Any Etsy sellers want to chat / share tips?

[SinkGirl]

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve restarted my Etsy shop (well it has been up and running for five years, but I was pregnant when I started it then I had twins who are both disabled so I haven’t touched it in four years - I’ve just been selling digital downloads, so it’s just been ticking over with very very few sales (about 40 last year).

I’ve added lots of new items including a kit and have been trying to get back into the swing of social media as my pages had died a death. It’s hard going but feel like I’m getting somewhere (have turned over as much in the last month as I did all of last year).

I have a mammoth to-do list including taking all new photos, and restarting my shop selling finished items to run alongside my templates and kits.

I’ve been out of it for so long that I feel like I’m starting from scratch.

Would be lovely to talk to others about how they are doing, share tips on getting the best results, making listings as effective as possible, share info on things like where to order packaging and stuff like that.

Anyway, I’m here if anyone wants to chat :)

I've just set up an etsy shop, Been going about 6 weeks now. I make small fabric items, drawstring washbags, re-usable sandwich bags, camping sitting mats and small make up bags. All under £10, so never going to make alot, more of a hobby for me. I've had 4 sales so far lol! Saturated market though. Drawstring washbags have been my most popular. I do have a Facebook page and an Instagram page, but only use those to direct people to my etsy shop, don't know if thats how I should be doing it though! My shop is
sewnbyshelley.etsy.com

Hey everyone hows it going? I couldn't find this thread the search function is pants!

Sales have been pretty good the last few weeks, I’ve sold quite a few sandwich bags and a couple more wash bags. I did pay for etsy ads, as a trial to see if it made a difference. It clearly has. Though my sewing machine died last night, waiting to see if it’s repairable, but if not I’ll be shopping for a new one.

Can't believe I've only just seen this thread! I've sold on Etsy for the past 8 years (bridal / evening stuff). Great to see other people do it too. My shop is Constance Handcrafted. I get a lot of sales on Etsy and do no marketing / social media whatsoever.

What I really want to know is how / what platform do people use for their own websites? My youngest starts school next week so it'll be full steam ahead with diversifying my selling platforms.

Shop link here-

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ConstanceHandcrafted

@polar81 your things are beautiful. Love the ostrich feather clutch 😍.

I’m interested to hear that you’ve never done any marketing on Etsy, I’ve just switched mine off as the costs per month are exceeding income but I’m nervous about it.

I use WIX as a website platform and have found it pretty straightforward for the most part, but I’m not a complete beginner in terms of website editing so I’m not sure if that makes a difference.

Www.islandkids.shop if you want to checkout what I’ve done. I’ve kept layout pretty basic, there is a lot I could have added but not the aesthetic I was looking for.

Hello! Watching with interest! How do you overcome mental blocks? Finally produced something, and now….terrified of the next stage!
Just do it I guess😂

Namebunny I am in a similar place to you so watching with interest.

Well that’s brilliant! I mean it’s not, but you know.. I’m currently listening to you tube videos while I paint - and procrastinating on here! I’ll let you know if I find a good one.

@namebunny You have to just do it! 9 times out of 10 it’s a slow burn so you will have time to adjust your listings and tweak your store as you go along. If you start to feel overwhelmed you can pop your store on holiday for a bit until you are ready to carry on.

thanks happyhedgehog20 I don’t know what it is. I put the hours in, but don’t seem to move forward. I think I’m scared of actually committing to ordering print or anything. I had a Dh who thought I was wasting time to now wanting it to succeed so I’ve gone from fighting to keep going to now a massive pressure to get it bringing in an income which of corse is absolutely terrifying! Every week I’m determined to bash on and every week I seem to have not produced anything. Or focussed on the wrong stuff, I dunno. Help!

Has anyone had a message recently about an item not arriving? One customer hasn't received a card which I posted 2nd class on 22nd August. She also hasn't received a card which she ordered from another Etsy seller. Are there problems with Royal Mail?

Hello! Just posting something to hopefully encourage a bit more chat. It’s just so nice to share experiences and learn off each other, and I miss this thread!
I’m re jigging my shop for Christmas and as usual getting struck down with perfectionism and the fear! I’ve even had people asking if I’m doing this years version, how mad is that?!
Also yesterday was wiped out with family and housework.. how does anyone else deal with that? It seems endless and draining. Well, I’m over it anyway.
what’s everyone else up to?

Omg my shop is crickets what is going on?!

What Christmas titles and tags are you all using?

After a cracking September, October is so far only really limping along. I was expecting to be rushed off my feet by now. Anyone else?

Hello, Im not selling much, but have just revamped shop and put fear aside ( yay me!) so I guess it’s a slow burn. Really need to get it to make money though.just trawled through the jobs on offer and ALL of them need skills I haven’t got. I got on a well known painting on sky tv programme. I can’t be THAT unemployable.
Can I borrow your thinking ?
Have an etsy, insta and web which is a bit eclectic, where I show paintings. Revamping Etsy. Which has portraits, pet portraits, nursery pictures. A bit of a mess I guess.
I Have put cute graphic stuff onto a seperate website, which has taken FOREVER. It has insta and Facebook.
How do I actually market it? It’s Surprisingly difficult to see your own work as a product! Feels like an endless task. But cannot see what else to do.

Hey everyone, I’ve been away for ages - how’s it all going?

I had a shocking september - deathly quiet. October was similar for one shop and really good for the other and November is looking better so far but time will tell. Just seems so random.

Hi SinkGirl,

I haven’t posted on here for ages either.

I’m doing ok, but so far this November is nothing like as busy as last year. I know it’s understandable with all the shops open, but it’s still frustrating

Hi! I've been quiet for ages too.

October was quiet but November has picked up, probably because I've put up a flurry of new listings and I've been keeping on top of my social media to promote them. I've also had a lot of local sales outside of Etsy which has been nice. I just need to keep up the momentum now I think.

Hello, I'm tentatively dipping my toe in. I listed a few prints I'd designed for myself in December. I then decided they were rubbish and no one would ever buy them and forgot all about it. Well, I've just sold 2 to complete strangers. I'm a bit shocked/excited about the whole thing
I feel I should do some kind of advertising, how do you get over the self-consciousness of promoting yourself?

Don’t know! I really struggle too!
Well done for selling 2prints!

Update on selling yourself.. I’m trying to adjust my mindset from,’wasting my time hobby ‘ to somehow stepping back as if it’s my friends drawings.
How’s it going now?

Hi all!
Thought I would try revive this thread as I’ve been hearing some really mixed things about Etsy changing their fees and randomly closing shops etc. I’m not sure what’s really going on so thought I’d see how you are all getting on with it.

I should add that I’ve been finding their fees pretty high but have been getting sales so have put my reservations aside. However, April is super quiet so far which is a bit worrying.

Hello, yes it would be great to revive this! I’m afraid my Etsy shop has suffered as I’m just not spending any time on it. The fees are a lot but I understand they are still the best