Search results (tags) for: "market"

Shop Makeover Series: Pimp Your Shop for 2009

2008-11-21T14:34:00Z

This installment of the Etsy Shop Makeover Series brings you to an important step: now that your shop is fit for public consumption, you gotta spread the word! Daniellexo gives you some tips on social networking and grassroots marketing. (Note: This post was originally published on January 28, 2008, but we've updated and revamped it for the coming year!)

I started on Etsy with blurry pictures and no idea how to run a successful shop. It took a year to make it to the now extinct Top Sellers list, but I did it. I spent roughly 10 hours a day learning about photography, d.i.y. marketing, the right time to list and renew and the other ins and outs of a successful Etsy shop. My first boost of sales came when I was mentioned in a rather popular blog. How did this happen? Not by accident. It took a lot of work. Read on to hear my formula for pimping your shop and getting sales.

Social Networking

Above: NeaWear tastefully "pimps" her shop on Facebook

Sure, you can spend a $1,000 on a tiny, tiny magazine ad. But, unfortunately, you can't click a magazine ad. I'm not saying they aren't good for building a brand, but it takes a lot of work to get a shopper from a magazine to their computer and then to your Etsy shop. I would work on your online presence instead if you are just starting out.

Where to start? First make sure your shop is focused. You need a target market; if you have a shop that's all over the map it will much harder to find your customers. Stick to a demographic, ie. teenage girls, new mothers or hipsters. Of course you can welcome all buyers, but it's easier to market with someone specific in mind.

Now what? Surf around and get familiar with the sites I link to in the rest of this article. Which ones look like the most fun to you? Sign up for those and test them out! When signing up, I suggest using your Etsy username and keeping all your accounts cohesive. You'll be easier to find that way. Now have a look at how much time you have per week. If you have a few extra hours a week, then focus on one or two social networking websites like Facebook, Twitter and Myspace.

Now don't get overwhelmed. Check out these sites and see which ones look the best for your market. It's better to have a few accounts on these sites and stake your own little area of the site instead of spreading yourself too thin. You want to build up your online presence with these tools. Make your accounts attractive to people browsing. The trick is to keep it fun, for you and your followers! Don't just post photos of your products that people can already find in your Etsy shop. Make sure you show them a bit about the maker behind the curtain; describe your process, your studio, your favorites, etc. Talk up your Etsy buddies too — share the love!

Social Networking Sites:
Facebook
Myspace
Virb
Twitter

Social Shopping & Bookmarking

Above: TomokoTahara socially shops on ThisNext, mixing her items with other great finds!

Sharing your picks with others through accounts on social shopping and bookmarking sites can be a great way to promote buying handmade. Make sure you mix promoting your own work with other great finds! Link to your accounts on your blog and in your shop profile.

Social Shopping Sites:

ThisNext
Stylehive
Stylefeeder
Kaboodle
Wishpot
Zebo

Social Bookmarking Sites:
Digg
Squidoo
StumbleUpon
Wists
Magnolia
del.icio.us

Photo Sharing

Above: mLee uses Flickr like a photo journal. I love how her Flickr account is organized into sets.

Flickr is a great site for telling your story through photos. Buyers can start to connect with the maker this way. Showing your family life, process, studios, pets, and more can remind your buyers and friends that there is a real artist behind the work in your Etsy shop! This gives your work an intrinsic value and authenticity you just can't get with a mass produced item!

Blogging

Above: the {NewNew} Team all works together to maintain their well read blog. If you don't have time to regularly update your own blog, sharing the workload by creating a Team blog is a great idea!

A blog is an online journal that your readers can subscribe to in order to learn more about your work, process and life. I would recommend Blogger.com to get started. It's pretty easy to set up. Just like the social networking sites, you want to make your blog interesting and fun. Show your readers a bit about your life, your process, things you've purchased, places you've been, etc. Join the Etsy blog ring once you get going! I started a shopping blog, Gold School. I still have about 50 readers a day. I show them items I like that are reasonably priced (90% Etsy items by the way). I also have a link in my blog to my Etsy shop. That way, my faithful readers might think, "Wow. I like this gal's taste! I wonder what she makes?"

Above: PearsonMaron's Twitter always makes me smile!

Don't have time for blogging? How about micro-blogging? Twitter.com asks one question: 'What are you doing?' Answers must be under 140 characters in length and can be sent via mobile texting, instant message, or the web. You can follow your contacts and gather followers. It's fun and addicting! Make sure you aren't just blogging about your work though — like usual, keep it interesting and fun! (Like PearsonMaron's tweets above!)

More sites to check out:

Niche Networking:
Ravelry (knit & crochet)
Designs To Love
DeviantArt (fine art)
Craftster.org (crafting)
DIYscene (D.I.Y. & alternative crafting)
BurdaStyle (sewing)

Skill Sharing:
Instructibles
Thingiverse

Video:
YouTube
Vimeo
Blip

Now get down a little routine.
Perhaps when you wake up you take a few pictures and upload them to Flickr. Then you blog about your strange dreams. Then you add a new item to Etsy and send it to all your social shopping sites. (Tip: Send your favorites to these social shopping and bookmarking sites too! If it's obvious you are just trying to pimp yourself people won't come back to see what else you've added.) Before bed work on your Myspace, perhaps.

From here you'll start collecting like minded social shoppers and perhaps you've bumped into a few blogs you like. Good! Bookmark those. You're going to need them. Find a day to yourself. Lock yourself up with some coffee and get motivated. Today you're going to get into a blog! It's cold-calling time.

I'm not going to list any blogs here for fear of 1,000 Etsy sellers contacting the same ones over and over. The trick is to find the blogs your potential shoppers read. Keep your target market in mind. Start with the smaller ones to build up your confidence. Find the bloggers email and really inspect it. What do they value most in the items they feature? How can you pitch your items in a way that would interest them and their readers? Make each email personal and specific to the blog you are writing to. Bloggers can smell a mass email a mile away. And it's not a nice smell. Oh, one more thing: don't just send them a link to your shop. Find the BEST item in your shop (and make sure its a nice clear photograph). Include a little something interesting about this item, how you made it, or about yourself. Make it easy for the blogger if they did choose to blog about your work. Send out as many of these are you can. If you don't get a response or only get one or two do not take it personally. Shopping bloggers get tons of unsolicited items sent to them. Start collecting another set of blogs to write to and have another stab at it.

Here's a sample letter:

Dear Gold School Creator,

I've been reading your blog for a few weeks now and I really love your finds (especially the weiner dog special last week!). They are all really fresh (and cheap)!

I'm writing because I think my work would interest your readers. Here's a link to my most popular item. I started making these when I broke my leg last summer and was immobile. I was so bored watching soaps all day so I decided to start embroidering these Soap Star Hankies.

Thanks for your blog and for supporting independant artist like me!

Happy Holidays,

Sally the Soap Star Hanky Maker

Keep these emails short, sweet, personalized and fun.

Getting Seen on Etsy

Above: ThePeachTree makes some gorgeous Front Page worthy Treasuries. And when these happen to land on the Front Page of Etsy, a link to her shop (just above the items) also gets a little bit of Front Page action!

Here are a few ways to pimp your shop on Etsy:

Make a treasury. I know it's not always easy getting a treasury, but try anyway. Set a timer for the next time a batch of them are about to expire and POUNCE! Keep your favorite items bookmarked and try to create a visually pleasing mix of goods. If you make a great treasury people will be interested in what you are doing in your own shop!
Renew. If you have the budget to renew once or twice a day (or more if you have lots of items in your shop) then I would really suggest it. It keeps you fresh in your category and puts you back in the Time Machine. Try different time of the day as well — I used to wake up in the middle of the night to renew!
Use your shop name as a tag in your item listings. That way if someone comes to the site and searches for you but mistakenly doesn't change the search drop-down menu to "seller" — your work will still pop up. Also use your shop name in your listings. The more the name of your shop is used on the internet, the more likely it is to come up in a web search.
Forums. Be helpful on the forums. Sure you can also post in the promotions section but you are more likely to be seen in Site Help giving some advice to a newbie. And make sure your avatar is interesting and clear so people will want to check out your shop!
Pitch an article to the Storque here. What are you the most passionate about? Can you write about your process? About your local craft scene? A review on a great sewing machine you just purchased? Let the Storque editors know why this would be a great article, who would be interested in it and why you should be the one to write it.
Comment on Storque articles that you really like. I'm not suggesting to comment on every article. Just those that really call to you. Leave a thoughtful comment and others will see your avatar and might just have a peek at your shop!
Attend Virtual Labs events. They are fun and informative (ok maybe I am a little biased). But they are a great place to connect with the Etsy community and get seen as an active member.
Join an Etsy Team. Of course, don't just join a Team to promote yourself. Join one to bond with other Etsy members and to help each other promote your work and Etsy together!

Troubleshooting

So you've done all this and aren't getting the kind of response you would like? Here are a few things you can do now:

Hire a photographer. This could even be someone who is technically savvy in your family that has a nice camera. Get them to take some pictures for you and give you some tips on working with your own digital camera.
Attend the Etsy Labs critiques and workshops. (Usually every Wednesday and Friday — see the Storque's Online Workshops featured column for times.) You can really pick up some great tips at the critiques and workshops.
Ask a seasoned shopper for advice. Don't be too shy or sensitive! Ask them for their most honest opinion.
Try something new! Keep your shop fresh and dip into another category. Perhaps you'll find a technique or craft you may like even more. Think about a niche or need that may not be met yet on Etsy.

Whew. I hope that helps you and your shop in 2009. If you have any further suggestions for marketing your shop, let everyone know by commenting below! For further questions about selling, check out The Etsy Seller Handbook and the Shop Makeover Series.

Team Tip: Taking Craft Shows to the Next Level

2008-11-17T11:01:00Z

Holiday craft show season is upon us again and we're happy to hear of so many Etsy Teams and sellers taking part in holiday craft shows all over the world! Everyone loves a good craft show — chances to meet your favorite area artists in person, see and feel amazing handmade goodies as you buy them and opportunities to soak in the wonderful handmade community, but they're also really great opportunities to market your Etsy shop. For tips from our wonderful community on Craft Show basics, check out "Rocking Holiday Craft Shows".

If you've already got your booth set-up all figured out and you came up with a comprehensive checklist of things you don't want to forget ages ago, here are some tips for taking shows to the next level. Below are just a sampling of way to use shows as a tool for developing a loyal customer base:

Reconsider your business cards. What makes your business cards stand apart from the giant stack of cards shoppers are picking up at the show? Check out the Don't order another 1,000 business cards! article for ideas on creative promotional items. Or consider including an offer that shoppers will find valuable on the card, such as free shipping if they include the name of the craft show in their order or a small discount on multiple items ordered within a period of time. Also, be sure to include product images on your cards to make it super easy for people to remember what booth was yours. You can use the Etsy-Moo deal to get your listing photos right on the cards (more details here).
Collect email addresses! We've written Team Tips about this before, because permissions based marketing (which is when someone gives you their email address or other information, along with permission to contact them with special offers) is the best way to contact people you know are interested in what you are selling. It's information sent directly to your target market, so it's efficient and a good use of your limited marketing time. Be sure to follow up, sending out an email blast with links and beautiful images not too long after the event to jog people's memory about the good stuff you have to offer.

A screenshot from Baltimore Etsy Team member JenMenkhaus's Etsy shop, showing a detailed item description for a felt flower head band.

Have information on hand! Print out nice copies of your most popular items' Etsy listings and descriptions, or use screenshot images from your shop to have a small booklet printed up (try a service like Blurb.com, for example, for great professional results with little effort). This will give people something to browse at your booth, and give them great details that people often don't think to ask at a show, such as washing instructions, tips on care, material content, etc. It's also a great way to familiarize them with Etsy and your shop, making it more likely they'll go visit it again when they're online.
Talk it up! When you have a customer who is interested in your work, don't be afraid to mention that if they go to your Etsy shop, they can find a wider range of colors, options, they can check out previously sold custom orders. Let them know that if they have an Etsy account, they can mark your shop (and others) as a favorite, so it'll be easy to find again when shopping for gifts, etc. Mention that you accept many forms of payment in your Etsy shop, and they can make purchases at their convenience online.
Don't forget your Etsy Team! You might let buyers know that they can find more great work from your Teammates for simple, easy one-stop shopping. For example, if you're on a Team that makes pet items, when someone buys a collar for Fido, be sure to mention that your Teammate sells dog cookies that are perfect for obedience training. Bring Team business cards or promo items, and be sure to point out ways the buyer can find items from your Team online.

Most importantly, enjoy yourself at the show! Craft shows are a good way of getting feedback on your work, and nothing's more fun than watching someone fall in love with your work right before your eyes. Be sure to introduce yourself to your crafty neighbors at the show, and do a little shopping and appreciating of the indie arts yourself!

Team Tips are a weekly series of tips and ideas from the Etsy Teams. You can find more Resources at team.etsy.com. Etsy Teams are growing quickly, and we love that so many sellers want to join in to promote their shops, Teams and Etsy. For more information on Etsy Teams, check out the Teams pages and this page of Frequently Asked Questions. Don't forget to read our interview with this week's Featured Etsy Team. Keep up the great work, Etsy Teams!

Seller How-to: Guiding Buyers with Shop Sections

2008-11-12T12:00:00Z

So sellers: you've stocked your shop with holiday goodies, you've taken great photos, you've cleared your calendar, and you are ready for the holiday stampede. Your shop looks fly, and you need your customers to look at more than just your cute featured items. Enter shop sections. Help your customers hone in on what they need, and make it easy for them to cross off each item on their holiday shopping lists. This is the time of year when we shoppers are super organized.

Organize by Shipping
Recent featured seller topsyturvydesign has a great way to get her customers looking at crafts that will ship to suit their holiday needs. This is especially excellent for the nearing Thanksgiving holiday, since she has made it easy for customers to look at the hats that will get to them on time.

Organize by Size
Another great use of the Shop Sections is to organize by size. As a shopper, I am so grateful when I can go right to the clothes, rings or shoes that fit me. This is great even for totes and bags, as it can be difficult to gauge size from a photo unless there is a scale reference. Small, medium and large is an economical way to use your shop sections, as you can create up to ten.

Organize by Price
Bath and body sellers, or other sellers that make use of gift baskets or groupings, can get a lot of mileage from using their shop sections to organize by basket and price. During the holidays, many shoppers have a budget that they have in mind for each one of their special people. For example, if I know that I'd like a luxurious bath basket for my mom, I am chuffed when I can use a shop section to go directly to: Gift Basket 70-100 dollars. And for my cousin? Gift Basket 30-50 dollars. Perfect. Check out this how-to on bundling items. For more info on pricing, see the Art of Pricing series.

You might also find this how-to, about introducing a new line, useful.

Don't forget to check out the Seller Handbook - all our how-tos about running your Etsy business!

Comment below if you've used these techniques and seen the effects! Shoppers, do you like to shop with sections?

Team Tip: Merchandising!

2008-11-10T13:36:00Z

There are many benefits of joining an Etsy Team, including cross promotion among Team members. With the holidays quickly approaching, joint merchandising and promotional efforts are a really great way members can help each other and boost overall sales — and help shoppers find those perfect holiday gifts.

For example, take Leandogpottery's Labyrinth Soap Dish. She might include a link in the product description to fellow Team member savor's Tart - Olive Oil Soap, and mention what a lovely pair the two items would make for a gift!

Savor would do the same, including a link to Leandogpottery's soap dish in her item listing. Now, with a little teamwork from sellers, shoppers can easily find a great gift set within a modest gift budget.

Savor's Tart - Olive Oil Soap, $4.50 & Leandogpottery's Labyrinth Soap Dish, $13.00

Below are some other ideas for bundling, coupling, grouping, branding and merchandising items from your Team:

You can also pair items from your shop with other items in your shop - suggest coordinating items in listings.
Or you can include a link to a search for your Team's tag in your item listings to help shoppers find items they might like from shops of other Team members.
Use the Etsy mini to highlight great items from your Team on your blogs, social networking sites and other places on the web.
If you're primarily a buyer on Etsy, you can show support for your favorite Teams by including links to their Team tags in your Etsy profile.
To mix things up a bit, try occasionally Twittering or blogging about a Teammate's shop from your account - it's more fun and you'll get more attention that just talking about your own work all the time.
Many Teams find it useful to include a Team image as the last item image in an item listing - the image might have your Team's logo and a Team search tag, so shoppers can recognize items by a particular Team more easily.
Organize a ring of links to your Teammates shops in your announcement.
Follow the steps in this previous Team tip to promote your Team everywhere.

Teams are a wonderful way to work with your fellow sellers to accomplish more marketing than you could by yourself. By getting creative and doing some smart merchandising, you and your Team can work together to drive more traffic and increase sales for each other.

Team Tip: How To Twitter!

2008-11-03T11:57:00Z

There's a lot of buzz lately about Twitter.com as an interactive marketing tool. (In fact, you can find Etsy at http://www.twitter.com/etsy!) I've been giving a good deal of thought to how Etsy Teams can use Twitter.com to their advantage to effectively engage their audience and bring new buyers to members' Etsy shops. Below are some simple steps on how you might develop Twitter as a useful tool for your Team.

What is Twitter.com? Twitter describes itself as "a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: "What are you doing?" After creating an account, people can choose to follow other people's Twitter posts, viewing posts online or via a mobile phone. Twitter is about quick glimpses into you or your brand, as you have 140 characters to type or include interesting links for your Twitter followers to read and respond to.

To get started, discuss with your Team what your goals might be for a Team Twitter account. Goals can range from, but are not limited to, sharing knowledge (posting links to useful tutorials or tips online), to giving the Team a personality (having a friendly, anecdotal voice in posts), or driving traffic to content around the web from your Team. Most likely, successful Team Twitter accounts will aim at all three of these goals.
Decide as a group who will be responsible for posting content - Many brands and businesses find it's most interesting when several people post, but some feel there's value to a consistent voice. Consider your goals as well as the natural talents and time availability of members when deciding who should have access to posting.
Register a username for your Team.
Tweet away! Don't forget to interact with other members by responding to posts - engaging the people who are following you is a great way to really make the most of this medium. By starting a post with @(username), it's easy for a user to find replies intended for them, even if they're not currently following you.
Find more people through Twitter - You can try the search tool to search for terms related to your Team, and then you can network with people talking about similar topics to what you're posting about. If you have a little time to do some tweaking, you can try one of many third party tools for finding other members and organizing Twitter feeds, such as Tweetdeck.
Stand out from the crowd - If you're looking to spruce up your Team's Twitter account page, you might consider adding photos of some recently listed products as a background, under Design in your Account Settings.
Enjoy! Don't think of Twitter as a chore, a task or a major thing to do on a giant to-do list. Rather, when you find something interesting, or perhaps whenever you find something worthy of bookmarking, simply post it to your Twitter account. When you have spare moment after checking email or starting a new task online, simply take a minute to check your Twitterstream to reply back to your network! Incorporating Twitter into your daily habits is the best way to have success with this tool.
Do remember how useful Twitter can be for communicating in real time - Twitter is a great way to promote events, like Team Virtual Labs trunk shows or local events!

For more information, you can check RedPanda's informative post in the Etsy forums, this interview that WineNutNYC did with some Etsy sellers on successfully using Twitter to market, or this great article on 50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Business.

Find us at http://www.twitter.com/etsy and post in the comments with the link to your Twitter feed!

Etsy Finds: Warming Up Piece by Piece

2008-10-29T08:00:00Z

Oh, is it ever a cold and dreary day here in Brooklyn! Makes me want to do nothing but snuggle up with some fine quilted blankies, sip hot cocoa and read a good novel. (Set in a warm location!) Luckily, Etsy has a whole section of beautifully detailed quilts to choose from — an art form that (believe me, I've tried it!) is not easy! Here are my picks for cozy quilts...

Stepping Up for Red Quilt

This quilt makes me want to find a fireplace and hunker down for the rest of fall. By warmnfuzzies, $65.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Angel's Trumpet Quilted Wall Hanging

I love the Art Deco feel to this artful quilt. This would make a lovely wall hanging too! By withhugsnstitches, $55.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

For This Child Baby Quilt

Love, love, love turquoise and red! This would make a great baby gift for a boy or girl! By kimbuktu, $115.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Fall Splendor Quilt- Double/Queen Size- FREE SHIPPING

You can tell there was so much work and love put into this large quilt by MountainHomeQuilts, $300.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Little Birds Quilt

"Fantastic for taking in the car, snuggling and watching TV or just an extra at the foot of the bed." By LagunaLane, $55.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Memories of the Titanic - Show Quilt

Have a seaside cabin you need to keep warm in? By Pamelaquilts, $1,500.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Bees Knees Tablerunner-REDUCED PRICE

I could see this on a long natural wood dining table. Very homey for Thanksgiving! By cachecreekquilts, $30.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Scrappy Spool Quilted Wall Hanging or Baby Quilt

Spruce up your craft room with this scrappy spool quilt. By OriginalsbyLauren, $125.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Quilted Warm Shadow Wall Hanging

Love the soft, feminine colors in this 100% cotton quilt. By JabaroDesigns, $100.

View item | View Shop | Add to Etsy Favorites

Find more quilts on Etsy to cuddle up with in the Quilts category, or check out the fabulous Quiltsy Team! In other Etsy quilting news, our very own Christina, aka MissBatch, went down to Houston, Texas last week for the International Quilt Festival & Market where she met some Etsy sellers face-to-face and saw some of the latest and greatest work! See photos of her trip here.

All About Etsy FAQ Series: Etsy 2008 Holiday Marketing

2008-10-27T18:10:00Z

Back in September, I shared some information about how we were working to promote Etsy this holiday season. Some people have been asking for a bit of follow up, so without further ado:

1. SEO and SEM

"Etsy’s most significant marketing investment this holiday season will be in search marketing. Search marketing comprises both Search Engine Optimization (“SEO”) and Search Engine Marketing (“SEM”)."

These ads are running now. Changes to optimize Etsy for search are also already underway.

2. ADVERTISING

"While the bulk of our advertising spending will be on search marketing, we think we can bolster brand awareness by advertising in a number of highly-targeted, socially-aware publications and their related websites."

You can see full-page Etsy print ads in Good Magazine, Mother Earth News, and Plenty Magazine. The ads feature Etsy artist fernanimals, and can be seen above. Beginning in November you will also see a banner advertising campaign running on many of your favorite websites.

3. MEDIA OUTREACH

"We spend a lot of time developing our messaging, pitching to the media and working with reporters and publishers on stories and product requests for the holiday season."

Press outreach has been going very well. We have had recent press in Inc Magazine (Etsy founder Rob Kalin is on the cover), Sydney Morning Herald, Business Week, The Chicago Tribune, The LA Times, The New York Times, New York Magazine, and Time Out NY to name a few. We have also recently been featured on ABC, FOX, and CBS affiliates across the country. Expect to see even more as we approach the holidays. To view some of the press we have already received, please visit http://press.etsy.com and our press report here.

4. IMPROVED SYNDICATION TOOLS

"Like its little sister, the EtsyMini (see how-to use the EtsyMini), the SuperEtsyMini allows you to embed Etsy products on external sites. Now, however, it is purely customizable."

The Super Etsy Mini is in the last phase of testing, and hopefully, will be ready to launch soon.

"Furthermore, we will be adding expanded resources, downloads, widgets, and important business and marketing information into the Promote section of Your Etsy, so we can help you better promote and improve your own shops and businesses."

This is still in progress, but not yet complete. The current resources can be found here. We also published the Etsy Seller Handbook on the blog here.

5. EMAIL MARKETING

"We are planning many changes, but they will not be in place before the holidays. That said, there are a number of smaller but still very important improvements slated to launch pre-holidays. "

This is still true. Recently, the emails were redesigned. The next steps will be focused on increasing the number of people that sign up for our emails. Speaking of, go sign up to our Etsy email lists here.

6. CONTESTS, PROMOTIONS, AND EVENTS

Contests/Promotions:

"NASA and Etsy SpaceCraft Contest: We are currently planning an exciting late Fall promotion with NASA. (Yes, the space agency.) I am not yet permitted to go into too many details, but I think this promotion will help generate a good deal of media attention and open Etsy to many new audiences. We will keep you updated."

This will now be happening in the spring.

"Holiday Sweepstakes: One buyer-focused sweepstakes is currently in the planning stages for November/December. The details are not yet confirmed. "

We will not be going forward with this sweepstakes at this time, as there are more pressing projects that will result in greater impact for Etsy.

Upcoming Events:

"We will be representing Etsy at various holiday events around the country. Details will be announced in the Storque as we get closer to the holidays."

Etsy is involved with over thirty events between now and the holidays. Updates will be given in the Storque and in Etsy Success emails.

7. Public Radio

"We are also considering experimenting with sponsoring public radio in selected American markets where Etsy has strong penetration. The goal of such spots would be to drive brand awareness of Etsy.com."

We considered it, and we did it. From October 31 through December 12th 2008, more than 500 total radio spots will be running on public radio stations in Austin, TX, Washington DC, Columbus, OH, Minneapolis/St Paul, MN, Seattle, Washington, Portland, OR, and Chicago. If you're a public radio listener in one of those areas, let us know in the comments!

I will continue to keep you abreast of any new developments. Have a wonderful day.

To further discuss this topic, please see the associated Forum thread.

A Very Steampunk Halloween

2008-10-23T19:24:00Z

Steampunk style is hot this season. We've seen the Trend grow on Etsy, ever since we first noticed it. People gotta have their gears, brass, and leather, and Etsy artists, jewelers, designers are happy to oblige. (In fact, we just launched a Steampunk Gift Guide for all you fanatics!) If you dip into Alchemy, Etsy's site feature that enables buyers to request custom items, custom Steampunk Halloween costumes are all the rage. Indeed, Steampunks are a creative breed, yearning for a yesteryear overflowing with homespun engineers, tinkering up fantastical inventions.

Kathy Malone aka fofolle of the Brooklyn Indie Market will be hosting a Steampunk themed day on October 25th, 2008 here in Brooklyn, NY. She said the idea was sparked from seeing Steampunk items flourish on Etsy. The event, sponsored by Brooklyn Based and Bust, promises to be steamy (in that anachronistic way), with lots of handmade creativity. Fashion show, tarot card readings, music and cordials — sounds good to me!

Search for handmade "steampunk" items

See Storque posts by Kathy

Get Halloween costume ideas

Read all "Steampunk" Etsy blog posts

Give a shout-out in the comments if you love steampunk!

Seller How-to: Craft Fair Tips

2008-09-29T13:00:00Z

You have spent many frenzied hours preparing your art and craft items for the craft fair, but does that mean you are really ready to make as much money as you can at the event? Probably not. As creatives, we tend to focus on our art and forget about everything else. (My house could fall down around me while I'm in the zone and I wouldn't notice.) You went through all that time and trouble to participate in a craft show, and I want to make sure you get as much out of the experience as you can while you are there. It's not just about what you sell at the show, it's about the contacts you make and how you use them.

Craft shows are great place to network and market. Here are some easy tips to make your next craft fair/show pay-off for months after everyone goes home.

Display is important. Dedicate some creative energy to your display. You want to stand out in the crowd. This is especially important if your artwork is currently a popular trend and you have lots of competition. If you sell jewelry right now, you know what I mean. At the majority of the shows I have attended, I see the jewelry laid out flat-sometimes on black velvet or in white bins at almost every table. What if you bought cool, retro mannequin heads and used them to display your jewelry? I know I would make a beeline to a table full of faux heads to check out what's going on.

Have a free drawing. Ask people to drop their business cards into a hat and raffle off a prize. Instant list!

GET MARKETING MATERIALS! I can't tell you how many artists don't have any information about themselves out on their tables. What if I don't want to buy today, but really like your stuff? How will I ever find you again? You absolutely must put out business cards. Business cards don't have to be expensive. You can even print them out from your home computer; just make sure you give people the opportunity to find you again.

Make flyers about trunk shows or any other venue (such as Etsy) where people can buy from you in the future. If you have catalogs bring them. Create a portfolio of your work and have it out for people to look at. You might get some special orders. I download digital pictures onto my laptop of past work and have a slide show of the work running on it during the show.

More on marketing materials…Every product should have a tag on it with all your contact information. I just use my business card, hole-punched with a ribbon. This gives both the buyer and, if the item is being purchased as a gift, the recipient your contact information. The recipient may want to collect your work, but won't be able to if there isn't a tag.

Use "gift with purchase" promotions. Everyone loves to get gifts. For the holiday boutique I am participating in this year, I created special, creative gift tags. Each customer gets a free set with the purchase of any item. Of course, the back of the gift card has all my contact information.

Set-up future sales. Once you have attracted clients to you with a great display, you need to capture their information. Have a guest book out and invite people to sign it and tell you what they think about your art. Make sure you ask them to check a box saying they would like to receive mailings from you. The book will give you an idea of what people like about your art and you will have their contact information. Create a snail mail list and make sure that you send out cool invites every time you are going to be at a show. Include a discount coupon on the postcard; that way you can track how effective your mailing was. For an even nicer touch, make sure you send out a thank you note, right after the show, telling them how glad you are that they stopped by to look at your work.

Network with the other artists and crafters. Make friends. Even your "competitors" are potential clients. Gather the business cards of everyone who is participating at the show and send a friendly email to each one within a week of the show. Tell them how much you enjoyed seeing their work. If you remember something specific about them or their work, mention it. Tell them a bit about yourself and tell them to contact you if they ever need anything. This is also just plain nice!

If you follow these few simple steps, you should have a nice list of clients, potential clients, friends and business partners in your possession. Now you must use this list to make it pay. Set up a schedule to touch base with each person on a regular basis. Send them invitations to all your shows, send them your monthly newsletter or just drop them a line or a note telling them you are thinking about them. Have fun and be prosperous!

Further Resources
Katy offers The Craft Show Worksheet through her shop, and if you want more information about networking and marketing your arts & crafts business, sign-up for katydid designs free monthly ezine, The Well-Fed Artist, at www.katydid-designs.com.

See other posts by the katydiddy. And click here for some other how-tos about craft fairs. For the motherload see the Seller Handbook!

Team Tip: How To Submit Information for the Teams Digest

2008-09-29T11:38:00Z

Since there are so many Etsy Teams, and the program continues to grow and grow (much to our delight!), not all Teams or events can receive their own Storque article. However, we do want to include this content in the Storque! Our solution is the Teams Digest, an article published several times a month, featuring all the great stuff Etsy Teams are working on. Your Team can choose a designated member or leader to submit this information every few weeks. Teams Digest information should be emailed directly to teams@etsy.com.

Submission deadlines are listed on the Calendar at http://team.etsy.com. Plan ahead! Think about Team Digest dates when planning your promotions!
Keep it short and sweet! Brevity is key, as we have information from lots of Teams to include.
Write in the third person!
Make it newsworthy! Try to give a little more than just a description of your Team. Tell the reader what you're doing that they should know about — an event, sale, promotion, how-to, something specific in the Virtual Labs, collaboration, or a call for new members!
Include relevant links to a post on your Team's blog or somewhere people can find more info: for example, posting directions to an event in a Digest isn't really feasible for each and every event, but we can always post a link to this specific information. Providing a link to your Team's blog will help readers get to know more about your Team.
Include a link to a Flickr page or send an image that you think is captivating and relevant! Images of products or items are not likely to be used, but photos with people, showing Teams promoting Etsy, screenshots from Teams VL events or other events are fabulous!
Send the submission to teams@etsy.com, with "Storque Digest" in the subject line so we can find these submissions easily.

Discuss with your Team who will be the member responsible for submitting information on your Team for the Digest. It's an easy, fun way to let the Etsy Community know about your Team's activities. Don't forget to read the Teams Digests regularly to keep up to date on the Etsy Teams! Search "Team Digest" in the Storque, or click "Etsy Teams" under Indiepreneur in the left hand column of the Storque.

Etsy Cooperative Advertising Program: Bust Magazine December/January Issue

2008-09-25T19:36:00Z

UPDATE: We're so sorry but the Showcase tool had an error today, and consequently we will be selling the spots for this ad on Monday, September 29, 2008 at 1:00pm Eastern time. So for all of you who clued us in that something was wrong, thank you. You've got another shot!

The following was originally published on 9/22/08:
Next up in the Etsy Cooperative Advertising Program: Bust Magazine!

In case you're not familiar with this program, here are the important details:

Etsy will purchase ad space in various magazines, cover half of the cost, and design the ads.
Etsy Sellers are able to purchase spots in the ad at the discounted rate.
You will get to display your shop name, an image of one item, its price, and its category.
The limit is one spot per seller, per advertisement.

This ad will be in the December/January issue of Bust.

30 spots will be available to sellers at a price of $90 each.
Spots will go on sale on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 1:00pm (Eastern Time).
Spots are purchased in the same manner as a Showcase.
If you successfully buy a cooperative ad spot through Showcase, your item photo and information must be sent to adam@etsy.com no later than 7:00pm (Eastern Time) on Thursday, October 2, 2008.

About Bust

Total Circulation is 93,500.
Bust is published 6 times annually.
The December/January issue hits newsstands on November 25, 2008.

BUST is a groundbreaking women's lifestyle magazine that is unique in its ability to connect with bright, cutting-edge young women. With an attitude that is fierce, funny, and proud to be female, BUST's revolutionary editorial mix addresses a refreshing variety of women's interests, including pop culture, music, crafting, fashion, sex, news, and celebrity interviews. Hip, humorous, and honest, BUST is a cheeky celebration of all things female and a trusted authority on up-and-coming trends among young women.

98% of the readers are women.
Average income is $69,000.
Median age is 27.
80% of readers refer to BUST for fashion.
91% say BUST is their favorite magazine.
68% purchased from BUST advertisers last year.

Upcoming Ads:

Venus: Winter issue. 30 spots, $25 each. Spots go on sale at 1:00pm (ET) Thursday, October 9, 2008.

FAQ

1. What is the Cooperative Advertising Program?

By purchasing a spot in a Cooperative Advertising Program, Etsy sellers can show off their items in an Etsy-branded magazine advertisement, reach new buyers, and help boost their sales and shop awareness. Print ads in popular magazines are often priced out of reach of small entrepreneurs. Etsy is able to purchase larger ads for more impact, and let sellers buy into the ads.

2. How does it work?

Etsy reduces costs to sellers by subsidizing the ads. We pay half of the cost. The cost to you is the remaining amount, divided by the number of spots for sale.
Sellers get to display one image of an item from their shop, its price, its main category and their shop name. The appearance of the ad is similar to our homepage. See the original article for an example.

3. How do I purchase a spot?

1: Go to the Showcase Gateway.
2: Choose "Cooperative Ads - BUST Showcase." There will only be one date to choose from.
3: Hit the "Purchase" button. The fee will be added to your normal Etsy bill.

*Note: The items that appear in the Showcase section of "Your Etsy" will not affect this purchase. The item photo that you send in via email to adam@etsy.com will be what appears in the ad. There is not an online Showcase associated with this purchase!

4. What do I do next?

You'll receive a conversation from Adam with details, and we will need the following from you:

Your shop name.
The price of the item.
The main category that the item is listed under.
A high-resolution photograph of your item (300 dpi).

If you need help with photo issues, please ask, and Adam will send you detailed instructions. If you already have a photo that you like, great! If not, check out some of our photography tips.

We will need your image by 7:00pm (Eastern Time) on Thursday, October 2, 2008 to give us time to lay out the ad and meet our deadline with Bust.

5. How many spots can I reserve?

You can purchase one spot per advertisement.

6. Can I cancel a spot after I've made a reservation? Is the fee refunded?

We will only cancel and refund spots under very special circumstances. Deciding you are no longer interested in your spot does not count. If you feel like you really have a valid case please email adam@etsy.com.

7. How do I know if the current Cooperative Ad is right for me?

Do some research! We'll provide helpful info for each ad as it becomes available (see above). And, it may be helpful to visit your local bookstore or newsstand to see if they carry the magazine. Remember, there will be more of these Cooperative Advertising opportunities available in the future, including Craft, Venus, and Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion. If you don't feel like Bust is perfect for you, there will be other opportunities...

Seller How-to: Promoting a Site Wide Sale on Etsy

2008-09-16T10:39:00Z

With sellers planning ahead with their promotions and marketing for the holiday season, we thought it would be neat to check in with theartistscloset. She was one of the masterminds behind a simple idea that went viral on Etsy — many of you remember the "Yart Sale" of summer 2008!

Working within a group is the only way I would be involved in any mass marketing approach on Etsy. The combining of resources and effort makes for a lighter load and the sharing of ideas makes for a more creative sale event — and one less likely to have shortcomings.

I strongly recommend joining an Etsy Street Team appropriate for your shop. Presently, there are over 250 Etsy Teams. I participate in three Teams: Etsy Supply Street Team, Cottage Style Street Team and Etsy Maine Team. The Etsy Supply Street Team, under the direction of Team leaders CarDonCreativeDesign and Faro, was instrumental in helping me organize the recent Yart Sale from June 11-20. What began as a casual conversation on our weekly thread about destashing and raising funds for a summer vacation blossomed into a whole discussion on our private boards about creating an Etsy Wide Yart Sale. The title Yart was suggested by fellow teammate BlackStarBeads (Yard + Art = YART). Faro created special Yart Sale Avatars.

Keys to planning and preparation - Become part of a larger group, as mentioned above. If possible, create a private area for planning, such as a private discussion board (such as Yahoo Groups). This is where you share ideas, decide on promotions, discuss concerns and resolve issues that might come up during the event.
Come up with a unique promotional idea or title for the event - Try to capitalize on what might be on people's minds; seasons, holidays or current events, and be sensitive to time and cultural differences. Remember that Etsy is a global community. With this first sale, we made the mistake of initially describing the Yart Sale as a 10 day countdown to the first day of summer, not realizing that summer in the U.S. is winter down under. Next year we intend to be more inclusive.
Utilize your support group to advertise - Word of mouth is a powerful promotional tool. Promote the sale among family, friends and colleagues through the use of fliers, email, etc. and utilize the Internet community by posting on blogs, groups and networking sites.
Get Sellers involved site-wide - Promote in the Forums, introducing the sale in advance in Business Topics so people have time to prepare and get involved. Be inclusive and also have minimum requirements for participation. Make it easy for anyone to participate — we simply asked people to use the tag "Yart Sale" for the sale. Clearly spell out the time and dates of the sale with initial forum threads in the Promotions forum, allowing flexibility for participation. The Yart sale lasted for 10 days, but it was up to the individual shops as to how long they chose to participate.

(Yart sign courtesy of dmriceart)
Create a FAQ sheet of information about the sale - Posting a FAQs thread under the Business Topics forum will help to address user questions and minimize confusion. (Here's ours, for example.)
Get the participants involved - Encourage sellers to post a statement of participation in their shop announcements; offer a ready-made announcement to cut and paste for their shops. This is helpful, user friendly and gets people quickly involved creating anticipation and excitement for the sale. Point people to the Forums for the daily Promotional Sale thread, encouraging them to post and participate in promoting their shops during the sale. However, remember to make it clear it is not a requirement for participation; some people are forum shy.
TIP - Use the daily sale threads to educate users about how to search for the sale items on Etsy, for example: "Just a few suggestions to all you shoppers! Type 'Yart' in the Search bar and choose the appropriate category from Etsy's Drop Down Menu - Choose Handmade, Supplies, Vintage or All items to view the specific items you are looking for. Viola - you will have so many choices from all the wonderful shops that have chosen to participate in this sale."
Remember to make the whole approach user-friendly and easy to follow - I found it was essential that my Team members and I monitor the Forum regularly to maintain a POSITIVE presence in the forums, and encourage participation by highlighting each other's sale items. It is important to maintain a presence during the course of a sale and be consistent in posting. Link threads so people don't get lost. Keep up on new threads that will pop up directing users to informational threads already established to answer their questions.

The Etsy Forums can be used as a positive force, encouraging an attitude of camaraderie and creating new opportunities for new friends and networking connections!

Click to see more seller how-tos about promoting.

Etsy's 2008 Holiday Marketing Plans

2008-09-11T16:00:00Z

Friends, the holidays are upon us, and for the last several weeks we have been working hard to make sure that we are doing whatever it takes to make the season a success for us all. My role, specifically, is to bring more buyers here. What follows is a general look at the seven major areas of my holiday marketing plan.

1. SEO and SEM

Etsy’s most significant marketing investment this holiday season will be in search marketing. Search marketing comprises both Search Engine Optimization (“SEO”) and Search Engine Marketing (“SEM”).

SEO: Wikipedia describes SEO, or Search Engine Optimization as the process of improving the volume and quality of traffic to a web site from search engines via "natural" ("organic" or "algorithmic") search results for targeted keywords. With our new CTO, Chad Dickerson, and the help of a firm specialized in SEO techniques, we hope to increase the volume of organic traffic to Etsy from external search engines. There are best practices that Etsy needs to adopt — simple things like appropriate descriptive title tags for all relevant pages — to maximize this opportunity and ensure that search traffic is growing as fast as direct traffic and referral traffic. These changes will be implemented into the site on an ongoing basis.

SEM: Search Engine Marketing refers to buying paid search listings (e.g. “sponsored links”) on Google, Yahoo, MSN, and other important search sites. We will be working with an outside firm specializing in search marketing to manage these buys and to measure their effectiveness. While it’s always difficult to predict user behavior on search sites, a well managed SEM effort could be a very important driver of traffic to Etsy. Click here to learn more about SEM.

2. PRINT ADVERTISING

While the bulk of our advertising spending will be on search marketing, we think we can bolster brand awareness by advertising in a number of highly-targeted, socially-aware publications and their related websites. We are still determining where all the ads will be placed, but we will be running full-page ads in several magazines that are positioned well to reach potential Etsy buyers this holiday season. These ads will not be part of the CO-OP advertising program.

3. MEDIA OUTREACH

We spend a lot of time developing our messaging, pitching to the media and working with reporters and publishers on stories and product requests for the holiday season. We also take great care planning and producing beautiful, handmade press kits. Our new press kit is a unique handmade book full of gorgeous images of Etsy products and sellers. We truly believe in taking a very personal and thoughtful approach to pitching the media, and continue to realize relatively good success as a result of these efforts. To view some of the press we have already received, please visit http://press.etsy.com and our monthly press report here.

4. IMPROVED SYNDICATION TOOLS

For the past few months, Jared has been developing something we have been calling the Super Etsy Mini. Like its little sister, the EtsyMini (see how-to use the EtsyMini), the SuperEtsyMini allows you to embed Etsy products on external sites. Now, however, it is purely customizable. It can pull from your listings, a specific section of your shop, a specific tag, the front page, your favorites, any showcase, gift guides, treasuries, or any custom collection of product you wish. Furthermore, it will now display these products in a variety of ways: floating through space like the Time Machine, as a slide show, or in a grid. The applications (team tags, affiliate programs etc) are really quite limitless, and we are excited to unveil it to you soon.

Furthermore, we will be adding expanded resources, downloads, widgets, and important business and marketing information into the Promote section of Your Etsy, so we can help you better promote and improve your own shops and businesses.

5. EMAIL MARKETING

We realize that we are not effectively using email to drive new and returning visitors to Etsy. We are planning many changes, but they will not be in place before the holidays. That said, there are a number of smaller but still very important improvements slated to launch pre-holidays.

6. CONTESTS, PROMOTIONS, AND EVENTS

Contests/Promotions:

Halloween: We're teaming up with Instructibles.com, Makezine.com and many others to bring you a fun challenge and spread the spooky spirit this Halloween. Whether you're a crafty costume maker, party decorating diva, or a casual trick-or-treater, there will be lots of ways to get involved and lots of ways to win. Details to follow soon.
NASA and Etsy SpaceCraft Contest: We are currently planning an exciting late Fall promotion with NASA. (Yes, the space agency.) I am not yet permitted to go into too many details, but I think this promotion will help generate a good deal of media attention and open Etsy to many new audiences. We will keep you updated.
Holiday Sweepstakes: One buyer-focused sweepstakes is currently in the planning stages for November/December. The details are not yet confirmed.

Upcoming Events:

We will be representing Etsy at various holiday events around the country. Details will be announced in the Storque as we get closer to the holidays. One of them, about which I am particularly excited, is New York Magazine's Best Bets shopping event in New York City.

7. LIMITED TEST WITH NPR

We are also considering experimenting with sponsoring public radio in selected American markets where Etsy has strong penetration. The goal of such spots would be to drive brand awareness of Etsy.com.

——————

Please understand, this post is really just an overview of the marketing side of things here at Etsy. We are undertaking a great deal of work in all other areas of the site as well: product design, development, merchandising, programming, etc. I also want you to please realize that not all the details are finalized at this point. Some aspects of this plan are subject to change, and may do so.

To further discuss this topic, please see the associated Forum thread.

Holiday How-Tos: Online Marketing Tips

2008-09-03T11:40:00Z

Dear Sellers,

Now is the time to organize your Holiday marketing plan! Get out your calendars and start plotting your plan of attack. There's lots you prep work you can do right now so that you'll be organized and ready to go for the holidays. The following ideas should help you start thinking about your plan, but really these tips are just the tip of the wintery iceberg. Do you have some tips for your fellow sellers? Please post them in the comments below or join us this Thursday (September 4th, 2008) at 4:00 pm EDT in the Treehouse of the Virtual Labs for a discussion on this topic!

Newsletters

Newsletters are a great way to keep in touch with your customers this holiday season. The first thing you need to do is build your mailing list and choose how you are going to send your newsletters. You can create a Google Group or Yahoo Group for free and by inviting your customers to join these groups (a great place to do this is in your Message To Seller field in Your Etsy), you can build an easy mailing list that is simple to use. (Here's an article I found that can show you how to do this.) If you don't mind paying for a more versatile service try ConstantContact or VerticalResponse (or one of the many other newsletter programs). These will allow you to create HTML newsletters, get stats and creatively manage your contacts.

This does take a bit of work to set up, but once you have your mailing list established, you can easily contact your best customers and let them know of your new items for the holidays or a sale! Another great way to use this is to send out a newsletter a week before the last day they can order from your shop in order to get their package before Christmas to let them know the deadline is fast approaching!

Tip: Remember to ask your customers to opt-in to your mailing list! Emailing about a promo without permission is considered spamming.

Blogging

If you don't have a blog yet, now is the time to set one up! Like newsletters, blogging can keep you in touch with your customer base and let them know about your holiday specials, new designs, deadlines for holiday ordering and more. In addition, you can get your customers thinking about the holidays early by pointing out what you are doing to plan for winter. Blog about gifts you might be giving to friends and family, decorating how-tos, your favorite holiday recipes, etc.

Tip: Create a weekday series (for example: "Tuesday's Tips for Holiday Decorating"). This will keep you — and your readers — coming back to your blog!

Social Networking

In a previous article, Pimp My Shop, I wrote about the importance of social networking. Here are a couple of ideas for utilizing social networking sites over the holidays:

Offer an exclusive special or free gift with purchase to all your contacts on one social networking site. This will reward your contacts for following you and make them feel special!
Spend some time wishing your contacts a happy holiday season. Here's my suggestion: No flashy graphics! Just leave a personalized comment to those of your contacts who you are familiar with (ie. past customers, Etsy friends, bloggers). For example, "Dear DeeDee, Thank you for supporting me this year! I wish you all the best and hope it doesn't get too cold in Colorado this winter! Happy Holidays!"

Tip: Now is the time to add one or two more social networking or social shopping sites to your daily routine. Try Indiepublic or StyleFeeder (if you haven't already).

Advertising

Freshen up your advertising and start early! Put together a frosty photo-shoot and get some great crisp shots to use in your online advertising. Think snow, icicles and glitter! Get those holiday ads out right after Halloween, which means you should be lining up your favorite place to run online ads now. Don't know where to get started? Check out your Blog Roll. Many of your favorite blogs offer adspace, and if they don't they might start with you, just ask! Another great resources is a site called ProjectWonderful, where you can bid on adspace for as little as $0.25!

The holidays can be an exciting and fruitful time of year for sellers. Make sure you've done what you can to bring in new customers and connect with your previous customers. These tips should help you start to form your plan.

Need more inspiration for your holiday marketing plan? Remember to join us this Thursday (September 4th) at 4:00 pm EDT in the Treehouse of the Virtual Labs! This will be the first in a weekly discussion on organizing your shop for the holidays. Hope to see you there! And make sure to check back for more Holiday How-Tos!

Etsy in Action: Upcoming Events August 29 — September 5, 2008

2008-08-28T14:55:00Z

Enjoy the summer and its many leisurely outdoor activities while they last—just a few days remaining! Let us know what's happening in your area by sharing in the comments below.

Seattle, WA: August 30 — September 1, 2008

Explore the finest selection of regional indie crafts, imported treasures from around the world, and other interactive surprises at Bumbershoot's Indie Market! Etsy Admin missbatch and objecked will be joined by a few Etsy sellers. (For a sneak peak check out the related items below!) You will find us at the International Fountain, hope to see you there!

This just in: Naughty Secretary Club Book Release Party

Austin, TX: August 30

Join in the fun at Craft-o-Rama, Austin from 3-6pm. There'll be make-and-take projects, Craft Magazine subscription sign-ups, door prizes, snacks, and... of course the Naughty Secretary herself, Jennifer Perkins and her brand new book, Naughty Secretary Club: Working Girls Guide to Handmade Jewelry!

Call for Artists!

Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn Indie Market is looking for Steam Punkers to contribute to their fashion show and Steam Punk themed day! For more info contact Kathy Malone.

That's all for this week! Are you doing something crafty this weekend? Let us know in the comments below!

Etsy Cooperative Advertising Program: Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion, December/January Issue

2008-08-19T11:20:00Z

* Update: The Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion Cooperative Ad will go on sale today, August 26, 2008 at 2:00pm (ET). We are sorry for the inconvenience. *

Here comes the next installment of the Cooperative Advertising Program — Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion!

In case you're not familiar with this program, here are the important details:

Etsy will purchase ad space in various magazines, subsidize the cost, and design the ads.
Etsy Sellers are able to purchase spots in the ad at the discounted rate.
You will get to display your shop name, an image of one item, its price, and its category.
The limit is one spot per seller, per advertisement.

This ad will be in the December/January issue of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine.

30 spots will be available to sellers at a price of $75 each.
Spots will go on sale on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 1:00pm (ET).
Spots are purchased in the same manner as a Showcase.
If you successfully buy a cooperative ad spot through Showcase, your item photo and information must be sent to adam@etsy.com no later than 3:00pm (ET) on Wednesday, September 3, 2008.

About Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion

Paid Circulation is 353,859
Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion is published 6 times annually.
The theme of the December/January issue will be Home Companion Holiday, and it goes on sale November 4, 2008.

Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion inspires its readers to unleash their “artistic spirit” to attain personal style and meaning in their lives. The magazine focuses on art and artists, home design and decoration, creative do-it-yourself projects and artistic travel destinations.

The Mary Engelbreit brand has been built on the principle of living an artful life. This artist-turned-lifestyle-maven believes your home should be a personal reflection of whom you are and what you value most, that design and decorating doesn’t come from a textbook, but from the heart. Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion provides readers with a mix of art and whimsy, a lifestyle that follows inspiration rather than fashion trends, to bring comfort and enjoyment to her loyal fans.

A few facts about Home Companion readers:

Median household income is $87,000.
99% are women.
86% took action as a result of reading Home Companion.
90% purchased handmade objects of art.
71% do home decorating.
97% say interest in creative arts will continue to influence their lifestyle.

Upcoming Ads:

Bust: December issue: 30 spots, $90 each. Spots go on sale at 1:00pm (ET) Thursday, September 25, 2008.

Venus: Winter issue. 30 spots, $25 each. Spots go on sale at 1:00pm (ET) Thursday, October 2, 2008.

FAQ

1. What is the Cooperative Advertising Program?

By purchasing a spot in a Cooperative Advertising Program, Etsy sellers can show off their items in an Etsy-branded magazine advertisement, reach new buyers, and help boost their sales and shop awareness. Print ads in popular magazines are often priced out of reach of small entrepreneurs. Etsy is able to purchase larger ads for more impact, and let sellers buy into the ads.

2. How does it work?

Etsy reduces costs to sellers by subsidizing the ads. We pay half of the cost. The cost to you is the remaining amount, divided by the number of spots for sale.
Sellers get to display one image of an item from their shop, its price, its main category and their shop name. The appearance of the ad is similar to our homepage. See the original article for an example.

3. How do I purchase a spot?

1: Go to the Showcase Gateway.
2: Choose "Cooperative Ads - Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion Showcase." There will only be one date to choose from.
3: Hit the "Purchase" button. The fee will be added to your normal Etsy bill.

4. What do I do next?

You'll receive a conversation from Adam with details, and we will need the following from you:

Your shop name.
The price of the item.
The main category that the item is listed under.
A high-resolution photograph of your item. This means 300 dpi, at 1.25 inch (L) x 1 inch (H) size.

If you need help with photo issues, please ask, and Adam will send you detailed instructions. If you already have a photo that you like, great! If not, check out some of our photography tips.

We will need your image by 3:00pm (ET) on Wednesday, September 3, 2008 to give us time to lay out the ad and meet our deadline with Home Companion.

5. How many spots can I reserve?

You can purchase one spot per advertisement.

6. Can I cancel a spot after I've made a reservation? Is the fee refunded?

We will only cancel and refund spots under very special circumstances. Deciding you are no longer interested in your spot does not count. If you feel like you really have a valid case please email adam@etsy.com.

7. How do I know if the current Cooperative Ad is right for me?

Do some research! We'll provide helpful info for each ad as it becomes available (see above). And, it may be helpful to visit your local bookstore or newsstand to see if they carry the magazine. Remember, there will be more of these Cooperative Advertising opportunities available in the future, including Craft, Venus, and Bust. If you don't feel like Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion is perfect for you, there will be other opportunities...