Search results (tags) for: "promoting"

Handmade Kids: International Gift Guide Launches!

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:00:00 -0000

With all the Handmade Kids fun going on, we wanted to show a little love to the amazing international designers of childrens' items here on Etsy.

Take a spin through the Handmade Kids: International featured gift guide for a peek at the talent that abounds from all around the world. To see even more great global finds for kids, just search the tag "intlkids".

We'll be updating this featured guide throughout the next two weeks; be sure to check back often to see what's new.

If you're an international seller of childrens' goods and want to get in on the fun, see this article for details.

Handmade Kids: Voting is Open!

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:10:00 -0000

Thanks to all the entrants who shared their amazing wares in the Handmade Kids Challenge! We are constantly amazed by the creativity and talent of our community and this challenge was no exception. It was difficult going, but we've narrowed it down to roughly forty finalists for each Challenge category. Now we need your help to choose the Members' Choice Winners, and you might even win a prize yourself, just by voting! Here's how:

Vote now for your favorite items in the Handmade Kids Challenge for a chance to win one of 14 Etsy Shopping Sprees, valued at $350 each! Voting closes September 8, 2008 at 11:59pm EDT. Click here for details or just go VOTE NOW!

The Rules:

You may vote only once in each category*.
Once your vote is cast, it cannot be changed.
If you have multiple Etsy accounts, you may only vote with one. Violators will be disqualified from the competition and risk having all accounts banned from Etsy.
You must be a registered member of Etsy to vote. It's easy and free to join; sign up here.
All Etsy members are welcome to vote, but only US residents are eligible for the Sweepstakes.

*Be sure to vote in all seven categories. Each vote in each category is an individual entry in the Sweepstakes--and another chance for you to win! For complete Sweepstakes Rules and Regulations, please click here.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our guest judges from Boingboing, Cookie, decor8, Martha Stewart Living, Ohdeedoh, Parents and Treehugger. They will be choosing the Expert Panel Winners and with so many amazing finalists, we're happy to have their help! You can learn a bit more about each of the judges here.

Thanks and best of luck to all! Well, what are you waiting for? GO VOTE!

For our International friends, the Handmade Kids International Gift Guide is launching soon and will be announced shortly!

For more on Handmade Kids, check out the series!

Back to School Decorating Showcase: On Sale Friday, August 22, 2008

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:51:00 -0000

Dear Sellers,

It's the start of a new school year, and many students are looking to make a new room their own. An empty dorm room can be an overwhelming blank slate; help out in the decor department with some great picks to make a home away from home more comfortable. A screenprinted poster, a new mug, push pins and magnets, blankets and rugs are just a few ideas to spruce up a room. These items would also make great care package ideas, housewarming gifts or just give a much-needed revamp to a tired room.

In order to keep the Showcase on point thematically, the tool will only pull in items placed in the following categories: Art (e.g., top-level tag being "art"), Books and Zines, Candles, Ceramics and Pottery, Furniture, Geekery, Housewares, Plants and Edibles and Quilts.

The Back to School Decorating Front Page Showcase goes on sale Friday, August 22nd, 2008 at 12 pm EDT.
Go to the Showcase Gateway to purchase a spot.
This showcase goes live on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 12 am (midnight) EDT and will run until 11:59 PM EDT on September 7, 2008.
For $15 USD, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24 hour spot in the The Back to School Decorating Showcase, which will be linked from a prominent banner on Etsy's homepage.
Sellers determine which item will be featured in your Showcase slot. Sellers must use the tool in Your Shop. Read more about this process here.

Future showcases

If you are thinking about planning for other showcases that may be more appropriate for your items, here are some of the themed front page showcases that are coming up:

Fall Fashion Showcase: On sale Thursday, September 4th, 2008; live from September 7th-September 21st, 2008.
- Think clothing, bags and purses and accessories.
Autumnal Showcase: On sale Thursday, September 18th; live from September 21st-October 12th, 2008.
- Think autumn colors, halloween, leaves, pumpkins, costumes and all things fall.

What is this Showcase thing? For a general introduction to Showcase, read Matt's Storque article 13.5 Questions about the Showcase, and for deeper thoughts on figuring out if Showcase is right for you, see Beth's Showcase Deconstructed article.

Handmade Kids: Spanning the Globe

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:46:00 -0000

*8/26/08: The Handmade Kids: International featured gift guide is now live. Check it out for a just a peak at the talent that abounds from all around the world. To see even more great global finds for kids, just search the tag "intlkids".

We'll be updating this featured guide throughout the next two weeks; if you're an international seller of childrens' goods and want to get in on the fun you can continue to tag your items for consideration in the guide during this time period. Read below for details. Be sure to add your city and state or region plus country under location in Your Etsy. Thanks!

Dear International Sellers,

We know Etsy is a great place to find one-of-a-kind items for kids and families and we want to tell the world about it! That's why we launched the Handmade Kids project. Our hope is that all sellers of children's related product, regardless of nationality or location, will benefit from the promotion of Etsy as a unique shopping destination for families.

With the Handmade Kids Challenge, we called out to US sellers to show off their best products for kids and have the chance to win prizes in the process. We wish we could offer the same invitation worldwide. However, extending a contest across many countries and many legal jurisdictions is complex, and we regret, at this time, Etsy is unable to do so. We know that half of the fun is just being involved. So, to spread some of the Handmade Kids' love around the globe we want to give you, International Etsians, the chance to shine. Here's how you can be involved:

1. Be a resident of any country that is not the United States of America.

2. Have an Etsy shop. (If you don't have an Etsy shop, learn how to open one here.)

3. Make an excellent product for kids, an accessory for parents, or something for an expectant mother.

4. Take great photos of your item(s).

5. Tag up to 3 items* in your Etsy shop between now and August 21, 2008, with the tag: "INTLKIDS". (You may add the tag to existing listings.)

That is it.

Our panel of expert judges will then curate international products and feature them in a special International Handmade Kids Gift Guide, on the Storque, in a series of front page treasuries, and generally just try to highlight some of the amazing work from the international community. The International Handmade Kids Gift Guide will run from August 26 to September 9, 2008.

Merci, Danke, Gracias, Obrigada, Sukran, Mh goi, Dank, Toda, Efharisto, Arigato!

Thanks,

Etsy

* If an item you have tagged sells out before the entry period ends, feel free to tag another item in your shop for consideration.

Team Tip: Press Releases!

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:27:00 -0000

In previous Team Tips, we've discussed places and creative ways to promote your Etsy Team and events. Press releases are a tried and true method of getting the word out about what you're doing. A press release is a statement prepared for distribution to the media and a great (and inexpensive!) means of promoting an event. It is basically a mini news story that demonstrates to editors and journalists the newsworthiness of an event or group. There are a few really important things to remember when creating a press release; we outlined some critical points below.

Getting Started

Choose your Targets. Who are the people you want reading this story? Brainstorm all the places that people in your target demographic might visit to find news. If you're a location-based Team, this probably means both on and offline publications. Narrow the list down to the six or eight that you think get the broadest visibility for your Team's event.
Identify your Contacts. Many newspapers, magazines, blogs or news websites will have information somewhere about who to send your press release to. If your press release is for a crafting event, you may want to find the lead arts and entertainment journalist for the publication. Sending your press release to the right person at an organization can make a big difference. Do not spam a contact—have one person from your Team send the press release once for each event. No one likes an inbox crammed full of duplicate information.

Write the Press Release:

Closely follow the standard formatting of a press release. Look at this sample press release for formatting. Since journalists receive so many press releases each day, they have set standards and expectations that you must conform to just to have your release read, let alone published.
Write in the third person. Emulate the language/headlines you see in the publication you'd like to be published in.
Think and write like a reporter! Your goal is to do this so well that the journalist will want to publish your story "as is." The reporter is looking for a story that will satisfy an editor and the readers. They're not interested in promoting you, only in crafting a story that will make readers think "Wow, that's interesting." What makes your story different and special?
The lead paragraph should include the who, what, when, where and whys of the article. If you're promoting a specific event, make sure to include dates and location on your materials. State whether there's an entry fee or RSVP.
Once the details are established, include a quote or statistic if possible to ground your piece, and pertinent links whenever applicable. Link your story to the "big picture." Why is this story news, as opposed to simply being an advertisement for your event?
Include great images. While the press release itself should adhere to formatting rules, additional promotional materials can really help the story shine. Find out what the newspaper/magazine/blog's requirements are for image size and resolution, and stick to those guidelines. Use beautiful photos. Don't overwhelm the reporter, just include a few strong images.
Proofread! Show your press release to people you know who are good writers and harsh critics. Make sure it passes muster before you send it out into the world.

Follow Up
If you have the opportunity, try to ask attendees how they heard about your Team and the event. If it's an online event, follow up via email with buyers to inquire about how they found your shop or items. Share this information among your Team members next time you meet, to determine what the most effective means of promoting was. You might also send strong, clear photographs of the event with a wrap-up report to blogs, papers or other places the press release was published, summarizing the success of the project, and giving dates of future similar events you may be planning.

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 really 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!

Handmade Kids: Last Chance to Enter the Challenge!

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:33:00 -0000

Attention artists and designers!

There are just a few hours left to enter the Handmade Kids Challenge! The deadline is today, August 15 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, so it's time to get cracking! (See the contest page for all the details; complete Challenge rules here and a few tagging questions answered here. REMEMBER: ONLY 1 ITEM MAY BE ENTERED IN EACH CATEGORY FOR THE CHALLENGE!)

There are lots of chances to win* and promote your work in the process! Judges are lining up as we speak from Parents, Martha Stewart, Cookie, Ohdeedoh... and more! Stay tuned for the details.

*Hint, hint: We've noticed very few entries in the furniture category. Think mirrors, benches, shelves, storage items, fixtures, hand-painted and decorated furniture items...

For our international friends: Don't forget to tag your items for a chance to be featured in the Handmade Kids International Gift Guide. You have until August 21 to enter. The gift guide itself will launch at the end of the entry period (in time with the Handmade Kids Challenge voting period, so the same media eyes involved in the judging will have a chance to see your wonderful wares). Have a look at this article for all the details.

And finally, taste-makers: Remember, August 25 through September 8 is your chance to vote on your favorite entries in the Handmade Kids Challenge! Stay tuned for details. Eligible members will be entered in the Handmade Kids Sweepstakes simply by casting their votes. Check out the complete Sweepstakes rules here.

Thanks and best of luck to all!

For more on Handmade Kids, check out the series!

Handmade Kids: Enter the Challenge Now!

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 22:30:00 -0000

Hey designers and artists: The clock is ticking! You have just over one week left to enter the Handmade Kids Challenge before the August 16th deadline! (See the contest page for all the details; complete Challenge rules here.)

Since the challenge launched, a few questions have come up regarding tagging, so please allow me to clarify:

* Elligible individuals may only enter one item per category. Multiple entries per category will be disqualified. You will have until the end of the entry period (August 16) to make sure just one item per category is tagged for the challenge.
* If an item you have tagged for the challenge sells, not to worry; we will still be able to access it for consideration. NOTE: If you plan to re-list a sold item, be sure to remove the challenge tag before you do so.
* It's fine to add the appropriate Challenge tag to an existing listing in your shop. Just make sure you do this before the deadline.
* If you change your mind about an item and want to take it out of consideration, just edit the tag section of the item listing in "Your Etsy" to remove the Challenge tag. However, it is not possible to edit a sold item listing.
* Hats should be tagged as accessories and not placed in the clothing category. Hats made of recycled, upcycled, organic or vegan materials may be included in the eco-friendly category. (Yes, you may enter one hat in accessories and one in eco-friendly.)
* Paper goods do not have their own distinct category for this challenge. Please use your best judgment as to where your item would fit best. Depending on its purpose or materials, a paper item may be entered as art, home decor, or if it uses recycled materials, as eco friendly.

(We realize there may not be a distinct category for every type of maker on Etsy. We invite entrants to flex their creative muscles and create something new that does fit the Handmade Kids Challenge categories.)

Click through for more information on the Handmade Kids Challenge. There's also a helpful FAQ on that page.

Tastemakers: Remember, August 25 through September 8 is your chance to vote on your favorite entries in the Handmade Kids Challenge! Just by voting, elligible members will be entered in the Handmade Kids Sweepstakes. Check out the complete Sweepstakes rules here.

For our international friends: Don't forget to tag your items for a chance to be featured in the Handmade Kids International Gift Guide. Have a look at this article for all the details.

Good luck to all!

Community Chatt With Matt: Holiday 2008: Ready, Set, Promote!

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:03:00 -0000

Please join me in the Treehouse Room of the Virtual Labs this Friday, August 8, at 12:00p.m EDT for our weekly community chat.

Times on the Virtual Labs Lobby are displayed in your local time.

Topic: Tips to Promote Your Shop for the Holidays

This week we will be having our second of four holiday 2008 discussions. Holidays in August? Yes, that's right, the holidays will be here before you know it and now's a great time to prepare and promote! We'll be talking about the basics of getting the word out about your shop with special tips for this holiday season, including how to successfully pitch the press and use the web to your best advantage.

Stay tuned for upcoming chats focused on merchandising, shipping, customer service, and production.

About Community Chatt With Matt:

Each week Etsy admin Matt invites you to join him for a live, online discussion of topics of interest to the Etsy community. Our intention is to give buyers and sellers alike the opportunity to speak directly and candidly to Etsy Admin. We listen, take notes, and make sure that everybody who wants to gets a chance to speak. We can always be reached at community@etsy.com with more ideas and suggestions.

You can view minutes from past meetings HERE.

Back to School Fashion Showcase: On Sale Thursday, August 7, 2008

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:00:00 -0000

Dear Sellers,

Some people are already back to school, some are lucky and have a few weeks. Whether at school or thinking about it, many are considering what they will need to spruce up their back to school (or back to work, for some of us) wardrobe. We are looking to feature back to school fashion items in this showcase, such as dresses, shirts, skirts, pants — or that special first day of school outfit. Think clothing staples for all ages.

In order to keep the Showcase on point thematically, the tool will only pull in items placed in the Clothing Category (i.e. top-level tag being "clothing").

The Back to School Fashion Front Page Showcase goes on sale Thursday, August 7th at 3:00 pm EDT.
Go to the Showcase Gateway to purchase a spot.
Said showcase goes live on Tuesday, August 12 at 12 am (midnight) EDT and will run until 11:59 PM EDT on August 25.
For $15 USD, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24 hour spot in the The Back to School Fashion Showcase, which will be linked from a prominent banner on Etsy's homepage.
Sellers determine which item will be featured in your Showcase slot. Sellers must use the tool in Your Shop. Read more about this process here.

Etsy in Action Special: the CNY Group

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:45:00 -0000

It is a bit of utopia to meet up with other Etsy sellers to discuss this place we love. Many of us do this through our teams and Flickr groups, but occasionally we have the opportunity to meet face to face. On August 1st, seven of us from Central New York did just that. Organized by Jane Porter aka janetexcat at the studio she and her husband Rob maintain in Hamilton, NY, we sat drinking coffee and discussed everything from picking a catchy username and taking great pictures to the best practices of being seen in searches. Drawing from a 30-mile radius, those of us present immediately bonded over the challenges and triumphs of our Etsy shops.

We live in a very rural region making it logistically challenging to form a team, but the Porter Studio has become a hub of Etsy activity. Jane and Rob believe that “art education helps develop important processes of inquiry, creating, sharing, and community.” They are dedicated supporters of Etsy, wanting to “foster the individual’s creativity and help develop business and marketing skills for artists.” By opening their studio for these free discussions, they are doing just that — at a grassroots level in an area where many of us live miles apart.

This was the third in a series of informal Friday morning discussions designed to educate artists and artisans about the outlet Etsy gives us to sell outside the area. The first two focused on an introduction to selling and this last one was intended to be my story of finding success on Etsy when I could not find a market for my purses locally. As Dana aka danasaylordesigns said afterward, “we all learned something new and I hope to apply some of the tips to grow my business to full-time.”

We intend to keep the conversations, and coffee, flowing, as there are many other small businesses in the area that will benefit from finding an international market on Etsy. By gathering together, in person, we found a sisterhood in the grassroots mentality that is the heart of the Etsy philosophy.

Those of us present:
Betsy Busche Cross aka spongetta
Jane Porter aka janetexcat
Dana Saylor aka danasaylordesigns
Lisa Oristian aka kissingdog (Coming Soon)
Elizabeth Kinne aka rarefinn (Coming Soon)
Jeanne Angell aka lonesprucealpacas
Kitty Steward

Read more about what's going on with the Etsy in Action series.

Team Tip: Card Swap!

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:52:00 -0000

Card swapping is a low-cost, easy way to get your shop's name out. By swapping cards with members of your Team, you can promote each other's shops by word of mouth and give potential customers something to remember to check it out. Team members personally recommending a shop means the buyer is more likely visit, mark as a favorite, recommend to a friend, or even buy something for themselves. Most Etsy Team members who are sellers have business cards with their Etsy shop addresses on them. There are countless ways to make these cards to promote your shop, including inexpensive ways to make cards yourself, using stamps or having them printed in bulk.

To begin the swap, post publicly however your Team communicates (through email, a Flickr or Google group, etc.) announcing a call for participants in the swap. Card swaps are most effective when the swapping occurs between shops with complementary styles. Consider your target demographic and the demographic of the other shops you are swapping with.
One person should be in charge of collecting all the mailing addresses via email from participants. Set a deadline for sending in addresses (there should be an end date to the swap).
Once the emails are collected, compile a list or spreadsheet with all of the addresses. If there are fewer than 12-15 participants, send the whole spreadsheet to everyone on the list. If there are more than 15-20 participants, break the list into smaller, more manageable lists, and send each list to the members of that list.
Each participant sends a small stack of their business cards to each address on the list.
Once the cards are received, each participant includes cards from other members in packages they mail out from sales in their shop, or distributes the cards in person to potential buyers or at craft shows or markets.

Your Team can organize card swaps as often as you see fit, and organizers can take turns putting the swaps together. Enjoy! And get creative about what types of promo items and cards you swap, and how you distribute the cards you receive from the swap!

Quit Your Day Job: bonspielcreation

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:19:00 -0000

Ellen of bonspielcreation first started selling on Etsy in December of 2005. She was able to transition her Etsy business from a side project into a full time venture while working her day job in the design industry. Ellen had a goal, planned well in advance, saved money, and tested her brand over time before ultimately taking the plunge. This Canadian Etsian is currently working on expanding her product line and takes regular afternoon chocolate breaks to fuel her through the rest of the day. Keep reading to find out more about Ellen's business and some great tips if you're thinking about following in her footsteps.

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
Yes! At the time I found out about Etsy (Dec. 05) I had already built my own website. When I first started selling on Etsy (my first sale was a little canvas belt bag, on my birthday in 2006), I was straining at the creative constraints of my job and wanted to branch out on my own. I knew I wanted to sell retail online, but I had no idea how big a part Etsy was going to play.

How long were you selling on Etsy and working your day job before deciding you were ready to switch over to Etsy full time?
I guess I decided in November of 2006 that I would be ready to quit my job in spring of 2007.

What made you decide to quit your day job?
I worked as a designer, seamstress and unspoken supervisor/trainer/general mentor for a small fashion design house. I had started feeling constricted by my workplace, in terms of how far I could take designs. I loved working with others to create things none of us would have ever made individually, but the limits on what materials could be used — how much time could be taken on a purse, for example — were frustrating to me. I also wanted to make more money, and didn't see the company doing that for me. I wanted to plant my own garden instead of hoeing someone else's.

How did you know you were ready to take the plunge?
Well, I set everything up gradually, over a couple of years. By the fall of 2006 I had proven to myself that I could sell stuff online, and at local markets and a little bit of wholesale, too. I knew (from my job) what I was capable of producing (in terms of product), I had established my suppliers, honed my screenprinting and design skills, and purchased the equipment I needed. My self-employed income was consistent. I was paying for it big time with my shoulder freezing up from overuse, and I was a workaholic for a couple of years while I held down the real job and grew the pretend one. But it was worth it.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time before taking the plunge?
Yeah, I saved some money, a few thousand. I built my website. I (with my boyfriend Mike) moved out of a tiny crappy house and into a big roomy amazing one, so I would have a studio at home. Actually, every single thing I did for about a year and a half was focused on preparing to go out on my own.

What goals have you set for your Etsy business in the next few months and year?
My goal for the rest of this year is to increase my income by 30% by diversifying my product line (printing more t-shirts!) so I can get out of debt and go down to Palm Springs next February for a couple of weeks. My other goals are less time-specific, but I would like to have a bigger workspace so I can hire someone (gasp!) and expand.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business?
I haven't really promoted it much. I think the most effective thing I have done is to learn how to take really snappy photographs (no pun intended). And sales seem to beget more sales. I love my customers and want them coming back, so I treat them like gold. Gold, I tell you!

How's it going so far? Are you getting by?
It's going very well, I can't believe my good fortune most of the time.

Can you walk us through what a typical workday might entail now that you have quit your day job?
Okay.

I get up, anywhere between 7 and 10am (whenever I feel like, I don't use an alarm clock — sweet!).
I put the kettle on and make a cup of Twinnings Earl Grey tea (I do live in a British colony, after all).
Then I check and see if I sold anything while I was asleep and answer any conversations that got sent.
Then, depending on the weather, I either go stroll around my garden and water things/pick strawberries and other seasonal goodies first, or I go straight into the studio and start my day.
I don't usually have an itinerary. I used to make one, but found that I would never get more than a third of it done, and feel like a failure, so now I just make sure I do the important things (time sensitive Etsy orders, ordering materials, etc.) The projects kind of create their own flow.
I listen to CBC (Canada's public radio station) in the morning so I am somewhat informed about what's going on out there. In the afternoon I switch to music; right now I really like Brian Jonestown Massacre and Goldfrapp together playing randomly.
The day passes in a pleasant blur of cutting stuff out, printing it, sewing it, then if it's a mailout day, I start packaging things up around 2 and go to the post office (walking or on my bike).
I come back and work some more. Or, if I'm starting to get lonely, I go visit some of my amazing super crafty friends, (some of whom, mae, floatingoldiceberg and venacava, are on Etsy). I've come to realize how important it is to stay connected with friends, I tend to go the lone wolf route and get into a bit of a rut, but my friends inspire me in priceless ways.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job?
Let's see...I can't pick just one! No alarm clock, no mid-afternoon doldrums, no deja vu moments where you are sewing the same thing you sewed five years ago and the same song comes on that was playing the last time — argh!, the freedom to structure my day, complete creative and administrative freedom, working on a weekend and taking weekdays off if that is what works, no boss giving me the hairy eyeball, realizing that laughing my head off with friends could be the most profitable thing in my day (big ideas can come from those sessions). Oh, and writing stuff off.

What piece of advice would you give someone thinking about taking the plunge to sell full time on Etsy?
Oh, I'd have lots of pieces of advice! Learn how to take great pictures. Give your business some time to prove to yourself that it will work. If you have a job that is flexible, try to start weaseling out gradually while building your business. Eat chocolate at 1 in the afternoon, it will carry you on through.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I'm grateful for the opportunities I had in my "real" job to observe and learn so much about running a small creative fashion-oriented business — it's surprising to me just which bits of information have surfaced to help me out. Also, I'd like to thank all my wonderful customers while I have this chance — I'd be Nowheresville without you!

Thanks to Ellen for sharing her story and business with us! Check out the gallery below to see some of her items and you can find some of our previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

Team Tip: Improved Etsy Teams Blog Ring

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:00:00 -0000

Ever wish there was a way to browse through all of the Etsy Teams blogs and catch up on all the wonderful, amazing things Teams are up to? Look no further, faithful Etsy Team Blog reader, as we introduce a new Etsy Teams Blog Ring. All Blogs run by Etsy Teams (this Blog Ring is not personal blogs, sorry!) are welcome to join in, and can find instructions on how to do so here.

What is a Blog Ring and why should you check this out? A Blog Ring is links that have been placed in the sidebar of a series of blogs, that enables you to click through and read related blogs. With the Teams Blog Ring, you can now easily flip through to learn what the most active Etsy Teams are up to, find specials, information on events, and learn a lot more about many Etsy Teams. We're really excited about this tool for catching up with fantastic Teams!

There are probably some of you scratching your heads and thinking, "But I thought there was already a Teams blog ring?" And you're right, there was. The previous Teams Blog Ring had some technical issues, so this Teams Blog Ring is the real deal from here on out!

MOO Now Offering Full-Sized Business Cards

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:30:00 -0000

Dear Sellers,

I love the small MOO minicards, and they certainly have their place, but there are some times when only a standard-sized business card will do. That is why I am so pleased to say that our pals at MOO have now added this option for you.

In case you didn't know, MOO is a printing company. They print beautiful products using images you upload directly to their site, and, thanks to an ingenious combination of magic and science, Etsy sellers can have minicards, stickers, postcards, and now full-sized business cards printed DIRECTLY from the product images in their shops.

Here's how it works:

1. Go to http://moo.com/etsy

2. Select the MOO product you would like to make with your Etsy images (in the following example, we’ll select MOO minicards).

2. You will be prompted to log into your Etsy account.

3. Once logged in, drag the images you wish to make into cards from the scrollable picture bar into the large white box underneath. You have the option to add all photos, add 10 random photos, or clear all of the photos from the screen by clicking the blue text above the white box. You can drag images to the left sidebar if you wish to remove them from being designed (we all make mistakes).

4. The next screen allows you to control the part of the image displayed on the card. You can crop, zoom, change positions, preview, reset, and even remove a photo if you don’t like the way it looks. When you have the desired look for your images, click next step.

5. The next screen allows you to design the back of your Moo cards. You can leave them blank, add a logo, or write up to 6 lines of text with the option to bold or color. For creative ways to use text on your cards, check out the article we wrote specifically for uses of MOO products!

6. The next screen adds your designed product to your cart and allows you to make more products if you like.

7. Click “go to payment,” review the items in your cart, edit them if you like, and check out with either Paypal or your credit card!

Click here to get started making fresh products for your Etsy shop now!

Remember, it's not the size of your MOO cards, it's how you use them.

Check out the Labs' how-to with a plethora of ideas for using MOO products for your Etsy shop.

Quit Your Day Job: thewren

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:52:00 -0000

I wanted to share the "Quit Your Day Job" story of Wendren from thewren with all of you, particularly because her story is a unique one. Wendren lives in South Africa and worked a traditional day job before deciding to take the plunge. She found herself preoccupied with thoughts about sewing and her dream for running her own business while at her day job and before signing up on Etsy, decided to quit working for others and start her own business here on Etsy, thewren. She now enjoys waking up to check her email, walking her dogs at her leisure and canoeing. Keep reading to take a peek behind Wendren's business.

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
Yes. It was always the goal — to be able to do what I love most and make a living out of it.

How long were you selling on Etsy and working your day job before deciding you were ready to switch over to Etsy full time?
My story is quite different: I quit my day job to sell on Etsy without the guarantee that it would work. I was selling my bags locally to friends and family and decided to jump in the deep end, quit my day job and give Etsy the best bash I could.

What made you decide to quit your day job?
Every day I could not wait to get home to sew. Every moment I was sitting at my desk at my day job I was dreaming about Wren and its possibilities. Working full-time and working Wren full-time was not possible. I was too passionate about Wren and it was all I thought about…and to not follow this passion was to live unhappily and a lie.

How did you know you were ready to take the plunge?
I didn’t know I was ready. All I knew was that I was not enjoying my day job (at all) and I needed to do something different. I did not feel I was living a life I wanted to live. I did not want to spend the majority of my day (and week) not doing something that I enjoyed or challenged me. Ultimately, I needed to do something else, and Etsy was that something else.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time before taking the plunge?
I saved (money), I wrote a brief business plan, I created a timeline, I wrote out my goals and the goals I wanted thewren to achieve and I tried to prepare myself mentally for the change.

What goals have you set for your Etsy business in the next few months and year?

I would like to move Wren out from my flat (and) have a studio to work from.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business?
By word of mouth, through blogs and through my own blog. It is amazing what a bit of viral marketing does. I have recently discovered forums and I think they are a great medium, too.

How's it going so far? Are you getting by?
Yes and no. I am getting by with a bit of help from freelance work, but steadily Wren is growing and I believe that if I persevere through the beginning stages, it will get there.

Can you walk us through what a typical workday might entail now that you have quit your day job?
It is quite difficult to say what a typical workday is because every day is completely different (another great thing about quitting my monotonous day job). Generally, I get up and I cannot help but check my email first. I love seeing what has happened overnight. Then I have breakfast and wander back to my computer where I write the day’s post for my blog. Once this is done it is usually around 10 o’clock and I begin my ‘practical’ work. I haul out my fabrics and assemble a few bag stories. Then I head out to the Post Office to ship the previous day’s orders. I then head back home to take photographs of new bags and upload them into my shop. On odd days I spend some time reading, journaling or playing with fabrics to develop new patterns or ideas. In the evenings I go canoeing as I have just taken this up competitively again. Then it’s supper time, more email and internet browsing, commenting and finally bed. That’s my day in a nutshell.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job?
I feel as though I have my life back. If it is a beautiful day, I can take my dogs for a walk in the morning. I get to enjoy the sunshine now, I get to do what I love, what challenges me and I can experience the rewards. Every day feels like a gift I am enjoying fully now rather than wishing minutes away.

What piece of advice would you give someone thinking about taking the plunge to sell full time on Etsy?
It is not easy. Financially, it is a huge strain, but I think it is worth it in every way. I am happy now, even if I am more stressed.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Etsy has given me an opportunity to do what I love every day.

Thanks to Wendren for sharing her story and business with us! Check out the gallery below to see some of her items and you can find some of our previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

Quit Your Day Job: knittydirtygirl

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:45:00 -0000

When I heard Rachel-Marie's account of quitting her day job to sell on Etsy full time through her shop, knittydirtygirl, I just knew you all would fall in love with her story! Here's a woman who knew she was in a profession she didn't love, and in the end took a huge risk in quitting her day job while at the same time discovering she would be expecting her very first child; how stressful is that!? She knew she wasn't financially prepared to quit, but she had the drive to try, and since taking the high road, has found a way to make it work for her and has never looked back. You can now find Rachel-Marie on the internet at all times unless she is taking care of her brand new baby, Occy, her stepdaughter, Zoey, or crafting away for her Etsy shop.

When you first started selling on Etsy did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
I joined Etsy Nov 02, 2005. Here is a funny picture of me and Chris of Etsy from 2005 taken at a Philly Etsy Street team meeting. Straight out of college I had high hopes of a career in my field, even though I was already slightly burned out on graphic design. At that time, I was so young, barely 20 years old. I had no idea how to manage my own business. It seemed overwhelming and far fetched. It was only through trial and error, and much encouragement from peers, that I managed to become an "I quit my day job" story. Oh, and I have to comment here that my "day" job, was an "evening" job. I worked roughly 4PM-11PM.

How long were you selling on Etsy and working your day job before deciding you were ready to switch over to Etsy full time?
About 3 years.

What made you decide to quit your day job?
This is a hard question for me to answer. I don't want to be a Negative Nancy but I am going to be vaguely truthful. So, to balance out this bit of yucky honesty, I will show you a silly picture of me in the wind. It was taken in December 2006. I was waiting at the bus stop, on the way to my old full time job. Let's just say I found out really quickly that I physically cannot play old school office politics. I keep it real, I cannot sit around watching people get screwed, watching myself get screwed. It was a very negative work environment. People in my department were quitting left and right, and it was agonizing seeing new hires go through the same process. I decided it would be best to quit before the next new guy started. I knew I would snap and end up making a scene, walking out, if I didn't quit then. Once I realized I could take no more, I typed up my resignation letter and let fate handle the rest. Financially, I was not ready to quit, but I knew for my sanity's sake I had to. I pushed it to the limit.

How did you know you were ready to take the plunge?
I knew that I would rather risk being grossly poor than stay there any longer. I had been trying for months to get a new job, but nothing worked out. I got an interview for a company that sold really dangerous lawn chemicals, I canceled it. I started lining up waitressing interviews because I knew we were in trouble, or so I thought. I never knew what risks laid ahead! Back at my full time job, my coworkers remarked at my growing bust line. I laughed and said "It's great, I'm gaining weight, but only in my bust!". Two weeks later, after I had quit my day job, my husband and I huddled together in our little apartment bathroom. I had just taken my second pee test to find out we had our firstborn on its way.

My husband, after graduating college about 3 years before this said day, was working temp jobs. We were really scared. So I guess what I'm trying to say is I knew we weren't ready to take the plunge, but I did it anyway. Here is a picture of me the night I handed in my resignation, February 23, 2007.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time before taking the plunge?
I tried to plan ahead as best I could. I built up my business for 3 years, invested money into my business while I had a decent paying job. I registered my business name, tax ID number, all of that.

What goals have you set for your Etsy business in the next few months and year?
My current short term goals include:

To use more natural, less processed, fibers.
To create more "art".
To make items from my heart.
To experiment and learn new techniques.
To keep my current customers happy, and make new customers.
To build a better blog following and to improve my writing skills.

My long term goals are:

To write and illustrate a children's book.
To get published more often.
To stay involved with my arts group, Lancaster Indie Arts.
To contribute to more gallery shows.
To improve my sewing skills.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business?
Listing often is the number one marketing tool I use. It only costs 20 cents and it gets me the most attention out of anything else I have tried. If you list items with beautiful pictures often, you can get into Treasuries more often, and on the front page more often. Getting on the front page of Etsy, that's the ticket. I have paid for a few advertising spots in different types of media. Craftster.org has been the most successful spot for me.

Here are all of the tools I use to market myself: livejournal blog, myspace, facebook, ravelry, an e-newsletter via googlegroups, flickr, Etsy Chat, and Etsy Forums. I also try and give back as much as possible by leaving comments and favorites. If you are only putting yourself out there to self-promote it becomes stale very quickly.

How's it going so far, are you getting by?
It's going very well, I am very happy. I am SO happy. Things just got better and better since February 23, 2007. My business makes enough money for my part of the bills, and is growing year after year. I got married in March of 2008, my husband got a good job at Comcast. I am so thankful to be at home with my baby boy and my stepdaughter. This seems to have been the right path to take! Thanks, Etsy.

Can you walk us through what a typical workday might entail now that you have quit your day job?
Key:
Zoey = 5 year old stepdaughter
Octavian "Occy" = 9 month old baby

Wake up at 8AM. Change Occy's diaper. Make Zoey breakfast. Take photos of items made the night before, list them on Etsy. Put photos on flickr. Breastfeed, diaper. 10 AM put Occy down for his morning nap, read Zoey a chapter from Matilda by Roald Dahl. Put Zoey's Bratz video game on for her. Feed baby Occy lunch, diaper, breastfeed. Make lunch for Zoey, spill lunch on floor, remake lunch. Diaper, breastfeed. Send Zoey out to play, put Sesame Street on for Occy and work a little at whatever I can do depending on how fussy baby is, breastfeed. 4PM Occy goes down for his afternoon nap. Zoey goes to her Nanny's house. I take a nap. 5 PM do dishes, clean up. Play with baby, take a walk with dog, breastfeed. Take more pictures, list yarn that was drying from this morning. Put Occy's baby 365 days picture up on Flickr. 9PM my husband comes home and we go through the baby's bedtime routine. 10PM I sneak away to the basement garage where I write my blog and work on my artwork. I stay up until 1:30 AM at the latest, then I tap out, go to bed. Repeat.

Here is a picture of my family on memorial day 2008, and a picture of me spinning on our futon during a normal workday. My whole day includes the internet. I am pretty much online all day long. I'm an addict/workaholic. Plus it's nice to have company besides the children. Bless you, Etsy Chat.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job?
Being at home with my baby. Being my own boss! I often have to remind myself not to be a mean boss. I'm the only employee. I try to take advantage of working for myself as much as I can by taking naps, spending time with my kids, and saying no to things that I don't want to do.

What piece of advice would you give someone thinking about taking the plunge to sell full time on Etsy?
I don't think you can really plan to quit your job. I think you need to put your whole heart, soul, and time into your business in order to see the fruits of your labor. It's very difficult to see results when you work somewhere else 40 hours a week and have a family. So, my advice is, don't be too hard on yourself, get some balls, and quit. If you struggle at first there are ways to balance out your income, I waitressed for a few months until it became a waste of time. I eventually made more money working at home than waitressing those few hours a week.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Peanut Butter!!!!!!!!! No, really. I am very thankful and blessed. I realize how good I have it. I appreciate every single minute I get to work at home.

Check out the photo below to see how Rachel-Marie uses recycled packaging and fused plastic bags to brand her business and stay green:

Thanks to knittydirtygirl for sharing her story of success with us! Check out the gallery below to see some of Rachel-Marie's items. Check out some of our previous Quit Your Day Job posts.

Team Tip: Form a Shop Chain!

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:20:00 -0000

Now that Etsy sellers have the ability to include live links to other places on Etsy in their shop announcements, public profiles and item listings, Teams have a great opportunity to promote one another from shop to shop! For example, let's say that pheajean, aardwolf, mwmdesigns, insitudecorativearts and JenMcCleary from the Philadelphia Etsy Team decided to form a chain throughout their shops. Setting that up might work a little something like this:

They should all agree on a little blurb of information to include with the live links. For example, a good, descriptive sentence might be, "Click through the shops listed in our announcements to find all the creative work of the Philadelphia Etsy Team," or something similar, followed by a link to the next shop on the list, with the last person linking back to the first shop.

pheajean would post: "Click through the shops listed in our announcements to find all the creative work of the Philadelphia Etsy Team - http://aardwolf.etsy.com" in her shop announcement.
Then aardwolf should include: "Click through the shops listed in our announcements to find all the creative work of the Philadelphia Etsy Team - http://mwmdesigns.etsy.com" in her shop announcement.
Pidge from mwmdesigns would post: "Click through the shops listed in our announcements to find all the creative work of the Philadelphia Etsy Team - http://insitudecorativearts.etsy.com" in her shop announcement.
insitudecorativearts should post: "Click through the shops listed in our announcements to find all the creative work of the Philadelphia Etsy Team - http://JenMcCleary.etsy.com" in her shop announcement.
And JenMcCleary would link back to the top of the list, and write: "Click through the shops listed in our announcements to find all the creative work of the Philadelphia Etsy Team - http://PheaJean.etsy.com" in her shop announcement, bringing the chain to full circle.

Promoting the work of your Team members by promoting their shops is a big way for Etsy sellers to join together to help bring each other success! Be creative about other ways you can all drive more traffic to one another's shops. Forming a strong alliance among your fellow Teammates, encouraging each other and working as a group is what Etsy Teams are all about. We'd love to hear your suggestions in the comments below!

Service Tips for Sellers: Promoting Repeat Business

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:25:00 -0000

Dear Sellers,

Did you realize that the way you communicate with your customers can actually promote repeat business? We've put together a list of tips, tricks, and snippets of advice that we gleaned from the forums, the Virtual Labs chats, sellers, and the admins that are sellers here at Etsy Central. Add these to your repertoire of skills that in turn, promote repeat business.

Communicating on Etsy:

Talk to your customer. Simply acknowledging that you received the order and providing an estimated ship date will go a long way to build customer confidence. This also might eliminate some of those inititial questions your customer might have.
- For example: "Hi SallySue, Thank you for your recent purchase and for helping to support my shop. I plan to ship out your xxx on xxx date via priority mail; you can expect to receive it within 3 business days. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me with a conversation."

Return convos and emails quickly. Answer them! What may seem like a simple question may not be so simple to your potential customer. Who knows — perhaps they've never bought online before! Treat your computer like a store front. You need to be there and "man the shop" for your customer.
Referrals. If you can't accommodate their requests, but know another Etsian that can, by all means, refer them! You won't go out of business by letting Mrs. Nice Lady know that Shop Over There has just what she wants. This will build trust with the customer and they will likely feel even more comfortable buying from you in the future or recommending your shop to a friend.
Create an opt in mailing list. You can invite your customers to sign up for your mailing list by providing them with instructions on how to do so in your shop announcement, profile, and item descriptions. Some people do not want to sign up for extra emails, so be sure to let them know you will never spam them. Try inviting them to sign up for something enticing, like receiving exclusive sales and shop updates before anyone else.
- For example, "If you'd like to stay in touch with me and my shop, receive exclusive sale invitations, and be the first to know when I'll be listing new items, please join my mailing list. You can click the 'contact seller' link and provide me with your email address to be added to my mailing list."

Start a blog. Blogging about your shop updates, works in progress, sales, and general life experiences will create a sense of style and make your shop a little more human. Many shoppers want to know a little more about who they are buying from and some will want to come back to read the updates and potentially be enticed to shop.
- A few examples of blogs we think are doing a great job of this are Inside a Black Apple and Kitty Genius.
Shop for a cause. Some customers feel good about coming back to shop if they know that some of the proceeds are going toward a good cause. Offering a percentage of your proceeds to an organization you care about might be something to consider. You can also make them feel good about buying from you by making your products as environmentally friendly as you can.
Be honest. If a customer is only able to buy one thing, and they ask you your opinion, be honest. Don't automatically go for the most expensive thing. Go for the thing that is right for them. For example, Mrs. Nice Lady is asking about a bracelet that you can make over again, and then is asking about a bracelet that is one of a kind; let her know which one can't be done again.

Create excitement with your shipment:

Excellent packaging. When you take the time to create a nice package, your customer will be wowed by the entire shopping experience, remember how they felt when they opened your product, and want to shop with you again. Find out some great tips and tricks for excellent packaging in this article.
Include a note. Include a personal thank you note in the package as one more way to say thank you to your customer and let them know how much you appreciate their business. This will help make your customer feel appreciated and they will want to shop with you again to help support your business.
When you can, offer a little extra. Try to add a little something extra in with your package as a freebie. If your customer receives more than they were expecting, they will remember the experience. When sending freebies in your packages, remember to keep them relevant to what they person ordered and useful; for example, if someone orders a large batch of beads from your shop, some extra matching beads of a different design might make a great freebie. Get creative with they types of things you can offer to entice your customer to want to come back and shop with you.
Coupons. Everyone loves a discount! One of the easiest ways to promote repeat business is by including coupons for repeat shoppers within your shipment. It will not only let your shopper know that you care about them and want their business, but they will most likely shop in bulk knowing they will receive some sort of a discount.
Make it worth their while. It's very important to be able to stand behind your products. A unique product that is quality made will be one that your customer can rely on. Make sure your item descriptions are accurate and that you are representing exactly what you are marketing.

Things to avoid:

Inappropriate Freebies. Candy or heavily scented products do not generally make good freebies, unless your customer purchased something like candy, baked goods, or scented products from your shop. There are too many folks out there with allergies and sensitivities to foods, so it's best to just play it safe and steer clear of these types of goodies.
Misrepresenting your items. Never misrepresent your item in your photos, descriptions, or other form of marketing. You want to exceed your customer's expectations, not send them something they thought was one thing, but is really another. This is a quick way to get your shoppers running far, far away.
Writing off unhappy customers. Take the opportunity to try to satisfy your unhappy customers. When you make it up to an unhappy customer, they might just end up feeling valued and return to your shop.

How do you handle a mess up or unhappy customer?

Let's face it: sometimes transactions don't go the way we hoped or planned and we end up with a less than satisfied customer. Before you write them off forever, try to keep in mind that trying to turn their frown upside down is in your best interest. When you encounter an unhappy customer, chances are they are going to spread the word about their shopping experience to their friends and family. Similarly, if you can manage to appease your customer and take an extra step to assure they are satisfied with their experience, you can bet they will be just as vocal about what a wonderful shop you are to everyone they know. So take that deep breath, and see if you can extend a solution to the problem.

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The following advice and personal selling story comes from Lori Anderson of Limamike:

How many times have you been asked, "Can you discount that?" You probably reacted by either:

1) Biting your tongue and then explaining why your price was fair, that you MADE this beautiful piece of art they are now holding, etc, etc, until the customer's eyes glazed over and they handed you their charge card.

2) Caving in immediately and discounting your already-priced-too-low piece of wonderful beauty.

In the first instance, you're doing what we all should do — explain why what we make is worth what we charge. But an opportunity is missed to invite that customer to come back and buy even more of your lovely things. In the second instance, you've started a precedence that you'll have a hard time getting out of. You will now hear, "But you discounted once, why not this time?" I've done both; the biting the tongue, and the caving (Sometimes at the same time — oh yes. It can be done.). I've since come up with a method that works wonders for me and has made my internet stores and my craft shows successful.

When someone asks me if I can cut the price, and they're a first-time buyer, I explain to them that no, I work hard to make my prices very fair considering the time and materials that go into them, but I DO reward repeat customers, and if they would like to either receive an email newsletter, or receive a postcard when I'm in their area for craft shows, they'll then receive 10% off their next purchase.

My email newsletters go out every 2-3 weeks, feature two pieces of jewelry, info on my next craft show, and a fun little factoid (about my blog, a featured artist, etc). People who get newsletters get secret sales that no one else gets, and when I tell them that, it's like Christmas — eyes light up. Everyone loves to be part of an exclusive group, particularly when the words "free shipping" and "discount" come with the package.

If the email newsletter recipient gets tired of it and unsubscribes, I just ask them if they would prefer to keep their discount by getting a postcard instead — and the answer is 99% yes.

For people who hate email, get too many emails, or have just chucked their computer out the window because it crashed for the umpteenth time, the postcard works. I explain that they don't get the secret sales, but they DO get 10% off at my craft shows, and at the end of the year.

The majority of my sales are repeat customers. Those customers come back to my store or my booth, and they bring their discount coupon, but they *also* bring their friends. I've gotten to KNOW these customers, because they come back. They feel comfortable buying from me. Sometimes they forget to bring their discount card, but I know them, and I give them the discount anyway.

I've added up my sales over the years to see if the repeat customer discount has hurt my income. It most certainly hasn't. It's helped. With a discount, people tend to buy more, and buy more comfortably. The new customers now know that they can "join the club" if they like. If they don't want to share their email or address, I won't treat them any less kindly, and I'll still back up my work 100%. But there IS a way to make a discount work for your business — it's all in knowing when to give it.

A big thanks to Lori for sharing her story and tips for promoting repeat business with us! We are looking forward to your feedback and questions. Etsians know the power of sharing best practices, so we want to hear from you. Please share your own tips and advice for promoting repeat business as an Etsy seller in the comments section below.

More about Service Tips for Sellers Series: Running an online business has many perks, like the ability to remain somewhat anonymous behind a computer screen (maybe even in your 'jammies). But that computer screen does not preclude interaction with customers. Rather, good online customer service may be even more important: it gives buyers the peace of mind that they are buying from a trustworthy and reputable seller. Being an online entrepreneur offers the opportunity to provide excellent communication, create a friendly face for your shop, and promote repeat business, all while remaining behind the curtain.

Art of Pricing | Legal Info for Artists | Shop Makeover Series | Service Tips for Sellers

Etsy Design Face-Off Part III Back with a Vengeance: The Votes Have Been Tallied

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:14:00 -0000

We received some amazing Etsy logo designs as part of the Etsy Design Face-Off. The Etsy Community voted and the ballots have been run through our special vote tallying machine.

If you missed out on the Face-Off, check out the Competitions & Opportunities Featured Column within the Storque for more info.

Congratulations to argylewhale.etsy.com! The community has decided that design #1 is the supreme champion of Etsy Logos!

Design #1 by argylewhale

The Etsy Labs has printed a limited edition run of bandannas with her design, which are now available in the EtsyLabs shop. The community also expressed so much interest in the designs of JuliaPott and somethingshidinghere that we decided to print their designs on Etsy Merch as well.

Check out the shop for some amazing JuliaPott tote bags as well as Etsy stationary sets with the designs of somethingshidinghere.

Design #2 by JuliaPott

Design #5 by somethingshidinghere

Thank you so much to the Etsy Community and our featured designers for all their hard work and input. You are helping the Etsy Labs create a more diverse style of merchandise to offer to everyone interested in spreading the handmade love that is Etsy.

See posts in the Competitions & Opportunities series.

Team Tip: Creative Marketing for your Team

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:07:00 -0000

In marketing, just getting your name out there is great. But what's better than simply advertising yourself? Doing so in a really creative, memorable way. The best marketing tactics are the kind that people want to tell their friends about and really stick out in people's minds.

A few weeks ago in a weekly Teams Workshop in the Virtual Labs, a member of the fairly new Etsy Team EtsyPHAT (the Etsy Plants and Horticulture Arts Team) mentioned a promotional item their Team had designed — seed packets intended to be used for "guerrilla gardening" (read more about it in this Storque article!) — a slightly anarchist approach to greening abandoned open spaces. This very idea was intriguing to me from its first mention, since I live in South Philadelphia, an urban area in need of any greening we can get. And, lo and behold, a little package full of seed packets from EtsyPHAT appeared at the Etsy Labs recently. The handmade packets clearly promote EtsyPHAT, with the address of the Team's blog and instructions to search for their team tag on Etsy on the front, with directions on how to make use of the seed packet on the back. So brilliant!

Take a little time, schedule a brainstorming session with your Team, and consider how your Team can think outside the typical marketing box to creatively market itself — who is your Team's audience, and how can you engage them?

Team Tips are a weekly series of tips and ideas from the Etsy Teams. You can find more Teams Guides and Resources at team.etsy.com. Etsy Teams are growing really 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. Keep up the great work, Etsy Teams!

EGCG | Trashion | EcoEtsy | Environmentally Friendly Gift Guides | Earth Tones Series

Etsy Design Face-Off: Part III Back with a Vengeance

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:25:00 -0000

UPDATE:
Voting will be ending on Wednesday June 11 at 7pm Eastern time (that's tomorrow, folks!)

The Etsy Labs has noticed your requests for a more diverse style of promo merchandise and have created the Etsy Design Face-Off with the intention to involve you, our beloved Etsy community, in the design process of our new line of Etsy goodies.

The Etsy Admin have hand-selected three designers that are already doing an awesome job on the site. We asked them to create up to three new Etsy branded designs, and now it's up to you to decide whose Etsy Design will reign supreme! Just cast your vote for your favorite new Etsy Logo Design in the comments below.

The voting will be open until Wednesday, June 11, and the design selected by the community's vote will be screenprinted at the Labs and featured in an exclusive limited edition run of merchandise for sale in the official Etsy merch shop. This month's contenders will also have their designs featured on hundreds of Etsy promos that will be available at the Renegade Craft Fair on June 14th & 15th. Stop by and visit the Etsy booth to talk with admin and get some of your very own!

Let's Meet The Contenders:

This month's competitors are strong, established designers with a large bag of skills. With all artists weighing in at over 50 sales each, this match up is going to be a very exciting race!

On the Purple & Green platform we have argylewhale, hailing from right outside the Boston, Massachusetts area. She has been a member of Etsy since October of 2007 and has already sold over 81 items! You may have also seen her work at lazerbeanz where she collaborates on projects with her talented husband.

On the Green & Gold platform we have juliapott , hailing from the East end of London. She is a fairly new member of the Etsy community, joining in February of 2008 and has already sold over 51 items!

On the Pink & Blue platform we have somethingshidinghere, hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They have been a member of Etsy since May of 2007 and have already sold over 723 items!

Let's check out the designs!

Be sure to click on the designs below to view the full image, then cast your vote in the comments section by copying and pasting the following text:

My favorite design is (#_)!

#1 (argylewhale)

#2 (juliapott)

#3 (juliapott)

#4 (juliapott)

#5 (somethingshidinghere)

#6 (somethingshidinghere)

#7 (somethingshidinghere)

If you'd like to discuss the Face-Off or your favorite designs, please do so in the dedicated Face-Off Forum discussion. Please try to leave the Storque commenting for voting only. Leave your vote below!

Summertime Fun: What Events Should Etsy Know About?

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:22:00 -0000

We're always looking for new places to promote Etsy and, while we've come up with a great list of events, we know there are a lot we don't know about. Does your town have a really great seasonal market that everyone loves? Are you a fan of a big music festival or maybe a kazoo convention that's attended by lots of people who might love to hear about Etsy? Think your County Fair would make a good place to promote Etsy?

Tell us about possible events for us to reach out to — we know the Renegades, Art Vs. Craft and Maker Faires (they're great!); we want to hear about other types of things happening around the world!

Leave a comment with the name of the event, location and dates, and we'll work on creative ways we can make Etsy visible at as many events as possible this summer!

Team Tip: Naming Your Event or Promotion

Mon, 19 May 2008 19:38:00 -0000

Team Tips are a weekly series of tips and ideas from the Etsy Teams. You can find more Teams Guides and Resources at team.etsy.com.

Your Team is planning the biggest, raddest event ever, and all you need now to blow it up, promote it and let people know it's happening is — a name. There are infinite possibilities, and since you're so excited about your amazing Etsy Team, you might want to include Etsy in the name. This week's Tip is an explanation of why this isn't always the best idea.

When Teams or other groups use the word "Etsy" when naming an event, people get confused about Etsy's role. For example, SarahSays notes that if a group uses the word "Etsy" in their event's name without getting permission first from Etsy, this can be legally problematic. Additionally, it can be problematic for the group running the event. For example, if a group names their event "Etsy World," the public will likely get confused and assume that Etsy is running or sponsoring the event. Because of the name, people will approach Etsy, and not the Team or the proper contact person, to request additional information about set-up times, tax issues and other event details. Since Etsy is not actually running the event, Etsy can't answer these questions.

This is frustrating to the people who want to get involved! The misnaming contributes to many missed communications and opportunities. To avoid these issues, Teams should cautiously consider how to name and promote their events. You can find more information on Etsy's trademark in this article.

So, how to let your shoppers know it's an Etsy Team event while keeping all the above in mind?

First, choose a name that catches the spirit of the event. What do the participants have in common (aside from your love of Etsy, of course)? Perhaps you all have a dedication to handmade, a specific medium, a location or a theme. For example, the Etsy Team in Boston created a recognizable brand for their events. This team uses the name "Boston Handmade" and brands their events likewise. Their giant event planned for June is called the "Boston Handmade Marketplace," and they're advertising that it features more than 20 Etsy sellers. This way people will be more likely to understand Etsy's role and what to expect from the event.

Second, include a brief description after the event name. You can include your Etsy URL on any promotional goods. For instance, after the title of the Event, you can write "with work by yoursellername.etsy.com" or "featuring 20 Etsy sellers." Or you can promote the event as something like "World Wide Crafts: Featuring Artists of Etsy.com."

It's important to keep in mind that, though we love all of the Etsy Teams, if Etsy is not directly sponsoring your event — give your Team the credit!

For more Team Tips, please check back each week. We'll be posting tips here in the Storque, as well as on the Teams Resource page. Also, we discuss the Team Tips and more at our Thursday workshops in the Virtual Labs. Or you can keep up with Team Tips, news and ideas by signing up for the Etsy Teams email list! Keep up the great work, Etsy Teams!

Team Tip: Post Your Event!

Mon, 12 May 2008 16:28:00 -0000

Team Tips are a weekly series of tips and ideas from the Etsy Teams. You can find more Teams Guides and Resources at team.etsy.com.

We get a lot of requests to publish events in various places around Etsy. We totally understand that your Team wants to promote itself and its amazing events. Since there are an ever-growing number of Teams (275 at last count!) and so many great things happening, we publish as many events as we can in the Team Digests regularly, here in the Storque (have your Team leader email your event or promotion to Teams@etsy.com to be included in the Digest). The Digest is always an interesting article, chock full of information, but maybe your Team wants to do a little more. This isn't a problem, because the internet is huge!

So where should you promote your Team event? Sites like Going.com let people browse by interest. Or you can have a group for fans of your Team on Meetup.com, for example, and let them know when your Team has an event. If you're a Global Team, you each live somewhere specific, so think about all the resources at your Team's disposal if everyone on the Team is promoting on location-based sites all around the world, all over the web.

Consider your town or city — is there a local forum or blog that lists things happening around town? Does your town's tourism board have a blog? Then, there's always good old Craigslist, a relatively easy and completely free way to post about your event and provide links to your Team's blog or shops. Also, think about specialized shopping sites — DailyCandy.com has different sites for different cities around the country; your Team might consider sending in a press release to a site that appeals to your Team's demographic.

The best thing to do is take a moment to consider what you read and where you get your information. How do you decide what to do on a weekend? The listings in a weekly paper? A blog full of local nightlife? Word of mouth through social networking sites? A local magazine with information on art shows? Check out how much a small ad or write-up is in the places you read, and if the publication is available online or only in print. More resources than you think are probably free. If there is a small cost, you can apply as a Team for an Etsy Team Grant and check if Etsy can help your Team cover the cost of advertisements. Recipients of Team Grants are also published in the Events Calendar. Remember: be creative, think local and make it big!

For more Team Tips, please check back each week! We'll be posting tips here in the Storque, as well as on the Teams Resource page. You can also keep up with Team Tips, news and ideas by signing up for the Etsy Teams email list! Keep up the great work, Etsy Teams!