Ever wonder how we get those beautiful collections of items on the homepage of Etsy? If you’re new to Etsy, you may not have yet visited the Treasury. But for those of us who have been around for a while, we’ve come to recognize these hand-picked lists from Etsians as the virtual display windows for Etsy, and also one of the focal points of the Etsy community.
There are no hard and fast rules for making Treasury Lists. However, since admin often pick Treasury Lists to “promote” to the homepage of Etsy, there are many questions about what we look for. There is simply no exact recipe for catching our eye, and getting on the homepage is not always the sole end-all goal of a Treasury List curator. People curate Treasury Lists for the fun of it or because it’s a meaningful mode of expression and shows your flair as a shopper with good taste. It can also be a useful marketing tool: you can promote your Team’s items, do a Buy and Replace, show off your friends’ and family’s work, create a gift registry for yourself, feature newbie sellers, bring an underrepresented art form to the fore, or foster good karma in the community, etc. (comment below with other things you can do!). To soak up curator skills by osmosis, peruse the winning entries to the Poster Challenge (for more info on this, read the Storque articles).
In fact, making a Treasury List is a curator’s art form in and of itself, and it’s incredibly important for Etsy. You can express your mood of the moment, you can celebrate some aspect of life, and you can also curate items that riff on a theme or playfully show your sense of humor. As an Etsian known for her Treasury Lists, KarmaRox stresses the importance of interesting titles, “Something like ‘Laura Ingalls Smokes Pall Malls’ will get alot of views because people are curious by nature. ‘Pee In Your Pants’ is another title that I use over and over because it generates views.” She also suggests to curators on the hunt, “Search with more than one tag.” yaelfran, a seller who makes wonderful lists, explains how she went about building out a list around a favorite Christmas themed item that was tan and white with a dash of yellow: “so Christmas, yellow, white, and tan would be your first keywords.”
Another amazing curator, mothtoflame likened making a Treasury List to planning a window display. Not surprisingly, her beautiful lists are influenced by her work as “a Visual Merchandising manager and designer for 2 major department stores for many years.” She “think[s] of each treasury like I would a window at Nordstrom or Macy’s. It begins with an idea for theme or direction, moves to the merchandise pulling (which is just a big shopping spree really!) and then ends with the execution and arrangement to best spotlight each piece and convey the theme. In the real world the title of the Treasury would be the signage or catalog title that draws your customers in to look, and hopefully shop. Selling the merchandise is the ultimate goal for me and it’s so fun and rewarding when a piece that may have been listed for months sells because of my treasury.”
Placement and balance of the motifs, shapes, and colors is important and you may want to spend some time moving the pieces around in the Poster Sketch tool.
Jared says of a good list, “Every item in the list is thoughtfully included, standing both on it’s own merits, as well as being integral to the list as a whole.” yaelfran spoke with me about creating the sense of a story or a concept that binds the pieces together: “A story has always been the most powerful way to sell something.” Interestingly, yaelfran suggests thinking about your shop in this way as well — as telling a story. See below for an example of how of an item in her shop fits in with her other items, while it can also fit in with a differenr group of items in a Treasury Lists.
With really good lists, the whole is more than the sum of its parts. Good lists conjure more than just the items, because they trigger the imagination, making free-associations. And this is the frame of mind you should get into when making lists. yaelfran muses, “when you buy something for a girl, do you just thinkabout buying a doll, or even more than that? Maybe the biggest smilein the world, and the possibility of infinite fantasy games, imaginary friends? When youbuy tickets for a trip, do you just think about bought tickets? Or rather the of relaxing time with family, long walks on the beach?”
There’s no one right way to make a Treasury List!
That said, we can offer some ideas to keep in the back of your mind while making your lists. These tips also come in handy for sellers who aspire to be included within Treasuries.
- Good photography is essential. Clear, well-lit and color-balanced photos with compelling compositions are more apt to garner clicks from shoppers.
- A consistent color palette can serve to tie the pieces together.
- Provide a range of price points (see Beth’s article on Tiered Pricing).
- Use alternates! When a Treasury List is promoted to the homepage, it includes the four hidden alternate items. On the homepage, items are removed when they sell and the alternate are moved up into view.
- Provide a varied collection of items. We rarely promote all-one-type-of-product Treasury Lists to the frontpage. That said, if you’re using the Treasury Lists to promote your Team’s art form, or you’re just plain interested in only earrings, go for it! Not all Treasury Lists are made with the homepage in mind, and this is a good thing.
- Double check that everything is handmade or properly categorized as vintage or supplies.
- Double check that sellers you’re featuring have good feedback.
- Themes and puns are a fun and creative way to organize a list.
- Give a boost to interesting items from new sellers or items with low views from the back pages of the categories.
- Make sure no artist is represented more then once on a given Treasury List. (We avoid featuring the same seller twice on a single homepage.)
- If you are a seller, you should include no more than one item of your own. (If the list gets promoted to the homepage, your item might not be included since the Treasury is not intended for self-promotion.)
Leave your comments below and let us know your tricks of the Trasury-making trade!
103 comments
Sign in to add your ownjcades says:
Thanks so much. I will keep all of this info in mind for my next Treasury. I just did Treasury yesterday. Wahoo!! It is addictive:-)
4 years ago
shellieartist says:
fun fun...I know that yael, mothtoflame and Karma are all treasury experts!!! MY advice would be to have fun and sometime featuring a variety of art forms can help bring your list to the front page- good luck everyone and great read ya'll!
4 years ago
myjewelrybydee says:
I've been practising my Treasury skills! Looking for the next one to go FP! ::wink::
4 years ago
cthings says:
Thanks so much for this! It is great to hear what other artist are thinking when making a treasury! I'm reading Shellieartist before me and she has also done wonderful treasuries!
4 years ago
localcolorist says:
Great and helpful article, thanks. Yaelfran is my # 1 favorite artist of all I have seen on Etsy, in the 9 months I have traveled around Etsy. I love finding so much amazing art work in Etsyland from all over the world. What a gift to be responsible for...
4 years ago
mothtoflame says:
Listen to shellieartist! She has fun, and the current front page spot!
4 years ago
MyFairyBabies says:
Thanks for the read!
4 years ago
KarmaRox says:
*titter!*
4 years ago
binspiredboutique says:
Great advice! I love treasuries!
4 years ago
CurlyGirlCrochet says:
Thank you for the information :)
4 years ago
joolzbylisa says:
Lots of great information! Thanks!
4 years ago
savor says:
Very cool! I've only just started making Treasury Wests, so this is good to know when building up a future "real" Treasury!
4 years ago
tortillagirl says:
Great tips; I follow them myself and they really do work. When I make treasuries, I don't search for them. I just pick things that catch my eye and put them in, and then shuffle around to create visual continuity. P.S. Listen to shellieartist. The first time one of my items made it to the front page was thanks to shellieartist!
4 years ago
periwinklesuz says:
Thanks for the great info. I really appreciate it and can't wait for another treasury!
4 years ago
littlegirlPearl says:
Really informative article. I have figured out who makes really interesting lists, and always click on those. You are all in my faves!
4 years ago
awdesignsuk says:
As a new seller I have had fun learning how to do treasuries & using common sense design them using most of these rules already. Always interesting to read new ideas though or to have your own thoughts & ideas confirmed as right. One thing I did do straight way, as also mentioned in this article, was to search at the bottom of the lists for items that have been listed a long time & not sold. I also searched for sellers that have had little or no sales. Great items can get missed. Looking at all the wonderful Treasuries, I agree that they are an Art Form in themselves.
4 years ago
prettycheap says:
Yes, awdesignuk, I like to pick things from the *back* of the store.
4 years ago
creativemuse says:
THis is a Great Article! Well thought out and for Etsy admins not to have hard and fast frame for the Front page this article give a Great deal of information! Thank you!
4 years ago
cleopatrajones says:
Very helpful article! I've come across some really good-looking lists that have been put together. I'm a former visual merchandiser and I decided to try my hand at the Treasury after reading this article. But, I've come to dicover that getting a spot in the Treasury is like trying to reach the top of Mt. Everest in two seconds flat. :) I have a bunch gf great displays I want to do - we'll see what happens in the days to come . . .
4 years ago
craftsnmore says:
Great information. As a newbie I'm reading a lot before jumping in as this etsy.com concept is all new and exciting to me. It's great to know there are "teams" and I look forward to discovering more about that and how the Treasury works!
4 years ago
SandFibers says:
Great how-to :D I love how the really great treasuries become mini works of art in their own right.
4 years ago
elainedesigns says:
i am a newbie and am glad to learn about all that etsy has to offer. Everyone is so supportive. Great insights. Thanks!
4 years ago
cMaille says:
While it's nearly impossible not to think a tiny bit about the front page, I think the most rewarding treasuries are those that are made up of items that really, truly speak to you on a deeper level. Then you'll want to perfect the composition and effect, and to represent the artists as best you can. Be a true curator, for the joy of it, and not just to get on the front page. Happy treasury making.
4 years ago
agualila says:
All this ideas are very useful for me, thank you all!!!
4 years ago
PauletteInsall says:
Wonderful! Lots of fantastic info!!! :)
4 years ago
BerryPatchDesigns says:
cMaille, that's exactly right :) Same with the items one creates. The article is very good, but I usally could never get Treasuries or even look at them, due to the port issues. That issue seems to have cleared, so I hope to be able to create them in the future. This next comment will sound horribly negative, but please consider it as a wistful plaint, rather than a COMplaint... I, for one, was pretty sure those Promotion questions about gifts for "x" (Boyfriend, Sister, etc) were Treasury related, but had no idea about the Gift Guide. While the initial Promotion lists were great ideas to START the GGs, maybe a "request for inclusion" blank or "suggested item" blank would be nice, too. New items ARE created all the time :) Pretty please: Would there be ANY chance of modifying the existing GGs to add those items or users who were not included initially, rather than leaving what appears (appears, mind you!) to be the same lists, endlessly promoting the same sellers and items? Pretty please? With sugar on top?? Many of us promote Etsy constantly, offline and online, to prospective buyers AND sellers. Many of us believe Etsy provides a REAL CHANCE for people to get started in their own business, marketing their items born out of their dreams and sweat. The sadly funny thing about the GGs is that I HAD been responding to any and all Promotion threads where I had suitable items. After I STOPPED (to make new items and work 2nd job to support my dream), then the GGs come up and (appear to) stay with the same artisans and items?? /sighs, smiling
4 years ago
Ekioart says:
I love, love, love the Treasuries. To snag one makes me giddy and I so enjoy putting them together. While I make them I think of how I'd showcase the pieces in a gallery. The color schemes and lines. They really are such a great place to promote all the creative minds on this site. Oh and though I don't try to make them for that reason....my fingers are always crossed that the list might end up on the front page ^-~
4 years ago
tortillagirl says:
333 treasuries?!? [Faints to the floor from excitement.]
4 years ago
Junienone says:
What a helpful article! Thaks so much! :)
4 years ago
SnappyBibs says:
Thanks so much!! I have not been on the site long and have had so much fun snagging treasuries.
4 years ago
studio550 says:
Nice article. I love making treasures. I usually develop my treasuries around a concept, subject, or color. I wish treasures could have a longer life spam. It takes a lot of time to make one and we could get more out of them - for marketing purposes. I feel treasures are great marketing tools ( stumbleupon, style sites etc...). and sellers would link them to their own blogs, websites, etc... Treasury links die too fast :(
4 years ago
shiningmoon says:
Thanks for the article! I haven't been including the alternates in my treasuries because I didn't understand the purpose. I thought that I would disappoint the sellers by not featuring them up front. You know, that "always a bridesmaid, never a bride" feeling. I am very addicted to treasuries, by the way. Do you have a TAA (Treasury Addicts Anonymous) group on Etsy?
4 years ago
beadznthingz says:
Wonderful information. Thanks so much!
4 years ago
urbanbird says:
i have set more alarms for 2:53 and 4:11AM - - - i get there and STILL dont get a treasury. refresh, refresh, refresh - - - - from 334 lists to 512 in a matter of seconds, but then i look and the lists are 5+ minutes old.. i dont get it.
4 years ago
nansglam says:
Since I am new, I didn't even know what a treasury was...but now...reading the article and all the comments, I am beginning to understand where they come from, etc. I thought Etsy support or admin created the treasury lists....Boy I have so much to learn. I am going to dabble in creating my first. Stay tuned.....
3 years ago
tracylacytrinkets says:
This is great, I am embarking on my very first Treasury, I have been so inspired by others, this article has been a great help, already applying some of the tips!
3 years ago
Ragsanddoodles says:
this is very helpful, its just another reason i love etsy
3 years ago
ImJewelee says:
YES this is ALL true and my very first treasury I ever made on Etsy made it to the Front Page!!! Yay, my title was ....Black is Back.... and I did have one item of mine in there and had various sellers with all different items!! All of the items were black with a touch of color here and there. I love ETSY I have met a lot of people and found many new friends. THANK YOU!!
3 years ago
BethToddCreatz says:
Wonderful article! Thanks so much for all the help! I love Etsy!!!
3 years ago
Ravenhill says:
I am really happy to have read this article. It has explained a few things I was wondering about. Funny, now that I have started to make treasuries I am hoping one of the ones I curate will hit the front page way more getting my own items featured! Etsy is so wonderful in that each and every aspect of it allows one to grow and develop skills as an artist and individual! Curating also helps you to re-examine your own photos in a new light.
3 years ago
EliseMargolis says:
Thanks for all the great information.
3 years ago
RSSDesignsWearables says:
In Treasuries, I have discovered some really beautiful and neat things on etsy. I think that is one thing to think of when making a treasury - that people are going to be discovering something looking at treasuries. Having been a visual artist for so long and with a new computer and internet connection, I am looking forward to putting some together myself. This article and everyone's comments are vey helpful!!
3 years ago
MonasMane says:
this article is so helpful, I don't know what I would do without the storque. I love you Etsy Admn!
3 years ago
sandraduke says:
thanks, It really helps !, I'm running to do my treasury list...
3 years ago
EarthlyCreations says:
I've been on Etsy for 11 months and always thought Treasuries were a waste of time. In the last month I've curated five of them and am already addicted. I LOVE making them and consider them my "artistic outlet". I enjoyed reading the article, thanks.
3 years ago
brownbunnybyiris says:
Thanks for precious tips! Addicted I am!
3 years ago
giftsforkids says:
I hope to accomplish my first Treasury within the next 24 hours! I've already used the Poster Sketch tool to arrange all of my featured items. There are great tips in this article and I definately realize the importance of good photography! I am going to check the feedback for each of the items listed before I finalize my Poster Sketch! Thank you for all of the great ideas!!
3 years ago
jolijoli says:
Great advice! Thanks :)
3 years ago
CatLudwigStudio says:
I'd rather be on Etsy then in the crazy malls at Christmas. This is great fun!
3 years ago
vintagedchic says:
I just tried implementing ideas in my new treasury- thanks..very helpful
3 years ago
myteacups says:
wonderful info and advice! thanks so much!
3 years ago
That70sShoppe says:
Great advice.
3 years ago
WarmCountryMeadows says:
Thank you for the great ideas. Hopefully my treasuries will make FP someday.
3 years ago
HHknits says:
very helpful, thanks
3 years ago
AwakenJournaling says:
Very informative, thanks so much!
3 years ago
luxandlove says:
fantastic! I have been wondering how this works - great tips Lux x
3 years ago
emptynestegg says:
Can I copy and Paste the addresses at the bottom of the sketch pad?
3 years ago
anayansi says:
great
3 years ago
RolledOats says:
thanks, am thinking about my first treasury.. very inspired!
3 years ago
craftedbylindy says:
Excellent article. Thanks so much!
3 years ago
BloomCreations says:
Thanks so much! I'm new seller and there are excelent tips in this article.
3 years ago
chyrls says:
These are wonderful tips :) Thank you!
3 years ago
gufobardo says:
I'm making my 3th treasury and I think it's so fun so fun!
3 years ago
MadeForYouJustByMe says:
I hope to make one someday. I've been on here for over a year and have yet to make one and have really only tried once to grab one. Any tips?
2 years ago
TonisBiz says:
I'm going to have to read it a couple of times to absorb enough to try and put one together. Kind of mind boggling right now. I'm kind of new and there is so much to learn. Sometimes I run right into something I know and can intelligently comment on, but this time, it's just over my head. I'll be back! Toni
2 years ago
ripegoods says:
These are great tips. I made my first treasury today and wonder if I should notify those artists that I featured?
2 years ago
aemcdraw says:
Great tips! I just created my first few Treasuries this past week, and was really excited to see it come to life. I definitely think practice makes perfect. I'm sure my next treasury will be even better than the first.
2 years ago
MoranArtandQuilts says:
Great info! Thanks
2 years ago
anotherghostquilts says:
Very helpful. I only recently discovered the treasury and love it!
2 years ago
TangoRocks says:
This is so interesting!! Get to work right away! I've made treasuries before but it's great to have this helpful guide!!Great info. Thanks
2 years ago
CarlaLovato says:
very interesting, I never even realized how treasuries were made and why. Good tips!
2 years ago
WeddingFlowersAndHom says:
GREAT! Just what I need...Another EXCELLENT reason to go SHOPPING!!! I can browse for hours just to see what I can see. Yea, this is going to be FUN and challenging!
2 years ago
TheAmygdala says:
Thank you for the great tips! Does anyone if the sellers are notified if we use them or if we should let them know ourselves out of courtesy. Thanks again
2 years ago
sunsan says:
GREAT!But i cannot figure out how to save the POSTER SKETCH.I think this is done automaticaly, but where? HELP ME OUT.Thanks.
1 year ago
LeahsHeart says:
Cool information! I have the items, I found the poster sketch and have my items in it... an to the next step ??
1 year ago
FilissaTreasures says:
Very useful information! I just made a treasury but NOW I really understand what it is about.
1 year ago
TattooedBuddha says:
I'm a newbie folks. Do you contact each person to let them know they have been placed in by you or is it automatically done by Etsy ? Any info would be great. Thank you in advance.
1 year ago
PillowThrowDecor says:
Hey Tattooed! You contact each person with a link to the treasury and encourage them to leave a comment and click on as many items as possible. Good luck.
1 year ago
DesignsbyJocelyn says:
Great post! Very helpful. I just made my first Treasur list today and I had fun! :)
1 year ago
evdesign says:
Thanks for the great information. I just created my first treasury "The Eyes Have It!"
1 year ago
EsperanzaGems says:
Great info. This will help me create my first treasury.
1 year ago
BarbaraRosenzweig says:
Great ideas! Very helpful. Even as a newbie, I'm inspired to create a treasury!
1 year ago
FolkHeartRecords says:
Great article--lots of really thoughtful info. Thanks!
1 year ago
brienna says:
Such brilliant suggestions, thank you so much!!!!!
1 year ago
mcclouddesigns says:
Great suggestions...new treasury titles are brewing...
1 year ago
4UbyK8 says:
I'm about to take the dive... wish me luck!
1 year ago
sweetcase says:
great info thanks so much
1 year ago
InspiredMindDesigns says:
great info on how best to create a treasury list - and good to see that i've been on the right track with my own!
1 year ago
BeadedDelightsByStef says:
Reading all the posts and info. I'm eager to put together my first treasury list. It seems such a lovely and fun idea! :D
1 year ago
trapeze11 says:
Ummm.. How do you make a Treasury?
347 days ago
thewritedesign says:
Thanks for this info. I want to start making a Treasury but can't figure out how. Any suggestions? What's a URL and how do I find it? THANKS!! Can't wait to get started!
338 days ago
dimdi says:
Thank you so much for this great info!!!
220 days ago
DEJAVU143 says:
Sometimes things on here are so confusing..
220 days ago
smartblondz says:
Is there proof that treasuries really increase sales or are they more about having fun and being creative? Thanks for your time! :) Andrea
198 days ago
hbarros says:
nice!
180 days ago
EcoArtz says:
Did I make this list?? oh my! Thank You,..... got to keep the interest coming!
178 days ago
Vernon (Sonny) Fadden from sfadden says:
It is outstanding for a new comer such as I to the Etsy family unit; to make it on a treasury list. Thank you
99 days ago
MARY from DEJAVU143 says:
I have made alot of list it is very fun. I didnt know I could put a item of my own. I tried and it wouldnt take. I am now a little confused.
84 days ago
ragalus from ragalus says:
Thank you for this article.
83 days ago
Bibliomancy from Bibliomancy says:
I never understood how items made it onto the front page before- not i get it! thanks for the info.
72 days ago
Denise D'Abramo from VermontWool says:
This is so helpful, thank you.
60 days ago
Seema from Seemart says:
Great article thanks a lot!.
60 days ago
Peggy Dot from CircleAndTheDot says:
Thank you for answering my today's question!! It seems like you were in my mind! I feel like making my first "great treasury list" !!! Love, Peggy
41 days ago