etsy art/crafters store?

[arlia]

hiya was wondering if any one else had an etsy store!

i have a store and i think its a great way to promote your crafts and such things, and the fees are really super cheap!

this is my shop, i sell dreadlock accesories and hemp jewellery mostly with fused glass pendants

www.arliaflower.etsy.com (http://www.arliaflower.etsy.com)

[kitty fabulous]

I'm so glad you posted here! Your work is exquisite, btw.

I had a few questions about etsy. I was planning on using ebay to sell bulk bundles of necklaces wholesale over the winter when its too cold for flea markets, but single necklaces don't move very well there. I've noticed there are a lot of exceptionally talented craftspeople at etsy, and that handcrafts tend to be offered for what they're actually worth, rather than the ridiculously low prices I've seen on ebay that wouldn't even pay for the beads. But I'm told because it's a new site, it doesn't get the traffic of ebay.

Do handcrafts actually move there? How steady are sales? How are the fees, in comparison to ebay? Do you sell enough to make it worth the expense?

I think a lot of people are getting fed up with ebay, which still seems to be a good place for buying supplies or inventory at or below wholesale. But from what I gather from online auction sellers and crafters at some of the other forums I participate in, I suspect there may be a trend in the future, away from sites like ebay, towards more specialized sites like etsy. Do you suppose there's any truth to this?

[icedteapriestess]

I have a etsy store. I've never sold a thing. Don't know why... things are priced at about what they are worth... knitted items and painted items. Meh... whatever.... guess the things that I think are cool just don't appeal to the masses.

[kitty fabulous]

How long have you had your store? It does take awhile to build customers. I haven't had many sales yet here, but then I haven't been open very long. It takes time to grow a business.

[icedteapriestess]

December 2005. its www.artbyregan.etsy.com if you want to check it out.

[kitty fabulous]

Do you list all your items at once? If not, how often do you rotate stock? When I was running the gift gallery in Rochester and sales would lag, I'd just close for half a day, move everything around, and reopen as usual the next day. Sales would always pick up, just moving things around.

I notice they have forums there. Do you participate in those? You might want to lurk or post to see if you can get some ideas for getting more views and picking up customers. It's quality work, but even quality work won't sell itself.

[icedteapriestess]

i honestly don't care enough to spend an hour a day on the forums there. I didn't add everything at once... a few things at a time as I finished them, with a few times where several things were added in one day. All the stuff is currently in Ohio with my husband, and I am back home in Saskatchewan... so it doesn't matter. Plus, I am working full time and 7 months pregnant... so, other worries on the mind right now.

Once things settle down I might put some more time and effort into my Etsy store, but as for now... well.. I've got other things to do, plus more custom orders than I can handle from local people in the area.

[arlia]

yeah its doing well for me, its jsut started picking up, iv been on there jsut over 1 months and iv sold 5 items!

it is important to get yourself out there on the forums, get yourself know.
you dont haveto be on there very long!
jsut ask how everyones week ahs been, what is their fav item in their shop
post some of your stuff and leave them to leave comments-it just gets you noticed y know!

id say give it a try, and be pacient i really think etsy is gona be big, jsut keep telling mroe people of it, coz you made a good point people ARE getting annoyed at ebay!

thid place is a great place for arts and crafters, waaaayyyyy cheaper than ebay!
its only $0.10 to list na item with 4 pics for a month!

[uproar]

I've wanted to open up an Etsy store for awhile now, but I've never taken the plunge. Over the next few months I'm planning to take my business in a new direction, so I might go ahead and open up an Etsy shop for the exposure...I've heard that Etsy works well for some people as advertisment for their primary webshop.

[arlia]

nothing wrong with trying, sjut give it a little while adn chat on the forums to get exposure!
:-)