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Original poster

Any Etsy sellers want to chat / share tips?

378 replies

SinkGirl · 17/03/2021 21:27

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 :)

OP posts:
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doadeer · 12/04/2021 15:49

Is it a hobby job or your main job?

TheOnlyPurpleLlama · 12/04/2021 16:01

Can I join please? I have an Etsy shop which went a bit mad last year (in comparison to two years of near zero sales).

I’ve found March/April super quiet :( But my conversion rate is around 3% so I’m fairly happy with that!

doadeer · 12/04/2021 16:21

Wow that's ace! Must be very cool to have your shop take off!

36degrees · 12/04/2021 16:37

If any of you sellers are on Quidco and need to stock up on supplies or patterns etc from Etsy today, or if you've just had your eye on something, there's 15% cashback today only. It's usually about 2% so could save you a bit, with the usual caveat about it needing to track correctly.

TheOnlyPurpleLlama · 12/04/2021 16:47

Thanks @doadeer - it’s all relative (not thousands of sales, but I’m on course to hit the $10k ad limit). It’s not my full time job so I’m pleased with it!

doadeer · 12/04/2021 17:21

@TheOnlyPurpleLlama

Thanks *@doadeer* - it’s all relative (not thousands of sales, but I’m on course to hit the $10k ad limit). It’s not my full time job so I’m pleased with it!
I don't even know what that is! I only started in November but sounds impressive
Original poster
SinkGirl · 12/04/2021 17:27

That’s awesome - you’re doing great!

I’m feeling really frustrated as there’s so much I need to finish off and get online but until Easter is over I have to just be patient (not my strong point!).

I have a very part time job but mostly have been carer to my twins for the last four years so just getting back into it now.

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memberofthewedding · 12/04/2021 17:51

There is a shop which sells thousands of prints with Disney posters, characters etc for a couple of pounds. All breaking Etsy rules and beaching copyright. Etsy doesn't care and leaves it running because it's profitable. Etsy is too big now but there is very little that's similar.

Etsy is utterly corrupt and the above is just one of the ways in which this is manifest. Their rules are completely arcane and inconsistent in the way they are applied. They allow mass produced items to be sold by some shops. In other instances small shops get clobbered and closed down for maybe one small infringement of the rules. You dont have to believe my anecdotal evidence. Just google Etsy shop closures.

When Etsy staff interact with shop owners they are rude, patronising and perfuctary. The address you as if you were a naughty schoolchild rather than a paying customer. Their messages are just a mosaic of copy and paste. They dont even have the courtesy to address you by name.

First they replaced Paypal with their own payments system then they brought in one facility after another to fleece sellers. And dont even mention the infamous "flying snitches" on there. Glad I closed my shops 2 years ago. I would not recommend this venue to anyone. Far worse than Ebay.

ForeveronEtsy · 12/04/2021 17:55

Errm yes please! Sure you can gather from my name I am always getting things from Etsy.
I am due to have my second baby soon and really want to start a shop. Still pondering what...
Placemarking to read later x

Original poster
SinkGirl · 12/04/2021 17:55

Yes I definitely don’t want to rely on it. Hoping to get my own site up soon. Have just sent off my Etsy listings to be uploaded to Folksy but not sure anyone actually uses it.

OP posts:
doadeer · 12/04/2021 18:02

@SinkGirl would Not On The High Street work for you?

Puffinhead · 12/04/2021 18:36

I have an Etsy shop too but it’s currently ‘on holiday’. I dip in and out of it - Xmas is my busiest time (mostly fabric advent calendars).

Re. fees, I was really pissed off when they started to take a cut of the postage costs - not as much as eBay but obviously a money-grabbing exercise.

Original poster
SinkGirl · 12/04/2021 19:11

[quote doadeer]@SinkGirl would Not On The High Street work for you?[/quote]
Probably not although it might for some things. Their fees are bonkers though!

OP posts:
doadeer · 12/04/2021 19:25

Ahh... I didn't know that.

DollyMinx · 12/04/2021 19:29

@MrsEWeatherwax

Please share your Etsy shops. I love Etsy, I have bought so much this year. And Instagram shopsBlush It doesn’t put me off sellers having of different items, because people who are crafty are well crafty.
I never knew instagram has shops. Shock
DollyMinx · 12/04/2021 19:39

@CrochetBug

My shop is open. There's hardly anything in it but i need to stop procrastinating and do something. Blush I think i need better photos!

here

I read a tip somewhere about setting your items in the bath to take pics.
doadeer · 12/04/2021 19:41

@CrochetBug

My shop is open. There's hardly anything in it but i need to stop procrastinating and do something. Blush I think i need better photos!

here

Are you using all the tags? And all the product attributes? Maybe also add a bit to your description. Look so cosy!!
Original poster
SinkGirl · 12/04/2021 20:45

@CrochetBug have a look at some crochet shops that sell really well and analyse their listings - what photos do they have, what info do they have in the description etc. Definitely take more photos in different places, try and take outside in the shade if you can for better light. A big piece of card makes a good back drop for smaller items :)

OP posts:
CrochetBug · 12/04/2021 20:59

Thanks for the tips. I think I'll get DS to use his proper camera and get some better pics. And then have a scout about in other shops for ideas Grin

FeelinSpendy · 13/04/2021 07:56

Hi, can I join the thread. I haven’t got an Etsy shop yet but have been thinking about starting one for a while.
I’d be selling prints of my watercolour paintings but I’m not sure how best to get them made into high quality prints. Has anyone got any suggestions - scanner and home printer or outsourced? If at home, what type of scanner and printer?

Original poster
SinkGirl · 13/04/2021 08:23

Depends whether you want to sell high quality prints at higher prices, or cheaper ones. If you’re not going for massively high quality then you can probably scan at home on any high res scanner but a decent printer is super expensive. You could use a cheaper one but your prints wouldn’t be brilliant. Canon sell some that are designed for printing photos but if you want to print larger than A4 they’ll cost a lot

OP posts:
mrsjackrussell · 13/04/2021 08:34

Hello, I have had an Etsy shop for 3 yrs and sold 3-8 items a month but last year it went crazy and has stayed ever since. Iv found that the more items i have the more I sell as I think I get seen more.

FeelinSpendy · 13/04/2021 08:50

Thanks @SinkGirl. I was planning to print at A4 and had thought I’d go for high quality prints at higher prices so as to show the detail of the watercolour . Although I hadn’t considered lower quality at lower prices, that might work well for some other style artwork I had been working on.
I’m interested to know how everyone prices their work. Some personalised items seem priced so cheaply compared to how long they must take to produce.

Original poster
SinkGirl · 13/04/2021 09:43

Some of the prices are bloody ridiculous honestly. Art is easier to set your price though especially if it’s unique. Crafts are insane - there’s always someone selling things for the equivalent of 10p an hour, it’s soul destroying.

You could outsource your printing to a giclee printer - there are lots and then you can just print to order. You can offer larger sizes then too.

If you’re set on A4 or smaller then I would look at Canon Pixma photo printers - the pro range is very good but expensive, and I am it sure they do one smaller than A3. Outsourcing your printing would be good to see what the demand is before you fork out for pricey equipment.

Some local print shops will have very high quality scanners so you could go to them with everything you want scanned, then you have a batch saved, get a print of each done to take photos and then see how it goes.

OP posts:
FeelinSpendy · 13/04/2021 11:57

@SinkGirl Thanks so much!
I’ve been keen to set up an Etsy shop for a while, but the worry that I’ll spend so much time, money and effort to get sorted, only to be undercut or for someone to screenshot and copy my products has put me off a bit.
But I think I’ll just have to give it a go and see what happens.