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You know Dasher and Dancer… but do you know from which Etsy seller that fetching present came? In our second segment, Julie shows you how to brand your items by making clever and attractive shipping mailers and envelopes from recycled materials. Here is a PDF file with an envelope pattern.
Keep that coal out of your stocking and tune in to the rest of the series for more Etsy Labs Holiday How-tos on sprucing up your shop, shipping, photography and more!
See more helpful how-tos about your indie biz in the Seller Handbook.
[This video was originally published October 22, 2007. We're bringing it back for the '08 season!] [...]
You have spent many frenzied hours preparing your art and craft items for the craft fair, but does that mean you are really ready to make as much money as you can at the event? Probably not. As creatives, we tend to focus on our art and forget about everything else. (My house could fall down around me while I’m in the zone and I wouldn’t notice.) You went through all that time and trouble to participate in a craft show, and I want to make sure you get as much out of the experience as you can while you are there. It’s not just about what you sell at the show, it’s about the contacts you make and how you use them.
Craft shows are great place to network and market. Here are some easy tips to make your next craft fair/show pay-off for months after everyone goes home.
Display is important. Dedicate some creative energy to your display. You want to stand out in the crowd. This is especially important if your artwork is currently a popular trend and you have lots of competition. If you sell jewelry right now, you know what I mean. At the majority of the shows I have attended, I see the jewelry laid out flat-sometimes on black velvet or in white bins at almost every table. What if you bought cool, retro mannequin heads and used them to display your jewelry? I know I would make a beeline to a table full of faux heads to check out what’s going on.
Have a free drawing. Ask people to drop their business cards into a hat and raffle off a prize. Instant list!
GET MARKETING MATERIALS! I can’t tell you how many artists don’t have any information about themselves out on their tables. What if I don’t want to buy today, but really like your stuff? How will I ever find you again? You absolutely must put out business cards. Business cards don’t have to be expensive. You can even print them out from your home computer; just make sure you give people the opportunity to find you again.
Make flyers about trunk shows or any other venue (such as Etsy) where people can buy from you in the future. If you have catalogs bring them. Create a portfolio of your work and have it out for people to look at. You might get some special orders. I download digital pictures onto my laptop of past work and have a slide show of the work running on it during the show.
More on marketing materials…Every product should have a tag on it with all your contact information. I just use my business card, hole-punched with a ribbon. This gives both the buyer and, if the item is being purchased as a gift, the recipient your contact information. The recipient may want to collect your work, but won’t be able to if there isn’t a tag.
Use “gift with purchase” promotions. Everyone loves to get gifts. For the holiday boutique I am participating in this year, I created special, creative gift tags. Each customer gets a free set with the purchase of any item. Of course, the back of the gift card has all my contact information.
Set-up future sales. Once you have attracted clients to you with a great display, you need to capture their information. Have a guest book out and invite people to sign it and tell you what they think about your art. Make sure you ask them to check a box saying they would like to receive mailings from you. The book will give you an idea of what people like about your art and you will have their contact information. Create a snail mail list and make sure that you send out cool invites every time you are going to be at a show. Include a discount coupon on the postcard; that way you can track how effective your mailing was. For an even nicer touch, make sure you send out a thank you note, right after the show, telling them how glad you are that they stopped by to look at your work.
Network with the other artists and crafters. Make friends. Even your “competitors” are potential clients. Gather the business cards of everyone who is participating at the show and send a friendly email to each one within a week of the show. Tell them how much you enjoyed seeing their work. If you remember something specific about them or their work, mention it. Tell them a bit about yourself and tell them to contact you if they ever need anything. This is also just plain nice!
If you follow these few simple steps, you should have a nice list of clients, potential clients, friends and business partners in your possession. Now you must use this list to make it pay. Set up a schedule to touch base with each person on a regular basis. Send them invitations to all your shows, send them your monthly newsletter or just drop them a line or a note telling them you are thinking about them. Have fun and be prosperous!
Further Resources
Katy offers The Craft Show Worksheet through her shop, and if you want more information about networking and marketing your arts & crafts business, sign-up for katydid designs free monthly ezine, The Well-Fed Artist, at www.katydid-designs.com.
See other posts by the katydiddy. And click here for some other how-tos about craft fairs. For the motherload see the Seller Handbook!
UPDATE: We’re so sorry but the Showcase tool had an error today, and consequently we will be selling the spots for this ad on Monday, September 29, 2008 at 1:00pm Eastern time. So for all of you who clued us in that something was wrong, thank you. You’ve got another shot!
The following was originally published on 9/22/08:
Next up in the Etsy Cooperative Advertising Program: Bust Magazine!
In case you’re not familiar with this program, here are the important details:
- Etsy will purchase ad space in various magazines, cover half of the cost, and design the ads.
- Etsy Sellers are able to purchase spots in the ad at the discounted rate.
- You will get to display your shop name, an image of one item, its price, and its category.
- The limit is one spot per seller, per advertisement.
This ad will be in the December/January issue of Bust.
- 30 spots will be available to sellers at a price of $90 each.
- Spots will go on sale on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 1:00pm (Eastern Time).
- Spots are purchased in the same manner as a Showcase.
- If you successfully buy a cooperative ad spot through Showcase, your item photo and information must be sent to adam@etsy.com no later than 7:00pm (Eastern Time) on Thursday, October 2, 2008.
About Bust
- Total Circulation is 93,500.
- Bust is published 6 times annually.
- The December/January issue hits newsstands on November 25, 2008.
BUST is a groundbreaking women’s lifestyle magazine that is unique in its ability to connect with bright, cutting-edge young women. With an attitude that is fierce, funny, and proud to be female, BUST‘s revolutionary editorial mix addresses a refreshing variety of women’s interests, including pop culture, music, crafting, fashion, sex, news, and celebrity interviews. Hip, humorous, and honest, BUST is a cheeky celebration of all things female and a trusted authority on up-and-coming trends among young women.
- 98% of the readers are women.
- Average income is $69,000.
- Median age is 27.
- 80% of readers refer to BUST for fashion.
- 91% say BUST is their favorite magazine.
- 68% purchased from BUST advertisers last year.
Upcoming Ads:
Venus: Winter issue. 30 spots, $25 each. Spots go on sale at 1:00pm (ET) Thursday, October 9, 2008.
FAQ
1. What is the Cooperative Advertising Program?
- By purchasing a spot in a Cooperative Advertising Program, Etsy sellers can show off their items in an Etsy-branded magazine advertisement, reach new buyers, and help boost their sales and shop awareness. Print ads in popular magazines are often priced out of reach of small entrepreneurs. Etsy is able to purchase larger ads for more impact, and let sellers buy into the ads.
2. How does it work?
- Etsy reduces costs to sellers by subsidizing the ads. We pay half of the cost. The cost to you is the remaining amount, divided by the number of spots for sale.
- Sellers get to display one image of an item from their shop, its price, its main category and their shop name. The appearance of the ad is similar to our homepage. See the original article for an example.
3. How do I purchase a spot?
- 1: Go to the Showcase Gateway.
- 2: Choose “Cooperative Ads – BUST Showcase.” There will only be one date to choose from.
- 3: Hit the “Purchase” button. The fee will be added to your normal Etsy bill.
*Note: The items that appear in the Showcase section of “Your Etsy” will not affect this purchase. The item photo that you send in via email to adam@etsy.com will be what appears in the ad. There is not an online Showcase associated with this purchase!
4. What do I do next?
You’ll receive a conversation from Adam with details, and we will need the following from you:
- Your shop name.
- The price of the item.
- The main category that the item is listed under.
- A high-resolution photograph of your item (300 dpi).
- If you need help with photo issues, please ask, and Adam will send you detailed instructions. If you already have a photo that you like, great! If not, check out some of our photography tips.
- We will need your image by 7:00pm (Eastern Time) on Thursday, October 2, 2008 to give us time to lay out the ad and meet our deadline with Bust.
5. How many spots can I reserve?
- You can purchase one spot per advertisement.
6. Can I cancel a spot after I’ve made a reservation? Is the fee refunded?
- We will only cancel and refund spots under very special circumstances. Deciding you are no longer interested in your spot does not count. If you feel like you really have a valid case please email adam@etsy.com.
7. How do I know if the current Cooperative Ad is right for me?
- Do some research! We’ll provide helpful info for each ad as it becomes available (see above). And, it may be helpful to visit your local bookstore or newsstand to see if they carry the magazine. Remember, there will be more of these Cooperative Advertising opportunities available in the future, including Craft, Venus, and Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion. If you don’t feel like Bust is perfect for you, there will be other opportunities… [...]
This week, I am delighted to turn the blog over to Artful Home CEO, Lisa Bayne, the first of whom I hope to be many guest bloggers on The Artful Life.
~Toni
This coming weekend marks the end of the Dale Chihuly show at the de Young Museum. If you have not seen this spectacular extravaganza of [...]
Dear Sellers,
Let’s continue the journey of listening to the stories that the numbers our Etsy shop tell us. As a review, a ratio is the story that two numbers tell when they are together. So far, we have explored a popularity ratio called the heart-to-sale ratio and a couple of inventory ratios. This week, we will explore a ratio concerning your shop’s sales.
Sales Per Day Ratio:
The Sales Per Day Ratio tells us historically how many sales your shop has made per day that your shop has been open for business.
How to Calculate:
Sales Per Day Ratio = (Total sales you have made) divided by (The # of days your shop has been open)
You can find the number of sales you have made by looking on the right sidebar of your shop’s homepage under other items. You can find how the # of days your shop has been open by first looking at your join date in the info section on the right sidebar of your shop (if you didn’t start selling right away, you’ll have to try to remember when that date was. Or you can go to your Etsy bill to see when you first listed an item). Go to this website and type in your join date as the start date, today’s date as the end date, and then click the "calculate duration" button. The website will then tell you how many days your shop has been open. Find a calculator, and take the first number and divide by the second. The number you calculated is your Sales Per Day ratio.
This number tells you how many sales you make per day. If your number was 3.2, this means that you make about 3 sales per day
Fill your number into these sentences to get your interpretation:
Historically, I have made about _____ sales each day my shop has been open.
During any given day, I will make about _____ sales.
Predicting Your Next Sale:
Sometimes, ratios can attempt to make a forecast or prediction. Let’s try to predict when you will get your next sale.
Next Sale Prediction = (One) divided by (Sales Per Day Ratio from above)
This ratio tells you an estimate of how many days you will have to wait until you receive your next sale. (Note: If it is a decimal, you can multiply that decimal by 24 and find out how many hours until your next sale and replace hours for days in the following interpretation).
Fill this number into the following sentences to get your interpretation:
Based on historical trends, I will get my next sale in about _____ days.
As a rough prediction, I will make a sale in about _____ days.
Variables to Consider:
There are quite a few things that could influence the results of your calculations, including the following:
- You opened your shop a long time before you actually started selling products.
- You have had major rushes on your products and/or extreme sales droughts.
- Your sales are very sporadic.
- Your sales come in clusters, where one customer buys multiple items.
- You may have started or stopped an effective marketing or advertising push.
You can get a more accurate result if you use the date you really got serious about your business. You could also calculate this ratio for only one month at a time to get rid of seasonable variations. There are a host of variables and each shop should interpret their data in light of their shop’s exact circumstances.
How to Use This Information:
These ratios can help us evaluate how your shop is doing and help you set goals. I use this ratio as a daily goal for my shop. Currently, I make about 2 sales per day. If I sell nothing or only one item, I know I am behind my average. If I sell two items in a day, I know I am having an average day. If I sell more than two items, I know I am having a pretty good sales day. (Of course, you need to take into consideration how much profit you make on an item and other variables as well). The prediction ratio can give us an estimate about when to expect our next sale. We can also set goals for how long it takes our shop to get our next sale and compare our actual results to our goal.
Final Thoughts:
Everyone loves getting a sale! It is fun and worthy of a happy dance. Next time you get a sale, remember—there is a numerical story behind that transaction. Until next time, keep crunching numbers!
[...]
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! [...]
What? Too soon to start thinking about the holidays, you say?
Not at all. It takes some time to get your Etsy shop ready for the holiday shopping season, so it’s best to start now. We know this can be a daunting task.
So we’ll be presenting a series of video how-tos to help you get your Etsy shop ready for the holiday season. In our first segment, Mary shows you how to recycle items from around your home to make original, appealing, and eco-friendly packaging. Tune in to the rest of the series for more how-tos on sprucing up your shop, shipping, photography and more!
[This video was originally published October 9, 2007. We're bringing it back for the '08 season!] [...]
Congrats to the following 14 lucky Etsians, winners of the Handmade Kids Sweepstakes:
daisyfairside
fishknitter
WhimsyDots
GigisDesigns
AscendingPeculiarity
McVilleCreations
cutiepiecompany
bmorenicky
heatherevans
SydneyAustinDesigns
TwentysecondAvenue
nonesuchgarden
lifeonthefrontporch
Happy shopping! (Winners will be contacted directly with instructions for redeeming their prizes.)
If you missed it, check out the Members Choice Award Winners and the Expert Panel Award Winners. Thanks to all who participated and all the judges, it’s been a blast! Handmade Kids Challenge
For more great items for kids, search “INTLKIDS” to see what some of Etsy’s international artists and designers have to offer. (The related items below show a [...]
As previously publicized, the NPCG Board has voted to change the name of our organization to more accurately reflect [...]
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 [...]
Collar
JoAnne Russo
Photo by Jeff Baird
Baskets speak a universal language. For the historian, they are a signature of time and place. I grew up coveting the Native American baskets of the Blue Ridge mountains. Basket weaving is the oldest known Native American craft – there are some ancient baskets from the Southwest that have been identified [...]
More congratulations are in order! Besides the Members Choice Award Winners, where the Etsy community got to vote for the best of the Handmade Kids Challenge, there’s still the small matter of the EPAoEs— that would be The Expert Panel Awards of Excellence.
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our guest judges, the Expert Panel.
Each judge is a knowledgeable participant in his or her field and has chosen one winner per category to receive a $200 Etsy shopping spree, based on the following criteria:
- Quality of craftsmanship
- Originality of design
- Adherence to theme and entrance categories
- Quality of photography for entered items
…Let’s get down to it, shall we? …and the EPAoE goes to:
ACCESSORIES
Girls Pink Mermaid Tail Towel by tinygreenapples
Category Judge: Amanda Kingloff of Parents magazine
“This had me at hello! I love it because it’s not only a dress-up item, but because it doubles as a towel. The colors are fun and vibrant and the top stitching just adds that little extra something to make it special. (And she makes a size to fit your child’s doll, too!)”
ART
Plant A Tree by kachingdesign
Category Judge: Jodi Levine of Martha Stewart Living
“I chose this sweet print because it makes me smile. I love it’s simplicity and I think a child would have fun staring at it and making up stories about the little character watering the plants.”
CLOTHING
This is My House, My Car, My Tree Girls Dress by babypop
Category Judge: Kelly Alfieri of Cookiemag.com
“This dress looks like a vintage one from a time when people had more time. The appliqué work, with the white stitching on dark denim that looks like chalk on a chalkboard, is gorgeous. I think this would be any little girl’s favorite dress.”
ECO-FRIENDLY
forest creature hat upcycled by mosey
Category Judge: Bonnie Alter, Contributor, Treehugger.com
 “Maybe it is the Canadian in me, but I love cozy hats for children: the only thing my doctor told me when my son was born was: he had to wear a hat in winter and summer. This one is green and made of felted wool, another favorite thing of mine.”
FURNITURE
Owyn Toy Box by modmomfurniture
Category Judge: Carrie McBride of Ohdeedoh.com
“Why it gets my vote: A mom with power tools – what’s not to love? The OwynToy Box stands out for its unique leaftop design and modern graphic quality. Its adult-friendly look ensures its place in the home for years to come, long after its use for toys.”
HOME DECOR
Butterfly Mobile by khamm75
Category Judge: Holly Becker of decor8.blog.com
“I love mobiles and always had one growing up, so I’m naturally attracted to them. I really like butterflies and appreciate that to baby, a mobile is more than home decor but can be a learning tool and source of comfort. This whimsical mobile can grow with the child, a little girl may want to keep this in her room for years.”
TOYS
Frank Porter the Hot Dog Eating Champion Plush Doll by PillowMonsters
Category Judge: Mark Frauenfelder of Boingboing.com
“This whimsical doll with a hot dog as an accessory is adorable and well-designed. My kids would love it, my mother would love it, and I love it.”
Congratulations to all! In some cases, the members’ and judges’ tastes were very much aligned: both the Butterfly Mobile by khamm75 and the Owyn Toy Box by modmomfurniture placed in the Members Choice Competition. So double congratulations to these winners are in order!
EPAoE winners will be contacted directly with instructions for redeeming their prizes.
Still to come: The Handmade Kids Sweepstakes winners will first be contacted directly, and then be announced on or before September 22, 2008.
As always, love goes out to Etsy’s international artists and designers who, though ineligible for the contest, shine just as bright in our eyes. Search the tag "INTLKIDS" to see stellar examples of their wares for the young ones.
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