, so you could use that until your paypal account confirmed and set up. You need to have at least one payment option linked to your store before listing anything for sale so buyers can pay you.

One other thing - Etsy is VERY inexpensive, you try eBay and you'll pay lots in fees. On Etsy, creating your shop costs nothing - listing items for sale cost $0.20 per item (for a 3 month long listing), and Etsy takes about 3% of your total sales. Very affordable for creating your own website/shop online!

Hope this helps, if you set up an Etsy shop and have any other questions, feel free to ask here!

Happychick

sisterpine · #**163** 08/22/12, 10:00 PM

Etsy makes me nuts and not in a good way. It is so hard for the average Joette to find anything!

MJsLady · #**164** 08/23/12, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happychick

Hi MJsLady! Do you already have an Etsy shop? If so, do share a link to it with us!

If not, feel free to ask any questions about starting here.

I have the shop. I had aprons in it but got no bites.
Until I get my sewing room up and running there isn't anything to put in it yet. (Books are buried in boxes atm)

My goal is to do aprons and doll dresses for groovy girls and am girl dolls.
Branching out into knitted dish/wash rags and other house items.

happychick · #**165** 08/24/12, 11:22 PM

Sisterpine - there is a bit of an art to getting 'found' sometimes.

MJslady - feel free to share your etsy shop with us when you're up and going!

MJsLady · #**166** 09/07/12, 06:13 PM

Do you all think there is a market for vintage cross stitch and other type patterns on there?
I got a box at a yard sale full of ideas from the 70s, booklets and such. It even has a Ziggy one in it. Some I will keep to make but the rest I want to move out.

Irish · #**167** 09/07/12, 11:25 PM

Hmmmm, I am going to re-do my Etsy shop. I have some handmade necklaces, sold one today through FB, but it certainly won't hurt to have another outlet. Maybe this time, I'll have it a little more together. I have more 'biz' experience now than back then.

I'll let everyone know when it's a going concern!!

Oh, and if you haven't, would you like my Twohorseswalkingdesigns FB page?? I'll return the favor, be sure to let me know who you are and I'll like your FB biz page back!! :-) I have something 26 likes, I need 30 to the get to the next level, whatever that is!! Heh...

motdaugrnds · #**168** 09/08/12, 10:10 AM

Well, your all ahead of me. I've been looking over Etsy, eBay & Craigslist for way to set up a shop to sell jewelry (some home made; many vintage "used"..all sterling silver and/or 14-18K gold and many rare stones).

I'm discovering everyone wants a credit card to set up a shop or website and I don't have any credit cards at all. The card I have is a bank card. I do have an account set up already with PayPal; but have no idea how to use it to establish a shop or website.

I'm also interested in setting up a FaceBook thingy and/or some type of "blog"; but have no idea how to do this.

Any suggestions would be appreciated as I'ld like to get all these accessories I'll never wear again sold for Christmas.

happychick · #**169** 09/08/12, 06:05 PM

MJsLady - give it a go and see how it does!

Irish - keep us in touch, let us know how things go and if you need any help!

Motdaugrnds - If you already have a established Paypal, you're halfway there! You can link a debit bank card to your paypal. As setting up an Etsy or eBay shop, it's really not that hard. On ebay, create an account (choose username carefully, as you go through a lot of holds on your money if you change it). Create an account on Etsy - again, think ahead about your username & shop name there. You will need to get right to work now, if you want a good amount of cleared money by Christmas from brand new accounts. To link your paypal to your shops sometimes there are holds/delays to confirm that you are a real person, etc etc etc and this process is neccessary but can take a few days to a few weeks. For etsy you simply fill in all the blanks on your 'shop' page, fill in as many as possible to make it attractive and professional. Some of which include a profile, profile pic, shop banner, shop sections, etc. It's really quite a rewarding process to create your shop from a blank page.
Once you've done that, get great pictures of your items for sale, and list away!
Feel free to ask any questions about Etsy in this thread, or ebay...Or just selling online period!

I'm happy to help in whatever ways I can.

motdaugrnds · #**170** 09/08/12, 09:01 PM

Happychick I received an email from Etsy stating I needed a bank card with a logo from Visa, American Express or Discovery. Then I got another saying she (the one who sent me the email) used her bank card to set her shop up. Am I confused? Oh yes!

I just went over to set up a "blog" at "Google" and they wanted to "confirm" by "texting" me a confirmation code. OMG the only phone I have is the old fashioned dial-up; so there's no way to send or receive texts on that. Again, I'm stuck!

Connecting my bank card to PayPal concerns me in that my bank card is connected to my account I actually live from day to day on. Seems I am going to have to set up a different bank account just to use that bank card; and that entails having my Social Security check's direct deposit changed. Oh dear!! Maybe I should just stay with eBay and not set up a shop at all...........

MJsLady · #**171** 09/09/12, 08:22 AM

No sweetie, you do not need to change anything.
Just take out the money to begin the new account, open it then put the money back, You might have to wait a few days and leave a bit in the new account as well, but shouldn't be much.

motdaugrnds · #**172** 09/09/12, 08:57 AM

Well, I understand setting up a new account. Just take some money out of present and start a new one. The problem lies in the fact that both PayPal and my direct deposited SS check are connected to the same account; thus, one or the other will need to be changed to the new account. (I know PayPal keeps all account numbers they get; so it appears more logical to move my direct deposit SS check, which does concern me.) I will speak with my bank about this Monday to see what is recommended. Thanks

Irish · #**173** 09/09/12, 12:25 PM

For paypal, I set up an 'Online Account' for things on the internet only. I keep about $2.00 more in there than I've using at any one time. That way, I can see anytime what has gone out and what is coming in. When I used a Walmart money card, I had charges I didn't recognize, all for $1.00 each. Strange. But I couldn't ever find out who they were from. Plus all the $3.00 fees for this and that. The bank account for online is so much easier and cheaper to use. I only use debit cards, no credit cards.

MJsLady · #**174** 09/09/12, 12:31 PM

Chaning PP over to a different account is pretty easy to do. It takes a few minutes but over all it is easy.

Stiffchick · #**175** 09/09/12, 10:46 PM

This thread is inspiring me to finally do something with my 2 year old Etsy Account that just sits there, and my PAID merchant website through godaddy! (yes I paid for it for the whole year, and have yet to list anything on it.) I go in spurts. I get great ideas, buy domain names, set up accounts, but never make the things that caused the idea in the first place. I think i just like to buy domain names lol. I guess I will have to stop thinking and start doing

Irish · #**176** 09/12/12, 02:54 PM

Welp, I tried to restart my Etsy account and can't. I have to send an email to the muckety-mucks to restart. So, I think I'll use another email account (a free one of course) and start afresh.

Anywho, when I do redo it, I'll post it for y'all!!

happychick · #**177** 09/12/12, 08:51 PM

welcome to the thread stiffchick!

Sounds like you need to focus, narrow down what it is that inspires you...And then go for it!

Keep us in touch and make sure to post your website once you get some things listed!

MDKatie · #**178** 09/13/12, 07:23 AM

A big key to selling on Etsy is to refresh your items frequently. It does cost every time you do, but it also moves your stuff to the top of the list!

Stiffchick · #**179** 09/14/12, 07:18 PM

I know I need to focus more. It comes and goes in spurts. This past week or so I have been a wreck. For no particular reason. I have a ton of stuff to do, have made lists, but ignore it all. I cannot wait for the weekend. My husband will be home, he can usually get me to focus, even if its not something I want to focus on. I have a resurected Idea I want to work on, and my current mind set kind of inspired it. I want to start the labirynth hand quilts I have been planning. I need something to help me meditate and focus lol. Maybe that will be my first Etsy item for sale lol!

Irish · #**180** 09/18/12, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stiffchick

I know I need to focus more. My husband will be home, he can usually get me to focus, even if its not something I want to focus on.

This is me when my hubby's not home. Just throws a monkey wrench into the days.