When I first started my shop on ETSY, I had hoped for a sale or two. My shop opened in early August and my inital items were scarves. Now there's truly little chance of selling a scarf in 95 degree weather, but with 4 month listings, I was looking more towards Autumn and Winter with the listings.
My 1st month on Etsy, I sold a couple pairs of earrings and I set goals to double sales for the following month. In September I found my items receiving many more views and after a couple of quick sales, things quieted down. I did hit my goal to double my August sales, making 5 September sales and once again I was looking for the same goal... double my September sales.
Like September, October started quickly, slowed in the middle third of the month. The slowdown was mostly my fault. I spent more time preparing for a craft show and didn't put many new items into my shop. Once I realized that sales had slowed and placed new items in my shop, sales increased and we finished the month with a flourish, easily making my October goal.
Overall my crafts did fairly well in October. The 2 shows I did were both moderately successful, I sold a few items and I believe I've built up a bit of a following, while promoting my ETSY shop and the ETSY site (along with a few ETSY sellers!) I made a few small private sales in the last few weeks, so my "hobby" is keeping me busy replenishing my stock.
I'm currently about a dozen items short in my ETSY shop (between craft show sales, shop sales & Halloween items that are being deleted) so I'll be adding more items on ETSY over the next few days, while gearing up for my next show. I'm still looking to add a show, hopefully next weekend. I do have shows book on 11/17 and 11/30 and I wouldn't mind a 12/1 or 12/2 show.
So that's my October review. I'm further along than I really expected (I guess I didn't want to be disappointed if my creations weren't accepted publicly) and I'm really happy I'll have the opportunity to make sales on ETSY after the holidays.
If you haven't read my published article about ETSY titled "Move over Ebay, make room for ETSY" please click on the link and check it out.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/424772/move_over_ebay_make_room_for_etsy.html
Please feel free to comment and rate my article. I'd love to know what my fellow crafters think.
Til next time...
R
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
How does "real" Autumn weather affect your sales?
After a longer than usual "Indian" summer (is Indian-summer even politically correct??) central NJ has had in between weather for a couple of weeks....weather bordering on Indian summer and fall and now, finally, the Autumn weather has arrived. It's been chilly at night and much cooler during the days. It's been tough to get my sons to give up wearing shorts and short-sleeved shirts to school and we've quickly gone from summer clothes to sweatshirts and jackets.
When I 1st started my shop with Etsy, I had quite a few scarfs. I started my shop with about a half dozen scarfs and a few simple pieces of jewelry. Not understanding how Etsy really works, I thought listing scarves in August would be a good idea, as they'd be able to sit in my shop for 4 months and they'd be listed for the holiday season. Obviously, 90 degree+ heat doesn't sell scarves in August (no matter what price you sell them for..LOL)
But over the last week, with the cold snap we've been waiting for has arrived and not only are the scarves selling, but also anything holiday. 2 weeks ago I don't think I could have sold a scarf at 75% off and anything Christmas-y was barely getting views. Bring in a bit of cold weather and every one's thought process gets right into winter/holiday mode.
I found this funny when over the weekend at a show, I sold a scarf to a customer at full price. She had attended my last show also, look at the same scarf at 40% off 3 weeks earlier, but in 85 degree weather but wouldn't buy it. She raved about it and how she had to have it, but backed off even when she realized it was on sale. Maybe she thought winter was stopping by this year, or she didn't want to be seen buying a scarf in 85 degree weather? And maybe I had the same thought, since I had the scarf on sale in early October....
The cold weather and Autumn's arrival has sparked the sales in my shop, has your shop been busier lately because of Autumn's late arrival??
Til next time ...
R
PS- If you haven't read my Etsy article that was published on the internet, the link is in my previous blog, Please check it out and let me know what you think. I also have a beach glass article link a blog a few days further back. If you're into beach glass, you may find it an interesting look at the how's and why's of beachglass!!
When I 1st started my shop with Etsy, I had quite a few scarfs. I started my shop with about a half dozen scarfs and a few simple pieces of jewelry. Not understanding how Etsy really works, I thought listing scarves in August would be a good idea, as they'd be able to sit in my shop for 4 months and they'd be listed for the holiday season. Obviously, 90 degree+ heat doesn't sell scarves in August (no matter what price you sell them for..LOL)
But over the last week, with the cold snap we've been waiting for has arrived and not only are the scarves selling, but also anything holiday. 2 weeks ago I don't think I could have sold a scarf at 75% off and anything Christmas-y was barely getting views. Bring in a bit of cold weather and every one's thought process gets right into winter/holiday mode.
I found this funny when over the weekend at a show, I sold a scarf to a customer at full price. She had attended my last show also, look at the same scarf at 40% off 3 weeks earlier, but in 85 degree weather but wouldn't buy it. She raved about it and how she had to have it, but backed off even when she realized it was on sale. Maybe she thought winter was stopping by this year, or she didn't want to be seen buying a scarf in 85 degree weather? And maybe I had the same thought, since I had the scarf on sale in early October....
The cold weather and Autumn's arrival has sparked the sales in my shop, has your shop been busier lately because of Autumn's late arrival??
Til next time ...
R
PS- If you haven't read my Etsy article that was published on the internet, the link is in my previous blog, Please check it out and let me know what you think. I also have a beach glass article link a blog a few days further back. If you're into beach glass, you may find it an interesting look at the how's and why's of beachglass!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
