Ryan aka Littleputbooks was one of our first Etsy Sucess Stories profiled here on the blog. She’s also taught a class and offered much useful advice on how to promote your shop. We asked Ryan to give us some hardcore useful info for sellers as we head into a busy December. Here’s what she came up with.
Last year at this time I was knee deep in orders and drowning in chaos. I learned a swift lesson about planning ahead and staying organized. Here are a few of the techniques I’ve employed this season. Since I actually have time to sit down and write this out I can tell you, for the most part, they are working.
- Plan ahead. If you’re headed out to buy craft supplies or printer ink bring enough money to buy twice what you need. Create an inventory sheet of office and craft materials and be sure you check it before heading out. Running out of anything mid-workday is huge waste of time.
- Work in batches. If your product allows, make multiples of each item. This is a time saver twice: it allows you to re-list a sold item without new photos/descriptions and working on multiple items at once can speed along the creation process.
- Clean your desk. Having an organized workspace can make life a lot easier. Keep your tools where you need them, your supplies ready and waiting and remember to put everything back when you’re done. When I am disorganized it feels like I lose more time looking for my scissors than I do making product.
- Slow days don’t last. If your business has been steady you will experience a few down days, maybe even multiple down days. Keep in mind people are looking and preparing to buy, and they will probably come back all at once. Use the down time to restock or shoot photos of new stock. Don’t let your customers catch you off guard, be prepared for business well into January.
- Keep a notepad with you. Often buyers will have an after thought about something they’d like changed or rearranged after purchase. Keeping notes off Etsy for special requests saves time and can help you keep track of who wanted what.
- Stock up. I know it is a bit late in the season for some of you experiencing your first holiday rush but if possible use your free time to make more. Having a lot of stock this season has been a lifesaver for me. If I hadn’t been planning for Christmas since August, I would be sold out by now.
- Stay one step ahead of your orders. Don’t sell items you haven’t made yet. If at all possible have the items in stock before you list them. If you do custom work put your time frame in your shop announcement. Communicating your time frame with customers will keep them happy and help you keep track of their needs as well.
- Keep up with your shipping. You may be inclined to take a few days off (like I did over Thanksgiving) but not shipping regularly can really add up fast. I send items out 4 days a week. This keeps me ahead of the game and it also gives my customers the chance to order more if needed for the holidays. Letting your shipping get behind can be a nightmare and will snowball into insanity if you can’t get caught up.
- Avoid the PayPal/Etsy address mess. Most top sellers have a system, here is mine: A. I cut/paste the receipt into text edit and print it out. This gives me a visual of each order plus the address and email. B. I ship only to the Etsy listed address, I no longer bother with the address PayPal lists since 1 out of 3 addresses seems to be wrong. C. I use a shipping service www.endicia.com and avoid PayPal shipping completely. Endicia is much faster & it tracks your package just like PayPal. D. I mark all orders shipped so I can make sure no one has been skipped. Shipping is still a pain but this year it is 100 times easier than last.
- And lastly, hire help. Don’t be afraid to have someone come help you get caught up. There are always tons of things to be done that don’t require actually making your products. Last year just before the season ended, I hired someone to help me with shipping. This year, knowing I was going to be featured in Parents Magazine, I hired two people. Becky aka daisychains and Lea aka leakarts. They come in and help me a few days a week. Lea packs up my orders and keeps track of what is selling out; she keeps my shipping smooth. Becky adds bales to pendants, organizes my wholesale and keeps me up to date on what else is needed. I could not survive this holiday season without them. Having them here has helped me stay creative and sane despite all the chaos. Thanks girls!
While the holidays may seem like a lot of work, chaos and mess, remember this doesn’t last. It is easier to push myself through the 10-14 hour days knowing I’ll have some much needed play time after the winter season. This is what we have been waiting for and I am so glad it has arrived!
Happy Holidays!
Ryan *girl* Littleput Books
38 comments
Sign in to add your ownFrucciDesign says:
"parole sante" we'd say in Italy! Thanx Ryan, you're my Etsy hero!!!!
4 years ago
Caprichos says:
Incredible advice! Thanks Ryan... This is a great article... Man I luv the storque!
4 years ago
artyfakt says:
Great article, Ryan! I wish I knew all this two months ago... okay back to work!
4 years ago
katelynjane says:
Great advice! Thanks Ryan (: You're store is amazing by the way (: Hopefully my store speeds up during the holidays!
4 years ago
XOHandworks says:
Littleput rocks :)
4 years ago
aPassionForFashion says:
Thanks for the tips!
4 years ago
SandFibers says:
I don't know how you do what you do, even with help, Ryan!
4 years ago
Timeless says:
Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I am a long way away from where you are, but it never hurts to learn about these things in advance. ;)
4 years ago
PocoMutts says:
Thanks so much for the great advice! Being a new seller...this is extremely valuable information! :D
4 years ago
CDChilds says:
Your advise is very valuable. I'm still trying to find my nitch in etsy.
4 years ago
thefunkyfelter says:
I admire your business savvy, organization, and success so very much! Your also such a nice person :O)
4 years ago
PoPkO says:
thanks! i'll read anything you write, its always so valuable!
4 years ago
dottyral says:
Gooooooo littleput! :)
4 years ago
AllAboutTheButtons says:
Clear and concise...thank you!
4 years ago
projectfelt says:
this was a great article. Thank you so much for your advice. I am in the same boat you were in last season. My demand is bigger than my supply and I can't keep up! It stinks to know that I could be selling more had I been better prepared and had a better stock build up.
4 years ago
SalmonStreetStudio says:
Thanks (again) Ryan! It is cool that you still find the time to help out the rest of us!
4 years ago
cthings says:
Very nice article! Thanks for sharing your ideas and helpful suggestions!
4 years ago
InfiniteCosmosGirl says:
great advice and i'm glad that i already do most of the things listed!
4 years ago
leakarts says:
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee littleput! :D
4 years ago
misseskwittys says:
All hail Queen Littleput--thanks for sharing your sanity keeping wisdom! Smiles, Karen
4 years ago
MissPurl says:
Very cool. Thank you for the info. YOUR pendant looks great in the mag.
4 years ago
EyePopArt says:
Great advice, as always, Ryan! Thank you so much.
4 years ago
DownToTheWireDesigns says:
Very good suggestions. One thing that I started doing this year that has helped a lot is to leave my pendants off the chains until the orders. This save me some time on the stocking up end of things and gives me more flexibility once the item is actually ordered because if a customer wants a longer or shorter chain, I no longer have to disassemble an existing necklace or make a new pendant to accommodate the request.
4 years ago
DaisyChains says:
Choooooooooo Choooooooo! ;O)
4 years ago
CoraMarieBoutique says:
This is a great artical. I am starting out and still trying to find my niche on etsy. This artical will help me get organized and stay a head of the game when things do start to pick up for me. Thank you for the artical:)
3 years ago
LoveAppleBoutique says:
Great article. Thanks for all the great information. And its true if you need help ,get help...
3 years ago
sslaprade says:
this is the most complicated checkout i've ever done.
3 years ago
lcpipkin5 says:
I am having trouble paying. Hopefully this order will be saved. LP
3 years ago
1Ezabella says:
HELP! I just want to pay with my credit card! How to do that? This process is not easy! Just want to give my card!!!
3 years ago
Jan916 says:
I am trying to pay and really do not understand it either! Help!
3 years ago
justjaime01 says:
How do we pay???
3 years ago
dandydannah22 says:
I really hope this works! I really love the necklace. If it doesnt I'm not trying to stiff you...I'm completly confused!!!
3 years ago
tammygarfield says:
I can't figure out how to pay and would like to get the products before you go on vacation.
3 years ago
beadnykdesigns says:
Loved the article and sure hope I'm there someday! Thanks!
3 years ago
ChristianHaylie says:
great read!
2 years ago
LizFell says:
I am not sure I paid. Hope my order went through and it is done.
2 years ago
verityunmondoaparte says:
useful article, thanks so much ^_^
2 years ago
p13832 says:
Sellers contacted me saying I did not pay for transaction 25827170 However, I don't know how to look to see if 16.25 was deducted twice or never. Please ck and tell me what I did wrong. Seller is Pinpoint. thanks
2 years ago