Catching up on Etsy, Craft shows and a mid-November report

I hate when I don't a chance to blog more than once a week, but my boys had 2 days off from school last week and we had bunk-beds delivered for them, so there was a big clean-up project in their bedroom. Yesterday, we had a baby-shower for my sister-in-law and this week I have to prepare for the upcoming craft show on Saturday 11/17 in Manahawkin. Hopefully this won't be my only chance to blog this week.

So let's start off with Etsy... The amount of stores opening seems to be growing by leaps and bounds, with over 93,000 shops open (I'm not sure if all shops have items listed) and it appears that many of the shops are listing and promoting their items in the forums. The promotion forum has been moving quickly and I've noticed that a promotion is lasting on the 1st page for only about 1 minute, not really much time for the buyers to see your items. Promoting is a necessary evil on Etsy and while it's more "miss" than "hit", it's something that every new shop (and semi-new) must do to attract buyers to their shops.
After a very good October, I was a bit nervous about November. I wasn't sure I could keep up with the sales on Etsy while doing a couple of big craft shows and continue to keep my inventory levels where I think I need them to be.
October sales on ETSY were very good and I reached and surpassed what I thought was a lofty goal for the month. My craft show at the end of the month was okay, but the items I did sell were those I had in my Etsy shop, creating more work for November. I didn't need to worry much however... I went the first 11 days of the month w/o a sale in my shop. It did give me the chance to build up my inventory and get my shop back up to my desired # of listings (between 35-40) and still have time for my family and the bunk-bed project (and it was a project... I can't believe the amount of junk my 10 yo was able to hide in his room...LOL)
I did make my 1st sale of the month earlier this morning, after doing some promoting before work. One of the 4 items I promoted sold and the buyer went to my shop and purchased a 2nd item. So we started out this week nicely... I just love having a some positive momentum going into a craft show!
Which brings me to this weekend's craft show... Manahawkin, NJ. The show is usually a big one, with very good vendors ( they only accept handmade vendors) and the turnout is usually good. It's a Saturday show running from 10-3 and easy to find. Route 9, minutes south of Toms River and just north of Rt 72 ( the highway that leads to Long Beach Island) Come on out , if you're in the area and stop by my table to say HI!!

So with 42 shopping days before Christmas, I have a couple shows this month and hopefully at least one in early December. I finally broke the zero for November sales today and here's hoping that trend continues!
I'm looking for an ETSY shop to feature in this spot next week, once I catch my breath. If any one's interested, leave me a comment and I'll pick out the shop in the next few days.

Back to promoting and then on to my crafting when I get home from the JOB...
til next time-
R

Less than 50 shopping days to XMAS... how have your sales been?

With only about 7 weeks left to shop for the holiday's, it seems that Etsy has been bombarded with sellers promoting their items and the buyers must feel a bit overwhelmed. I added about 7 items over the weekend and only 1 or 2 received more than 10 views in it's first 30 minutes of listing. Normally my new items receive nearly 20 views in that 30 minutes and worse case, they receive at least 10. I had 3 listings receive 5 or less views over the weekend and even with promoting the new items in the forums, they struggled to get to 10 views.

Thankfully I have to finish up a couple of custom orders and work on increasing a few sections of my craft show inventory or I'd be very slow right now.

I guess it 's back to the promoting forum for awhile tonight, while I try to finish the scarf I've been knitting this weekend.

So how is everyone else's sales? Is it slower than you expected or has your pre-holiday sales been what you expected?

Til next time...

R

PS- this is a piece of beach glass that I made into a pendant/necklace. My camera is on it's way out and the wire wrapping is a bit blurry, but this cobalt blue piece of beach glass is fantastic in the sunlight. A definite attention-grabber!!

An ETSY review of October

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

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!!