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 :)

@SinkGirl

I don’t think it would work well for me either but it’s a good idea!

I’ve started an instagram photography course on Domestika - only a short way in but it’s really helpful so far. It’s just the thought of it really - I’m limited in how I can frame paper cuts for photos due to the annoyance of reflections, framing up loads of things is a pain in the bum at the best of time.

But hey, the pieces I’ve just designed should take at least 90 hours so I will probably have lots of points where taking a few photos seems wise 😬

I'm kind of lurking on here as I stopped selling on Etsy a while ago (I used to sell crochet items and ended up with really bad RSI in my thumb joints and decided being able to hold a pen in the future was more important than being able to constantly crochet now)... but just an idea - can you pop the glass out of the frame just for the photograph taking? Otherwise - from my days doing 35mm film photography - polarising filters are used for reducing reflections and glare and apparently you can use them on phone cameras according to this article medium.com/@Mike_James/how-to-use-a-polarizing-filter-in-your-iphone-android-smartphone-photography-9f46d861b71e - first one that came up on google.

Ooh watching this thread as I've finally pushed myself to selling my art on an actual site and not just on a freelance/commission basis it is a very saturated market (I'm starting off with greeting cards, specifically Eid ones) and it's tough, even when posting on Instagram as well since there are so many more stores on there that are able to afford aesthetically pleasing packaging, props for photos etc. I know a lot of people use tiktok for showing snippets of "my day in a life as a small business owner" which is something I will look into in the near future when I can afford to package in more than just a basic board backed envelope 😂

What about tax? Do I need to register as self employed? Or file tax returns? Do I deduct expenses and only declare profit? Will it affect my UC? Or is all that only an issue once you start earning a certain amount?
And does anyone know about copyright? I made a Jughead Jones hat (Riverdale) for a friend's DD at Christmas. She said they will sell really well as all the teens want them apparently. But I'm assuming I can't market them as being Riverdale. Can I call them Riverdale inspired?
Some of my fabric items are Harry Potter fabrics, what about those?
I don't want to get into trouble with any of it!

Yes you have to be extremely careful of copyright. Chances are your Harry Potter isn’t licensed or isn’t licensed for commercial use. Copying clothing from TV shows is a tricky one if you’re referencing the show in your listing - have a look on Etsy and see how others are doing it.

I can’t remember the threshold for having to do a tax return - I think it’s if you’re taking in over £1k a year (as in selling £1k worth, not £1k profit, but that might be out of date). I’m sure there are some good resources and checklists online - we have a limited company so it’s a long time since I’ve been registered as a sole trader.

@CoffeeWithCheese my favourite way to frame paper cuts is in floating frames so they’re sandwiched between two panes of glass but they are a devil to photograph. I remember buying a polarising filter for my SLR, checking I had the right size but then it wouldn’t screw on 😂 Will need to have another look. Haven’t cracked out my actual camera for ages, need to do that!

Thanks @SinkGirl. I think the fabric is licensed, it was from Aldi. I'll have to be creative with descriptions then

It might say something on the selvedge about rights. Generally they aren’t to be used for commercial projects although of course many do.

In the forums people say they are hot on this stuff but who knows. Sounds like lovely products!

Somebody on the forums also asked me why all my tops were about men and menstruation 😳😅

I opened an Etsy shop in July selling hand made personalised cards. I hardly had any sales so I signed up for Etsy advertising with a maximum budget of $1 per day. So far I've sold 13 cards this month.

I need to improve my photography, I've bought a light box but my photos still aren't great.

I'm hoping that I'll get more reviews which might encourage sales.

Yes I think reviews definitely help - my kits are new and I’ve just had two five star reviews for them which I hope will help as after a busy few days things have gone very quiet!

Took a few photos today - still not perfect but better. Was able to take them outside but need to find the best spot in my garden light wise. Think it would be better to take them earlier in the day.

Have also listed the maps I have ready to go in my other shop which has been closed for over four years now and had only had a few sales before then but my work isn’t cheap so don’t need to sell a lot - slightly scary putting stuff out that’s so expensive after years of selling templates for a few quid a go!

How’s everyone else doing? Bit depressing things have gone a bit quiet after a really good few weeks, anyone else having a quiet spell?

I have an Etsy site that has been recommended on here by others before I make and sell masks. I've done fairly well considering I only had rudimentary sewing skills a couple of years ago, my mum gave me an intensive training course in the sewing machine when I wanted to make my own clothes.

I use a few different photography apps to present my Insta professionally but I don't always have time to keep it up to date. I use Photoroom, Canva and Snapseed, but the photos on my shop are unfiltered.

Customers seem to like my products, I raised £100 for the poppy appeal as well selling poppy masks last year.

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/lindyloucrafts23

Hello, can I join. I have been doing OK on Etsy - only been going a couple of months. But I do feel it is largely down to sales from people I have encouraged to my shop rather than people finding me on Etsy/through Etsy. Not sure what that says about how I am doing.

I haven't done as well the last few weeks as I haven't had the time to do any social media/marketing to promote the shop so need to try and think of some new ways of getting people there. It is Does anyone have any tips for that?

My shop is here etsy.com/uk/shop/JoMcCallionArt

Oh you've posted your shop before haven't you @JulietMadeChutney? I've been eyeing up some of it for when I've got spare money

@CrochetBug- yep - needed some pricing and retail help.

Am doing a retail launch in a couple of weeks so have been doing lots of stuff on that (mounting prints, stock lists, getting own website up and running) so have not spent any time on the Etsy shop so it seems to have really quietened down visit wise... Getting pet commissions in (which is great) but now need to work out how to get the print sales up too.

Namechanged for this :)

I opened a shop end of last year but only started selling this year. I design (use the term loosely) typography prints - mainly around north-east phrases, but also do customised prints too.

I have Insta and FB accounts and advertise through them as well as Etsy advertising. I outsource printing and offer free delivery to UK.

Turnover is good but profits are low because of high costs. I know ways of improving this. The ads are bringing in the vast majority of my sales though. I think it’s a case of trying them and seeing if they work for you....

Should have linked to my shop!

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FairSeaPrints

[quote Etsylicious]Should have linked to my shop!

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FairSeaPrints[/quote]
Those are great! Simple but fun. I really love the idea of the year one as I have a couple of friends with big birthdays coming up so will keep in mind.

Aw thanks @JulietMadeChutney - the year, dates and postcodes ones are very popular :)

It was totally organic. I set up a home decor account on insta to mainly just chart our progress on our new house for me. Followed other home accounts - saw loads of fab gallery walls with simple prints featuring and thought, I could do that I think 😬

Anyway, they’re doing better than I thought!!

Loving the creative accounts above ⬆️⬆️ Lots of talent on MN obviously!!

Placemarking as I just joined Etsy and there are lots of good tips and stores on here.

@Etsylicious

Namechanged for this :)

I opened a shop end of last year but only started selling this year. I design (use the term loosely) typography prints - mainly around north-east phrases, but also do customised prints too.

I have Insta and FB accounts and advertise through them as well as Etsy advertising. I outsource printing and offer free delivery to UK.

Turnover is good but profits are low because of high costs. I know ways of improving this. The ads are bringing in the vast majority of my sales though. I think it’s a case of trying them and seeing if they work for you....

Would you mind sharing who you outsource your printing to? There are a few things I’ve been working on but need to find a printer as don’t have decent enough equipment or time for shipping from home!

Things have been super quiet the last week after a busy few weeks before that but I am getting quite a few repeat customers so that’s good. I have made nearly twice this year so far than I made all of last year (not saying much but still!) so making a bit of progress.

I’ve just bought a cutting machine so I can sell files for that as it seems like so many people are using them - seems silly to have so many files there but just not set up correctly for this purpose. So I’ll be working on that, as well as the 800 other projects in my brain I need to get on with!

[quote Etsylicious]Should have linked to my shop!

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FairSeaPrints[/quote]
Awww love your store!

I'm doing some Facebook ads at the moment as I have some free credits. The only thing with that is they don't tend to review as they aren't etsy buyers, just using the site as a one off so do guest checkout.

Do you ever email post sale to ask for reviews?

@doadeer
Hey, thanks! Yes I sometimes as for reviews. I get a lot of messages thanking me for my prints so I respond thanking the buyer and add on ‘if you get a chance a review would mean a lot...’

And sometimes I will drop a post-purchase follow-up message asking if everything was okay and add on the bottom the same thing re leaving a review. It has definitely worked for me :)

I have a jewellery shop on Etsy, I have been selling on there for the last 8 years, slow to begin with but I have put a lot of effort into photography and designing new products in the last few years, I sell on average 100 items a month and make a decent part time income in profit, I don't do any advertising, my best sellers have gradually made their way to the first page, when you know what your best sellers are, made more varieties of the same such as colours, materials, sizes.
Hoping to make a full time income soon.

Sounds like everyone is doing well :) My shop is really quiet, lower visits and fewer orders, not really sure what’s different. I’m on a mission though - sorting out photos and videos for my first crochet pattern and have bought a cutting machine so I can sell files for that - can’t do much while the twins are off school though!