Search results (tags) for: "your shop 101"

Shop Makeover Series: Pimp Your Shop for 2009

2008-11-21T14:34:00Z

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

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

Social Networking

Above: NeaWear tastefully "pimps" her shop on Facebook

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

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

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

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

Social Networking Sites:
Facebook
Myspace
Virb
Twitter

Social Shopping & Bookmarking

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

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

Social Shopping Sites:

ThisNext
Stylehive
Stylefeeder
Kaboodle
Wishpot
Zebo

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

Photo Sharing

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

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

Blogging

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

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

Above: PearsonMaron's Twitter always makes me smile!

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

More sites to check out:

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

Skill Sharing:
Instructibles
Thingiverse

Video:
YouTube
Vimeo
Blip

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

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

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

Here's a sample letter:

Dear Gold School Creator,

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

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

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

Happy Holidays,

Sally the Soap Star Hanky Maker

Keep these emails short, sweet, personalized and fun.

Getting Seen on Etsy

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

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

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

Troubleshooting

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

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

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

Etsy Holiday How-To #3: Creating Labels and Hang-Tags

2008-10-07T11:21:00Z

So, dear seller, you've just figured out how to wrap that 300 lb, giraffe-shaped menorah it took you 4 days to carve. Why not let your buyer know where it came from? Michelle from Etsy Labs gives you some creative techniques for labeling your loot in our third edition of the Holiday How-To series. Check out everyday materials you can use to make hang-tags and easy ways to put a little bling on your labels.

See more helpful how-tos about your indie biz in the Seller Handbook. Don't feel like making your own tags? Support your fellow crafters and get some from them! We'd also love to hear your crafty ideas for making hang-tags and labels in the comments below.

Handmade Hang Tags | Hang Tags in the Supplies Category

[This video was originally published October 12, 2007. We're bringing it back for the '08 season!]

Tech Update: Vacation Mode for Sellers now live!

2008-09-23T15:30:00Z

We're thrilled to announce today that we've just launched two new helpful tools for Etsy sellers to manage their shops: Vacation Mode and Batch Deactivate. These features provide different solutions for sellers to quickly and temporarily "close" a shop or make certain items inactive when they will be away from Etsy for an extended time. Read on to learn all about how to use these new tools in your Etsy shop.

When in Vacation Mode, items in a seller's shop cannot be purchased. The seller's shop will appear empty, with a special vacation announcement. The seller's items can still be viewed via a direct item link (if they are linked from an outside blog for example), and can still be Hearted (added to favorites), but will not appear in site searches or the Category Browser. Buyers can sign up to be notified via email when the seller returns from Vacation Mode.

How it works:

Your personal Vacation Mode settings:

From "Your Etsy" click on "Vacation Mode" under Shop Setup.
The Vacation Mode page has prompts for a vacation announcement, Convo auto-response, and on/off switch.
Enter your desired announcement message and Convo auto-response about being on vacation.
Leave the on/off radio buttons set to "off" if you are just setting up the process at this point and click "Save."

Turning Vacation Mode on and off:

When you are ready to go on vacation, click on Vacation Mode from Your Etsy and set it to "on" and save.
Your shop will now be in Vacation Mode and will function differently:
- Your Shop Announcement has been replaced with your Vacation Announcement.
- Items no longer appear in your shop.
- Any Convos sent to you will get an auto-reply.
- On your Shop page, Potential buyers will see a field where they can opt into having Etsy notify them when the seller returns from vacation. Their email addresses will be kept private.
- On all of your listing pages, a banner appears across the top announcing that the shop is temporarily closed and the "Add to cart" button has been replaced with a greyed-out "on vacation" notice.
- Your items no longer appear in Gift Guides, searches, Category Browser, flash apps such as Pounce, Colors, Shop Local, or Geolocator.

Once you return and are ready to turn off Vacation Mode and reopen your shop, log in and select Vacation Mode from Your Etsy.
Set vacation mode to "Off" and click "Save."
Your shop is now back to normal and your vacation messages are saved for future use.
Any buyers who signed up for an email notification will be sent an email from you alerting them your items are again available for purchase and the email notification list will be reset for future use.

Batch Deactivate:

Along with the new Vacation Mode feature, we have added an additional feature for deactivating (sometimes called placing in "edit mode") and reactivating multiple items at once. With this batch activate/deactivate feature, you can temporarily remove some listings from your shop so that they cannot be seen or purchased. Deactivated listings are not visible to buyers in the seller's shop. Listings also become inactive when you edit them.

How it works:

Log in and go to Your Etsy to see a list of your items currently for sale; you will see a checkbox next to each item.
Select the items you wish to deactivate and at the bottom of the page, click the button to deactivate the selected items and click submit.
You will see a notice at the top of the page telling you the selected items are now inactive, with a link to the list of inactive items.
When you are ready to place your items for sale in your shop again, go to Your Etsy > Inactive Listings and click the check box next to the ones you want to reactivate; then hit the Activate button.

FAQs

Q. Why would I use Vacation Mode for my shop?
A. This would be a great tool for sellers going on an extended vacation or for other occasions when they will not be able to check in regularly on their shops.

Q. How do I put my shop on hold while I am sick or on vacation?
A. To put your shop in Vacation Mode, go to Your Etsy > Vacation Mode. Enter a brief message to replace your normal shop announcement while you are away. You can also write an auto-reply message for your Conversations that will be sent to anyone who sends you a Convo during that time. Your items will be removed from view in your public shop, but will still appear in Favorites.

When you're ready to go on vacation, set Vacation Mode to "On Vacation" and click the red "Save Changes" button.

Q. When should I use batch deactivate instead of Vacation Mode?
A. Sellers may prefer using this option when they only need to remove select items from their shop for a special event, but do not want to take the rest of the items from their shop out of the regular Etsy search. Using the Vacation Mode feature will automatically temporarily remove all listings from your shop.

Q. How do I return from Vacation Mode?
A. Go to Your Etsy > Vacation Mode and set Vacation Mode to "Off", then click the red "Save Changes" button.

Q. When I turn off Vacation Mode or reactivate my deactivated items, will they reappear in the Gift Guides if they were in a Guide before?
A. No, the items will not reappear in the Gift Guides once returning from Vacation Mode or deactivation.

Q. Can I still work on my shop while away and set to Vacation Mode?
A. No, while set on Vacation Mode, you will not be able to do the following: create a new listing, edit a listing, or renew a listing.

Q. What will my listings look like when I am in Vacation Mode?
A. When your shop is in Vacation Mode, your items will not appear in your shop. But if someone has bookmarked or Hearted (favorited) a listing or reaches it from a link on an outside source like a blog, they will still be able to view the listing page. We'll show a notice at the top that you are away. The green "Add to Cart" button will be grayed-out until you return from Vacation Mode.

While in Vacation Mode your items will not appear in search, Gift Guides or the other shopping tools (such as the Geolocator).

Q. Will Vacation Mode automatically turn off?
A. No, you will need to manually turn Vacation mode on and off, even if your shop announcement says you will be back on a certain date.

Q. I'm a buyer. What happens if I sign up to be notified when a seller returns?
A. When a seller is away, a form will appear on their shop homepage letting you sign up for email notification when they return. When the seller’s shop opens back up, we’ll send a short message to the email address on your account. The message will come from Etsy, and will only be sent once.

Q. As a seller, can I see which buyers have signed up to be notified when I return? Can I customize the message they get?
A. In order to respect shoppers' privacy, we do not allow sellers to see which buyers have signed up for notifications. When you return from Vacation Mode, we'll send them a note to let them know you are back. The short message will come from Etsy and is not customizable. If a buyer would like to get in touch with the seller, the buyer can still send the seller a Convo even if the shop is in Vacation Mode.

Q. Will putting my items in vacation mode change the expiration date on them?
A. No. Just like when your item is inactive, the expiration date stays the same.

Q. Can I use the Conversation auto-reply feature without putting my shop in Vacation Mode?
A. At this time, no; auto-reply is only available for shops in Vacation Mode.

Q. Do I have to use Vacation Mode, or can I just post a note in my shop and/or listings that I'm away like I did in the past?
A. Ultimately, it's up to you as a seller to decide which strategy is best for your shop. Posting a notice and keeping your items active while you're away for a short time might be a viable solution for some sellers. Others may decide that they do not want to risk delayed communication or order fulfillment for customers and choose to use Vacation Mode or Batch Edit Mode. It's up to you; we're happy to provide multiple solutions so sellers can choose the best solution to suit their needs.

Q. Can I use the Conversation auto-reply feature without putting my shop in Vacation Mode?
A. At this time, no; auto-reply is only available for shops in Vacation Mode.

Q. Do I have to use Vacation Mode, or can I just post a note in my shop and/or listings that I'm away like I did in the past?
A. Ultimately, it's up to you as a shop owner to decide which strategy is best for your shop. Posting a notice and keeping your items active while you're away for a short time might be a viable solution for some sellers. Others may decide that they do not want to risk delayed communication or order fulfillment for customers and choose to use Vacation Mode or Batch Deactivate. It's up to you; we're happy to provide multiple solutions so sellers can choose the best solution to suit their needs.

As always, we welcome your discussions, constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement with this new Vacation Mode feature. Please use this Forum thread for discussion. We'll close commenting here so that we can consolidate discussion in one place.

Hope you are as excited about this feature as we are!

Holiday How-To: Sagittariusgallery's Top 10 Tips for Newbie Sellers

2008-09-18T11:25:00Z

Attention Newbie Sellers!

If you don't know Sagittariusgallery, you should. Not only a painter and an experienced seller, she takes it upon herself to share informative Newbie Guides on the forums (and on the Storque too — see here for her past posts). We invited her to list her Top 10 Crucial Holiday Rush Tips for Newbie Sellers.

The holiday season can be a maddening, glorious time for veteran sellers and newbies alike. For sellers who call the 2008 Holiday Season their first, it can be especially confusing, exciting, and stressful, not knowing what to expect and how to prepare. As a natural "fact finder" (not to mention online sales veteran of six years and Etsy seller since January 2007), I'm constantly looking for ways to make things more manageable, and of course, obsessively categorizing my findings and presenting them in countless forum threads ;)

So, without further ado, I present to you a list of 10 ways to make your life a little bit sweeter as a seller this Holiday season.

P.S. If you have your own helpful holiday tips, please feel free to share them in the comments! We're all in this together :)

1. Just because you post it, doesn't necessarily mean they will come. It is true that there is a "holiday rush" — but even the most successful Etsy businesses had to start somewhere. They needed to learn the ins and outs. They needed to advertise. They needed to learn their demographic, know their target audience...they had to teach themselves the marketing savvy they needed for their businesses to flourish. You need to figure out who you are selling to, find them, and bring them to you. Which brings me to....

2. Utilize targeted outside advertisement. It is up to us to bring potential customers to our storefronts. For example, several artists came together under AndyMathis' The Artist Collective and split the cost of a co-op ad in American Art Collector Magazine – our demographic. Know who your audience is and devise a marketing plan. You are directly responsible for your own success: Don't leave it to chance by dropping links everywhere without a plan. (See here for more advertising how-tos.)

3. Diversify your price points. Etsy has new buyers and sellers signing up every single minute of every single day, so there is no shortage of patrons for what it is you are offering. However, if you only offer products at one price point, you could be cutting out a big chunk of a viable customer base. As an artist, my originals are at a higher price point. I began offering prints of my work to be able to offer my artwork to a wider range of patrons who might not be in the market for a pricey original. My sister, a jewelry artist, offers lower priced earrings and zipper pulls as an alternative to her more expensive pieces utilizing higher end gemstones and metals. (See here for more pricing how-tos.)

4. Set certain times of the day or days of the week aside for certain tasks. Organization is key! For example, I ship on Tuesdays and Fridays. You might want to set aside certain days to ship, certain times of the day to check your email and respond to convos, etc. If it becomes a part of your routine, it becomes easier to keep it all under control. Budget your time accordingly and you'll be less pressed for time and end up less stressed at the end of the day. We all know stress kills productivity! (This post from a WAHM deals with organizing your work day.)

5. Have your shop policies clearly outlined and in order. During a busy retail season, it is wise to keep all pertinent information about your shop at your customer's fingertips. You need to account for the all important impulse purchases. It's not going to be an impulse purchase if a buyer needs to convo you and ask a question. Think of all of the questions you might ask a seller, and answer them within your shop, be it in the shop policies, profile, or the descriptions themselves. What courier do you use to ship your packages? What is your return policy? Do you offer expedited shipping? Do you offer multiple item discounts? Will you offer gift wrapping services? Would you consider sending the package straight to the gift recipient? Do you insure your items during transit? What about tracking? (See here for more policy how-tos.) Ahh...that brings me to another important tip....

6. Try to utilize courier pick up. USPS, FedEX, UPS and DHL all offer online shipping services. Don't want to stand in long post office lines this holiday season? Got a working printer with ink just begging to be used? This is the way to go. All you need is a postal scale (I got mine for 15 bucks on discount – just search online and you'll find them!). You can even order shipping supplies for free for Priority shipments through the Postal Service. (Remember, these free supplies are for Priority shipments only!) It's also important to remember that international shipments will still need to go to the post office directly, but having currier pick up for domestic packages is truly a time saver. (See here for more shipping how-tos.) Speaking of international shipments....

7. Offer international shipping! Etsy is an international site. If you are from the United States and only offer domestic shipping you are cutting out a huge customer base. Shipping internationally is not as scary as you might think. I know that is a big reason people end up holding back. Forms, rules, regulations: it seems daunting, I know. However, it's nothing to shy away from. If you have a question about a country's rules, USPS has a nifty area of their site where you can read up on what is and isn't acceptable as well as how much it will cost you to ship to any destination you choose. Bookmark it and pull it up anytime you have a question.

You can also go to your local post office and ask for a big stack of customs forms so you can fill them out at home instead of in one of the long lines at the post office. It saves time. I will say that the postal service is least expensive shipping option by far for international shipments. The rule of thumb: If it is under 78 inches when you add length and girth (you get the girth by wrapping the measuring tape around the package width wise), then you can send it through the post office to any international destination. Of course, it's important to consult your local post office if you have any questions. They are usually more than willing to help you out!

8. Expect the unexpected. You never know what could happen. Say you advertise in the right spot, a blog picks you up, you get featured, or you end up creating the "it item" for the Holiday season. Are you ready? Start preparation as early as you can to ensure you have enough stock, just in case. This is not to say everyone's shops are going to blow up with orders, but yours could. Plan accordingly.

9. Have a "stop date" in mind for shipping *and* custom orders. Keep in mind many people will be ordering closer and closer to Christmas for a special someone and will expect their gifts in time for the holiday. It might be best to put in your shop announcement the cut off date. With international purchases, it's important to remember that unless you send it guaranteed for a certain date delivery or express, there is no way you can guarantee that a purchase will be there on time. Be up front with your customers about what you can and cannot guarantee to them. They will appreciate it.

10. Last but not least, enjoy the time of year! Don't allow yourself to get overstressed and overworked. Only you know what you can handle. If you have too many custom orders and you've got a convo from someone about one more? Politely let them know you're booked, but appreciate their interest, and ask if you can put them on a waiting list. It's not rude to be upfront (but polite, of course!) that you already have enough on your plate. When you're stressed, it shows in your work — and you want to be able to give each piece (and customer!) the attention they deserve! We do this, after all, because it's what we love to do — and stress can make you want to tear your hair out and make you start to forget why you love what you're doing. Nobody wants that. So sit down, have a cup of cocoa in some cozy pj's, create something awesome and remember how cool it is to be doing what you do!

Read more how-tos for sellers. And post YOUR suggestions for newbie sellers in the comments below!

Holiday How-To: Offering Services

2008-09-08T17:00:00Z

Sellers: it's never too early to start thinking about the holiday shopping rush! During the holiday season last year, the Etsy Support Team learned a lot about the issues that sellers face when offering services to Etsy buyers. This season, you may want to offer some promotions and additional services to your customers, and we want to help you be prepared. This article will describe how to provide some of these extras and stay within the DOs & DON'Ts of Etsy. Please follow the links for further information on each of these topics.

Gift Certificates

When selling gift certificates, be sure to create a tangible, physical item for the listing. This could be a traditional paper certificate, notecard or even a digital file that is delivered to the buyer.

More on selling gift certificates in your Etsy shop in this previous Storque article.

Shipping Upgrades

To let buyers know that you can upgrade shipping at their request, you can mention this in your shop announcement, profile or in item descriptions. A buyer can let you know if they need upgraded shipping, and you can then revise the listing or invoice to reflect the shipping changes.

Check out the full article about holiday shipping concerns for more info.

Selling Gift Wrap

All items must be available for purchase, but without requiring other purchases to be made. To offer gift wrapping, the paper needs to be listed as a supply that can be purchased with or without another item. You could write in the item description that if another item is purchased, it can be wrapped in the paper.

For further information on offering gift wrap to your customers, check out this article.

Sales and Other Add-ons in Your Shop

Rather than create a listing to let buyers know about a promotion or add-on, you can include this information in item descriptions, shop announcement, profile or even your banner. Additionally, you can adjust the price of your item in PayPal or make arrangements with the buyer to refund her after she purchases.

How to edit a PayPal invoice to accommodate a price change.

Do you have any questions on these topics or any other holiday rush bugbear and you're concerned about what you can and cannot offer in your shop? Please feel free to contact Etsy's Content Team at content@etsy.com. Happy holidays!

Tech Update plus Customer Care Tip: Hello Policy!

2008-05-15T18:40:00Z

Dear Sellers,

We're all very excited to introduce the newest shop feature: The Shop Policy Page! Currently, most sellers post their shops' policies in either their shop announcement or profile, but we figured these areas can be better utilized for other your bio or promotions and news about your shop; it's time to give policies a special home. We hope that adding a new feature like this will help the communications between buyers and sellers, making transactions smoother and easier. Now there's a clear place where buyers can look for extra purchase guidelines and info, and sellers can worry less about any important information going unnoticed.

There are now links to your Policy Page from your main Shop page, right in between the link to your Profile and Favorites. Also, a link to your Policies will be included in each listing in your shop. You can edit your Policy Page from the Your Etsy page.

We are not requiring that sellers enter information into their Policy Pages; we welcome users to post their policies wherever they like. But we encourage it! Here is an introduction to the Shop Policy Page as well as some tips on what to consider when creating or modifying your shop's policy.

The following sections are available on the Policy Page; if you do not enter information into the section, its heading will NOT appear on your shop's Policy Page:

1. Welcome
Here you can welcome buyers to your policies; feel free to talk a little about your shop and your handmade or vintage items and supplies. Keep in mind that this is a buyer's first impression of your customer service. A message to let users know about your philosophy and creative process would be a great thing to include in your Welcome section.

2. Payment
Use this space to notify buyers of your shop's accepted payment types and deadlines for submitting payment.

3. Shipping
This is where to explain how you ship your items and when, if you offer upgrades or other options and what to do if a buyer has special shipping requests.

4. Refunds and Exchanges
Let your buyers know whether or not you can accept returns or exchanges on some/any/all of your items and if they have a time frame for contacting you regarding a return. If you do not offer refunds for shipping errors (ie. getting lost or damaged in the mail), this is a good place to mention that.

5. Additional Information
Do you welcome wholesale and consignment inquiries or custom Alchemy orders? This is the place to let everyone know! If you have any other tidbits that didn't quite fit into the other sections, go ahead and add them here.

Working out the best policies for your shop and business can be an ongoing process, sometimes you just have to deal with a bit of trial and error. Take some time to consider the following when adding information to your Shop Policy sections, but remember, your policies are up to you (as long as you adhere to Etsy's site wide policies: TOU and Dos & Don'ts).

PAYMENT
* Do you have the "other" option available? If so, the Policy Page is a great place to elaborate on the "other" types of payment accepted and how you handle will be invoicing the buyer.
* Is payment required within a certain time period? 24 hours? Three days? 2012?
* Is it necessary that you add tax for buyers from a certain state? Consult your local laws or check with an accountant if you're not sure ;)
* What should a buyer do if they need to cancel a purchase from your shop?
* Does your shop accept wampum? If you have any payment methods that need explaining, here is your space to do so.
* Do you require a verified address at PayPal? Must the PayPal and Etsy "ship to" addresses match?

SHIPPING
* Do you use USPS? UPS? Carrier pigeon?
* Are shipping upgrades an option? How/when should a buyer notify you of needing extra shipping options? Is expedited shipping available?
* Do you include delivery confirmation or insurance? Can they be purchased if it is not factored into the shipping rate?
* How do you package your items? Do you use recycled packing materials? Let you buyers know what they can expect.
* Can local buyers schedule a pick up? Please refer to this Storque article regarding safety.
* Do you offer international shipping? Is the buyer responsible for customs fees?
* When do you ship your items? Monday/Wednesday? Every other day? The full moon?
* How long should a buyer wait for a custom or made-to-order item to ship?
* Will you ship to a "giftee's" address?
* Does the buyer need to consider the weather or climate when expecting a package from your shop? Some items may freeze or melt in extreme temperatures, it's a good idea to let your buyers know how you will account for this.

REFUNDS and EXCHANGES
* What items in your shop can be returned for a refund or exchange? Are there sanitary issues with accepting returns on your items (in the case of earrings, underpants, bath & body products, etc.)?
* How long does a buyer have to contact you regarding a refund or exchange?
* Under what conditions will you offer refunds? Wrong size? Damage in transit?
* Who is responsible for the shipping cost of returned items?
* Can custom orders (if offered) be returned?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
* Does your shop have FAQs? What are they?
* What should a buyer do if there are options such as color choice or size?
* How should a buyer contact you? Convos? Ham radio?
* Do you offer discounts?
* Are you open to wholesale or bulk order requests? Consignment? Custom item inquiries? It's a good idea to let buyers know if these options are available and how to go about getting more information.
* Do you offer special gift wrapping or other gift services in your shop?
* Is your home pet friendly? Do items come from a non-smoking home? Do you craft outside where dandelions may end up in your art? If there are common allergens (like scents, nuts, animal products, etc.) you may want to use this space to notify your customers.
* Do you donate to charity? Buyers like to know this sorta thing about the shops where they spend their money. If you're crafting to save the phytoplankton, let the community know.

Remember, shop policy is just as unique as the handmade items in your shop, so Etsy admin can't decide what is best for you or your business. These are some guidelines to help you get started, so if you're not quite sure what will be ideal for you, perhaps consider asking some more seasoned sellers or find a local entrepreneur who can give you some tips. Don't worry, if you're not quite ready to lay down the law, filling out the Policy Page is optional but be sure to give some thought to your shop's policy before listing items for sale.

Please feel free to post your ideas, theories and beliefs about shop policies in the comments! Direct any questions to support@etsy.com. For sellers wishing to discuss their personal shop policies and best practices, please refer to this forum thread.

A Beginner's Guide to Starting a Shop on Etsy

2008-05-02T10:49:00Z

Want to get a shop started on Etsy? Don't know where to start? This guide will help you find the help you need to get your shop up and running!

What to Sell
First things first: you need items to sell! Make sure your items follow the Do's and Don'ts on what can be sold on Etsy before you get started. Need some inspiration? Check out this great article on Finding Your Etsy Niche by tortillagirl. Littleputbooks (one of our top sellers) has a great blog post about Making a Great Product.

Coming up with a Name
Piddix has a great blog post on Picking Your Etsy Name. And our own MaryMary has a great Storque article on deciding on a shop name here. I have one more tip for you. Make sure its "Google-able!" Sure the name "FriedChicken" might be memorable, but if you go to Google and search "Fried Chicken," your shop will be a needle in a greasy (yet delicious) haystack!

Banner and Avatar
Your banner and avatar can help you brand your shop, so try to make them beautiful! Here's a how-to on Making A Banner that I wrote a while back. If you are just getting started with photo editing you might want to try our magical Bannerator! You can do an Alchemy request for a custom banner. Or search "banner" on Etsy to find a talented seller to make you a banner!

Your avatar should be eye-catching and clear. (This is sometimes difficult because of the size of an avatar, so keep it simple!) Try showcasing your most beautifully photographed product!

Need more help? Try the Help guides here and here.

Your Profile
Buyers on Etsy want to know about who they are buying from. Make sure you tell them a bit about yourself in your profile, as connecting this way with a buyer will encourage them to support you and your craft, so don't be shy! SarasTextureCrafts has a detailed article on Crafting Your Profile Page, so read up! The profile is also a great place to share your shop policies (soon Etsy will have a separate spot for your policies). The EtsyWiki has a whole section devoted to shop policies.

Listing Your First Item
Listing an item is an easy four step process. This help guide will take you through each one. Here are some articles that can also help you with this process:

Photography
Photography is the most important part of your shop (in my opinion!). If you don't have crisp, clear and eye-catching photos, your sales will reflect this. The more professional and cohesive your photos look, the more confidence buyers will have in your shop. You may think you need a super-duper-top-of-the-line camera, but believe me, you don't. Images on the internet must be 72dpi (ie. not top printable quality!), so even a $150 digital camera will be just perfect! Photography takes a lot of practice, time and research, but once you get it right you will see your shop really blossom! Here are some articles to get you started:

Your First Sale
Now what? First things first, celebrate. The first sale is so exciting! Now once you have calmed down, check out the transaction page and make sure your buyer has paid. Package up your item and get it ready to ship (a hand written thank you note is always good customer service!). Send your buyer a quick little convo thanking them for their purchase and letting them know when you are going to ship. Ship your item, tick off the checkbox by your sold item, leave your buyer feedback and you're done!

Promoting Your Shop
Once you have your shop set up with at least a page of items, now is the time to promote! Here's great article to start with: Pimp Your Shop for 2008. Don't forget to try some offline promotions, too! Here are some more links to help you get started:

Need More Help?
So you're not exhausted yet? Well, ok! Here are some more great resources from the forums:

In addition, the Etsy Success Stories are always filled with inspirational tales and tips galore from prosperous sellers.

I hope this guide helps you get started! If you have questions or want advice make sure you join our Newbie Chats in the Virtual Labs (usually Tuesdays at 5:30pm EDT).

Experience sellers, leave our newbies some more words of wisdom in the comments below! What's your most important piece of advice?

Writing for an Online Audience: How-To

2008-02-25T15:53:00Z

Hi! My name is Deanna Roux, aka FancyFreeMe on Etsy. My last job was for a corporate communications department, in employee communications. I was assistant editor for an employee magazine and online publisher for an employee intranet. My experience granted me some valuable knowledge on the difference between writing for a print publication and an online audience. I have some helpful information to share that I think you can use for writing up shop listings and on your blog.

Let me begin by saying this – I’m not done learning. Times change, technology changes, and people's needs change. Things are always evolving and you have to keep up if you want to stand out.

With that said, here's where we were last I checked.

What’s in it for me?
People have little time and even less patience. Readers want to know “what’s in it for me?” in the first few seconds, otherwise they'll move on. Potential customers want to connect with you through your writing. Wow them with your art, but grab them with your voice first. And don’t wait until the end of your blog post to present a call to action (e.g. sign up, join, visit me, etc.).

[bowl by vesselsandwares]

Headlines and Titles

Shorter is better
- Susie’s Sassy Salsa NOT Sue Roberts Homemade Recipes Hot and Spicy Salsa - Hot

Words that pop
- Mohair Harry’s Skullcap NOT Black Hat With Hair-Like Fringe Around the Edge

Assign attributes
- Juicy Gemstone Choker NOT Watermelon Tourmaline, Ruby, Peridot, 14K Gold Filled 16” Necklace

Work a rhyme
- October 25, Blossoms Alive NOT My Garden is Still Blooming on October 25

KISS – Keep it Simple and Short
Yes, you need details, but don’t overwhelm the reader right to the nearest exit. Reserve space for sharing your personal views, techniques and inspirations. Go back and read what you wrote. Remove big words only used to impress and redundant information. Don’t drown your clever cut of meat with too much gravy.

[exemplary description by vesselsandwares]

Speed Bumps
It’s your job to slow the online eye. Give your reader something to stumble upon. Instead of using a large block of text, break it up. Use bullets to make a list easier to read. Use caps and/or boldface to make subtitles in your post pop. The use of whitespace will give the eye a break and it’ll make your blurb easier to read.

Write As If Your Audience Doesn’t Know Anything
You are the expert of what you create. You know the size, length, and dimensions. You know the materials and components. Your words should tell the story your photos can’t. Don’t make them search. A shopper wants to know if it’s sterling silver or plated; cotton or rayon; and porcelain or ceramic.

Things You Need

Word Processing Application: Type up your entries in Word or another application — it just helps to have an active spellchecker.
Camera: a digital camera is best for an easy snap and post.
Time: Don’t fake it — if you don’t have the time just put down the basics in a draft and fill it out later.

Things That Would Help

PFF (Proofreading Friend Forever): Have someone you trust take a peek for typos and general comprehension.
Photo Editor: Photoshop, Google’s free Picasa, or something like it — make your photos go from sloppy snapshots to pretty pics.

Ultimately, the challenge is not “writing.” The challenge is “taming the writer within.” So here’s your whip and here’s your chair. Now go tame!

So what do you think? Are you up for the challenge? Comment below with any tips you have to share!

For more information on writing for your shop, check out these helpful articles.

Shop Makeover Series: Hello Brand New World

2008-02-05T23:21:00Z

Over the course of January, we published the Shop Makeover series here on the Storque. We tailored it to helping Etsy sellers make tweaks, changes, and overall facelifts to their shops for the New Year. It was our hope that by offering advice on how to better the look and feel of one's business, that sellers would take a look at what changes could be made to their own shops to help boost their sales and overall brand. In addition, when we hold all of our shops to a higher standard, the overall look and feel of Etsy gets taken to a higher standard, which helps us all in the scheme of things!

The following are a handful of sellers who read, made changes, and posted their "before and after screenshots" for everyone to see:

MayaBella took tons of advice from the shop makeover series and gave her shop a total transformation. Check out pics of her shop front before the makeover:

...and the transformation of her shop after the makeover:

She redid her banner to incorporate the look and feel of her items. The red color of the banner also ties into many of her items' backgrounds.

Here is a subtle yet effective change from jakrandomart's shop before she started making over her shop:

And take a look at her shop now! You can see she made both banner and photo changes to give a more rich and inviting feel to her overall shop. Her avatar also matches her branding.

Another wonderful overall shop transformation comes from hippiehempstress; hippie not only drastically changed the look of her photos, but also took advantage of the wondrous Etsy bannerator to give her shop a brand new look and feel! Check out the photos from hippiehempstress' shop before she made changes:

...and just look at the improvements she made to her shop now:

Look at that! The focus issue is cleared up (macro lens setting perhaps?) and the backgrounds are much more styled and of a piece.

Two sellers took advantage of the advice from this "What's in a name" article and changed their shop names. feltsewwhimsical changed her name to CorkandCotton and MalibuBarbie112 changed her shop name to quintessentially; they both systematically kept the look and branding of their new shop names the same as their old ones to create less confusion during the transition. Both of these changes were smart choices in my opinion, way to go ladies!

pawandclawdesigns changed her shop's photos to more colorful shots after taking the advice from the "makeover you shop with color" article, and she also took advantage of Etsy's new bannerator mixed with some of her own design skills to get a fresh new banner design:

ShannonButler changed her shop banner and avatar to match each other, as well as the ordering of several of her photos to show off her items much better and create an enticing thumbnail shot for her shop viewers:

Congrats on the Make Overs! YOU LOOOK MAAARVELOUS! And this are just some examples of the hard work that many Etsy sellers undertook in January. If you took some of our shop makeover advice as well and are happy with the results, please share what you did and how it has helped in the comments below. Before and After screenshots are always encouraged and welcomed!

xoxo,

Etsy Labs

Shop Makeover Series: Makeover Your Listings with Color

2008-01-22T19:41:00Z

For her second post in her color theory series, jenlo262 has some recommendations and examples for sellers undertaking the Shop Makeover series. The following article covers color combinations and theory, as it applies to your listings.

Before you can make a sale, you will need to get buyers to look at your art. There’s no better way to entice the browsing customer to click on your image than by keeping it fresh, interesting, and colorful!

For the first image in your listing, I suggest worrying less about what and more about the wow. It’s not necessarily important to capture the whole complete image of your item as long as you get the basics of the item with some colorful artsy flair. How can color make your item pop? Follow these six tricks for a better image and see how these sellers made it work…

First things first — keep your colors true: Before you start arranging or choosing colors for your background, you will want to make sure you can keep your colors as bright as they can be by building a light box (see Lori's post here). A box will especially help when trying to keep your whites bright — making your item the center of attention. If you can’t build a light box (or your item is too big, keep it natural by using indirect sunlight. For two-dimensional items, scanners work great too if you have one available.

[crochet pattern by anapaulaoli, yarn by OneSheepHill, bracelet by FancyFreeMe ]
Contrast - balancing your lights and darks: Keep your item from blending into your background by using dark colored backgrounds for light items and light backgrounds for dark items. Or mix and match!

[earrings by KiwiTreeBotique, mug by misslo, apron by JoyfulAbode]
A splash of bright color: Keep your listing fresh by increasing your color intensity.

[soap by SudsMuffin, beads by tearose, cuff by NicoleLorentz]
Using your color compliments: Make your item pop by looking across your color wheel for a background color.
[buttons by frombelgiumwithlove, hairpins by thefunkyfelter, clay pendant by Dirtgirlpottery]
Using analogous colors: Invite your viewer into your listing with a lovely combination of similar colors.

[earrings by staroftheeast, face wall pocket by amandamoon, ceramic pendant by leapinglizards's shop]
An artsy background: Finally, give your listing a little artsy flair with an interesting, unusual, or incongruous background and have some fun!

[earrings by executeme, lariat necklace by 12linden, vintage book by whiteelephantvintage, Green Katamari pincushion by ReFabulous]

If you’re still not sure how to spruce up your listing, try just keeping it simple. The tiny little square that makes or breaks whether you get a shopper in your shop can only hold so much. A solid colored background with a quality photo will make a great lead-in to your wonderful works of art.

Comment below with links to your before and after screenshots from your Shop Makeover improvements! Which of the techniques described here helped you out?

Shop Makeover Series: Crafting a Profile Page

2008-01-21T19:08:00Z

SarasTextureCrafts writes a blog called etsyprofiles.blogspot.com where she highlights interesting Etsy profiles. So we thought it would be neat to integrate her post into the Shop Makeover Series. Document your progress and comment below!

Often overlooked a Seller’s Etsy profile page is a very important marketing tool and if well written could help improve your shop’s sales.

Taking the time to write a good profile page is a key opportunity as a Seller to reach out to your customers and entice them into your store by giving them a glimpse of the person behind the business and the items you are selling. Whilst Etsy advises that the basics of a good profile should “contain your personal shop policies regarding shipping, returns, accepted payment methods and custom orders in your item listings, shop announcement and/or public profile,” there is no hard or fast rule about how you should present it. There are ways in which you can strive to write a great profile page and maximise your opportunity to sell, while also providing crucial info.

Enlisting the help of fellow Etsians, I set out to explore some options that might be useful:

The first paragraph is key.
If you watch a film, you can usually tell within the first 10 minutes whether you want to keep on watching. Well, it’s that same thing with profile pages… your first paragraph is the key to keeping your customers reading. “It’s your quick-ticket to advertising your shop and yourself. Take advantage of this opportunity to GRAB the reader,” says Baggavond.etsy.com.

Get friends and family to read your first paragraph — does it spark interest? Raise positive questions? Or make them want to read more?

Follow this with a clearly defined layout.
Not all buyers have the time/want, or need to read your entire profile each time they visit. So as Heather from babyannequilts.etsy.com suggests, try “breaking up the information with titles. That way your buyer can skim down the page to look for the heading they're interested in, without reading through the whole thing to find the answers to their questions.” Heather’s profile page is a very good example of how to do this.

Next make your profile text easy to read.
It is important to be as clear and concise in your wording as possible… you want to keep their attention once you have got them past the first paragraph! It is also worth remembering that Etsy is a global market place, so English is not necessarily everyone’s first language.

And finally, write in a friendly and approachable manner, remembering to keep it professional.
Etsy has a real community spirit about it, which is very unlike other Internet selling forums, and this is one thing that buyers really enjoy! Like many Etsians, artsyclay.etsy.com says that she likes nothing more than “to feel like I've come to their cosy little shop, and am sitting down in front of the fireplace, having a hot cup of coffee or tea and visiting with them in a neighbourly way.” So don’t be afraid to write a bit about yourself, or your business. Do remember to keep a professional edge to your profile though… after all you are a business, whether you sell the extra bags you knit whilst sitting in front of your telly, or you are a full time operation! Buyers must feel that you take your products and business seriously. So striking a balance here is key.

All of this is great, but what do I include? Well, let’s have a look…

Firstly, tell me something about yourself.
Adding a short biography can give buyers so much information about you as an artist. Feel free to tell me a bit about your background, where you come from and how you started your business. Tell me about what inspires you and your craft passions. Jamy Hills, from BrassMonkeyDesigns.etsy.com, is a shining example of how you can use this information to grab a reader’s attention.

Secondly, tell me something about your business and your products.
Give your readers an idea of what you are setting out to achieve. What is your mission/why are you selling me this?

You could include:

Is your business a part-time venture, full-time or a charity?
What sort of products do you sell?
What is the idea behind your products?
What’s special about them?
How do you make them?

Take a look at Karina’s profile from KreatedbyKarina.etsy.com. She works very well at selling me her products in a professional and yet friendly way. Remember, although you want to be informative you do not want to scare your reader off at this point with a hard sell!

Add simple shop policies. Listing your policies clearly and simply will give your customer the confidence to buy from you. So remember to read them through when you have finished… Have you answered the majority of questions a customer will want to know?

Have you listed policies on accepted payments, shipping terms, aftercare and return details, custom or wholesale order information including manufacture times? Another top tip here, from BCharmer.etsy.com, is to add a sentence or two on the appreciation of feedback.

Then … Think again about your products.
Do you need to consider adding additional information? For example, if you sell clothing/footwear or jewellery it is worth adding your sizing details here, or if you sell bath and beauty products, add your disclaimer.

And Lastly! Remember that what reads as a great profile is entirely personal to the reader, so don’t worry about competing with your fellow sellers; write something that you feel comfortable with publishing and unique to you.

Lots to think about? Yes, I think so.

A well written profile page is something we should take our time over and use to try and capture the essence of what we are all about. Lori of heartworksbylori.etsy.com helps to explain, “there is a little piece of me infused in each of my creations and the recipient of it carries that with them. Handmade creations are personal and made with hands...and those hands do so with great energy and joy.” Your profile page is where you get to show that energy and joy to inspire potential buyers.

I hope that this article has helped you all in some way and I would like to thank each and every Etsian who has given me their tips and ideas… They have taught me a lot! Before I rush off now and work on my own profile page, as I’m sure you are just about to do too, I would like to leave you with a rather fun profile I found during my research — Lynne of skully.etsy.com...

Further Resources:
If you would like to explore a few more examples of profile pages working in action for sellers, then take a look at my blog http://etsyprofiles.blogspot.com, dedicated to the Etsy Profile Page.

Shop Makeover Series: What's in a Name?

2008-01-17T13:48:00Z

We are making our way through the Shop Makeover series this month, and we hope everyone is working hard! But wait — stop and take a deep breath...Some of our readers requested a post about something that is a bit of a tricky subject on Etsy: shop names.

Many folks, when they first register for Etsy, don't realize that their usernames will also be their shop names. Some folks start off as buyers and then decide to list an item or two and then — before they know it — they're stuck with generic, silly or otherwise weirdo shop names. Here's the rub: Etsy's Customer Support cannot switch your username for you. You would need to open another account (making sure to disclose both shops) and migrate items to it or start a new line in the fresh shop. Some of you may feel like you're beyond the point of no return: you've given out hundreds of business cards with your not-so-great shop name, or you've done advertising with it, collected tons of hearts and built a reputation. It may not be worth it to you to start a new shop with that "grass is always greener" name. But since this is a new year and sellers are putting a lot of thought into their brands, we will offer up our advice, below, on the best way to do it if you're going to take the plunge.

Are you considering opening a shop on Etsy? Are you thinking about opening a new shop for your new line of products or are just plain unsatisfied with your current Etsy shop name? The following article was written to help you in your quest to find and brand the perfect shop name for you, your style, and shop.

Your shop name is one of the most important steps you can take in creating a successful business. It will give you immediate recognition, style, and searchability. When choosing a name, it is vital to weigh and take advantage of all the factors that go into choosing the perfect name for your shop.

Things to consider when choosing a shop name:

Choose a name that is easy to remember and spell. You want potential buyers to be able to recognize, remember, and be able to find you again, even if they have briefly visited your shop.
Try to limit your shop name to one or two words that flow well together. For example, “JessicasDesigns” works a thousand times better than something like “beaddesignsbyjessica.” Make sense?
Take inspiration from others. Sit down with a piece of paper and writing utensil and ask yourself: “What sellers do I know the name of on Etsy?” It doesn’t have to be your favorite seller or any reason other than the fact you remembered their name. This is key. After you have your list of remembered names, take a look at them. Why are they so memorable? After asking yourself these questions, take inspiration from what these sellers have done to create your own memorable name.
Think about legalities. Some words and names are trademarked, so do your homework first to avoid a possible conflict later. Consider consulting an attorney if you need specialized advice in this area.
Once you have decided on a name for your shop, take advantage of capital letters to make the appearance of your shop name more cohesive. If you have two words in your shop name, create a visual separation by making the first letters of each word capital letters instead of lowercase. For example, “BoyfriendLetters” reads so much better than “boyfriendletters.” Plus, capitalization doesn’t make a difference when people type your shop name in their browser, it won’t be harder for them to find you.
If you are selling a very specific product or certain type of supply, it wouldn’t hurt to actually put the basic name of what you are selling in your shop name; this way your shop will show up in most relevant search engines whenever someone does a basic search for “X item” that you are selling. But be careful: if you're thinking about branching out to other types of items, you may not want to follow this tip.
Last but not least, your shop name should reflect your style in one way or another. If you choose a really elegant name, it would make sense to have elegant items in your shop. If you choose a quirky or clever name, it would make sense that your products reflect that style.
Hot tip: Your username should be your shop name (it is how people find you on the site and in search engines), so if you choose to put your shop name in your banner, it is a good idea to keep it the same. Two different names can confuse a buyer, cause them to search for you under the wrong name, and potentially cost you sales.

Think you might be in the danger zone? Here are a few things to consider before opening a new shop:

Sales records, feedback, item and shop hearts, favorites, conversations, and purchases cannot be transferred over to your new shop. It’s just a risk you will have to take when going for a better shop name.
There isn’t an easy way to transfer items from one shop to another (you just have to start over).
You will be charged an additional .20 cents per listing when transferring listings from one shop to another (but you can time this strategically as your listings expire).
This is definitely NOT something to do on a whim.

The best way to change your shop name:

Think about the best new shop name to fit your products, style, and brand using the above criteria and register a new account on Etsy. You may want to set up a new email account with Yahoo or Gmail with your new name to keep things cohesive, plus you will have to have a new email account to register your new name (you will still be able to use the same paypal account).
Put up a new shop announcement in your current Etsy shop and profile stating that you will be moving all of your current products to the new shop name and provide the URL for them to copy and paste into their browser.
Move all of your current listings over to your new shop by cutting and pasting your current information into new listings (you will be charged an additional .20 cents per listing when doing this, sorry guys).
Once your old shop is empty, keep up your shop announcement letting users know where you have moved.
Put an announcement in your new shop letting people know your old username and reference them to your sales and feedback there while you are building up your new history.
After 2-3 months, close down your old shop by sending an email to support@etsy.com requesting to close shop.
Alternatively,if you have separate lines of items or two distinct styles, you can operate both shops (but you still need to disclose both in your shop announcement and profile).

Best of luck with your shop names! Feel free to add any other tips and advice you might have for choosing the perfect shop name in the comments below! If you decide to choose a name or change your current shop name based on any tips in this article, please document your process and share your experience with us.