Search results (tags) for: "outdoors"

Etsy Video 2009: Year in Review

2009-12-31T15:12:00-05:00

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As 2009 comes to a close, we here at the blog are taking time to reflect on an exciting year in video for Etsy. We met and collaborated with many incredibly talented Etsy artists and had a chance to delve deeper into who they are and what they make. We launched a new video series about home decor and collections called There's No Place Like Here. We look forward to 2010 as a year to explore more amazing spaces, discover new narratives and show how makers do what they do.

We compiled a playlist from our Handmade Portraits, Process and There's No Place Like Here video series to highlight some of the Etsy sellers who have worked with us over the past year. See our free iTunes podcast for all of our videos.

There's No Place Like Here
Artists and designers invite Etsy into their homes to reveal their collections, creations, and uniquely customized living spaces. Find out what captures these tastemakers' imaginations, where they unearth their treasures, and how they have fine-tuned their aesthetics. There's No Place Like Here! Take a peek at Made With Love By Hannah's German chalet, overflowing with vintage kitsch, in downtown Los Angeles. Design duo Something's Hiding In Here give us a tour of their renovated Philadelphia loft full of woodland vintage and an indoor porch swing. Tour the Santa Cruz grounds of Niki Silva's communal living paradise La Selva.

Handmade Portraits
What makes the creative mind tick? Discover the story behind the maker in this mini-documentary series. Handmade Portraits introduces viewers to the creative universe that is Etsy's community. Canadian artist Sarah Faber of Black-Eyed Suzie creates delicate, Gothic art dolls that evoke Victorian times. It took woodworker Fred Jakubiec from Birdhouseaccents 25 years before he made building birdhouses his full-time job. It was well worth the wait.

Process
Get into the creative flow with Etsy's Process series. These illuminating videos provide an intimate glimpse into the relationship between artist and material. Witness the techniques behind the design lifecycle. It's a truly transfixing experience to observe Kim Westad throw one of her signature Sweet Pea bowls on the wheel in her tranquil studio. BeyondthePicketFence is not just a soap maker; she's her own research and development lab — one might go as far as to call her a bathmatician.

[Clockwise from top: Recycled Cotton Tote Bag by forestbound, Maximum Fringe Necklace by iheartnorwegianwood, Vintage Paint-by-Number USA by somethingshidinghere, Ivory Tulle and Pearl Bridal Shrug by Holly Stalder, Girl with Band-Aids by mimikirchner, White Sea Glass Pendant by wildpen, Naked Twirly Vase by Kim Wested, Primitive Birdhouse by birdhouseaccents, Little Bunny Felted Mary Janes by prettylittle]

Thanks for a great year! Post your favorite Etsy video in the comments.

Watch more videos!

From Etsy's Merchandising Desk: October's Hearth and Home

2009-09-03T16:30:00-05:00

It's that time again, and those of us behind the scenes at Etsy would like to share our merchandising plans for October. As we continue to plan Etsy’s calendar for the year ahead with thematic merchandising, we will be incorporating many of the concepts you shared in response to September's report and continue to welcome your input. It is our goal to create a healthy balance between promotions for traditional holidays, seasonal changes, and lifestyle trends.

A special note to sellers about the holidays:

For many sellers, the holiday season typically generates the majority of sales for the year. It’s a time when repeat customers visit to make new purchases, and a motivational factor for new customers to buy. You may notice our promotions around the holiday gift-giving season beginning in October. Shoppers are planning their purchases ahead of time and beginning to look to Etsy well in advance for gift ideas. Think of October as a good deadline to have your best gifts and holiday items listed (with multiples in stock!) to make sure you are taking full advantage of the busy and fruitful shopping holiday season we are anticipating.

Here is part one of a two part series of seller tips regarding the holidays:

Merchandising is Storytelling: Many shoppers become buyers when they identify with the story and inspiration behind the product. This is particularly true for handmade items. Buyers want to connect with you. Share your story with short paragraphs and informative keywords.
Good Photographs Rule: Shopping online is increasingly reliant on visual messaging. Invest in crisp, clean photographic images. When using models, emphasize the product, and refrain from over-styling.
Materials and Fabrication: Always inform shoppers of the material content and never take for granted that shoppers understand how your items are made. A short paragraph describing what goes into the handcrafting process is helpful and reveals pride and generates respect.
Name Your Products: When conceptualizing your latest products and collections, give careful thought to describing your creations with a name. Names can have a functional identity, one of humor, or simply a creative reference. Naming helps establish a connection with shoppers, and strengthens your brand, in addition to the name of your business or shop.
Gift-Giving Equals Gift Wrapping: Handmade gifts deserve to be gift wrapped. In fact, gift wrapping can often trigger a purchase, carrying as much weight in the decision to buy as the item itself. If gift wrapping is part of your offering, highlight this, especially going into the major gift-giving season.
Gift-Gifting for Me: Keep in mind that many of us who shop online may say we are looking to buy for a friend or family member, but secretly want to buy for ourselves. If your items are generally purchased as a gift, write copy encouraging your shopper to buy the item for themselves as well. If your items are not normally purchased as a gift, think in the reverse: write a testimonial about why the item is a novel gift idea.
Facts and Figures: Online shoppers are impatient, and they scan quickly for price, sizes, dimensions, and color choices. Ensure that relevant information is easy to see and understand.

Rounding out September

September marks the Autumnal Equinox and brings us into the full harvest, wherein we begin to plan for family celebrations and the holidays ahead. We toast the coming fall with wine, think about updating our homes with seasonal accents, and take ourselves a little less seriously with Halloween around the corner.

The first weekend in September marks Labor Day, a day when many take off to relax and celebrate this symbolic end of summer. It's a classic time for sales as the summer winds down and autumn nears; look for an extended Labor Day Weekend Deals promotion this weekend and find out how to get involved below.
After Labor Day, look for our full Halloween features to begin. We'll be highlighting all aspects of the holiday including costumes for adults, kids, babies and pets, decor for the home indoors and out, party solutions, trick or treating accessories, food and candy alternatives, the DIY side of Halloween, the best in Halloween trends and more. From the cute to the scary, no genre of Halloween will be left in the dark as we bring every facet of this favorite holiday to the forefront.
Coinciding with our Halloween promotions, you'll notice an alternative spin on our Handmade Weddings series highlighting both autumnal and unconventional approaches to pulling off a creative event.
Look for an Etsy spin on the fall season's classic and emerging trends in fashion, jewelry, and accessories. Fall trends already on the horizon have been leather shoes and boots with a vintage appeal, plaid inspired looks, neon colors, the statement (or "bib") necklace, high-waisted skirts and dresses, super skinny and super wide belts, and layering components. This is just the tip of the fall fashion iceberg, so keep your eyes peeled.
The harvest is a time to celebrate rich earthy tones and textures in our homes and the outdoors. Classically a time for focusing on domestic spaces, woodland themes, primitive and folk arts, along with rustic furniture and vintage highlights encompass many of our ideas for home decor.
The sapphire is September's birthstone, and September's astrological signs are Virgo and Libra (August 24 - September 23: Virgo, September 24 - October 23: Libra).
Promotional Opportunities for Sellers:
- Did you see our Sapphire Gift Guide? We've been looking for community suggestions and nominations for what items you'd like to see in the guide. Suggest your favorite sapphire-related items in this nomination thread.
- September's Weekend Deals Topics are posted below:
  - 9/3-9/7 Labor Day Weekend Deals, post your promotion in this thread to participate.
  - 9/11-9/13 Free Worldwide Shipping Weekend Deals, post your promotion in this thread to participate.
  - 9/18-9/20 Buy One, Get One Free Weekend Deals, post your promotion in this thread to participate.
  - 9/23-9/27 Discount Promotion Weekend Deals, post your promotion in this thread to participate.

Stay Engaged in October
Cooler weather brings the rich colors and smells of autumn as we look ahead to winter months and the upcoming holiday season. It's a time to focus on the indoors as our place to nest, entertain, and stay cozy. As we emphasize traditional seasonal themes throughout October and the coming months, we will also intertwine appropriate seasonal themes for those around the globe approaching warmer seasons.

The first weekend in October typically marks the end of Oktoberfest, a 16-day celebration originating in Germany where family and friends celebrate the festivities while indulging in all sorts of rich, hearty foods. As this favorite festival comes to a close, it sets the stage for the harvest season and bounty ahead.
Through the end of the month, emphasized promotions of the DIY side of Halloween and all it entails will take center stage on the site. From the cute to the spooky, we'll be featuring creative spins on everything in costumes, decor, entertaining, treats, and the best in Halloween trends.
October notes a shift into the seasonal harvest. Look for highlights in home decor that embody a harvest farm feel, woodland themes, rustic furniture, and vintage as decor solutions. We'll be talking about warmth and comfort with features of rich fabrics, fibers, and yarns. Think cashmere, industrial felt, silk, and wool.
As we think about the cozy home, we'll be making references to the hearth, candles, baskets and elements that lead us into autumn and winter entertaining. Look for highlights in tabletop accoutrement, the perfect food for your feast, references to the vineyard, invitations, menus, and hostess gift solutions as we plan to celebrate with family and friends looking ahead to Thanksgiving.
In a similar spirit of celebration, look for continued highlights from our Handmade Weddings series featuring DIY inspiration for creating an unforgettable affair. This month we'll be featuring the unconventional, autumnal, and an introduction to winter-themed celebrations.
Fall fashion highlights will begin to transition into a winter fashion preview, look for the beginnings of this preview with winter accessory features on bags, gloves, scarves, layering pieces, and those that embody cooler weather trends.
What's trending on Etsy right now? Woodland themed animals (think our antlered and feathered friends) continue to trend on Etsy, along with vintage cameras, vintage boots and the color shades of blue, rich harvest tones, mustards, neons, and neutral palettes.
Opal is October's birthstone, and October's astrological signs are Libra and Scorpio (September 24 - October 23: Libra and October 24 - November 22: Scorpio).
Promotional Opportunities for Sellers:
- In preparation for our Opal Gift Guide, we will be looking for community suggestions and nominations for what items you'd like to see in the guide. Suggest your favorite opal-related items in this nomination thread.
- October's Weekend Deals Topics are posted below:
  - 10/2-10/4 Halloween Discount deals, post in this thread to participate.
  - 10/9-10/11 Free Worldwide Shipping deals, post in this thread to participate.
  - 10/16-10/18 Halloween Discount deals, post in this thread to participate.
  - 10/23-10/25 Holiday Preview Discount deals, post in this thread to participate.
  - 10/30-11/1 Buy One, Get One Free deals, post in this thread to participate.

If you'd like to stay engaged and involved with the approaching merchandising themes, interpret them in your own artistic voice. This can be translated within your listings, photos, shop announcement, descriptions, tags, titles, sales promotions and more. We're excited to see your creative interpretations!

If you make items that would fit well with the themes outlined, try stocking up and listing them in advance to take advantage of potential shipping deadlines. Do you already have items in your shop that meld well? That's great! Now it's time to revisit those items to make sure your tags, titles, and descriptions reflect keywords shoppers might be looking for this time of year. This is also a great opportunity to revamp your item photography with a new look, if you think they need some work. Check out some great how-to's for item photography to get started.

If your items fall under the main thematic categories we'll be highlighting this month, it might be a great time to consider purchasing a spot in a Category Showcase. For those of you who enjoy making Treasuries, we'll be looking to highlight lists that interpret September and October's themes in a creative and cohesive way, as well as the many innovative and beautiful collections that we normally feature.

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 2: Sukkot begins at sundown
October 4: Oktoberfest winds down
October 12: Columbus Day
October 12: Thanksgiving Day in Canada
October 16: Boss's Day
October 31: Halloween

Do you have a date to remember that you don't see on the list? Let us know in the comments section below. We are currently working toward incorporating a more detailed calendar of international holidays into Etsy's thematic merchandising plans, so we're eager to hear which dates you would like to see included.

We’d like to hear from you!
We appreciate your support and look forward to your feedback and suggestions in the comments section below.

View More Merchandising Posts | Gift Guides

Etsy Finds: A September to Remember

2009-09-01T12:00:00-05:00

There is so much to love about September! Warm days and cool nights, bonfires on the beach, autumn canning and bulb planting are just a few of the reasons this is my favorite month. The September Shopping Guide is a sample of the month's best trends, including back to school gear, home organization, Labor Day and last chance outdoor entertaining, gift ideas for Virgos and September birthdays, Halloween inspiration and fall fashion. Harvest these and other fabulous September trends in Etsy's Gift Guides.

Back to School and Fall Organization

Small Shabby Chic Vintage Fan

From MyraMelinda, $30.

Search results (tags) for: "outdoors"

Etsy Video 2009: Year in Review

From Etsy's Merchandising Desk: October's Hearth and Home

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

Etsy Finds: A September to Remember

Back to School and Fall Organization

September Gardening and Food

Harvest and Halloween Ideas

Alice Waters' Edible Schoolyard

Principles of Edible Education

Recipe From the Edible Schoolyard Kitchen: Potato Smash With Kale

Party Planners: Garden Swap with Food & Wine Magazine

Ingredients

Directions

Special Subscription Deal for Etsy Friends:

Etsy Finds: Summer of '69

Party Planners: Picnic Party Like It's 1969 with Food & Wine Magazine

Ingredients

Directions

Make Ahead

Special Subscription Deal for Etsy Friends:

From Etsy's Merchandising Desk: September's Seasonal Shift

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

Party Planners: French Riviera Soiree with Food & Wine Magazine

From Etsy's Merchandising Desk: Hints of Harvest in August

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

Etsy Finds: What I Did On My Summer Vacation

Golf and Spa

International Adventure

Beach Fiesta

Ship and Shore

Into the Woods

Romantic Getaway

Etsy Finds Decor: Community Gardens

Party Planners: Firecracker Feast with Food & Wine Magazine

Etsy Finds: Party in the Back(yard)

Saucy BBQ

Candlelit Garden Party

Picnic in the Park

Nautical Clambake

Summer Entertaining Showcase: On Sale Thursday, June 25, 2009 12 p.m. ET

Party Planners: Seaside Clambake with Food & Wine Magazine

Etsy Finds: Nice Day for a White Wedding

Handmade Portraits: Birdhouseaccents

Etsy Pets: My Top 10 List for the Active Pet

From Etsy's Merchandising Desk: Outdoor Adventures in July

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

Etsy Finds: Adventures with Dad

Etsy Finds: Grill or Be Grilled

Etsy Finds: Play Hooky and Hit the Beach!

From Etsy's Merchandising Desk: Movement and Growth in June

Etsy Finds Vintage: Derby Style

May Day! Obby Osses, Maypoles and Dancing Abound

Celebrate Orange: Koninginnedag, Dutch Queen's Day, April 30

Etsy Finds Vintage: Into the Wild

Etsy Finds: Out on a Limb

From Etsy's Merchandising Desk: Open Air Adventures in May