Search results (tags) for: "etsy success stories"

Quit Your Day Job: gorjuss

2009-03-09T14:08:00-05:00

This week I'm bringing you an incredible twist on our regular Quit Your Day Job feature. The story below not only outlines the success Etsy helped bring Suzanne, the Scottish artist behind gorjuss, but it also focuses on the story of her husband, Grant. He was recently able to leave his day job to help with the growing success and management of Suzanne's newfound business. I think you'll be as touched as I was to read this inspiring story of a husband and wife team working together and finding success.

If you'd like to ask Grant questions of your own or listen in on his advice in real time, we invite you to join us in a follow-up Question and Answer session this Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 at 2:30pm EST in the Auditorium room of the Virtual Labs (the VL schedule is magically in your local time).

In Grant's words:

On October 6th, 2005 Suzanne followed a link from another artist's website that led her to Etsy, a chance discovery that made a huge difference in the marketing of her artwork. At the time, I had no idea that it would have any bearing on MY life or working day. I was a hardworking husband of an artist. I worked all hours to support her and our family to be able to live the life we wanted. Etsy was a step for Suzanne to change all our lives forever.

Etsy was new, exciting, and more importantly, the community was warm and welcoming. Suzanne's original artworks, prints and products sold quicker than she could make them, and it was clear that it deserved a lot more attention than we had the time to give.

We made changes to our way of working by getting a professional printer to produce the highest quality prints and products we could, and we have never settled for the cheapest options since. I became more involved in the printing and production process with my experience in IT from my day job. Yet I still had a lot of new skills to learn, as trimming is not as easy as it looks. Through hard work and necessity, I consider myself accomplished at what I do, which complements Suzanne's artwork. It grew until I had no choice but to make that leap of faith. Yes, I quit my day job!

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?

At first, I was only really helping out when required, but due to some health issues with Suzanne, it was clear that I needed to be able to run the shop fully at a moment's notice. This was a great thing, as it meant we could share the running of the shop and I thought of it like a way to earn some extra funds for fun things. Fortunately, it did far more than that and things have changed so much since then.

How long had you been on Etsy before taking the plunge into selling full time? What made you decide to do so?

We had been on Etsy for a year, and things were getting busier and busier, but all the time my day job was getting more and more demanding. I would often find myself and Suzanne up past midnight printing and packaging the previous day's orders and getting ready for my next day's work. It was clear that something had to give or I would end up in hospital with exhaustion. With my day job becoming less and less enjoyable, I made the decision to quit while in a hotel in Ireland doing a thankless job for the company. It was the scariest moment. Once the letter was sent, the relief was unimaginable.

How did you originally get into making prints?

Quite simply put, we ordered batches of prints from all kinds of places. Some were good, others not so good. The end result was a pile of boxes, which held prints that never sold. We took the bold move to print to order, or as I like to say, we make all prints fresh and seal them at the time of printing so they reach you in their freshest form. (Not quite foil wrapped, but you get my meaning.) This meant we could send orders out within 24 hours and didn't have to worry about stock levels, and the quality was fully under our control.

I leave the design and arty bits to Suzanne, but I am developing an eye for her talent... I rather simplistically state that Suzanne does the coloring in, and I do the cutting out.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time?

To be honest, this was the biggest sticking point of quitting the day job. We had no safety net at all, but all it takes is a leap of faith and the dedication to put the effort in. If you sit back, the sales drop and the panic begins, but when you put the hours in, the rewards are huge. The only guarantee you have is the one you make to yourself to work hard. "Self employed" does mean "self distracted" — as in, three months perfecting Guitar Hero — but it is also important to re-arrange the way you work so that you do have fun. The more you put in, the more you get back, but having fun is key.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?

The biggest marketing skill is to talk to people and show them what you have. If you believe in your products and are enthusiastic about them, people feel the same about you and your items. The more people that talk about you, the more potential sales you have. We also decided that quality and, what I call, "LOW RISK" purchases were the key to success. A LOW RISK purchase is the way that your customers can be sure than even when the worst situations arise (delivery issues or damages) that their investment is safe and that they are always guaranteed a replacement or refund. Also never be squeamish about promotional items...

What have you found to be an unsuccessful promotion?

Paid advertising in magazines: it only seems to generate other magazines offering you more advertising, but frankly it gets your name out there to the public.

Walk us through what a typical workday might entail.

For me, it's gather the printed orders, head off to the printer.
Set it all and print them all off, they print on the roll, so they need trimming too!
Then I take them back to Suzanne for her to title and sign them.
I then bag them up, then package them, and print the stamps online (we use Royal Mail's Smartstamp, which is brilliant).
Then all the packages head off to the post office (it's on the same street as us ... so it's walking distance) and back to check on more orders.
I don't usually answer convo's/emails unless Suzanne is having a really bad day (she suffered a spine injury last year!).

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?

My day job was very much a field based role. I had very little contact with other work colleagues other than special occasions, so I don't miss much about the job. Now, I enjoy being able to do the RIGHT thing, rather than meeting some procedure. I love being in charge of my customers' experience.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself, knowing what you know now?

I would probably stop myself taking so long to get out of the day job!

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?

We have lots of possible changes coming up, like becoming a ltd company. I hope to expand our product range further; the more choice, the better it is for customers.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

If you're thinking about quitting your day job in these times of economic chaos, just remember: unless you really upset yourself, you are guaranteed not to be made redundant. It's a pretty secure job. The harder you work, and the harder you focus on success, the sooner you realize that your living is very much within your own reach. My father always said, "Work to Live... Don't live to work."

Please join Grant for his follow-up Question and Answer session this Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 at 2:30pm EST in the Auditorium room of the Virtual Labs (the VL schedule is magically in your local time). See you there!

You can find some of our previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

Etsy Success Stories: Ahpeele

2008-05-19T13:45:00-05:00

You've seen those big sellers on Etsy who seem to be making sales left and right. You have to wonder how they've made it to where they are: can they actually be FOR REAL? What's their recipe for success? And just how do they do it?

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Stories series features AdAm and Hiromi of Ahpeele. The history behind these two is a love story. AdAm and Hiromi met by chance and had a whirlwind romance and marriage traveling between New York, Tokyo, and North Carolina! They presently work and reside in North Carolina, and have been a selling team on Etsy for almost two years and are quickly approaching 3,100 total sales! Keep reading to find out what makes this successful pair tick.

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
A friend first told us about Etsy. We checked it out and realized it was perfect for what we were already doing, so we opened a shop in a couple days.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Our partnership is the #1 key, and it helps big time. Of course, other things help too, like — a lot of effort in making nice things people will love, always pushing to make something better, and being nice in general.

What are the best and most effective ways you have promoted your shop?
Besides telling people we meet on the street and putting the Etsy address on business cards, we haven't really done much promotion. That’s why we really like Etsy: we spend our time making new designs and the world is already there looking.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
As a wife and husband team we’ve found it’s important to define our jobs. Hiromi is in charge of the shipping section (she’s the organized half of the partnership). She does most of the order processing at night. First labeling envelopes, then locating the shirts, wrapping shirts, packing, and printing postage. The next day she takes everything to the post office, where they know her by name. We give Christmas and birthday presents to all of the workers there. We ship stuff everyday so people get items as quickly as possible. AdAm answers all the customer questions, makes designs, and is in charge of printing. We work at least a few hours, seven days a week.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
There are a lot of repeat people, which makes us really happy. Shipping quality stuff quickly definitely makes people want to buy again. It’s tough sometimes to be fast when you’re making, selling, and shipping. A nice package and personal touches, like a note or knick knack, usually makes up for any delays. Being friendly and patient while answering convos is important, too.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
We’re both very self-motivated to do what we like. We motivate each other to do the things we don't like. We’d be making designs even if we were rich. It’s never hard to sit down to make something new.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job to
We’re pretty much full -time Etsy, but we also do custom printing. That’s AdAm’s big other job.

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
We started our own business after moving back to North Carolina from Tokyo. Neither of us had real full-time jobs. AdAm worked in construction for a friend's company. Then when that slowed down, we had to do something, so making our company quickly became our full-time jobs. AdAm had silkscreen and design experience so we built our business around that. We found Etsy about a year after we started Ahpeele. Etsy has definitely helped us take our business in a more artistic direction.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
Hiromi — Featured seller section.
AdAm — Handpicked items.

What features do you use most on Etsy?
Hiromi — I like to browse the main showcase.
AdAm — I use the conversations.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
We’re always looking for new inspirations and styles, so look for us to be even more creative in a year.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged? Do you have a quick tip or trick that you have learned over time you would be willing to share?
You should love making what you’re selling. If you love making but aren’t selling, just look around see what other people are doing. A little research can be very valuable.

Read our previous Etsy Success Stories. See some of Ahpeele's work and top picks on Etsy in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: photoglassworks

2008-05-12T15:20:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Stories series features Tracy of photoglassworks. Tracy lives and works in North Carolina and has been selling on Etsy for two and a half years, and she has just recently climbed above the 3,800 sales mark. Tracy developed her style of incorporating photos (rather than using solder) into glass work after finding out she was pregnant was searching for safer methods of working. Keep reading to find out how this mother and entrepreneur has become so successful.

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I was first introduced to Etsy in 2005 by a friend, hotpinkzebra. I had been doing arts/craft shows for several years and I was looking for a place to sell between shows. I joined in the beginning months of Etsy when there were no listing or transaction fees until December, so I literally had nothing to lose. I made my first sale the day after I joined.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
I would say having a quality product to start with is the most important. I’ve also never made anything that I wouldn’t wear myself, so staying true to my style and not worrying so much about what the trend is has helped me maintain a kind of common theme to my shop. I love packaging and really enjoy knowing that my customers are going to get something pretty and fun to open. Definitely, listing often is big. I look at it as advertising: listing is like buying an advertising spot on Etsy because you're getting exposure and you need that to sell. (Especially in the jewelry category, because it's so competitive, and it's not long before you're buried under pages of listings.) So if you think about it that way, you can get an ad spot on Etsy for the bargain price of 20 cents!

What are the best and most effective ways you have promoted your shop?
I rely pretty heavily on word of mouth. I wish I enjoyed writing more because I think blogging is a great marketing tool. I also collaborate with several very talented artists who I’ve been so fortunate to work with, and it’s turned out to be a great way to promote each others' work. Other than that, I try to keep a healthy balance between family, Etsy, friends, a personal life and taking care of myself, which means I try to fit in a good amount of sleep and some exercise. That’s about all I can fit into my day right now.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
I couldn’t do it without my Dymo label printer. My system is very basic and pretty foolproof. Every morning I have my coffee and copy and paste all my addresses and print my shipping labels. After I print each one, I write on the back what they ordered and fill the order with either my in-stock inventory or I make it to order. That’s it...pretty high tech, right? The label writer is around $100 and you can get labels and the printer from Labelcity.com. (A roll of labels is only $15.00 for 300.) Also, the Dymo uses heat to print, so there’s no ink to replace.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
I have a lot of repeat buyers, but would say a majority are new. I think the best way to get buyers to come back is to give them a product that’s maybe better than what they expected, as well as a great buying experience which includes shipping fast, good communication, nice packaging, etc. I’ve had so many people tell me that they needed to get another necklace because they decided to keep the first one for themselves.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
Most days it comes pretty naturally. I love to get up, spend a couple hours with my boys before I get them off to school and start my work day. I’ve had my “off” days where I have to push myself to get all my work done, but those are the days I have to remind myself to be grateful. I love what I do, and I’m so fortunate to be doing what I love everyday; if I keep that perspective, it’s a lot easier to stay motivated. I get to set my own work schedule, be creative all day while singing along to my favorite music. To quote one my friends, I have a "pretty sweet gig," and I have to agree!

One thing that I sometimes battle with is feeling isolated because I’m working from home all the time, every day. That’s when I need to grab my laptop and do some work from a coffee shop.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
My life has changed pretty drastically since 2006. I had people in my life that were not supportive of me making and selling my jewelry full time, because in their eyes it wasn’t a “real job.” It’s been great proving that I can make a living at this, and now I’m surrounded by supportive and encouraging people who believe in me and are proud of me. I also have entrepreneurial parents who have had their own successful business for almost 30 years, I’ve learned so much from them. So, yes! I Etsy full time and also travel around a little and do some arts and crafts shows. I’m also part of IndieNC.com, which is a co-op of emerging artists and designers from North Carolina.

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
I was faced with the decision to go back to a 9-5 office job after my youngest started kindergarten. Etsy was the reason I didn’t have to do that.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
My favorite feature is Time Machine 2: I’ve found some great artists through that feature. I also like Shop Local, as I’ve had several local event planners find me through Shop Local to see if I wanted to participate in their shows and handmade markets. I enjoy reading the Storque to stay up to date with what’s going on with the community and the site. I love to read about all the great press Etsy’s getting. It was so exciting to see Rob Kalin on Martha Stewart! It’s so great to see Etsy come this far and I’m proud to have been a part of it. Oh, and Alchemy...I missed it!

What features do you use most on Etsy?
I use re-list the most.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
I would like to make time to work with more artists. I would also like to take more of my own photos and use more of my work in my jewelry. I just took a metal class so I’ll be adding some sterling, hand-forged necklaces and earrings soon, so that’s exciting!

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged? Do you have a quick tip or trick that you have learned over time you would be willing to share?
If you look back on my sales and the first things that I sold on Etsy, you’ll see that I didn’t start out selling jewelry. PhotoGlassworks was a name I chose to sell custom photographs using a framing technique I came up with. It turned out that doing the custom work took a lot of time and was difficult to ship, so I tried another medium. I started working with clay and images to make some fun pendants.

I had a great response to those, but it wasn’t long before a bunch of other Etsy shops started popping up selling very similar pendants. It’s really important that what I make be unique and original, so I started playing around with my initial idea with the glass and wire, but on a smaller scale, to make jewelry. So, my Etsy shop has evolved since 2005 and kind of morphed into what it is now. My point is, don’t give up and don’t get discouraged: setbacks could lead to opportunities. Not every great idea has been discovered already, so keep experimenting. If your heart is really in it and you're working hard, people will notice eventually.

Anything else you want to add?
Three of my good friends are now on Etsy with their own shops selling jewelry. Hey Tiffany, Susie and Kirstan!

Thank you Etsy!

xo
Tracy

Read our previous Etsy Success Stories. See some of Tracy's work and top picks on Etsy in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: puffluna

2008-05-05T15:45:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Stories series features Julie of puffluna. Julie lives and works in Ohio and has been selling on Etsy for about two and a half years, in which she has already made an incredible 2,700 sales! Julie is a stay-at-home mom and has been designing and making jewelry since 2005; Etsy has allowed her to take her business to the next level and work full time from home. Keep reading to find out her key to success.

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
Thankfully, I heard about Etsy from someone that I used to work with (thank you, Chris!). I had started creating jewelry here and there in 2005 and he knew it. He was on the other side of the cubicle wall so he frequently saw the ladies oooing and ahhing over my jewelry and asking for some. He always popped his head up. I used to tell him I would forget that he had a body since I only saw his head. Anyway, one day he popped his head up and asked me if I had heard of Etsy. I hadn't heard of Etsy, but that was all that I could think about from that moment to the moment I put my daughter to sleep that night. I logged on, my jaw dropped and I saw a new future for myself and my family. The trick was making it work...

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
I'll have to number my thoughts on this. Number 1 being the most important.

1) List as often as you can. You can list or renew, but I think 5 a day minimum will get you noticed.
2) Good tags. Without appropriate tags, your items will be lost within minutes.
3) Variety. I have a wide variety and price range available in my store.
4) Photos. In the sea of listings, when you have your shot at the first 5 pages, your photo is all ya got. Make it stand out and say "click me!"

What are the best and most effective ways you have promoted your shop?
I really haven't promoted much. Last month, I decided to increase my advertising budget and start listing more on Etsy. I look at this as a type of advertising. Oh, and I also send a monthly email to my customers that are on my mailing list, and I blog. I also offer internet shows. This is similar to a home jewelry show, except it's virtual. If a customer is interested in a virtual internet show, they can supply me with their friend's email addresses and anything that they buy on a set date will benefit the hostess. I've done a handful and they work out great.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop?
The holidays were a little rough (but all good!). I learned a lot this year and will hopefully put those lessons into practice the next holiday season. I am doing this full time. This gives me all of the hours when my daughter is in school. I create, email, list, mail and order all day, every day. It's my job. I look at it that way and it's worked.

What systems have you created to manage the orders
My methods are pretty primitive. I like things simple. I use notebooks and email...and that's about it.

Order received - Send thank you email and move the Etsy transaction email into the 'thank you sent' folder.
Ready to mail day -
- Go to my 'thank you sent' folder and write down the name and item of everyone that will be mailed that day.
- Handwrite the address on the mailer.
- Get piece of jewelry and take a look at it for quality assurance.
- I wrap the piece in tissue paper, put it in a jewelry box, write a thank you note on the back of my business card, put the box in the envelope.
- Cross name off of list and repeat the above steps until done.
- Back at the computer, I move the email from the 'thank you sent' folder to the 'shipped' folder.
- Mark item shipped on Etsy (at this point, I'm usually running around like a maniac because it's almost time to pick up my daughter from school)
- Yeah!!! I'm at the post office and the item is on it's way to my customer.

Phew!

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
Definitely repeat. This gives me confidence as well as motivation. I do get new customers, but it's my repeat customers that motivate me to keep creating new and unique items. I have many, many, many moods, so I will create all black one day and all pink the next...contemporary to vintage. I think it keeps my store interesting and they never know what they'll get. Not to mention that they are amazing women (and some men) who like to support handmade, Etsy, and stay-at-home moms. I am blessed that they've found me. I truly feel that way.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
I pray for motivation, inspiration and creativity a lot, but I am a very motivated person naturally. I am not happy just sitting still. I'm always doing something. If I stop, I fall asleep! :) Having to pay the bills is also a good motivator. I don't want to find another job and even consider day care for my daughter ever again. Create, create, create!

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
I didn't quit my day job exclusively for Etsy. I was working for a friend who owns her own business. The business that we thought would grow didn't, so I couldn't work for her any longer. That's when I decided to really put forth an effort with Etsy to make it work.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
I love the Storque. That's another place that I get my motivation from. I can feel the energy and excitement in the writing and photos.

What features do you use most on Etsy?
List and renew.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
That it still exists, first of all. After that, I'd like to sell more every month than I did the year before.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged? Do you have a quick tip or trick that you have learned over time you would be willing to share?
I know this has been said over and over, and I've said it above, but you have to get out there and be seen. I would highly recommend listing often and even purchasing some showcase spots to get your hearts started. Once someone hearts you, odds are they will check into your store on a regular basis. Keep it exciting, be unique and LOVE what you do.

The most important thing that I've learned is not to freak out if sales are down or slow. I used to beat myself up and cause unwanted and unhealthy stress! What am I doing wrong? What should I change? Not that those aren't good questions to ask yourself from time to time, but be nice to yourself. Odds are if you are loving what you do someone else will to. They do have to find you, though. ;)

Anything else you want to add?
Thank you Etsy! I love you!

Read our previous Etsy Success Stories. See some of Julie's work and top picks on Etsy in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: greenbelts

2008-04-28T12:46:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Stories features Shannon of greenbelts. Shannon is best known for her creative skill and talent in upcycling leather belts into new and fabulous dog and cat collars, as well as cuffs and other accessories. She lives and works in Seattle, has been selling on Etsy for almost two years and is quickly approaching 450 sales: now that's a lot of recycling! Find the woman behind the greenbelts curtain in the interview below:

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
Avery, from EmpireEmpire, was my neighbor at one time (he has since moved). He saw some of my dog collars at a neighborhood party and suggested that I open a shop on Etsy. As soon as I visited the site for the first time I knew it was for me. I did a little research and opened a shop soon after that. I received my first sale five days after I opened. Yea!

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Hummm, I wish I knew! I can tell you what I TRY to do. I list and renew often (3 to 6 times a day), I try my best to create unique items, I look up my competition every now and again to make sure that my items are still fresh, new and different, I contact my buyers as soon as I receive an order to thank them and let them know when I will ship the item, I attempt to visit the forums and Storque often to see who's out there and what's happening on Etsy, I visit Alchemy every day to see if I can bid on any requests, and I'm in the process of joining a couple of Teams right now.

What are the best and most effective ways you have promoted your shop?
Word-of-mouth! So far.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders ?
My system is about as simple and archaic as it gets. When an order comes in, I send the buyer a confirmation e-mail right away, I put the item in a box, I print out the receipt and mark the day the package needs to go out. Then on the day that the packages need to go, I get up early, package everything up to go, print out my postage labels, and put them in a bag to go to the post office. I try my best to walk to the post office to deliver my packages so as soon as I receive an order I plan my days that I'll be hoofing it to the PO. I live just inside the industrial area of Seattle so the walk is pretty interesting — miles of planes, trains and automobiles galore!

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
I would estimate that about half of my business is from repeat buyers. My items aren't for everyone, but for those who do like them, they REALLY seem to like them. I feel the same way about certain Etsy sellers, too. I have many that I'm crazy about right now and can't seem to get enough of their products. I love 'em!

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
My motivation deflates a bit when I'm in a sales slump, but as soon as I get an order I perk right up and it seems to get the juices flowing again. I'm one of those kind of people that thrives on praise and positive reinforcement, unfortunately. My ultimate goal with this business is to create something that I love and that other people will love too. I'm a people pleaser when it comes down to it and I'm ok with that. ;)

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
Right now, I'm a full time stay-at-home mom to my four year old son, Henry. I stopped working as a corporate graphic designer to start a family. Now I have two part-time jobs, freelance graphic design and Greenbelts creator, along with my full-time job as a mama. I used to say that I worked during naps, nights, and weekends, but now that Henry stopped taking naps I squeeze in ANY time that I have to get my other jobs done.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
I love the new "->LAST" button when editing a listing. I'm also obsessed with the Treasury right now. I check it all the time. My heart beats a little faster when I see that glorious little gold star next to a list. Mmmmm. And to see one of my items on the front page, well, it's pure heaven! ;)

What features do you use most on Etsy?
Renew, Add New Item, Forums, Treasury and Convo.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
I hope to still have a 100% satisfaction rating. I would like to double my sales per day average, I'd like to work smarter and faster and I would love to be a Featured Seller on the front page of Etsy.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged? Do you have a quick tip or trick that you have learned over time you would be willing to share?
1) Check things out. An important thing I learned as a designer is to do a little research. See what others are doing, what are fads, what is successful, what your niche could be, where there is a need, etc. If you would like to "create" as a business, I believe that this background information can help you be successful. With that information you can go creatively wild and find an audience of your own to market your products to.
2) Learn the basics of Photoshop (or another photo editing program). Your product photos will make or break you. Play around with lighting situations, creative cropping, backgrounds, etc. Don't be afraid to try different things — you can always change them. I'm still figuring out my images and change them out all the time when I'm not happy with how many views an item is getting.

What are you thoughts on the environment? Do you have any eco-friendly tips for sellers, or other ways that you try to make your business eco-friendly?
There are so many great green Etsy sellers out there today. I am SO impressed with what people are coming up with to reuse and recycle. I believe being green is not a fad, it's a necessity. I find inspiration from others who are eco-friendly and strive to do my part. My whole business plan revolves around reducing, reusing and reclaiming.

Anything else you want to add?
I stuttered for a time there in the beginning of my business, because I knew what it took to design, develop and upkeep an e-commerce site on your own. I was overwhelmed with the prospect of doing it for myself. Then, along came Etsy — my knight in shining armor. Setting up shop was a dream, upkeeping it — a no-brainer and processing orders is simple. Thanks to Etsy, I can cut up my belts, sift through my buttons, hammer away and, basically, do what I LOVE to do. I can't thank you enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Read our previous Etsy Success Stories and check out the Earth Tones series for more eco-friendly stories. See some of Shannon's work and her top picks in the gallery below.

Success Stories: EarthArt

2008-04-21T13:33:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Stories features Laura Sue of EarthArt. Laura Sue lives and works in Tennessee and is best known on Etsy for her success in selling original artworks depicting earthy tones and her signature birds on a wire. She has been selling on Etsy for just under 2 years and is quickly approaching 650 sales in original works. She prides herself on being a full time artist and selling primarily through Etsy: keep reading to find out how she does it.

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I first heard about Etsy from a fellow artist at an art show in Nashville. Her description of Etsy prompted me to explore the site and as soon as I did, it was love at first sight! ( I wish that was an intentional pun.) I joined immediately, but took a few weeks to study Etsy and all the nuances of this large pool of talented crafters and artists before I opened my own shop.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
The support of my incredible husband, first and foremost. He's a luthier here on Etsy as well, by the handle of armorguitars – shameless plug. Establishing a style that was recognized — a sense of continuity. Finding that micro niche is difficult because most artists have so many ideas that we tend to want to create a little bit of everything. But if you find something that identifies with many people, it may be that it deserves your attention. I also feel that a high level of communication with your buyers is critical — I acknowledge purchase, send confirmation that art has been shipped and try my best to follow up with a thank you. I also renew and list new works as much as possible to keep visibility.

What are the best and most effective ways you have promoted your shop?
I promote through my customers' positive experiences. I don’t blog and I don’t advertise anywhere else — I truly feel these are both valid advertising tools, but I stay busy with my customers and their referrals. I give my buyers the best I can give — quality of art and non-failing customer service — and I include business cards. This has been very successful for me in return collectors and friends, co-workers, relatives, etc. of my buyers.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
Being organized is very difficult for me, but without it, I know I would let someone down at some point. My process is as simple as possible: I utilize a folder system for each category — custom work, sales pending such as e-checks, and sales completed and ready to ship. As soon as I have shipped an order, the sales sheet is moved into a monthly main folder that is only for completed and shipped orders. I also include customer requests made along the way and the date shipped with delivery confirmation for each order stapled together for easy tracking if the mail is running slow for someone.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers...what do you do to gain repeat buyers?
About half and half, and I am so thankful! I treat a buyer like I would like to be treated. I handle a small order in the same way I do a large order. It all comes from the same place.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
Staying motivated is fortunately not a problem for me: I view motivation as a continuous goal. When I first began selling on Etsy, if I didn't have a sale in a while it would motivate me to fine tune. When I had begun to hit a steady sales level, I was motivated to establish my reputation. Now that I am at this stage, I am motivated to offer new designs for my customers.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
I am so happy to say Etsy is my full time job now! I still work with a few designers and custom work unrelated to Etsy but the majority of my time is devoted to Etsy and I am on cloud nine about it!

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
Etsy enabled me to concentrate on one online source of sales (just Etsy – yah!) and not worry about galleries and art shows like I did before. I was able to ease my stress of unsecured sales and devote my energy towards Etsy which has proved to be very dependable.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
Conversations – I don't know if that's considered a feature, but without it I don't feel the connection between buyer and seller would be as personal. I do love the LAST feature on listing page, that's a helpful new feature.

What features do you use most on Etsy?
Aside from conversations, I utilize renew often.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop 1 year from now?
I would like to broaden my array of original works to include sculptures that I have been experimenting with and more metal-based art works.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged? Do you have a quick tip or trick that you have learned over time you would be willing to share?
Oh man, this is where my instincts are to hug anyone with a creative spirit when they are feeling discouraged...but to truly help, I would say don't whine. Be proactive instead of reactive emotionally. If you have the goal set as selling your craft full time, treat it as a business. Nobody starts at the top, we all earn our stripes — take a step back and pay attention to what the public reacts to and you will find a happy medium in creating what you love and what will be a source of income.

Anything else you want to add?
I am honored to be a part of Etsy. I believe that Etsy is providing the world with more than accessibility to beautiful hand crafted items; I believe Etsy serves up a slice of hope and promise for those who work with their hands and hearts in a manufactured world.

Read our previous Etsy Success Stories. See some of Laura Sue's work and some of her top picks in the gallery below.

Etsy Success Stories: pdxbeanies

2008-04-14T13:26:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Stories series features Nili of pdxbeanies. Nili lives and works in Portland, OR and has been selling on Etsy for just over a year and a half. In that time, she has made over 3,100 sales while taking on the challenge and full time job of motherhood to boot! When Nili started selling her crochet items on Etsy for some extra cash here and there, she never dreamed the business would turn into a full time job with the success that it is today. Keep reading to find out how she does it.

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I heard about Etsy through a friend who directed me to one of her friend's shops (the fabulous meanbean). From there I just started poking around and finding out how everything worked. I toyed around with the idea of opening a shop for a few months before I actually did. Not expecting too much, I opened my shop on October 7th, 2006 and within 10 minutes I had made my first sale! I was floored and greatly encouraged to keep on listing my work.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
There are certainly a lot of things that are involved in becoming a “successful” seller here on Etsy, and I probably couldn't narrow it down to one key thing... But to name a few: working hard to develop a great product, having eye-catching photos, listing often and providing fantastic customer service (even to the most difficult customer! Remember, the most difficult customers will probably be the most vocal about their experience to others. If it's a good one they will certainly point others your direction).

What are the best and most effective ways you have promoted your shop?
Listing frequently has certainly been an easy and effective way for me to promote. Also, opening a Flickr account has brought in a lot of business. I have to admit that I don't spend a lot of time trying to promote my shop. Instead, I use the majority of my time developing a great product that will promote itself. I have lots of people find me just by word of mouth. Also, I've been fortunate enough to be featured in Parents magazine, Interweave Crochet Magazine and in several popular blogs. If you work hard to develop a fantastic product other people will want to talk about it for you.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
Sometimes I have no idea how I'm able to handle so many sales! I'll look back on the past week of orders and I can't believe I got them all shipped out. But somehow it always gets done.

Here is a day in the life of a Pdxbeanies order: I have a chime on my email (oh, what a happy sound!), so I usually know right when an order comes in. I read it immediately and address any questions or comments in the “message to the seller” section. Then the transaction email will sit in my inbox, usually until the next morning when I print out packing slips for the previous day's orders. After printing the packing slip I move the transaction email to its appropriate folder, “to be shipped” or “waiting for payment." That way I know that all the orders have been processed when my inbox is empty. I then use the packing slips as a reference to collect or make-to-order all the products that were purchased. Once all the orders are assembled I log on to Paypal and use the handy-dandy “Multi-Order Shipping” tool and print out my shipping labels. Then I slap the label on the package and take a trip to the closest mailbox! After the order is shipped out I move the transaction email from the “to be shipped” folder to the “filled orders” folder in my email. I also go into my sold items on Etsy and check the “shipped” box next to the order. Doing these last two things is part of my “no order to be left behind” act to help ensure that I don't miss anything.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
I get lots of both new and repeat buyers. It is very rewarding to know that someone liked your product so much that they came back to buy more. To gain repeat buyers I try to give fantastic customer service and to make sure that everything I send out is made and packaged well.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
Staying motivated does come somewhat naturally to me, I think. I really love what I make and I love the idea of selling what I've made. I have fond childhood memories of setting up bake sales or lemonade stands in my family's driveway and selling to all the neighborhood kids. Now Etsy is my virtual lemonade stand! I do find, however, that I stay the most motivated when sales are coming in consistently. If I'm having a slow day I'll find myself sitting at the computer all day waiting for the email to chime when I should be working on filling yesterday's orders. It's in those times that I have to remind myself that I'm doing what I've always wanted to do and that people are counting on me to get their orders out. That always gives me the motivation to keep going.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
I am a stay-at-home mom and “Etsy” every spare second...I think that counts as at least 2 full-time jobs. :)

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
Being able to stay home to raise my children has always been very important to me. My husband and I decided that we would make the necessary sacrifices to allow me to quit my job after I got pregnant. After our daughter was born I started thinking about ways that I could make a little money from home to supplement my husband's income. I had been crocheting since I was a kid and thought that this might be a skill I could use to make a few dollars here and there. At that time I had no idea how large the business would become. Now, the Portland Beanie Company provides a full second income for our household and I am still able to be a full-time mommy. The best of both worlds. Thank you, Etsy!

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
The new batch shipping editor has rocked my world! I had been dreaming of that exact thing for so long and now that it is finally here I can hardly believe it!

What features do you use most on Etsy?
Probably the “renew” or “re-list” feature. I also love checking out the front page. I don't have time to browse the Treasury as much as I'd like so I really enjoy seeing the beautiful picks on the front page several times a day.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
Well, I hope to still have my sanity... although that may be long gone by now. :o) Other than that, I'd like to still have 100% positive feedback, to have developed my photography skills a bit more (which includes getting a better camera), and to continue to love what I do.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged? Do you have a quick tip or trick that you have learned over time you would be willing to share?
Selling on Etsy takes a lot of hard work, discipline and dedication. It is not for the faint of heart! Be willing to go without sleep. Don't get discouraged easily. Be flexible.

What are you thoughts on the environment? Do you have any eco-friendly tips for sellers, or other ways that you try to make your business eco-friendly?
Being a good steward of this earth is very important to me and I am excited to be part of this "handmade" movement, since Etsy is so committed to doing its part to to reduce the global footprint as much as possible. The first thing that I do to make my business more eco-friendly is that I only use cotton yarn for my products. Acrylic yarn is cheaper, but it is man-made and is not the best choice for the enviroment. Also, all my yarn is produced either in the USA or in Canada which cuts down on the pollution made by trucks or planes transporting the yarn long distances. At some point in the future I would love to start making products using organic cotton yarn as well. I am still searching for the "perfect" yarn for this. The other thing I try to be aware if is the amount of packing materials I use. After my business was up and running I started looking at how much packing material was really necessary for my beanies to arrive at their destinations in good condition. I found that I was able to cut back quite a bit. That also helped with my packing supplies and postage budget.

Anything else you want to add?
Thank you to all the Etsy sellers, buyers and admin who make this such a wonderful place to work and play. It is truly a joy being here and I plan on being in it for the long haul!

Please enjoy this recipe for my World Famous Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies: (okay, maybe not “world famous” but they're really yummy!)

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
3 cups old fashioned oats
1 large apple, cored and diced

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat margarine and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt and mix well. Add oats and apples and mix well. Drop dough in LARGE spoonfuls onto un-greased cookie sheets. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool and enjoy! Makes about 2 dozen large cookies.

Read our previous Etsy Success Stories. See some of Nili's work and her top picks in the gallery below.

Etsy Success Stories: littleputbooks

2008-04-07T11:22:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Stories series features Ryan of littleputbooks. Ryan lives in Portland, OR and in little under 2 years of selling on Etsy, she is quickly approaching 8,000 sales! It all started for Ryan with her passion for paper and the making of her accordian books back in 2001 (this predates Etsy's existence)! Back in September, Ryan authored an article for the Storque outlining how she was able to quit her day job and continues to outline how it can be done in the article below.

How did you hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I heard about it through a retail shop I was selling to in Portland. The owner told me she found a lot of her merchandise on Etsy. I signed up and started listing items that day, without really looking at the site. It took me a month to click the “see who hearts this shop link” and I found it just in time; Etsy was very slow at first and I was about to quit but then I saw that 13 people had me in their favorites and I got all excited and stayed.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
I put in a lot of time here. I list frequently throughout the day, when I don’t have new items to list I renew them. I enjoy the forums and spend time there when I can. I also work a lot on my photography, good pictures go very far online. Aside from that I think my price point has helped a lot with the volume of sales and I have really good customer service ethics; word of mouth about my work has been kind to me :)

What are the best and most effective ways you have promoted your shop?
Listing and renewing brings in the most daily business, being seen on Etsy is key, most of my customers find me here. When things are slow, I’ve been known to talk about my work on CraigsList and I’ve invested in blog advertisements. I also write my own blog Littleput.typepad.com which may or may not be a great marketing tool but I love doing it.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
Shipping is still kind of chaotic, especially when people need changes and such, but I have a system that seems to work. First, I try really hard not to sell things I need to make; having the items in hand when it is time to mail them is pretty important. Second, I always ship twice a week, this ensures I get enough studio time but still keep my orders moving out quickly. When it is time to mail, I print out the receipts for each order. If I am somewhat organized that week, I tag my conversations so I can keep track of special requests; then I write down any notes on the receipts while I am printing them. I no longer use Paypal shipping; it is too slow. I use a paid shipping service called Endicia which is 10 times faster and prints cute little labels with a photo of my work on them. I mark each item as shipped as I print the label and send my customers an email letting them know their package is on its way. I also make sure to get everything packed up before the mailman arrives so I don’t have to go to the post office; on the days that I miss him I pout a lot. During the busy seasons I hire help too. (Hi Becky, Hi Lea!) They take over shipping for me so I can keep up with making stuff, convos, emails and general shop stuff.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers...what do you do to gain repeat buyers?
I’d say a good percentage of my buyers come back, easily more than half. I have really stellar customer service policies; I do what I can to make sure people shopping with me are glad they did. I also send out a cute package, I have little stars and a handwritten thank you note that go out with every order. I think a lot of online shoppers are not used to the personal touch, they respond really well to thoughtful packaging.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
I am pretty driven to do well. I like the feel of making a sale (don’t we all?).
I also really enjoy creating. I love having new lines and new prints and new ideas, the fact that I get to play creative all day is great motivation in itself, it is pretty hard to not want my job.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
I “Etsy”, “Wholesale” and “Mom” full time. My wholesale business has picked up a lot of steam since joining here, it is a real benefit to have such wide spread exposure. I’d say I make pretty good use of my time, though sometimes it is hard to balance work with my family life, one is always interrupting the other.

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
I was a struggling crafter when I joined Etsy. Selling here allowed me to move out of the rainy Portland Craft circuit and into a more full time job; now I can sell things 24 hours a day instead of just on the weekends. Etsy has taken my “almost a job” craft gig and turned it into a real business, which is weird, but good, but still, weird.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
Pounce. Pounce. Pounce. Pounce. Pounce. It’s so fun to shop through Pounce!

What features do you use most on Etsy?
I spend a lot of time in the forums and try to catch an occasional treasury, they are so much fun to make. Of course the list/relist/renew features are ones that make my shop go :).

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop 1 year from now?
Wow, goals for my shop… I am working on a new line of pendants with lots of shiny metal in them. It would be really fun to have those be perfected and selling well by this time next year.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged?
Etsy success doesn’t happen overnight. If you truly love what you are doing your enthusiasm will be contagious, and other people will love it too. As long as you feel giddy every time you set down to make stuff, keep at it, at the very least you will be using your time doing something that makes you happy.

Anything else you want to add?
Hi Mom :)

Read our previous Etsy Success Stories. See some of Ryan's top picks on Etsy in the gallery below, as well as a couple examples of her work:

Etsy Success Stories: Moop

2008-03-31T17:37:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Stories series features Wendy of Moop. Wendy has been designing, making, and selling her bags on Etsy for just over a year and has made close to 1,000 sales: that's a lot of work, if you ask me! Keep reading to find out just how Wendy does it:

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
Last February, Jamie, my sister-in-law, came for a visit. She saw I was making all sorts of sewn things and told me that I needed to set up a shop on Etsy. As soon as she left, I looked into it, took her advice and immediately set up my shop. The past year I’ve been trying to return the favor and she’s now finally set up her shop — pghtravelagency.etsy.com.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Fundamentally, the most important thing is a well designed and well made product. The process of making each bag individually by hand myself has allowed me to engage in a continual process of development. It's exciting for me to look at some of the first bags I made and see where I am now. I’ve received some great emails from people telling me how they’ve followed Moop from its inception, watched all of the variations of the bags, the improvement in craft, the progression of photos and our story through the Moop blog. I love that many of my customers have taken the same interest in Moop that I have.

It is very important to have clear and accurate descriptions (give as much information as possible in each listing) and VERY good photos! Correspondence with the customer is very important — I want to bring my customers into the process. Consider all of the things that go into making your products when you are pricing and remember that what you are doing is unique and has value.

For example, when I am pricing my products it is necessary for me to consider all of the countless hours spent sourcing material and supplies, answering emails, doing the bookkeeping, designing new products, advertising and marketing, cleaning the studio, packaging the orders, maintaining and buying tools and equipment, paying the rent and utilities of the studio, etc... On top of this, as a small designer/producer, you aren’t able to buy materials in quantities large enough to get the wholesale prices that the large manufacturer gets and production is centered around your own individual labor, not that of an unfairly treated labor force. It is important to educate consumers to what this process really involves — shopping on Etsy is about celebrating handmade and supporting those who have taken the time to hone their skills and invest in themselves. There’s an authenticity that you find in many shops on Etsy. Be original, love what you do and take good photographs!!!

What are the best and most effective ways you have promoted your shop?
I think there are two ways to promote your shop. The first more obvious way is to place advertisements. I have run successful ads for my shop on a few of my favorite blogs. I find this to be an appropriate and fitting way to spread the word about Moop. The ads give a bit of revenue to those who write the blogs and make it possible for them to be able to devote more time to what they do. This is a great way use the internet to build and support communities who share similar interests in independent design, independent business and handmade.

The second and less obvious way is to place as much focus as possible on the quality of the products you are making and selling and on their online representation. These things coupled together will be noticed. Customers will tell their friends, buy gifts for family, make postings on their blogs, etc... Viral marketing can be the best marketing. I also write a blog about my own daily goings on and have used it as a way to chronicle the building of Moop into what it is now. This has been an effective way to bring people into my process.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
The managing of orders takes a huge amount of time and organization. With every order received, the customer and sales information is entered into Quickbooks. From there I generate reports that let me know the number and type of bags that I need to make. I generally begin my week with one of these reports and plan accordingly. I find it very helpful to organize the workload into categories. For example, I usually spend a lot of Monday cutting fabric for the bags that need to be sewn during the week. Tuesday through Thursday have become very solid sewing days. A lot of my packaging and shipping (I’ve been using Endicia to do this) happens on Friday. Weekends are used for various things, such as working on new designs, corresponding with my customers, researching fabric and hardware suppliers, tying up loose ends and finishing things that I couldn’t complete during the week, etc... I’ve found that it is very important to plan to allocate time for the unexpected — there are many variables that are beyond your control and things will always come up. On top of all of that, it's important to find some time for yourself, which is necessary to avoid burn out!

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
The majority are new buyers. But, there are several people out there who own every style of bag I have made. I love to think of little Moop collections all over the world. Selling a bag to a repeat buyer is one of the most gratifying experiences because it means that their previous experience was positive enough for them to want to purchase again!

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
Motivation is easy when you know what you want to be doing and what you do not want to be doing. I get to work on my own terms, doing something I love, putting to use everything I’ve learned over the years. Every job I’ve had has come back in some useful way since I started Moop. I hated working in an office, but I do a lot of office work now. It’s a completely different feeling when it’s directly related to your own livelihood. I work all the time, and I’ve never loved it more. That’s not to say I don’t have motivation issues upon occasion (I’m not a robot). If I’m having a hard time getting started it’s usually a sign of not taking enough time for myself. One of the great things about working for myself is having the flexibility to take an extra half hour with my cup of coffee in the morning, if I need to.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
Yes, I run Moop full time (times 5)! I started Moop on Etsy and over the course of the year my business has grown substantially. Etsy has provided an amazing place for me to figure out what Moop is and will be. I was able to quit my job last October and it was the best feeling in the world! I have never worked harder on anything. It really is a 7 day a week operation.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
The bulk shipping adjustment button. I recently switched all of my international shipping rates to provide better, more reliable shipping and I did it all in just a few clicks. I was pleasantly surprised to see that feature had been added.

What features do you use most on Etsy?
The green “add to cart” button. I have a problem visiting Vegan Honey’s shop...those fauxstess twinkies are a seriously good indulgence.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
I’m working towards expanding my market and want to offer a wider range of bags and materials. I also hope to get to the point where I can begin to offer wholesale. I regularly receive requests and would love to be able to add that in. But, there are only so many bags I can sew....so for now, direct sale only.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged? Do you have a quick tip or trick that you have learned over time you would be willing to share?
It takes time and patience to build up a customer base. Do what you do and do it better than anyone else. Don’t spend too much time focusing on what other shops are doing, your time is better spent improving what you already make. There is room for improvement in everything! Post items often, take good photographs and have clear descriptions. If you want to have a successful Etsy shop, then put your energy into making your Etsy shop. Nothing does itself.

Anything else you want to add?
P.S. There will be plenty of time for sleeping when you’re old.
P.P.S. Thank you to everyone who has supported us in making Moop what it has become!

Read our previous Etsy Success Stories. See some of Moop's top picks on Etsy in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: AllysonHill

2008-03-24T15:59:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Stories series features Allyson of AllysonHill. Allyson is a 29 year old mother form upstate New York working on a degree in woodworking and furniture design from the School for American Crafts. She proclaims to love her son much more than her sewing machine (to which he apparently drops his jaw at the thought of that much love). She is famous on Etsy for her signature car litter bags (I use my own every single day) and in little over two years of selling on Etsy has made more than 2,700 sales! She runs a tight ship and was very generous to share her story of success with us.

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I first heard about Etsy through the Indie Collective back in 2006. At the time I was selling on eBay and was exhausted from a combination of high fees and the bargain-hunting outlook. I was searching the internet in hopes of figuring out whether I could ever make a living off my handmades. I was searching for other people, success stories, anything to give me some direction and hope. When I found Etsy, I figured I'd give it a try. The fees were so low, what did I have to lose?

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Before opening up a shop, I did spend hours on Etsy doing some market research. I wanted to see if there were other people selling the same products that I was planning to sell. If so, what price were they selling them for and were they selling any at all? To my excitement, I found that I would be introducing some new products to Etsy. Some other important factors were listing frequently and occasionally creating items that I could list in other categories to attract different people. When I first started on Etsy, my photos were HORRIBLE but I still made sales! I do believe that improving my photos has helped increase my sales. I also think it's good to keep shipping prices as low as possible. I think it's better to mark up the product a smidge than the shipping.

How do you promote your shop?
I promote my shop by listing frequently, listing in other categories when possible, and by blogging. I wouldn't say that I purposely promote my shop to my fellow bloggers or blog readers. I actually get really shy about mentioning new additions to my shop. My goal through blogging is to share my life, to find inspiration, to encourage others and to feel connected to other artsy-crafty people. Blogging does end up promoting my shop because it helps people find me through internet searches. Whether they are searching for me or for something I've blogged about, it's a way to allow people to stumble upon me.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
As soon as I get sold transaction e-mail I flag it for follow-up, both the Etsy and the Paypal e-mails. That way I'm sure nobody is ever missed. Then I fill the info onto my clipboard. I love using a clipboard. Not only do I feel smart and important, but I can travel from computer to sewing table to packaging table with all my important information. On the very left I put a check-mark to indicate that I've contacted the customer and gave my thanks. If the customer paid with an e-check I also write EC next to the checkmark. That way I can quickly find the transaction details when the EC clears. Then I fill in what was ordered. If their Paypal name is different from their Etsy name I indicate it in the next box. Then I put their Etsy name and then their Etsy username. Next I check whether they needed a gift tag or baggies on a roll (for the litter bags). The most important box is where I indicate whether or not their Paypal address is the same as their Etsy address. If their address is the same, but the name just needs to be changed, I write CNY (Change Name but Yes the address is correct). After that, I write in how many ounces/lbs the package weighs. Then I'm set to go to the computer and use Paypal's Multi-order Shipping. I have all the information needed right on my clipboard, no going back and forth from e-mail to e-mail. I also recently made the best purchase ever, adhesive shipping labels which work perfectly for Paypal labels (eBay keywords — shipping labels paypal). One main bonus to shipping through Paypal is that customers get an automated e-mail with a delivery confirmation number. This gives a sense of security to both the customer and myself. Well worth it!

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
I would say most orders are from new buyers, though I do get a lot of repeat buyers. To gain repeat buyers, I communicate with the buyer as soon as I can to say thank you and to tell them when their package will ship. I also make sure they know that they can contact me if there are any problems with their orders. I try to ship things out as quickly as I can. I've recently been trying to take Saturdays off from the post office, but I'm so eager to get packages out that it's very, very hard for me to make my customers wait until Monday. I'm working on feeling ok about this. : ) I also make sure to add in a tiny thank you treat with each package. Something besides a business card or a coupon. Other than that, I just hope that they will be happy with their purchase.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
I stay motivated by setting goals for my business. I love the process of improvement and I'm always thinking about how I can operate more efficiently and grow. It can be hard to get motivated sometimes though, especially working from home. I always make sure to shower, get dressed and put shoes on before I start working each day. Ideally I like to get a little exercise before the shower, too.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too? If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
I Etsy Full Time! That's the other way I stay motivated. I'm very determined to keep my dream going. Before Etsy, I was working from home as a medical transcriptionist. I quickly got certified for that job when I became a single mother. I did Etsy on the side until I started selling enough that I knew I had to make the leap and go full-time. I explained my plan to my boss and she said if it didn't work out that I was welcome back. Thankfully, that wasn't necessary.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
My current favorite Etsy feature is the "Last" button that has been recently added while in edit mode.

What features do you use most on Etsy?
I use the "Relist" feature the most, if that's even considered a feature?

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop 1 year from now?
I'd love to still have 100% positive feedback, but that might be hard to accomplish! Other than that, I just hope to be going strong with sales.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged? Do you have a quick tip or trick that you have learned over time you would be willing to share?
Advice to a new seller would be not to expect overnight success. I remember at one point feeling frustrated with lack of sales until it struck me that I was being impatient and expecting everything to work out right away. If sales aren't coming for you, it's time to reevaluate your products. Try your products in different colors or fabric choices before giving up on it. Make your photos interesting. If that still doesn't work, then start adding some new items to your shop. Find a hole. Figure out what's missing on Etsy and make it. Make sure you are listing frequently. If you have a wide variety of items in your shop, I recommend giving your shop an organized look by keeping photos consistent. If you have a lot of pages, keeping photos consistent will make it less exhausting for customers to browse your store. People don't always want to use categories. So you want your customer to be able to easily identify what they're looking at. If they have a particular product they're interested in, you want them to be able to quickly skim your images to find more of the same product but in different colors/fabrics. For example, keeping all wallets photographed at the same angle will allow them to quickly scan for more wallets, etc. Or, it will allow them to quickly dismiss wallets because that's not what they're looking for.

If this is your dream, then keep working at it and don't give up!

See some of Allyson's top picks on Etsy in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: AliciaBock

2008-03-17T12:15:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Stories series features Alicia of AliciaBock. Alicia is a photographer living between Detroit and Grand Rapids, Michigan who has made an astounding 1,800 sales in little under 2 1/2 years selling on Etsy! She is a completely self taught photographer who is often times inspired by her children and her surroundings. Keep reading to dive into the magical world that is AliciaBock.

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I discovered Etsy over two years ago while up late reading some "work at home mom" forum. Someone brought up Etsy as a new site to sell handmade, so I clicked right over to check things out. I was immediately drawn to the clean, crisp design of the site. There were already some artists here that I really admired. Plus, I opened my shop for about $5. That's just about the best deal I ever heard of. And, probably one of the best business decisions I've made.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Great quality, word of mouth, and flexibility have been the most help to me. I am always happy to work with my customers to get them what they want, like different sizes for photographs, or adding a special note for orders that are gifts.
My packaging will not win me any awards for beauty, but I do feel it is so important to use recycled packaging, and would feel guilty if I didn't. Plus, it keeps my shipping prices low. I also stay true to myself with my body of work, meaning that I only sell photographs of places and things that I really love. They are all a reflection of me.

How do you promote your shop?
I try to update my blog several times a week, as well as sharing all of my new images on Flickr. I have also been really lucky to have been supported by wonderful sites like Decor8, and Oh Joy. And, in publications like People Magazine. A few times a year I advertise online, and participate in events like the PoppyTalk Handmade Market.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
Handling my orders hasn't been a problem, but handling my kids while I try to ship them can be a challenge as they are so eager to help. I use the Paypal MultiOrder shipping tool, and print labels after each photograph is packaged. I have a nice mail carrier who is used to taking my packages when she brings my mail, so this cuts down on time spent in line at the post office.

My orders with matting I usually do once or twice a week because I don't like the kids around while I am matting, so I make a little assembly line while my husband takes them out for pizza. When I am out taking photographs it is a whole family affair, and we plan vacations or weekend camping trips around places I want to photograph.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
Most are new, but I do have quite a few repeat buyers, especially during the holidays. I think having photographs that work well as sets, or collections is my best asset, as well as using only the highest quality paper and ink. You can feel that it is a well-made product that will last a lifetime.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
I have so many more ideas than I have time right now, and thousands of photographs I have taken but never looked at yet. The world around me really inspires me, and when I am with my kids I get to see everything new again through their eyes. Also, I know I have customers who are looking to see what is fresh in my shop. I want them to stop by and be excited by new images.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
I am a photographer full time, so between maintaining my Etsy shop and other websites, and galleries I sell in, it is a full time job. Occasionally, I will take on a portrait session too, just to push myself out of my comfort zone. But, selling my photographs as fine art is really my first love, and I am always happiest when it is keeping me busy.

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
I quit my job years ago when my first child was born, but Etsy has been a big factor in allowing me to stay at home with my kids, and for that I am extremely grateful.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
I love the ever-changing front page. I discover most of my new favorite items that way. I also like the Shop Local feature because running a business on your own can be lonely, but I am always encouraged to see what lovely items can be found right around me from people working at home, just like me.

What features do you use most on Etsy?
I like to drop in on the Forums a few times a day, and always read the new Storque articles.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
I am very hopeful for the next year, and have plans for lots of new photographs, and a book of my work.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged?
I do get a lot of emails and comments regarding this question. Most people say "it looks like you are doing so well here, what's your secret?" I think a positive attitude goes a long way. If this is your dream don't give up. Yes, I am thrilled with my sales on Etsy, but they didn't just magically appear. This is my fourth year selling my work. It seems common for new shops (especially in the forums) to compare themselves to other new shops, but it really isn't fair to yourself. You don't know their backgrounds, maybe they have been selling elsewhere for years, and have a built in client base from previous experiences. We don't all come into this at equal places, but we can all do our best to make sure we are successful.

My best and really all encompassing advice is work hard. I work harder at this than I have ever worked on any job where I worked for someone else, and I think most people who are self-employed will tell you the same. And, though it may be slow to start, you will see your efforts pay off. Make a business plan, read books about running a business. Treat your Etsy shop just as you would a brick and mortar shop. Know who your target market is, so that you can effectively advertise.
And, when you have done all of those things that a business is supposed to do...do them again, and again, and again, and never stop. It seems like a lot, but really this has been the most fun I have ever had.

Anything else you want to add?
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I think Etsy is filling a void that existed for artists for a long time.

See the previous posts in this Etsy Success Stories series. Check out some of AliciaBock's favorites on Etsy in the related items below:

Etsy Success Stories: Soap

2008-03-10T13:52:00-05:00

This week's installment features the success of Hiromi, the one woman wonder behind Soap. Hiromi has been selling her soaps on Etsy for just under two and a half years and has made well over 2,700 sales in that brief time. She dwells in San Francisco and has a rich personal history in the creative field; since she was young, Hiromi has always had a passion for making. Her soap business was born due to a desire to create products for those with sensitive skin (like hers!), and the rest is history! Keep reading to find out just how she does it:

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I heard from another artist about Etsy shortly after it launched. A few months later I had a little more time, took a look around, fell in love with the sellers and features and signed up.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Other than my engaging personality? ;) Probably a combination of factors. First, my customers! Also, I'd like to think my confidence in and enthusiasm for my creations is infectious. I try to make quality products that reflect my tastes and focus on their positive aspects without resorting to hyperbole when marketing (unless I use a winky to denote I'm just joking). I try to provide as much detail as possible via photographs and descriptions, because a possible customer can't touch, see or smell my items in person. Give people a good idea of what they should expect. Having a consistent record of happy customers probably further instills confidence in me as a professional seller. Ultimately I try to keep my customers happy with my products and my service so they come back or refer others. I also list frequently and am active in the Etsy community.

How do you promote your shop? Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
I get orders from both new and repeat customers. I'd like to think customers return to my shop because they like my products and get a sense I am obsessive about providing consistently nice products and customer service. At various times, I've paid for advertising on Etsy, beauty sites, blogs, and participated in goody boxes. I've joined a few groups like Ning, We Love Etsy and the Green and Clean Guild (EGCG) and participate in an occasional show. While I wait for Etsy's launch of a Scent-O-Matic-Magic-Button for the site, I continue to hand out lots of business cards and send samples with orders and rely a lot on referrals from happy customers and Etsy.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
Something I carried over from real life: I write a list of tasks I need to do and try to establish a routine for more mundane tasks as much as possible. For Etsy orders, I set up my email to route orders automatically to their own files, I try to print daily orders and labels at one sitting and put them in a huge box so I don't accidentally lose them, affix shipping labels to the envelopes/boxes at one sitting, check address labels against Etsy order addresses, make one daily run to the post office, leave feedback in batches, etc. I use the USPS notification system to receive an automated email when any label is scanned. During the holiday season, it helped that I was conditioned at some point to work long stretches with little sleep. Caffeine, sugar and lots of breaks also help.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
My Etsy customers! I have *met* some of the nicest people here. How can I not be motivated when one of my customers bakes and sends me cookies? Or when someone tells me showering is the best part of the day? Or when someone tells me her child loves to take a bath now? It also helps that I love what I do and tend to be obsessive about everything I enjoy. Besides, I'm a workaholic by nature. I'm enthused as long as I'm entertained and I'm capable of almost endless self-entertainment, so it all works out. I'm more likely to completely work myself to exhaustion than losing motivation.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature? What features do you use most on Etsy?
As a seller, my fave features are the "shipped" check-box on my sold page and the shopping cart that was rolled out in v2. I also like the relist function, especially with the new "last" button, the shipping profiles and the "sold page." My fave feature for buying is the scrolling Time Machine 2 showing newly-listed items. I also like Favorites. I used to view and create Treasury lists more often — some of the curators make the Treasury lists look like works of art. I've bought a few things from those lists.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
My business is at the stage where I have to consider more seriously moving it into larger space and maybe delegating some mundane aspects such as ordering and receiving supplies, shipping and administration so I can free up more time to create. I plan to grow my wholesale business even more this year. I also plan to introduce some new product lines, formulations and scent blends I've been working on for a while. Super YAY! And watch for a revamp in packaging. Otherwise, I try to take it day by day, remain flexible and do occasional mental yoga.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged? Do you have a quick tip or trick that you have learned over time you would be willing to share?
Do not get discouraged easily! It's not an easy balance, but I think honest, objective self-evaluation, developing your own unique "voice" (style and products), hard work and maintaining your integrity are keys. Quick tips? As clichéd as it sounds, a business usually doesn't pop out of the Etsy ground, fully-grown, overnight, so don't beat yourself up if you don't sell right away, especially if you're in a huge category like jewelry. Take ownership, deal/correct and learn from mistakes, but don't dwell. Move on and try not to repeat. Everyone makes mistakes, the difference is how they are handled. Gain exposure by listing as often as you can afford, participating in contests, donating pieces for giveaways, go to in-person shows to the extent you can. Work on improving photographs and descriptions (think about what makes you want to buy something when you see it in a catalog). Participate in the Etsy community on the Forum threads (Saturday Night Specials, Teams, etc), in groups like WeLoveEtsy.com and Ning.

Anything else you want to add?
Buy Soap. I've heard it can be a chick/guy attractant. Soap loves being in the shower with you! Thanks for featuring me – sorry for the length!

See all posts in our Etsy Success Stories Series. Check out some of Hiromi's favorites on Etsy in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: oneluckybaby

2008-03-03T12:39:00-05:00

This week's installment features the success of Erin, the baker behind oneluckybaby. Erin has been selling for over 2 years on Etsy and is nearing sale number 1000 any day now! She began the company in Florida back in 2004 with just her sewing machine and trendy fabrics just after her baby was born. Keep reading to find out the story behind her success:

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I found Etsy searching the web for a place to sell my things. It was just a few months after Etsy got started and it was perfect! So I set up shop and within the first day, I sold something. I’ve been insanely addicted ever since.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
New fabrics and new pieces are extremely important, but finding my own photo style and presentation really helped. Also, customer service is key! I try my darndest to keep my fabulous customers happy, happy, happy! I strive for high quality and quick shipping.

I have been really lucky. Customers find me through word of mouth. But I have a big mouth and love talking about Etsy to friends, neighbors, and complete strangers. My amazing postman knows about Etsy. OneLuckyBaby was also mentioned in Southern Living Magazine, Apartment Therapy and some fantastic blogs. Sweet!

How do you promote your shop?
I don’t really do a lot of promoting on Etsy (besides frequent listing, new items and all that good stuff), but I am part of Etsy Kids!

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop?
I try to stay organized. It’s an uphill battle, really. Over the holidays I traded fabric for ironing and pinning help from my friend at choppinbroccoli.etsy.com.

What systems have you created to manage the orders?
I usually create to order, but most of my fabrics are already cut, pre-washed and ready to be assembled. If I feel like I’m getting ahead of my orders, I use the time to create a bit of inventory or make something new. All my mailing and packing supplies are somewhat in order and I try to use an assembly line to wrap, create notes, package and ship.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
I’d say about a quarter of sales are from repeat customers. I think customer service is really, really important. There are so many talented crafters and artists out there, that it’s difficult to stand out. So I just do what I would like: thoughtful packaging (everyone loves opening up presents!), quick shipping, and ALWAYS handwriting a note!

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
Coffee. Seriously, I love creating things. I love finding amazing fabric. I am inspired by other crafters and artists. And, it makes me happy to have something that it just me.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
Etsy is huge part of my life! I spend many hours a week on it. But my full time job is a stay at home mom to two fabulous kids. I am also part of a local co-op called Cottage Industry.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
I LOVE hearts! Hearting a shop, hearting an item, having someone heart my shop, hearting a shop and then hearting their hearts. It’s like a huge maze. Love really makes the Etsy world go round.

What features do you use most on Etsy?
Relist. Relist. Relist. It's easier to relist something and change the photos out too, if it's similar. It saves time typing in all the tags.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop 1 year from now?
Expand my online products. Really do something cool with all my vintage fabric.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged?
Do what moves you and stick with it. Reach out to the Etsy community for advice and help. Etsy is like free therapy. Really! Also, promote yourself outside of Etsy too. And, above all, be happy creating.

Do you have a quick tip or trick that you have learned over time you would be willing to share?
I relist as soon as I sell an item. When uploading new items, I try and hold out for certain times. It seems that there’s more traffic on Thursday nights and Sundays. It’s my own mathematical equation. Untested, of course.

Anything else you want to add?
Could I please work for Etsy? I love it.

See all our posts in the Etsy Success Stories series. Check out some of OneLuckyBaby's very favorite items on Etsy in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: FatDaddyBakeShop

2008-02-25T15:12:00-05:00

This week's installment features the success of Nicole, the baker behind FatDaddyBakeShop!

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I first heard about Etsy from a good friend of mine who has a store on Etsy, TracyJoy. Etsy provided a great place for me to "test the market" without spending a small fortune. I had no idea if my cupcakes would actually appeal to people outside my friends and family. (good thing she tested us out, right?)

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?

I believe my success on Etsy is due to the incredible customers and other Etsy storeowners. The Etsy community really gets the word out and supports one another. I also suggest posting as much and as often as you possibly can. Keeping your products in front of your audience is key. Most importantly though, is that I truly love what I do, and I refuse to compromise when it comes to the ingredients I use and the customer service I provide. I treat each customer as if they were my only customer, I try to make everyone happy in any way that I can.

How do you promote your shop?
I really haven't done any promo work, other than trying to make my Etsy store fun and engaging. Most of my business comes from word of mouth and repeat customers. There have also been several people that were kind enough to add Fat Daddy Bake Shop to their blogs. This has really generated a lot of interest in Fat Daddy.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
Scaling the business is an ongoing process. Every time I think I've got it down pat, we get another growth spurt, and have to change pieces of the process. I know that as long as we continue to grow we'll need to continually review how we manage the order process. Bottom line, I couldn't do it without the support of my friends, my family and especially the original Fat Daddy, my husband!

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
Both! Etsy is like any other business, provide a great product and top notch customer service and your customers will come back.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
This is a great question. Sometimes it gets tough to stay motivated. The holiday rush put a strain on everything we do, but you work through it and the sense of accomplishment is worth every bit of the occasional strain. What comes naturally is that I absolutely LOVE to bake, and sharing that passion with my customers, well it's just a great feeling.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
All Etsy, all the time :-)

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
I was a stay at home mom and although I bake away from home now, I am able to make my own hours, which is a blessing and a curse at the same time. With the incredible amount of business we're doing I spend an average of 12-16 hours a day baking, plus 2-3 hours online answering convos and maintaining my shop. It’s a large load to handle but I love every minute! I’ve been known to get up at 3am to start baking so I can make sure I’m home in time for dinner. It still blows my mind that less than seven months ago I started selling on Etsy as just a way to make some extra money and now have stumbled upon an amazing idea and business that has just exploded!

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
If I had to pick just one feature it would be the the convos. They let me get to know my customers before, during and after the sale. It gives me a chance to interact with each of my customers, unlike a standard Internet storefront. I've made have great customers and made even greater friends on Etsy.

What features do you use most on Etsy?
The relist button..oh how I love that feature!!!

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop 1 year from now?
One day at a time. Each month is a new surprise.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged? Do you have a quick tip or trick that you have learned over time you would be willing to share?
Interact with the Etsy Community. This really is a great group of people that shop here or have stores with Etsy. Everyone is so supportive.

Anything else you want to add?
It's a reoccurring theme throughout this whole article: friends, family, customers and community. Without any one of these, I wouldn't have gotten the chance to have had this conversation.

Check out some of Nicole's favorites on Etsy in the Gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: GudonyaToo

2008-02-19T14:23:00-05:00

This week's installment features Brian and Tina of the success that is GudonyaToo! This team of two resides in Bluffton, Indiana and has made over 2,600 sales with their bath and body line in just six months. They strive to be the best at what they do and offer the top quality in bath and body products in the market today. If you think this is a mighty feat already, think again, because this duo also run another shop called phoenixglass! Keep reading to find out just how they keep it all together:

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
We did an internet search, and by total happenstance, stumbled upon the site. We loved the low costs to get started, and the diversity of all of the sellers. Most importantly, we thought our products would fit in and sell.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Our key factors are quality, innovative products with reasonable prices. Other factors include great packaging and customer service to round out a pleasurable buying experience. Listing new products often with the best possible pictures help with the success too.

How do you promote your shop?
We let the products do the promoting. If someone really likes what they buy from you, they will buy more and tell their friends. They might even review or blog about your products.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
Since all of our products are done in small batches, we make what we want to list, list them and roll. Make it, list it and ship it. We try to keep things simple. A good old fashioned cork board and lots of sticky notes help to keep the memory on track!

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
We hope that every buyer will BECOME a repeat buyer; this is where getting their orders quickly shipped, adding personal touches, and making sure that they are happy is key. I think is pretty much even on new versus repeat buyers.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
We are natural “workaholics” especially doing something that we love to do, for ourselves. So motivation is natural. BUT sometimes stress can really put a strain on things and that is the time to walk away, refocus and get it done.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
We both have other jobs for now, but hopefully that will change in the future!!!

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
We love the Forums, but do not have much time to participate. Open debate and all of the information shared is a great thing!

What features do you use most on Etsy?
Convos most definitely, it keeps the channels of communication open to the buyers and help out on the customer service end.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
Have a bunch more new and cool items, and more options for buyers to make us a “one stop shop” for all their bath and body needs.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged? Do you have a quick tip or trick that you have learned over time you would be willing to share?
Keep your items fresh, list often, and be totally unique with your descriptions and products…STAND OUT!!! Keep focused, keep your goals in mind, and WORK SMART and HARD to get what you want. You will get out what you put into your Etsy experience. I have to thank all of the folks at Etsy for giving us this venue to work hard and grow!

Thanks Brian and Tina! Check out their favorites on Etsy in the Gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: GreenThumbDesigns

2008-02-11T12:30:00-05:00

This week's installment features Leighanne of GreenThumbDesigns. Leighanne lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children and is the sole bread winner for this family of five. This truly is the story of a successful woman who has taken the reigns and control of her life with her Etsy business. In little over ONE year on Etsy, Leighanne has managed to sell over 4,600 items. It is incredible. Keep reading to find out exactly how she does it.

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?

I first stumbled across Etsy when doing a web search for something else. I had never heard of it before. Then, my mom called me a few days later and said I just had to open a shop here. My shop first started as a hobby but, when my husband became ill and had to quit full time work a year ago, it became both a hobby and "job" (which has been both fun and rewarding).

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?

Well, I think the thing to say first is to find your "niche." Once you find your niche, I think the rest slowly falls into place. I think the key to listing is to consistently list a few items scattered over the course of the day so when someone does a search, you are more likely to be found. I would also say that, almost as important as listing, you need to make sure your photos "tell" the story of what you are selling. Creative presentation, clear photos and many angles or views of your item and creative descriptions help to do that. The buyer, I think, needs to feel a connection to that item, whether it is a pair of earrings or a fine art piece.

With pricing I definitely think you have to be competitive with similar goods, but I think you also need to compensate yourself for the hard work that you put into your work. There has to be a balance there.

One of the things I strive for is providing excellent service to my buyers. I try to always answer questions/convos promptly and get orders mailed out in a timely manner. I get creative with my packaging partly because it is fun for me but also because I want the buyer to get my package in the mail and say "wow." I want them to be happy!

The most important thing I would say to any artist/crafter is to have fun with your work. If you love what you do and put your heart into it, the buyer will see that.

How do you promote your shop?

When I started on Etsy I posted a lot in the forums, promoting my shop, and I do think that helped get my shop off the ground. This past year has been a whirlwind of craft and art shows. I will pass out my business card to anyone that stands still long enough in my booth! I have actually received some sales from people that have purchased my work at recent shows which has been so reassuring. I also belong to several online artist swap groups which has helped in spreading the word about not just my shop but Etsy in general.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?

Sometimes it gets a little chaotic, but I just keep plugging away. I do all of the packaging myself, which I really don't mind. I am so glad to be a part of a "handmade only" community, so I like to put a personal touch on each package that I send out. I do have a husband and three children so sometimes I get "help" from them!

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?

A lot of my orders are from repeat buyers or people that have heard about me from a friend or family member that purchased from me in the past. I think it is just natural for a person to buy from a store again if they are happy with their first experience. I always try to make my buyers happy so they will come back. I like to send extra goodies to repeat buyers as a way of showing them my appreciation.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally? Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job, too?

I do feel motivated most of the time, mainly because I am always thinking of my husband and children. Since my husband's illness, things do get a little crazy around our house. It is hard sometimes being the sole "breadwinner," but I made that choice so I could be at home with him and our children. I feel so blessed to be able to do something I love each and every day and am so thankful for the opportunities that being a part of Etsy has given me.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?

Since I don't get time to browse Etsy much I just love looking through the Time Machine! Plus, I think Pounce is way cool!! I love that you can search shops that have not had a sale yet.

What features do you use most on Etsy?

Mainly just listing things in my shop, but I try to view the Time Machine now and then for fun. I also love perusing the articles in the Storque.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?

I'd like to be totally full time with my work, with a set schedule for everything so that I can have more time with my family. I'd also like to have more of my pieces in local shops. I'd also like to start a blog.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged?

Do NOT give up!! Keep listing regularly, promote in the forums, join a Team for support and encouragement.

Check out some of Leighanne's favorites on Etsy in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: OhMyCavalier

2008-02-04T14:22:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Story series features Juliana Swaney of OhMyCavalier. Dwelling in Michigan with a BFA in Printmaking from Maine College of Art, Juliana Swaney is a one woman show running the success that is OhMyCavalier. In just under two years of selling on Etsy, Juiana has steadily worked her way to the top with an impressive 1,200 sales! She is inspired by fairy tales, animals with sharp claws, Victorian hair weaving, antique ephemera and postcards, bird song, nursery rhymes, lace, cabinets of curiosities, and anthropomorphism of all kinds. Keep reading to get inside this mythical and magical head that Juliana has shared with us.

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I think I started hearing the name in various blogs, so eventually I investigated. It was fortunate timing because I was trying to find a way of selling my work online that was doable for me with my limited computer skills!

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
It’s probably a combination of different things, but I think a big key to any success I’ve had is that I am always thinking about my artwork and my shop and trying to improve it. The work itself is the most important thing of course, but when you’re selling art over the internet clear presentation plays a big roll in how your work comes across.

I make an effort to have a cohesive look in the shop, with interesting, thoughtfully made things. Even if I’m selling several sorts of things like prints, cards, buttons, etc. I am constantly reevaluating all the pieces and thinking about how the shop looks as a whole. Before I list anything new I spend a minute looking at it and thinking about how it will effect other things in the shop, like curating a tiny show! My work has changed a lot over the last year, and I think I’m getting a little better with presentation and descriptions the more I work at it.

I also try to practice good customer service and to always, always be friendly. I try to answer convos and emails right away and accommodate all special requests that I can. I don’t know if that’s a key to success, but it’s good business!

How do you promote your shop?
Mostly I rely on word of mouth. I’ve gotten some lucky mentions in blogs such as Design*Sponge and Modish, and that kind of exposure tends to snowball a bit.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
It’s a pretty simple system really: I print orders the day I get them and put them in a folder to keep them orderly until I’m ready to pack them. If the buyer has any change of address or special request I mark that down on the form in red pen. If the buyer hasn’t paid I mark that on the order and put those into a different folder (and I usually send a friendly reminder after a few days). I address the envelopes and put the corresponding envelopes with the order forms. I have all my prints and cards arranged, bagged in their cello bags, and marked by title so I can easily look at the order, find the prints and put it in the envelope (I also usually include a little extra thank you gift). When they’re packed I put all the order forms into a binder arranged by month so if there is ever a problem with an order or I need to double check something I can easily find the original. I get steady but not overwhelming sales, so I handle them all myself, really it’s just a matter of not falling behind. I still take all my orders to the Post Office myself, so I’m on a first name basis with everyone there!

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
Mostly new I think, but I have a few really loyal repeat customers. I add new pieces to the shop fairly often, and they are all in limited editions, so I have some buyers who look out for the new pieces and buy them as soon as they are listed.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
The art side is always pretty easy to stay motivated about since I’m happiest when I’m working, and I can’t imagine wanting any other job. Even if I feel like my art isn’t going well, I always feel better when I’m at least working on something, even just jotting down ideas. I hate being idle. It’s with the business side that can sometimes be a little tough to stay motivated with. Staying on schedule, book keeping, answering emails, can all sometimes get overwhelming. Getting positive feedback about my work is always a good motivation though. It always gives me a bit of a lift when people say something nice in the ‘note to seller’ or take the time to convo me. When I buy something I always try to tell the seller how much I like their work, or at least “thank you” because I know how much that can mean sometimes.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
I Etsy full time, and I also have my work in a few online shops such as Little Paper Planes and The Shiny Squirrel, and I show in galleries when I can.

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
I was lucky enough to find Etsy right after graduating from college, and I honestly started my shop to make ends meet while I looked for a “real job." After not too long though I realized that the only way I was going to be happy was if I actually tried to make a living selling my artwork. That always seemed like a vague mystic unachievable goal, until I found Etsy and saw how well other people were doing on it. So I make a go of trying to make my living on my own terms, and it’s gone better than I could have hoped!

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
One of my favorites is looking at other seller’s favorite items and sellers. I always think its so interesting to see what the people whose work I like are looking at and interested in. I’ve found some wonderful sellers that way that I wouldn’t have found on my own.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
I’d really love to buy a tabletop letterpress this year and experiment with that.

What piece of advice would you give to a new seller on Etsy who might be feeling discouraged? Do you have a quick tip or trick that you have learned over time you would be willing to share?
I feel strange giving advice because I definitely don’t feel like an expert! What I am always telling myself is; don’t expect overnight success, love what you do, and work constantly.

Anything else you want to add?
I’d just like to say how honored and humbled I feel by all the interest and support that I’ve gotten though the Etsy community, and thank you for supporting me and my art!

To see what Juliana hearts on Etsy the most, check out the gallery of Etsy finds below:

Etsy Success Stories: berkleyillustration

2008-01-28T15:37:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Story series features Ryan and Lucy of berkleyillustration! This duo has literally taken Etsy by storm; since setting up their shop 2 MONTHS AGO (yes, just months), this pair is quickly nearing 1,400 sales...this must be some kind of record! They currectly reside in Portland, Oregon and are always dreaming up and creating fresh new designs to keep thier fans coming back for more. Keep reading to find out their recipe for success:

Ryan and Lucy: First of all, we wanted to let everyone know that Berkley Illustration is composed of two parts. Ryan is the man behind all the artwork and Lucy is the one behind the scenes doing the magical posting, digital crafting, and business-like things. If you send us a message, chances are you are going to be talking to Lucy.

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
We can’t remember the exact first time we heard of Etsy. We know we heard people talking about it local craft fairs and ending up coming to check it out for ourselves. We also bought some Matt Cipov drawings before we’d really heard of the site so odds are good that something he did brought us here too (www.matty8080.etsy.com). We decided to open up shop as soon as we could afford an archival printer and that turned out to be a pretty good investment.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Lucy says: There are a few things that I think have contributed to Etsy success. (Truthfully, we don't even know if we are a success or not yet. We've only been selling on the site for about two months and we still aren't quite sure if this "success" is going to last. We hope so, but we aren't quitting our jobs yet!)

One, obviously, is that Ryan is an amazing artist. I think he has such a crisp, clean style that is pretty unique in this festive arts and crafts world we live in.

Two, we try to keep the prints inexpensive. We wanted to create artwork that people like us could easily afford. People tell us all the time that we should raise the prices but we're trying not to do that — at least, not yet. We have the "luxury" of having full-time jobs so we don't have to rely entirely on this for income. If/when Ryan becomes a full-time artist we might have to revisit the pricing in order to be sustainable. But if we do, it probably won't be very much. We really want to keep things affordable!

Three ties in with #1 & 2. The nature of the art and the cost of the prints creates multiple sales orders. As much as I wish we were marketing geniouses, we didn't necessarily consider that people would want to buy a series of the prints (especially the animal prints). I would say, more than anything, that has been a key to success: having a product with a style and price that causes one customer to buy several at once.

I'd like to think we also have pretty solid customer services and we try to get everything out as quickly as possible. We relist occasionally when things have been sitting a while. We're hoping that creating release dates for new material will create sales and repeat customers but we haven't really seen this through yet. Check back on Feb. 1st when we release our new animals! (wink wink)

Ryan says:
I also think that the descriptions and bios (which Lucy writes) are helpful selling points. We received a lot of positive response from customers about the animal bios so we ended up packaging those with the prints.

How do you promote your shop?
We have Myspace and Flickr sites that do some promotion but other than that we haven't done much. We've been really really lucky in getting a few mentions on some big blogs (especially the wonderous Design*Sponge) and that has really helped. We also sell at craft fairs Crafty Wonderland & Urban Craft Uprising and we hand out business cards and sell prints there as well.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
A lot of late nights! We come straight home from our day jobs and work on Etsy and art-related business until we go to bed. Generally Lucy works on verifying all the addresses, preparing the envelopes, and doing printing and Ryan works on packaging and stuffing the envelopes. We have pre-weighed every quantity of packaged prints so we know the postage required on all domestic shipping — that way the only post office trips we have to make are for international orders and the occasional odd sized package. We are trying to get ahead of the game by having pre-packaged inventory ready to go but we haven’t quite caught up to that point yet. Once we have a solid stock on hand we’ll just have to stuff the envelopes and that will help us get the orders out faster.

We still need to get a spreadsheet started. We’ve been mostly reactive up to this point and we’d like to be more proactive about sales and organization. Lucy is a nut about organization so it’s bugging her that we don’t have this squared away yet!

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers...what do you do to gain repeat buyers?
We've had a few repeat buyers (thanks!!) but largely we see buyers that appear to be new to Etsy. We're hoping for people to come back and we hope to give them something to come back for by constantly creating new material and other fun surprises that we'll think up.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
We don’t really have any trouble staying motivated so I guess it comes naturally. It’s so easy to work hard when you are working for yourself. We love it! Thanks to Etsy for helping that be possible! It’s also super gratifying to know that Ryan’s art will be displayed in houses all over the world.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
Right now Ryan works full time and Lucy works one full time job and one part time job in addition to Etsy. We miss our friends! Hi friends!

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
I don’t know if it’s a feature, per say, but I definitely look at Storque articles the most. I like the Pounce feature too. We haven’t messed around with a lot of the other things yet but definitely we want to go exploring more. Oh, I also like looking at other people’s favorites and I tend to find most new things that way.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop 1 year from now?
We hope to have a lot more to offer in terms of prints and we'd like to get originals posted as well — maybe even branch out to include other products. We’re thinking about implementing some kind of voting system for people to choose one of the next animal portraits. We want our friendly buyers to come back and we want to find some more friendlies to stop by. Also — more Kenny products and awareness, ahem!

Anything else you want to add?
Lucy says:
Perhaps we’d like to see more tools for sellers on Etsy. This might be due to our above-mentioned organizational needs but to have a way to search sales for buyer names and even including an actual ship date would be awesome. It’s sometimes frustrating to match up real names to usernames as well. But, I know if we get that spreadsheet going this might be unnecessary.

Ryan says:
After lots and lots of nudging from friends to join Etsy, I would like to say that I am so grateful we did finally get our printer, enabling us to become sellers. It’s been fantastic here. All of a sudden we were face to face with running our own business (something we were both unfamiliar with), and we’ve learned (and continue to learn) a whole lot along the way. The demand for my artwork here has really been a great motivation for me to continue to push and stretch my artistic and creative boundaries. I am also extremely excited about the success of the animal portraits. As an animal lover, I encourage everyone out there to be nice to our animal friends! I also want to thank Lucy for all of the hard work she puts into keeping my page going.

Its been a lot of fun, and we really do appreciate our customers!

We both say:
Thanks to Etsy and everyone for making our first months here so spectacular!

Check out Ryan and Lucy's top picks on Etsy in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: Tinymeat

2008-01-21T16:41:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Story series features Mikey and Mona of Tinymeat! In less than 2 years selling on the site, Tinymeat has taken Etsy by storm and has made an incredible and inspiring 4,500 sales and counting...that's a lot of meat! We had the pleasure of meeting this duo back in March when they came to visit the Etsy Labs and they couldn't have been more fun and enthusiastic about their success on the site, it really showed. Rumor has it Mikey and Mona actually met each other right here on Etsy, fell in love, and lived happily ever after...sure seems like a fairytale:

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
Mikey: I first heard about Etsy from my online friend Cari Carter who has an Etsy shop called Motokitty. She said that it would be a great place for me to reach a wider audience than on just my website. At first, I was skeptical, but 6 months later, I finally decided to give it a whirl. 2 days after I listed my first item I sold a wallet to bonspielcreations. For that, her shop will always have a special place in my heart.

Mona: I first heard about Etsy from Leah Kramer of Craftster fame. She said it was brand new but to try it and I'm so glad I did! I signed up a few days after Etsy was launched with my other shop, mamadelic. I sold items just a day or so after signing up. Since then, my sales have been slow but steady :)

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Mikey: Our key to success on Etsy has been to focus on one type of product and execute it to perfection. We offer our customers dynamic design, superior quality and exceptional value. This often results in multiple item purchases.

How do you promote your shop?
Mikey: We do little if anything to promote our shop. We rely mainly on word mouth, and releasing new products on a regular basis. Because we collaborate with artists, they often times will promote their work and direct their fans to our shop. They are also part of various social networks which in turn attracts more of their peers to express interest in becoming part of our ongoing artist series. What started with featuring the work of one artist, Guy Burwell, has snowballed into us now having dozens of artists from all over the world.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
Mona: Keeping up with our current orders has been a challenge. One of the biggest obstacles we have is keeping shipping addresses straight. In one transaction, there can be 3 separate addresses. And I have to determine which address is the correct one. As the sole shipping agent at tinymeat industries, I feel like pulling my hair out strand by strand on a regular basis. I do my best to keep things straight, but inevitably mistakes are made. I tend to visit the post office on a daily basis. They all know me by name. Luckily, there never seem to be long lines. But shipping as much as we do creates a huge bottleneck. There are days when I will sit at the computer and do nothing but pack orders and print shipping labels and it's still not enough. After an 8 hour day, there is still a huge stack of orders that need to go out. It seems like every 5th customer has a special request or wants their order shipped someone other than their confirmed paypal address and keeping it all straight is not fun! Because of this, I have far less time to focus on production.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers...what do you do to gain repeat buyers?
Mona: Most of our buyers are new, but we do have many happy repeat customers. We love when people come back to visit us. Makes us feel like what we do maters. We're not really sure how customers find us, but we love it when they do.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
Mikey: We stay motivated because this is both of our fill time jobs. Motivation is not really something that we have the luxury of having or not having. Our family depends on us to make this work. We spend all day everyday working on tiny and we feed off of each other's energy. That helps the days and weeks just fly by. Sometimes it's hard to believe that tinymeat has been around for nearly 5 years.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
We do work on Etsy full time — more than full time. We also participle in local indie markets and sell our merch to stores around the world. We are in nearly 400 stores worldwide. This keeps up busy, so busy. Wholesale is a huge part of our business. We are in the process of creating a showroom here in Portland where local stores will be able to drop by to pick up their orders.

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
Mikey: I was able to quit my full time job in sales but this was before I starting selling on Etsy. At that point I was selling at a weekly market in Boston and on my own website.

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
Mona: I hadn't worked full time in many years, not since before having kids. I went from being a full time student to a full time mom. Initially Etsy was just a way for me to supplement my income. But for the past year, this has been it! And I've worked harder on this than on anything I've ever done.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
There are a lot of things we love about Etsy. Its simple design and layout are easy on the eyes. Listing products is very simple. Most things here are user friendly. We love the sense of community that we feel here and how many friends we've made. We've met hundreds of Etsy sellers around the country and they have all been wonderful to us. Since we relocated our business to Portland, the Etsy community has become like an extended family for us.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop 1 year from now?
Our goals for the coming year are pretty lofty! We'd love to be able to move our office into a bigger space, hire some employees, and really take our business to the next level. We are at a point now where we really cannot afford to grow any more without outside investment and I guess we are kind of waiting for that to happen. As it stands now, we do nothing but work and we'd love to be able to sell more and work less. We need to get out and see more of Oregon! Perhaps Etsy could create tools for businesses like ours that have grown to capacity and need to find ways to move up. We are completely opposed to outsourcing, so no matter what happens, we want to be certain that we are the ones with our hands on the merch. I'd love to see better seller tools, like address verification. I think a simple check box that asks if the address is the same as on PayPal would be a good start. It would be nice if Etsy could create a system in which brick and mortar stores could be directed to merchants who are set up for wholesale. How about a small business advancement team on staff at Etsy who is there to give advice to sellers who've outgrown their current capacity? I can think of several sellers who could benefit from that service and I know we'd be the first to sign up :)

Anything else you want to add?
We really are thankful for Etsy and what it's meant in our lives. And we love that Etsy is filled with so much cool stuff.

Check out Tinymeat's top picks on Etsy in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: anapaulaoli

2008-01-15T13:24:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Story series features Ana of anapaulaoli. In little over 2 years of selling on Etsy, Ana has breezed by 3,100 sales on the site — those fingers of hers must be mini crochet machines!!! She has been crocheting for as long as she can remember, draws inspiration for her designs from her children and learned to crochet from her neighbor. Since discovering Etsy, Ana has been able to quit her day job and stay at home taking care of her 2 children and her latest venture is in the coming release of her very own book this February: "Amigurumi World, Seriously Cute Crochet" is now available for pre-order in amazon.com & borders.com! Read more to find out how she made it happen:

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
Well, I needed a new mate cup (I’m from Uruguay and addicted to mate) and was trying to find a nice one in the Internet, so I googled all sorts of things and ended up looking at crafts. I then somehow found Etsy and spent hours looking at the shops. Back then Oli was 2 and I was working in a horrible, horrible office that I hated with a passion (just thinking about it makes me sad) and crocheting lots of toys whenever I had the time. My childhood dream was to have a little stand in Tristan Narvaja’s street market in Montevideo where I could sell my crafts (there’s some really nice pictures of the market in Flickr, you should take a look!). Etsy seemed like the virtual version of that little stand, so I opened anapaulaoli, and it ended up being the best thing that happened to our family :)

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
I was lucky to start my shop when amigurumi patterns in English were hard to find, so the word in the Internet spread really fast when someone found one and liked it and that gave me a lot of the exposure. Loving what I do so so much has helped lots too. I can’t stop making toys (I really can’t) so I list new patterns pretty frequently. I like it so much that I want others to love it too, so I offer my help and I really mean it, and I try to be as nice and accommodating as I can. I have a little teacher complex going on too, so I love to explain things and that comes in handy when you’re writing out patterns :) Having an array of prices, and offering deals is always good, because that gives buyers more options and everybody likes to save money…My pictures aren’t the best (I’m still working on my photographing skills!) but I try to focus on the toys; I like everything super plain and simple, and I think that helps because you can see them better. Developing my own, recognizable style has helped immensely too, and that just took time and lots of work. It happens naturally when you feel comfortable with what you’re doing and it becomes second nature. I do try to make different things once in a while though, so I don’t get too comfortable and stop growing…

How do you promote your shop?
I have a little blog with free patterns that I try to update as often as I can. It would be super nice if my life were exciting and/or glamorous and I could tell amazing stories and adventures there, but here I am with two little girls (Oli & Martina), a husband and lots of yarn, so I stick to patterns and the occasional random blah blah.

I also have a flickr account, and little business cards that I send with packages and stick in boards here and there when I get a chance. All my earrings and accessories and even my wallet are from Etsy, so whenever someone asks where I got them, I "Etsy" them like there’s no tomorrow and give them a card too! (I’ve been using “Etsy” as a verb for the longest time). Oh! and we all have Etsy pins in our coats — using your own kids for Etsy advertising is NOT wrong! ;) I also have a book coming out in February (advertising for your own book is NOT wrong either!) “Amigurumi- Seriuosly Cute Crochet” and that has helped sales a lot too, because the book people (who, by the way, are super nice) do their own advertising, which leads to my name, which leads to my Etsy shop! :)

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
I do it one order at a time and kind of slow. Patterns are really not that bad because I e-mail them, but I have to be careful and not around crying/talking/demanding kids, so I always work on that when they’re napping or in bed. The whole label thing for toys is super boring and kind of intuitive and — again — slow. I am so not the greatest at this end of the toy world… I wish I had a secretary! I do leave feedback as soon as I’m done with the order (right after I send the pattern/come back from the post office and have deleted the Etsy e-mail and have marked the item as “sent” — by the way, how great are those little checkboxes?!).

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers...what do you do to gain repeat buyers?
They’re a good combination of both. New buyers are pretty exciting, especially when I’m their first Etsy experience, I feel like I have to show them around or something… We should all be extra nice to first time buyers, because in a way we’re opening the door to all the other Etsy sellers. Even if they don’t come back to our store, they most likely will come back to Etsy :) I always send an extra pattern or two with every order. Leaving feedback is really good for that too, because by checking their feedback I can tell if they’re a repeat buyer or not, and what they bought before.

Repeat customers always make my day. It’s so nice to know that someone likes what you do enough to want to come back. Lots of people are learning how to crochet with my patterns, and knowing that makes me happy. I know I’m going to sound super lame and dorky, but really, sharing what you like doing the most and makes you so happy has to be kind of like spreading “crafting cheer,” and that should be mandatory in Etsy!

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
I seriously think I’m addicted to crocheting toys. I can’t sit without a hook and some yarn and fiberfill, and I can’t stop thinking about toys I want to make. Having two little girls helps a lot too, since we’re always surrounded by toys and stories and make-believe stuff. I just wish I had more time and/or another set of hands. Imagine being able to crochet two things at the same time? I was watching Edward Scissorhands again not long ago and kept thinking how great it would have been if instead of scissors he had hooks. He might have poked an eye or two, but can you imagine the toys he would have made?!

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too? If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
I "Etsy" full time and LOVE it. When I was in maternity leave with Martina almost a year and a half ago, I started crocheting a lot more (lots of sleepless nights!). My plan was to go back to work in the horrible office part-time in the mornings, but they started having problems with that, and ended up offering three full days instead or something like that. Martina was too little so I couldn’t see myself leaving her for so long. Etsy was starting to pick up, and Franco was about to finish his doctorate, so we decided that I should quit HorribleOfficeville and Etsy full time, and it was the best thing ever.

Being able to work here on the couch in my pajamas with the girls around is so so nice. Etsy gave us so many opportunities, and so many amazing things have come from it, that if it were huggable I would give it the longest, tightest hug in history — does it count if I hug Rokali? ;)

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
I really like the geolocator, and I’m obsessed with it. I try to geolocate (is that a verb?) Etsy shops from everywhere. If I’m watching the news and they mention a place and I have my computer with me I immediately geolocate the shops there to see what they’re up to. And I type “Uruguay” there every day to see if there’s any new sellers from home :)

What features do you use most on Etsy?
The relist button and the geolocator!

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop 1 year from now?
I hope I can continue to grow and improve and that it shows in the way things go in the shop in 2008. I want to challenge myself and make new things. My notebooks are full of ideas that hopefully will come to life.

Anything else you want to add?
I really never thought I’d be able to live from what I love so much. I remember when I was little I used to think how cool it would be to just make toys all day and not have to work :) Thank you Etsy!

Check out anapaulaoli's top Etsy picks are in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: jacquelineknits

2008-01-07T10:48:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Story series features Jacqueline of jacquelineknits. In little under a year of selling on Etsy, Jacqueline has knitted her way to 670 sales...Now that's a lot of knitting, if you ask me! Jacqueline learned to knit from her mother and has been knitting for as long as she can remember. Knitting away in Woodbridge, Ontario, this mother of 11 year old twins has secured an international customer base and more than a few featured articles with Jacquelineknits! Read more to get a peek inside Jacquelineknits.

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I first heard about Etsy from a blog I was reading (can’t even remember whose it was). I checked it out right away and was so impressed by the look – I loved the clean lines and ‘unbusy-ness’ of the site. From the first look, I thought, "This is something I’d like to be a part of."

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Definitely listing (or re-listing) a couple of times a day when possible helps to keep items visible. I notice sales slow right down whenever I don’t list often. I’ve found that buying Storque and Main Showcases have also helped bring a lot of views/hearts and some sales. Photo quality is also something I’ve been working hard on improving. The better your photos, the greater chance you have of being included in treasuries. (It always gives me a lift when I see someone has liked one of my items enough to include it in their treasury with all the other amazing Etsy items out there.) And, of course, if ever that treasury makes it to the front page, that is by far the best exposure I could hope for.

How do you promote your shop?
I’ve been fortunate to have my apple and pear jackets featured in the current issue of Canadian Family Magazine. A lot of people have also been kind enough to blog about my items. In the coming year I plan to look into other promotional options.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
Knitting is the easy part for me, as I love to do it and because I can do it while watching TV or movies. It’s not hard at all! Although December did pose a bit of a challenge with the Christmas rush (my first on Etsy) and the large increase in sales, I found I was knitting 10-12 hours a day, which was a bit more than I liked. Next year, I’ll know better and have a larger inventory ready for December. I try to mail three times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays). When I get an order, I check the address to the Paypal address and then write out the envelope. I always e-mail the purchasers thanking them for their order and advising them when I’m shipping their item. If the addresses don’t match I send an e-mail to the purchaser telling them I’ll be shipping the item to the Etsy address.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
Most of my sales are from new buyers. I’ve had some repeats that initially bought for themselves and buy again for gifts. I love it when I get repeat buyers!

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
Again, because I love to knit, staying motivated isn’t hard at all.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
I have another job that is occasional, so as time allows, I devote it to Etsy.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
I love the Hearts! Even when I don’t have any sales, seeing that somebody ‘hearted’ my shop or an item feels pretty good. I also like the forums (I don’t post a lot but I like to see what everybody else is saying), the Storque and Time Machine 2 (especially the auto scroll button).

What features do you use most on Etsy?
I use the re-list feature most. It’s great that when you take the time on the set up of a new item (pictures, description, tags, etc) that you can easily relist the next time. I also like checking out the treasuries.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop 1 year from now?
I’d like to continue building my inventory of existing apple/pear jackets, tea bag holders and coffee sleeves, as well as spend time developing new items.

Anything else you want to add?
A big thank you for asking me to be involved in this article! It was a wonderful surprise and great honor for me.

Check out jacquelineknits' top Etsy picks are in the gallery below and send her a heart if you are feeling her shop, since she loves them so!

Etsy Success Story: Working Class Heroes

2007-12-31T18:39:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Story series features Monie & James of WorkingClassHeroes! In little under 5 months of selling on Etsy, workingclassheroes has taken the site by storm and has literally become an overnight success making well over 1020 sales! Dwelling in Vienna, Austria, this clever pair never dreamed of how quickly they would succeed in building an online international customer base. They are grateful that they stumbled across Etsy "whilst surfing online." You've seen those well designed and coveted grey wool laptop, and camera cases; and if you haven't gotten one of your own yet, you best hurry! Find out what makes workingclassheroes tick below:

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
We stumbled across Etsy whilst surfing online and we were so excited about the site because at that time we only had visions of selling our work in local design shops and that the online side of the business would come later. In fact, the way it's worked out is completely the opposite and now we have a worldwide customer base from the start.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Our ideas and designs meeting the perfect opportunity, loads of luck and of course the whole package of good customer service, listing frequently, perfect photos and good presentation.

How do you promote your shop?
We have been so busy right from the start working on our orders that we actually haven't even had a minute to think about self promotion. We're lucky that the worldwide design blogger community, major design websites, magazines and of course Etsy liked and featured our products. This has all had a really positive snowball effect!

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
There's two of us and we work really closely together with each having our own specific jobs to speed up the whole process of preparing an order. We basically have a central order list that is updated as new orders come in and existing ones are shipped out. This is really the heart of it so we know exactly what work we have on the go.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers... what do you do to gain repeat buyers?
It's almost been an overnight success for us so the majority of our customers are first time buyers. Having said that we're already seeing people come back for more or being recommended to us by friends that already own a piece of WORKING CLASS HEROES history!

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
Our main motivation is that we've found something we can work on together, it's a perfect symbiosis of both our styles, designs and personalities. This is what we want to do and we love it.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
We 'Etsy' almost 24/7. It even follows us into our dreams.

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
Actually we quit our jobs in advertising before we started to really focus on Etsy, we needed time to work on what we are really passionate about... and (knock on wood) it really was worth it.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
We like the Pounce feature if we have to mention one and we're looking forward to a day when we might have a little time to do some hardcore Etsy shopping.

What features do you use most on Etsy?
Definitley the 'relist' feature.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop 1 year from now?
To keep going and growing as well as we are now would be perfect.

Anything else you want to add?
We really love the internationality of Etsy, we have found (or rather they found us) a lot of brilliant worldwide customers we would never have dreamt of reaching! A big thanks goes out to Etsy!
We hope Etsy sticks to its handmade marketplace roots whilst at the same time growing massively!

Check out workingclassheroes' top Etsy picks are in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: LuxeDeluxe

2007-12-17T06:18:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Story series features Adrienne of luxedeluxe. In little over a year and a half of selling on Etsy, Adrienne has moved her business overseas, tried her hand at a supply shop, and has made well over 4,600 sales on the site! Now, that's what I call multi-tasking and amazing time management skills. (Or maybe she's just Superwoman with a jewelry habit!) Read on to find out more about luxedeluxe and snag a peek behind this beautifully jeweled curtain!

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I found Etsy while searching for online venues to sell jewelry. I think it was linked to someone’s blog. In 2006 I vowed I would never work another crazy job for anyone else, and Etsy was really the stepping stone I needed.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Definitely a combination of factors: listing and relisting items throughout each day, introducing new pieces regularly, and trying to create a ‘style’ that is recognizable. A big crutch for me has been trying to do too many things, so I set myself a goal to organize and focus my ideas to create a sort of brand, and I think it has paid off. Earlier this year I invested in a decent camera and I think my pictures have helped with streamlining the look of my store. Just as important is having clear communication - from setting out clear policies in each listing, to emailing every customer, to confirming shipping. Getting orders shipped out quickly helps, too. I will work until midnight to get pieces shipped out within two working days. When I buy things online I really appreciate it when my order is shipped promptly.

How do you promote your shop?
At the moment, I honestly don’t have time to do outside promotion. I consider my constant listing of items as my key form of promotion. The kind souls who add me to their Treasury lists or feature an item on their blog help more than they probably know.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
I ship three days a week, and spend the other four days replenishing stock and working on new ideas. The shipping bit is the hardest, but I’ve gotten a routine down:

1) Print the postage online.

2) Log the shipping info into Paypal.

3) Check the item as shipped in my Etsy ‘sold’ file.

4) Email or convo the customer to confirm their order has shipped.

It’s a cumbersome list to check for each order, but it’s really helped me to keep organized. Looking up the relevant info for an order is much easier, and it’s easy to identify which orders are waiting to be shipped. Shipping orders securely is important. I’ve found the best way to ship jewelry is on a card, inside a padded box, inside a bubble mailer. If it’s a large order the jewelry boxes go inside a larger box with tissue paper padding. I’ve had cards cut to fit inside my jewelry boxes so that the piece doesn’t get thrown around in the box, and presentation is nicer this way. I make it a priority to check my conversations multiple times per day and try to answer any order/shipping status queries first so I don’t forget.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
Lately I’ve had lots of new buyers, and more men! I think it’s a great sign that more men are finding Etsy. Lots of husbands and boyfriends are buying gifts from their loved one’s favorites. I do have a good amount of return business from loyal repeat buyers, and those who buy to resell in their boutiques. Buyers come back when they feel that you appreciate their business and they know that you’ll do your best to make things go as smoothly as possible. I think about how I want sellers to respond when I buy on Etsy and base my customer service on that.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
It’s easy to stay motivated during busy periods, but I dislike the anxiety of having sales slow down. During slower times I focus on new designs and stocking up on popular designs. Having just moved to the beautiful, historic city of Edinburgh I am full of inspiration, so I can’t complain of a shortage of new ideas.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
Full time, 6 or 7 days a week.

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
Pre-Etsy I was selling my jewelry locally and selling supplies online, but since moving to the UK this year I’ve been able to live solely off of my Etsy sales.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
Conversations. They're the first things I look at when I get up, and they help me stay organized. Being able to search by username and add notes to them is fabulous. I also love browsing Treasury lists and Time Machine 2 for things to buy.

What features do you use most on Etsy?
Conversations and the ‘relist’ button. I usually have three screens open all day, one for my conversations, one for my sold pages, and one for my shop front.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
Overall I hope to have a steady growth of sales and to run a more streamlined system, possibly getting my husband to work with me full time on the admin side of things. I plan to be much more prepared for the holidays next year with a gift wrapping service, gift certificates, and a huge supply of stock ready to go.

Anything else you want to add?
A huge thanks to everyone who makes Etsy run smoothly day to day.

Check out luxedeluxe's top Etsy picks are in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: paperedtogether

2007-12-10T12:50:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Story series features Krista Stout of paperedtogether. In little under a year and a half of selling on Etsy, Krista has made over 1,100 sales and is going stong. She resides in Minneapolis and comes from generations of printers, even though she claims to have never thought of herself as following in their footsteps! Well, it sure seems she made the right choice!

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
Hmmm… I think I first heard about Etsy in Bust magazine…Boy, it’s hard to imagine a time before Etsy! This whole paperedtogether thing was purely a whim - I made some stationery for a neighbor and woke up the next morning thinking I’d give selling it a try. I certainly never expected it to become an actual business. I loved the clean design of the site and it couldn’t have been easier to set up shop. I realize now how lucky I am to have created this business with no start-up costs, no advertising expenses and a built-in audience.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Well, listing frequently is undoubtedly a key element, and customer service is always important. I do think photographs are very important, but I also admit mine could use a lot of work (one of my goals for the new year). I love packaging orders and I think customers really appreciate the little extras. It only takes a minute or two extra to transform an order into a special little present.

How do you promote your shop?
I’m so thankful for the features I’ve had on various design blogs, and even some real life magazines! I really don’t have time for much promoting, so I always feel really lucky to be noticed by the lovely blogging community. Word-of-mouth is by far my biggest marketing tool. I’d love to one day be organized enough to maintain a mailing list.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
I tend to be really hard on myself, and have just recently come to grips with the fact that I can’t ship daily. My process right now goes something like this: print out a list of my sold items, walk out through the foot of snow to my studio, package up all the orders, write the buyer’s name on the package, trudge back in, cross reference all the addresses (Paypal vs. Etsy), then weigh packages and print shipping labels, ticking the “shipped” box as I go. I set aside international orders and take those to the local post office. My process is far from perfect, and I look forward to the day when every job and each business decision stops being a learning experience. I’d also like to start making dinner for my family again.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
I think I have a pretty even mix of both. I suppose a combination of good quality, nice customer service and lovely packaging brings them back. Also, the seasonal nature of the paper goods business keeps things fresh.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
I’m honestly never content unless I’m doing something and I have some serious issues with sitting still. In the olden days (pre-Etsy), I would sew, read, bake, clean the house, etc. Now, I generally just work all of the time. I always have more work to do than there are hours in the day, so even if I’m not printing or working on orders, I am thinking of new designs, working on a catalog, or planning for a show (generally NOT cleaning the house). Of course, that doesn’t mean I necessarily love working all the time: I guess it’s just in my nature.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
Well…I have three kids - twelve, nine, and three. I stay at home full time with my youngest, a sweet boy with more energy than anyone in the entire world should ever be allowed to have. I also have an additional full-time job. I go to the office three evenings a week and try to get the rest done from home. I have thirty or so wholesale accounts and do custom work when I can.

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
Etsy has been amazing. I wholeheartedly recommend it to every artist/crafter I meet, and fully credit Etsy as the foundation of it all. Cutting back or quitting my day job altogether is definitely on the horizon!

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
I love the “paid” and “shipped” boxes, and reading feedback makes me really happy! The Storque is a great read when I feel like I’ve been out in the studio for weeks at a time and need to catch up on the wider world.

What features do you use most on Etsy?
Definitely the ‘relist’ button! When I get a chance to browse, I love the Time Machine.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
My long-term goal is of course to quit my day job. Design-wise I’d like to work on more prints and a variety of new gift-type items and somehow magically produce amazing photographs of my work! My personal goal is to get organized and learn how to gracefully balance work with my family life.

Anything else you want to add?
Thank you, Etsy! I’m often so caught up in the process of designing and printing and packaging and shipping and parenting that I don’t have enough perspective to think of myself as a ‘success story.' Thanks for making all this possible!

Check out paperedtogether's top Etsy picks are in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: MaryInk

2007-12-03T07:44:00-05:00

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Story series is all about MaryInk. In under a year and half on Etsy, the talented duo that makes up MaryInk has made close to 800 sales...How inspiring! Maryink is made up of Mary and Chris, who currently dwell in Tennessee. "We have been making shirts together for about three years. Our designs are made by arranging found vintage items, our original illustrations, clip art, photos we have taken, and the combinations of all. We print everything by hand, and are also available to print your designs."

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
We first heard about it when selling t-shirts on an online auction site. Another member contacted me (I’m 99% sure it was DanielleDIY), and told me about a new website called Etsy. We were living in the Virgin Islands at the time, looking for a way to sell our t-shirts, since we felt kind of cut off from our market. We had some wholesale accounts, but needed to push things online, since we weren’t in the best position to find new retailers while we were living on an island. We found out about it in early 2006, but we didn’t start selling until June 2006. We had just spent practically every dime we had to move back stateside, and needed to do everything we could to support ourselves.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Listing frequently has been the number one factor in our success here. When we first opened shop, we had only a few things that we listed all at once, and didn’t have much action. A little discouraged, we took a break for several months, until December of 2006. We had just gotten back from a crafts fair, and had some winter things we wanted to sell before the season was over. We had started looking at the forums, and I noticed a little tip about listing something every day or more if possible.

By following that one piece of advice, we started selling steadily. We have also been working on our pictures, to make them visually simple, while showing as much detail as possible. I (Mary) was a photo stylist for years, so this was something I really prioritized, even though I was a little burned out on photo styling. I knew what a good shot looks like, but without access to the equipment, the photographer, model, and everyone else on a shoot, I was a little clueless and frustrated. We used to shoot indoors, which wasn’t great, but now we take it outside on a sunny day, and things have been much better looking since then. The colors are more true, and there is less editing after the shot is taken. I would still love to shoot these on a person, but it works better for us at this point to do the shirts as stills.

We do try to offer lots of options, both in prices and products. We have always done totes, and jewelry as a separate shop, and now we offer votive holders, too, as a beginning of a home collection we’d like to build upon. Having one place where someone could come and buy different things but with the same vibe, for themselves and friends, is the idea right now. Offering international shipping has been great for us, since I think that buyers from other countries are loving the exchange rate right now. It usually doesn’t take too long to ship to other countries and the shipping cost really is reasonable.

How do you promote your shop?
This is the part that’s the hardest for us. Mostly, we tell everyone at the crafts fairs we do about Etsy. We make sure as many people as possible know they can buy our things from our Etsy store, and we pass out our business card with the Etsy address on it with abandon. We really aren’t big on blogging, and keep our forum time to a minimum since it can be soooo addictive, but we do like flickr, when we remember to use it.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
Since we are two people instead of one, it makes things a lot easier. I (Mary) do all the listing, the shipping, photos, answer most of the convos, most of the designing (although the shirts that Chris designed are my favorites!). Chris does the printing, since he is such an amazing printer. He knows how to do things efficiently and perfectly! Without him, maryink would not exist.

Sometimes things are going slow, no sales, etc., so we get a little discouraged. Then, from out of nowhere, we’ll get slammed. That is always awesome, and we are so happy when it happens. It can be overwhelming for a minute, then we remember that we’re human and can’t get everything done in one day. We’re pretty up front about our shipping policies in our profile and in our sale notification, so that has helped to take the edge off. We have a couple of big shipping days a week, plus we ship small amounts pretty much every day if needed.

The system is pretty simple. There’s a dedicated shipping area where all of the shipping supplies are kept, and all of the shirts and totes are organized in covered plastic bins. We go through my sold items and pull everything I need to ship, and put them into mailers and boxes. We write what the item is, and the last name and location on the box. Then, I affix the postage labels, and take them to the post office, or sometimes just give them to the mailman. We use Endicia for mac software, which makes it sooooo much easier. We’re always trying to convert people to that shipping software.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
We do have buyers from both camps. We try our hardest to get packages out the door quickly, so by doing that, it makes our customers more likely to stop by again. We are a bit obsessive and perfectionist with product details, so I think it helps to have those tendencies, even though it can be a burden in other ways. We can always do more for our customers, so we have been brainstorming lately about promos.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
Sometimes it’s easy for us to be motivated, like when we are having good sales, or if we have a craft fair on the horizon. A fair will force us to think of new items to create, and how we are going to sell them. We have a lot of repeat buyers at crafts fairs, so we want to keep them interested with new stuff, while still offering pieces that people love. This translates into our Etsy store, since we make enough pieces at a time to offer them when we’re back in town and not freaking out with a fair deadline. The idea of going back to work for someone else keeps us pretty motivated, too.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
Etsy is part of what we do, but it isn’t quite full time. We have lovely wholesale accounts that we work on, and we also have commercial print jobs we do, too. Etsy has definitely allowed us to drop a couple of part time gigs we had (teaching at a local art school, and working for the city archives), which we are incredibly grateful for. We also moved to a place with a cheap cost of living, which has made it a lot easier to pursue what we really want to do.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
Time Machine 2. We have found a lot of favorites that way! We’ve also love the Storque, where we’ve also found new favorites, and picked up great tips.

What features do you use most on Etsy?
We look at the forums a lot...Maybe too much! The crafting and business section is great, and I skim through “Etc.”, although it can be a little too engrossing sometimes! Lately we have been using the search a lot. We are looking for gifts, and are also buying supplies and basic things we need around the house.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop 1 year from now?
Since we mostly do t-shirts, we have a slower period the first quarter of the year, so we use this time to make new designs and figure out what we need to do to grow. We definitely want to have many, many new designs and products. We’ll likely have more things for the guys, kids, more accessories, as well as more home stuff, in the coming year.

Anything else you want to add?
We just want to say thanks! Without the community here - the beautiful customers, the hard working administration, the talented sellers who have shared with us - we wouldn’t have the success we have had. You guys rock!

We also did an Open Studio tour with MaryInk.

Check out MaryInk's top Etsy picks are in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: treehouse28

2007-11-26T10:01:00-05:00

You've seen those big sellers on Etsy who seem to be making sales left and right. You have to wonder how they've made it to where they are: can they actually be FOR REAL? What's their recipe for success? And just how do they do it?

This week's installment of our Etsy Success Story series is Alix of treehouse28. She's been on Etsy for just over a year and has sold over 1500 items. Did you see that every piece of clothing in her shop is custom made? How cool is that? We sigh a breath of Etsy happiness! Read more below to find out exactly how this mother of two in California went from just making clothing for herself to selling full time on Etsy and starting a business of her own!

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
A friend told me about it almost a year ago to the day.... November 19th. At the time I was not selling clothing, I had been a full time mom. I checked it out and was so inspired that within a few hours I had registered, set up shop and posted pics. I don't really know what came over me, as I had never made clothing for anyone but myself before. I sold a pair of arm warmers the next day and was completely hooked. I have not stopped since. I recently wrote a note to my first customer thanking them for instilling that inspiration and drive in me that got me to where I am today.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
All of those examples seem to really sum it up(examples: listing frequently, creating new pieces, prices, customer service, packaging, photos, presentation, etc...). It helps when you spend every waking moment thinking of ways to better your shop :) Saying that I was slightly obsessed about it is a huge understatement. But it doesn't have to be that way for everyone... Honestly, staying present is the biggest part of it. I used to list so that I would be on the first dozen pages at all times, although that is more of a challenge now that Etsy is growing... but don't let your shop get too buried. Images are very very important... I see some items that are amazing and have not sold because the photo is off in some way. It doesn't take alot, I have a Canon Elf, a cheap little camera... and always use natural light. Keeping it constistant and simple.... create a "look" for your shop and stick with it.

How do you promote your shop?
I don't. I hide :)
I did join a site just last week called trunkt that showcases artists and provides links to your Etsy shop. Also, I think that the blogs have helped alot. When someone has posted a write up about my shop on their blog it pops up on Google... It has been neat to hear of customers who come to know my shop that way.

(examples: listing frequently, creating new pieces, prices, customer service, packaging, photos, presentation, etc...)

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
Little things have helped to streamline it all... I address each order as it comes in, so it does not get backed up. I relist the item(s) right away, print the invoice and then convo the customer about the shipping date. I am three weeks out on orders on an average, so staying on top of informing my customers of an exact ship out date is super important to me. I then punch holes into the invoice and snap it into my binder. My binder is kept in chronological order and everything related to each order is printed out and placed in my binder. I have a dry erase board that I fill out with a calender of each month so I know what I am working on at a glance each day.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers...what do you do to gain repeat buyers?
A good mix definitely, but I have alot of very faithful customers. I have some customers who have more of my clothing than I do! It is so fulfilling to know that there are people out there who really believe in your work. They instill massive amounts of confidence every time they come back. It is one of the most rewarding things I have ever had happen to me.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
Yes, sometimes I wish I could just flick it off. It's a bummer when it even creeps into your dream world! It could have been the eight years at home with my children that did it!

No seriously, I am highly driven to do what I do.... to be at home in control of everything (almost) and delve into fully creative work every day... I am happy as a clam.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
Etsy full time. I also fill orders for a handful of wholesale accounts which all found me through Etsy.

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
That doesn't apply to me, as I was a full time mom before Etsy. But my husband might quit his job soon :)

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
Conversations.... I rely on them for so many things. I can go back into any conversation and retrieve the info I need. I could not survive without it. I have 2352 convos as I write this, and they are all there for me to access...
Also love the treasuries. I find so much amazing talent there... It is a great way for me to see work across the board here at Etsy... kind of the Etsy cliff notes.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop 1 year from now?
I would love to incorporate a children's line of clothing... that has been brewing for some time. I am working on creating sizing charts and listing items that are actually in stock and ready to send ( dreaming ) rather than all custom orders. I just hope that in a year I am feeling the way I feel now.... less than a week to go before my first whole year here at Etsy... shocked and thrilled that I am making a living at what I love to do.

Anything else you want to add?
I have always been a creative type flailing out in the world... unsure that my alternative and quirky ways would ever translate into something that made a difference. I just like to think of how Etsy has changed the world of artists making a living for themselves. What a tremendous achievement.
My gratitude goes beyond....
thank you Etsy :)

Check out the gallery below to see some of Alix's top Etsy picks:

Etsy Success Stories: Ashley G

2007-11-19T08:00:00-05:00

You've seen those big sellers on Etsy who seem to be making sales left and right. You have to wonder how they've made it to where they are: can they actually be FOR REAL? What's their recipe for success? And just how do they do it?

This week's success story is that of Ashley Goldberg, more familiarly known for her famous Etsy shop, ashleyg. In just over 2 years selling on the site, Ashley has been able to quit her day job, make over 4,650 sales, and recruit her boyfriend, Drew, into the business full time. Ashley describes her works as "tending to be simple, but with a sophisticated or stark color palette. I believe great emotion can be conveyed in a simple gesture or look. The characters I create, whether monsters or little girls, are simple, humorous, empathetic, and a little bit pathetic." She is definitely an inspiration to many on and off of Etsy and has kindly pulled back the curtain of ashleyg so we can take a peek inside and see what it takes to run such a successful shop from the ground up.

On to the questions we've all wondered but never got the chance to ask...

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I first discovered Etsy in September of 2005. Etsy was just a baby, but I had no idea just how new it was. This is the part where I say Etsy and my best friend in the world have the same birthday, June 18! So, I think I was bound to love Etsy. I was frustrated with my job and a lack of a craft/art scene where I live (maybe I wasn't looking hard enough) and was browsing online for some sort of connection or community. I found that craft and art blogs existed and one random blog mentioned Etsy. I joined immediately. It was well designed, user friendly, and attractive to look at, which meant "legitimate" to me. Although I opened a shop that night, I didn't list any art or prints until almost 8 months later. And then one sold! And then another!

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
I think some of the key things that make my Etsy shop successful are very obvious things such as listing frequently, having a recognizable look and product, coming out with new items frequently, having a blog, and being, well, nice. But also I write each and every customer as soon as possible after a purchase letting them know EXACTLY when their order will ship, answering any questions they have, or asking about a conflict with their PayPal and Etsy addresses. At this point that's nearing about 5000 e-mails and frequently there are follow up e-mails. Does that take a big effort? Yes. But it's that important to make a personal connection with my buyer. This is the key: every print I sell I imagine if that were MY $20 I was spending. What customer service would I expect? What quality would I expect? But another reason to e-mail everyone benefits me. My motto is basically, "I never ever trust that Ashley of tomorrow will remember what Ashley of today knows right now."

I have a lot of orders. It can be difficult to stay organized, so it's easier for me to let the customer know when the order will be shipped instead of letting them know when it was shipped. Just a personal preference there. Also, it begins to create an e-mail trail, both for my and my customer's protection and benefit. If in the future there are questions or conflicts (which thankfully, I really haven't had any of) I have every exchange saved. For instance, after a period of time if a customer hasn't paid I send a friendly reminder about the situation and if they never end up paying I have a record of my attempt to contact them. It's a safety net that would allow me to simply copy and paste everything into a handy e-mail to the Etsy admin.

How do you promote your shop?
Kitty Genius, of course! But I have been quite fortunate with amazing blogs such as Design*Sponge and Poppytalk and so many others promoting my work for me. I try to do most interviews I am offered, which have included some really great publications, blogs and even a podcast. I do illustration work for publications. I have two illustrations in the Brooklyn Rail this month. They're a nonprofit, so I wasn't "paid," but my name, Etsy shop, and blog were all right there under the illustrations. Basically, I don't do much traditional advertising, but if something worthwhile (like an interview) and I have to stop everything else because they need it by the end of the day, consider it done. I hate to waste an opportunity.

And of course, never underestimate word of mouth. Another incentive to be nice to everyone (even though you need no incentive for that) is that you never know who your customer is. Maybe a shop or gallery owner, maybe a book editor, maybe an art director, or maybe just someone having a tough day who's cheering themselves up with something from your shop (how great is that?). So be nice. To customers, to fellow sellers, to the admins, to anyone and everyone until there is an actual problem — and usually that can still be solved in a civil manner.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
Learning to manage sales can be quite a challenge if you don't get on top of it immediately and stay on top of it. I have a system that has evolved to near perfection for me. (And although I run an online business, it is completely old school.)

I have what I call "the book." I hand write every print sold, along with the buyer's name, if has been paid, and if the Etsy and PayPal addresses match. I also include notes to myself or instructions from the buyer. The time I write down the order is when I send the buyer a confirmation e-mail. I have my own shorthand for orders that is easy for Drew (who does the packaging) and me to recognize. For instance, I put a star next to all international orders so it's easy to know if you have to grab a customs form when packaging. I usually ship twice a week (sometimes more when it's holiday time or super busy), and for each shipping date we use a different color highlighter to X out sent orders, and an orange box for unpaid orders. It's important that I can very quickly visually see things. Writing down a seller's name is like a little memory exercise. It's far easier to remember a repeat buyer, even if their last purchase was months ago, when I have physically written down their name before.

Keeping and archiving e-mail is crucial so I can pull up that "e-mail trail" whenever I'm confused about something. Also, I am a messy person by nature but my shipping and print supplies are exceptionally organized on a shelf all on their own, like a kindergarten classroom. Everything in its zone. Lastly, printing and shipping days must be super organized. Often I am also shipping wholesale orders or work off to galleries. So everything must happen in stages and then like an assembly line or I would lose my mind.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
Both, actually. I have new buyers every day and often times they have just joined Etsy that very day! But I also LOVE my repeat customers, several of whom have become friends. All of my customers are exceptionally kind people. ( And no, I'm not just saying that.) I don't know if it's who Etsy attracts or who my shop does, but they are sweet and generous and appreciative. I am the one that should be appreciative! And believe me, I am. To gain repeat buyers, I think it's all about customer service, quality, and making a product that they like. Every package includes a thank you note and a little something extra. And again, acknowledging the sale!

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
Well, deadlines are EXTREMELY motivating! But of course, I enjoy what I do. Right now I am balancing a lot of projects. This is a seven-day-a-week job for me, and usually long hours, but if you treat it like a career, I think it's easier to make that actually happen. And seven days a week at a job I love is far better than four at one I hate.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
Selling and making art is my full time job and Etsy is a LARGE part of that. Etsy is absolutely what got my work noticed by anyone. Now, thanks in large part to Etsy, I have had gallery shows (in LA, Seattle, and New Hampshire) and some coming up in awesome galleries around the country. I sell in shops both in the US and overseas. I sell in many online shops and galleries such as Velocity, Little Paper Planes, Art Star Philly, The Shiny Squirrel, and several others. I also just finished a series of e-cards for a large card company that I will be able to reveal VERY soon. I have a REALLY exciting project to announce in the beginning of 2008. I did the album cover art for Keith Kenniff's (Helios) latest album, Ayres, and my work is featured in the book Plush You. I have a few other projects in the works as well and am always looking for new exciting ones, including (and perhaps especially) licensing.

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
Etsy is the sole thing that let me quit my job in July of 2006, which also allowed my boyfriend/creative partner in crime, Drew, to quit his job in March of 2007. We are now an LLC. We both have health insurance. We have an accountant and pay quarterly taxes, and with the "HELLO" series we give to a charity each and every month. So, yeah, we feel pretty legitimate! (Thanks, Etsy!)

Obviously, this did not ALL happen over night. It was an evolution, but it felt natural. We've taken baby steps with some things and jumped into others, but only when the time felt right for us. And unfortunately, no one can answer that for any one else.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
This year I am buying all handmade or vintage gifts for the holidays, so I have been using the Time Machine 2 like never before. And I LOVE it!!

What features do you use most on Etsy?
The search button in the forums to get questions answered or to procrastinate from working, or just to get a handle on the collective atmosphere of Etsy at the moment. Also, I get A LOT of convos, so I use that feature quite frequently. However, this would be a great time to say I tend to answer e-mails a bit faster so feel free to shoot me an e-mail when you feel like sending a convo. :)

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
To still be here, enjoying it and, if 2007 is double the sales of 2006, I would LOVE to see 2008 be double 2007! To expand both our business and artistically is always my goal.

Anything else you want to add?
I just always like to add a big thank you to anyone who reads my blog, browses or purchases from my shop, has hearted one of my items, has taken the time to e-mail me, is patient with me for being slooow at leaving feedback (my one Etsy flaw), and overall embracing me and my work on Etsy. And to Etsy admins for giving me some chances to shine (like this interview!) and for running the site you do.

Check out some of Ashley's favorite picks on Etsy in the gallery below:

Etsy Success Stories: Gemmafactrix

2007-11-12T08:00:00-05:00

You've seen those big sellers on Etsy who seem to be making sales left and right. You have to wonder how they've made it to where they are: can they actually be FOR REAL? What's their recipe for success? And just how do they do it?

Brooke Medlin, the familiar face behind Gemmafactrix, has carved a recognizable name for herself on Etsy in less than two years selling on the site. She has made over 2,700 sales to date and has an undeniably recognizable style and brand to her handmade jewelry line. Brooke dwells in Dayton, Ohio, where she runs her Etsy shop, and recently opened a brick and mortar storefront named Gemma. There she not only sells her own work, but the work of several other Etsy artisans as well.

On to the questions we've all wondered but never got the chance to ask...

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I heard about it from a friend who designs and makes clothing and accessories, here in Dayton. He showed me the site, and I went home and signed up. I had NO idea what it was about, other than that I could sell my work there, and it had a neat design to it that I liked.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Listing frequently has been the best way I've found to get consistent sales. Etsy has an amazing amount of built in traffic, so I take advantage of that by listing/relisting/renewing several items per day. This is especially important in the jewelry category, since it's so large. I also have a brain that never turns off - I always have new ideas I want to play with, so keeping my shop fresh with new items has helped as well. I have a lot of repeat customers who check my shop often for new items, so I like to make sure they've got something to look at. Customer service is a struggle with such a large shop. I get around twenty new convos every day, and watching them pile up makes me feel overwhelmed. I usually let the automated emails suffice and then include a personal 'thank you' message with the Paypal shipping email, so they know I appreciate their order. I am planning to begin sending a message to each person after they've placed an order, beginning in December. (I have to prepare myself for these things! Haha.) I think it's important to let customers know they're appreciated, and if they're not familiar or terribly comfortable with shopping on the internet, this will give them, hopefully, a bit of reassurance.

How do you promote your shop?
I don't like to spend a ton of time promoting - it's just not my favorite aspect of having my business - so I try to streamline promoting as much as possible. I have a blog, and a flickr account. That's it. I do submit my work to blogs that have to do with design, and some have featured me. I think having a good web presence is important - pick a few sites you like - flickr, talentdatabase - and promote your work using them and keep up with them. That way, when someone Googles your Etsy username or your name, they will be sure to see you in the search results.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
I make many items to order, but I also have a bit of an assembly line process. When someone orders one pair of Cairo Earrings, for example, I will make enough of the components for several pairs. It takes, really, almost the same amount of time to work this way as opposed to simply making one pair. I use Paypal shipping and just go down the list of orders on my Paypal page, while looking at the transaction page on my Etsy to correlate addresses and special instructions.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
I have a good mix of both. I mentioned above that adding new items on a regular basis to the shop keeps it fresh and lets people know that I do change up the shop often and they should check back. I also carry a lot of 'staple' items - simple hoops, stacking rings, etc. These are basic jewelry wardrobe items, and I feel that it helps my sales - a person may have bought a gift from my shop in the past, or jewelry for a special occasion, and now that the seed is planted - they know my username, have my card - they may want to return for basic jewelry items.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
Ummmm...no! Haha. I am ALWAYS wanting to make something. The business side of it is very hard for me. I'm just not as interested in it. So, I set little rewards for myself. For instance, if I get x amount of orders out on Monday, on Tuesday I can make whatever I want. The motivation to make art is so natural to me. I can't imagine NOT making something. I was recently looking for a mug here on Etsy, and while I found - and hearted - a dozen, I couldn't find the *perfect* one. So, I signed up for a pottery class. That's just kinda how I work. The motivation to ship out 20 packages per day is something I have to cultivate.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
Etsy comprises a large portion of my income. I also have wholesale accounts for stores throughout the country that keep me busy and my bills paid. I did, also, just open a store, Gemma, in my city. It houses my studio, and my work, and the work of other artists - many of whom also sell on Etsy.

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
Etsy was a big part of my being able to quit 'work' and craft full time. I wouldn't have been able to do it without Etsy.

What is your favorite Etsy Feature?
The Time Machine 2 makes me happy. I also really just love the front page. It's not a 'feature' necessarily, but I always find great stuff by looking at the front page.

What features do you use most on Etsy?
Um, the 'refresh' button? Haha. (Yes, RD, I know that's a browser window feature, not an Etsy feature! Haha.) I like the sections in my shop, and I love the front page, as I mentioned. I rarely look at categories anymore, but love the Time Machine 2 feature. Honestly, though, I mostly check out the front page and my own shop. And when I'm feelin' spendy, I take a stroll through my favorites.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
I want to continue to sell well and sell more than the previous year. I want to expand the jewelry techniques I feature in my shop - I'm currently learning bead weaving, for example. I'd like to come up with some items that are 'staples,' yet unique, that I can count on to bring in a substantial amount of income from. You know, the items you always see in the Time Machine 2 sold items scroll? I'd love to have a couple of those that sell really steadily and I can count on to do so. I'm sure Etsy will change and evolve much over the coming year, so I may expound on these goals at a later date. :)

Anything else you want to add?
Thanks for the feature! It's nice to be able to think about and articulate what works for me - it kind of cements it in my head and helps with that motivation thing you asked about above.

See Brooke’s top Etsy picks in the gallery below and be sure to read up on what’s going on at her brick and mortar storefront on her blog, gemmashop.

Etsy Success Stories: Lollibomb

2007-11-05T11:02:00-05:00

This week's Etsy Success Story spotlights Luca, the sassy, fresh mastermind and undeniably cute dynamo behind everything that is Lollibomb! Lollibomb was born in Florida and has recently moved up the East coast to New Jersey. We couldn't be more excited to have her so much closer!

Though she's only been on Etsy a year and half, Luca has already made over 2,300 sales on the site. (That's a lot of delicious smelling people!) Luca also travels all over the country to bring Lollibomb to the people. You can look for her at the following shows this season:

11/10: Stitch Austin 2007 in Austin, Texas
12/08: Bust Craftacular in Brooklyn, New York
12/09: Atomic Holiday Baazar in Sarasota, Florida

On to to the questions we've all wondered but never got the chance to ask...

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I first heard about Etsy through a LiveJournal community that I was a part of, and I was amazed at the cool stuff being sold. When I started creating handcrafted vegan moisturizers and bath treats, I knew that the Etsy community would appreciate the time and love that went into each item. Selling on Etsy proved to be a better decision than that time I entered an competitive kale eating contest.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
When it comes down to it, passion has been the key to my success for selling on Etsy. I am 100% passionate about creating unique quality products at affordable prices, and this has motivated me to come up with new bath and body treats to list in my shop. I love creating products that make you smell pretty (and look pretty sitting on your shelf) almost as much as I love spoiling my customers absolutely rotten. I'm pretty fanatical about giving free goodies with every order.

How do you promote your shop?
I'm thrilled that my shop is promoted primarily through word-of-mouth, and I am forever indebted to my wonderful customer base for telling their nearest and dearest about Lollibomb! I promote my shop in the Etsy forums, through MySpace, and the various online communities that I am a part of. I also wear my scents out on the town and keep business cards handy to give to people who comment on the fragrance I'm wearing.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
I create my products in small batches to ensure freshness and to introduce new fragrances into the mix. When I receive an order, I will typically whip up a new batch and then package a few bottles at a time for future orders. Sleep deprivation and rabid caffeine consumption has also served me well in pushing those orders out the door. There's going to be a point in the very near future where I will need to find some help, but in the meantime, I just try to stay as organized and jacked up on Mountain Dew!

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
My customer base is comprised equally of both diehard Lollibomb beauties and brand spanking new customers. I love receiving orders from first-time Etsy buyers that are new to the community. I'm always down for creating custom orders, whipping up duplicate fragrances, and accommodating special requests which I believe has motivated customers to keep coming back for more.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
I love what I make, and I love what I do! Staying motivated is easy when you're happy to be doing what you're doing. Working for myself is a dream come true, but I am the hardest boss I've ever had. Pimping myself ain't easy, but it sure is fun.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job, too?
Etsy is my full-time gig, baby! I have also been attending craft show events from Brooklyn to Sarasota this past year, and I am looking forward to bringing my goods to the Stitch Austin show!

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
Selling on Etsy gave me the push that I needed to take my business to the next level. I quit my 9-to-5 last fall and haven't looked back. Etsy has opened a lot of doors for me to do my thing, and for that I am eternally grateful.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
The Etsy Mini has given me the ability to promote my Etsy shop and favorite Etsy finds all over the place. I love it!

What features do you use most on Etsy?
Having the ability to check off that an item has been sent is absolutely fantastic. In addition to helping me stay organized, my customers are able to see when their order has been sent by accessing their "Your Purchases" section. I'm a sucker for the "Hearts Me" feature, as well.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop 1 year from now?
I plan on expanding my line to include more one-of-a-kind fragrances, unique bath treats and gift ideas, and to possibly include products to pamper your pets. Look out for paraben-free goods and more sass than you can shake a stick at!

Anything else you want to add?
"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about." — Charles Kingsley

I've made it my mission to shine the Storque spotlight and bring these sellers to you in this Etsy Success Story series. I'll be asking them all those questions you're just dying to know about their success on Etsy. They have been generous enough to share their secrets with us and we want to spread their personal success stories to everyone so they can learn from their business practice.

See a smattering of Luca's current top picks on Etsy below:

Etsy Success Stories: Daisycakessoap

2007-10-29T13:59:00-05:00

I've made it my mission to shine the Storque spotlight and bring these sellers to you. I'll be asking them all those questions you're just dying to know about their success on Etsy. They have been generous enough to share their secrets with us and we want to spread their personal success stories to everyone so they can learn from their business practice.

This week's Etsy success story spotlights Jean-Marie, the bath and body making powerhouse behind Daisycakessoap. In just over two years of selling on Etsy, Daisycakessoap has carved out a distinct brand for herself with just over 4,700 sales! She started her business in Louisiana back in 1999 and is now selling from her location in Miami, while still hand-stirring her products in small batches with the freshest, simplest ingredients to ensure quality. Now that's what I call a successful microbrand!

On to to the questions we've all wondered but never got the chance to ask...

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I found Etsy in the fall of 2005. I had recently relocated and my new local markets paled in comparison to the ones I had been doing regularly in New Orleans. I needed to add new revenue streams to keep moving forward. I did searches online and came across traditional venues: craft malls, consignment, nothing that really excited me. When I found Etsy in a Google Search, it was love at first sight.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
If I had to choose one thing, I would say loving what you do is the key, but I really don’t subscribe to the idea that there is one key or secret. It takes a long time and it’s a ton of work. For example: it’s 3:30 am and I’m writing this, just cut 200 bars of soap, finished leaving feedback, and boxed a big wholesale order. That’s all since 10 pm when my kids went to sleep, but there is nothing I’d rather be doing. Listing frequently is important, but I think constancy is equally or more important. Buyers need to know they can rely on you to consistently provide a quality product at a fair price with excellent customer service. Every time.

How do you promote your shop?

I have a mailing list
I re-list an item immediately when it sells
I cross promote with other Etsy sellers
I have a blog, and often pay for ads or get reviews on other blogs.
I search for blogs that I think are a good match for my business—for example—I recently contacted a popular coffee blog to review my coffee soaps
I pay to be part of an “indie coupon book.”
I participate with FEST (Florida Etsy Street Team)
I send out a free sample with every order
I have always done lots of shows and farmer’s markets
I experiment with all kinds of print material, cards, postcards, etc.

Most importantly, I think any time we, as sellers, send out a great package and treat customers with care and respect, that’s the best kind of promotion there is.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop?
It’s a challenge. I get a ton of help from my family. I read books about small business, and try to incorporate the best practices from others that make sense for my business

What systems have you created to manage the orders?
I use a hand-written log for cross-referencing. Paypal has become very valuable to me because of its shipping and tracking tools. I try to put in place systems that will streamline repetitive processes. For example cutting & wrapping soap, and packing & labeling out going boxes in large batches rather than piece by piece.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
I listen to the Miami traffic report and get a HUGE wave of gratitude that I don’t have to sit in traffic to go to a 9-5 job.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
I do Daisycakes fulltime, and Etsy is a huge part of that. I was a social worker prior to that.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
Are our shops a feature? I had my own website for a few years and it was very difficult for me to navigate how to update it. I love how simple Etsy’s design is.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
Next year at this time, I’d like my production systems to be more streamlined than they are now. Hopefully my family will be in a new space, and I will have a workshop to create distinct, compartmentalized workspaces for soap cutting, shipping, etc. I hope to find creative new ways to collaborate and cross-promote with other sellers. I’d like to sell 50% more than I did in the past year. I’d like to partner with a great sales rep to help manage wholesale accounts.

Anything else you want to add?
At the risk of being repetitive, I have copied the “tips” paragraph I wrote for my Etsy featured seller interview last April, because I had a bunch of people convo me to tell me it inspired them:

Celebrate the small milestones, but don’t be afraid to think big. Don’t get bogged down with the cost of that ad or that show or that material….Decide what you want your business to become in the big picture and then make the choices you have to make now to get there. There will be income gaps, huge Visa bills, downtimes with technology, and gigantic investments of time with little immediate results. Count on it, so you don’t lose sight of the big picture when they happen.

Thanks, Etsy, for the opportunity to share.

See some of Jean Marie's current top picks on Etsy in the gallery below: