When my kids were in elementary school, I sold lots of handmade stitchery pillows and hooked rugs on Ebay. Etsy was just starting up and I never really got around to trying to sell any of my handmade primitive designs. Then, a few years later, I got into couponing and made a few coupon purses. They sold like hotcakes.
Since I have recently taken up my coffee table rug again, it’s rekindled my love of rug hooking, so I decided I would list a few things on Etsy and see how it goes.
For me, Etsy is just kind of a hobby–and I expect to make “hobby” money. But, if you are really into crafting, and get serious, you can run a bonafide virtual business on Etsy.
Either path you choose, here are some tips to get you started:
- Pictures. Take high quality pictures. Quick, blurry or dark snapshots will not sell your product. Make sure you have adequate lighting and capture details.
- Pricing. Know how much your products costs to make and how much time it takes you. Price it accordingly.
- Create a business plan. No, you don’t have to sit down with your financial adviser {unless you want to}. Just have an idea about the monthly volume of items you would like to sell, the time commitment, when and how you will ship your sales, etc.
- Don’t be afraid to plug yourself to your friends. People will need to know you are selling items. Plug yourself to all of your friends on Facebook or your blog. Use Pinterest to show off some of your items.
- Use SEO to your advantage. Think long and hard about the keywords and descriptions you use in the SEO portion of your site. Well-phrased keywords will lead to higher internet searches from random strangers who might be looking to buy your product.
- Decide if you want to take special orders. Personally, I just don’t have the time to take special orders or requests. For me, rug hooking is a creative outlet, and the last thing I want is someone telling me what colors to use, what size to make something or even worse… giving me a deadline. BUT, other sellers I know LOVE special orders. Decide early on if you are willing to take orders so you don’t get caught off guard when someone makes a special request.
Do you sell on Etsy? What wisdom can you pass on?
Also, feel free to leave your Etsy link in the comments. 🙂
~Mavis
Dale Ann says
Mavis, you have such beautiful items in your shop! I wish you great success!
I opened my Etsy shop De La Renaissance in 2008. I’ve enjoyed having my shop and have made some wonderful friends in Etsy. :0)
De La Renaissance ~ https://www.etsy.com/shop/DeLaRenaissance?ref=si_shop
Joining an Etsy team or more is another way to get some good exposure for your shop and the items you offer. The more active one is in Etsy, the more views your shop receives, which in turn hopefully will create more sales.
Etsy really is a wonderful place to find so many beautifully made handcrafted items!
Nancy says
Just opened our shop 2 weeks ago. I’m on a huge learning curve. http://www.etsy.com/shop/Spiritoftheplains
http://www.spiritoftheplains.com is our blog.
Jane says
What beautiful rugs! I love the images you choose. They remind me of needlework samplers:-).
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Jane! 🙂
Jeanne says
jewelry making is good therapy and has now become an etsy shop. thanks for sharing your tips! time, photos, and posting are my downfall…love to make, love to choose and touch the stones, way too many items not online yet! http://www.etsy.com/shop/JeanneDeniseMade
Nina says
If you do take special requests… Depending on how much time you think it will consume, and how much it will costs, ask for a down-payment before you do anything else.
It is something I have never done, and often people simply disappear, and don’t buy the things I have made for them, (after endless back and forth with pictures of the creation in process) or stall and stall sometimes for over a year…
Rosemarie says
Hi Nina,
I am going through this right now with someone, it is very frustrating sometimes!
Mavis thank you for your advise, good points you have.
My shop: http://www.etsy.com/RosieMeadowDesigns
Michaeli says
I am very new to Etsy and I appreciated your thoughts on how to make the most of it! I only have a few items up so far, but plan to get a lot more on there. I was wondering, in your experience, if an item wasn’t selling and was going to be expiring, would it be better to put it on sale or just re-post?
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CreativeMichaeli
Mavis Butterfield says
Repost it. 🙂
Mika says
I agree with joining teams to get more exposure! I make childrens clothing and accessories http://www.froggygirldesigns.etsy.com
Kathy says
I have been selling my handcrafted jewelry on Etsy since 2008. It seemed like the next logical step in my path from hobby to business. When I first opened my shop, Etsy was solely based on the sale of handcrafted items and supplies for creating. Now it has become flooded with vintage finds and some mass produced items. It’s changed. I’m still there, and don’t plan to go anywhere… but my sales have dropped since Etsy’s face has changed.
My biggest tip for selling on Etsy is to make certain that you use other social media to drive people to your shop. Pin your creations and other Etsy artists’ work. Share your new listings on your Facebook business page and sometimes on your personal page too. Blog about your new listings or about special sales you’re having in your shop. Take the best photos you can possibly take, and only in natural light. Decide ahead of time how you plan to ship your items. I actually went to my little post office in town and asked them some questions about the best way to ship my product. Purchase a digital scale so that you can ship from home…very handy!
Good luck to those of you starting out on this venture. I’m hoping to see more tips from other Etsy sellers…I’m still learning too! Good luck, Mavis. Your creations are lovely.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/kathyalderfer?ref=si_shop
Matt says
I agree – things have changed a lot lately, which has resulted in a sharp decrease of traffic. I used to make our kids’ teachers gifts – custom jewelry to match their favorite outfits (or the ones that the kids’ said they wore a lot, anyway!) It has turned into a closet full of creations!
http://purpleoyster.etsy.com
Mindy says
I just opened a shop last month, so I’m anxious to read the other comments to see what people are saying. Clearly I’m a newbie, so I have no advice to give.
I’m an obsessive gardener and have been taking pictures of my flowers since I was 19. I figured, if I’m gonna be doing it anyway, I might as well put some in a shop and see what happens. 🙂
Here’s the link to mine: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RindyMae
I’m in Oregon and also have a blog with the same name, Rindy Mae, which is right now riddled with garden posts. ‘Tis the season!
Suzanne Lowrie says
Love your rugs! I have only been selling on Etsy since last month, but have generated about 10 sales, which is okay by me for something that is a hobby and a creative outlet (like you said). I make paper dolls… and customize them to resemble people. I can make almost any occupation, sport, etc. It is so much fun! I would almost do it for free, if it didn’t take so long for each doll. Hey, I think that I will make one of you Mavis… watch your mailbox!
My site is at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ScrapbookingSue