Branding Your Etsy Shop Part Four from Becklee Cottage Blog
- Sunlight and background terrible
Branding your Etsy shop Part Four: Good Photos
This was posted on my Becklee Cottage designs Blog
This is a short post this week lots going on. One of my pet peeves on Etsy is the quality of photographs. You are running a business, an online business and people shop with their eyes, long before they read the description and price. So for goodness sake make sure your photos are worthy of online shopping. Etsy has wonderful forum subjects and handbooks http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/etsy-success-product-photography-for-beginners/ to help on this subject so I won’t belabor the point. I took all of the photos in this post.
1.Buy a decent camera. I found one on sale a nice Cannon for under $200 bucks.
2. Buy a camera with a MACRO close up feature.
- Not cropped,too dark and blurry
3. DON’T take photos in bright sunlight; it is too harsh and causes strong shadows. Cloudy or overcast days are best for photographing your items. Or use a lightbox.
- Taken on a cloudy day
4. For goodness sakes CROP your photos, no one wants to see anything in the photo that is not related to your item for sale. I saw one photo that had dirty dishes in the background, “Uh gross.”
5. Props… I used to use them and fancied myself an artiste, but shoppers were confused as to what I was selling.
6. Some people use “light boxes” instead of natural light. Etsy has instructions on how to build one for on the cheap.
7. Editing your photos. There are many “free” programs that are fine for editing. Infranview,Picnik,Flicker,Microsoft Picture Editor and many more. Use an editing program to crop, lighten and edit the contrast.
- Too dark but good image of items for sale
8. Set your camera at least 1 megapixel for each picture, the larger they are the better they stand up to cropping and editing.
As you can see I had some terrible photos in my Etsy shop, once I asked for critique and was blown away by the comments on how dark, out of focus my photos were. But after I got over it I read up and took their advice. Etsy has some great forums and people who are willing to help. Best Wishes and see you next post for setting up your blog. BL
Branding Your Etsy Shop Part Three from BeckLee Cottage Designs
Image via Wikipedia
Image via CrunchBase
Some of this information comes from my post a few weeks about about “How to tweet for business without being a Twitt”. If you have not connected your Etsy shop with your Twitter or Facebook pages…get busy.
If you notice in your Etsy account dashboard, under settings, look for connections and add your facebook and twitter accounts. That will assure more exposure for your shop when someone comes to your main shop page they will have the option to “like” your facebook and twitter accounts.
1. How to find quality tweeters:
You can add many followers in a matter of minutes if you like but they may end of being spammy and will not read your tweets or support your tweets.
Twitter has a great search feature that allows you to search the twitter feeds for keywords that are in your targeted markets. If you sell beading supplies you would search for beading, beading supplies or anything related to beading or jewelry. Pick a few of the results, read their tweets, look at who they follow and who follows them. There is a good application called klout.com you might use this application to rate a particular twitter user. Pick ten or so twitter users that rate well or that you personally enjoy their tweets. Follow the ten and drill down into those they follow. Spend twenty to thirty minutes a day looking at twitter lists and picking quality users to follow.
2. Twitter Following Etiquette:
Once you have a few followers: be sure to respond to each follower with a personal message or mention such as, thanks for the follow or whatever works for you. You might try an application like SocialOomph that will set up an auto reply for you. There are many users that frown on the auto response to a twitter follower. In fact unless you are a major celebrity or national company that gets thousands of followers a day, auto response is considered by many as downright rude. It could turn off potential customers.
3. Links,Re-tweets and Hashtags:
It is possible to link your twitter account to feed into your blogs and facebook accounts. Blogger and WordPress blog platforms are very simple to link to your twitter feed. Twitter Feed is a good program to use to set up links to your main sites.
Re-tweet: is what happens when someone likes one of your tweets and they re-tweet it from their twitter account. Read and respond to tweets by your followers, hopefully in turn they will reply which gets you a mention or re-tweet of your comment. Re-tweets may expose an entirely new group of tweeters to your products or information. HootSuite and Tweet Deck are two applications to help track of your twitter account.
Hashtags are just like keywords that are used to optimize your webpage on the internet. Hashtags help twitter to keep track of trends and like items. An example of a tweet with a hashtag could be @mybeadingsupply find our specials today on faucets #beads #supplies #jewelrysupplies #etsy.The word beading will help group your tweet into the twitter search, your tweet could show up in three different search criteria which increase your chances of customers finding your webpage.
Here is basic user information from a neat Youtube video http://youtu.be/uTc3ROMJsAY
The best advice is to jump in and get your feet wet. Twitter can be a very powerful business partner.
Branding Your Etsy Shop Part Two: Facebook
Image via CrunchBase
- Image via CrunchBase
The second part of our branding series is about adding traffic and exposure to your shop through effective use of Facebook fan
pages.
If you do not have a Facebook fan page you should set one up NOW it is really easy to set up. You personal account will always be your admin or timeline account for any fan page. Even if your fan page is entirely different. Here is the link to Facebook fan page section http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php
I set up my Facebook fan page and waited for the followers much like the way I waited for my Etsy shop to be overflowing with sales. As I mentioned in the last post just like a brick and mortar store you need to let others know you are open and ready for business. In all honestly I was a little discouraged that I did not immediately gain a boat-load of followers or just one. Although I understood how to gain traffic to my website somehow thought that Facebook would magically send traffic to my fan page or Etsy shop. As I soon learned that is not the case at all.
Your page will look much like your personal page but notice the LIKE button at the top where everyone can LIKE your page. Once they Like your page you will see their name and avatar to the left of your main page right now your page says 0 people like this. You may also keep track of how mane likes you get weekly and how many comments to your posts by after the Insights section. Search for people in your contacts and invite them to your new page. Once you get more than 25 fans Facebook will give your page its own address like mine is http://www.facebook.com/Beckleecottage. To move back and forth from accounts Click onto the account drop down box at the top left and click use page as, Click that and all of your pages will come and you have the choice to post from that account. Be sure to “like” the pages that “like” you, or you can pick the ones that most meet your targeted demographic.
A few simple suggetions for Facebook/Etsy success:
1. Join Etsy teams especially the Etsy Facebook team.
2. “Like” the pages of everyone on the team, it may take a while but most likely everyone you “like” will return the favor.
3. Join Linked-In, subscribe to the handmade or crafting groups, post your fan page link and ask for “likes” in return you will “like” their page as well.
4. Post on Etsy forums
5. Put your Facebook page in your profile and info on Etsy. From your accounts section on Etsy go to APS and link your Facebook page to your Etsy shop. So, what are you wating on get busy!!! and best of luck. beck
Branding Your Etsy shop Series: Part One
Image via CrunchBase
Branding your Etsy shop
Series Part 1
Etsy and Artfire are wonderful platforms to feature and sell your handmade crafts, vintage items and art of all types. However, these platforms can only do so much to promote your shops. Recently, Google made another algorithm shift which caused a lot of gnashing of teeth in the online world. This is the first in a series of articles on how to brand yourself or your Etsy shop. The series will address Social Media Management; Twitter, Google Analytics, Etsy stats,Treasury-BNR,teams,circles,other sites such as Linked-in, Google+ and Google Circles,Wordpress and Blogger blogs and how to use all of these avenues to help become a brand to gain more notice, traffic and sales.
Google is king; Yahoo and Bing are lesser royalty in the search engine world. We will focus on Google for now. Each use algorithmic formulas to send out little bots or spiders to crawl for new and fresh content. In this instant society we need and want new content “right now”. The search engines work hard to give us what we want.
How Google crawls the web. The short version from Google
”How often does Google crawl the web?
Google’s spiders regularly crawl the web to rebuild our index. Crawls are based on many factors such as PageRank, links to a page, and crawling constraints such as the number of parameters in a URL. Any number of factors can affect the crawl frequency of individual sites.
Our crawl process is algorithmic; computer programs determine which sites to crawl, how often, and how many pages to fetch from each site. We don’t accept payment to crawl a site more frequently.” http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=34439
Imagine you set up a brick and mortar store, and stock it with wonderful and colorful items. As a business owner as you are with Etsy it is your responsibility to direct traffic to your store/shop. In the brick and mortar world you would not sit in the middle of your store and hope customers may walk in and buy. You may get some passing traffic but you need to let your market know that you are open and ready to sell. In the online world it is the same you can set up an Etsy or Artfire shop and you perhaps get some passing traffic but unless you let the world know that you are open for business the shop is not calling attention to the world that you are open and ready to sell. You may gain a few views or even a random sale as the new shops gain a small amount of attention from Etsy as you list new items. Etsy tries to assist sellers and buyers with the use of tags, categories and descriptions, treasuries, front page features and ads.
The first installment of the series of how to brand your shop and it begins with Etsy tagging.
So, you have an Etsy shop here a few tips to tagging and setting categories. Etsy community forums are fantastic sites packed with all you need to know about tagging for success. I won’t repeat all of the dos and don’ts from Etsy you can read it from the link.
Tagging:
Who is it for? What is the use? How to use your item? Properly tagged item listings will bring more shoppers to your shop which hopefully results in more sales for you.
Here are a few suggestions from my own experience as an Etsy shop owner. Tag any holidays, Christmas, Halloween, mother’s day, father’s day, weddings, bride mother of the, women’s, posh, fancy, tag with words in other languages in French, Italian, German etc. Tag for Holiday’s in other countries such as Boxing Day, Hanukkah, is a great key word to use during the Jewish holiday; I made some nice sales tagging for ethnic holidays. Girls Day in Japan, Diwali in India. Change the spelling for other markets an example is the word; jewellery instead of jewelry use the word bespoke for custom handmade in Europe and the UK. The words colour, for CA and the UK. Tag with country names too. You might want to look at your Etsy stats to see what keywords are ranking the highest and be sure to add those in your tags and descriptions. Tag for team names and your own shop name as well every few listings, you should avoid long-tailed tags with 4 or 5 words in each tag, I am not sure that the search engines pick up long tailed tags
Among Etsy’s search tabs there is an important listing for gifts =Tween, Mothers, boyfriends, dog lovers, dads, kids babies etc. Look at what you are selling would anything fit into any of those gift categories. To test out your tags, list the same item twice but tag each differently. It could be interesting to see which tags bring the most traffic
The next post we will look at Facebook fan pages to support your Etsy shop
QR Codes and our Future
QR Code™ or Quick Response Code™,
QR code for BeckLee
Is the Future of Marketing
by Beck Lee 2011
I am easily excited about technology and the Quick Response or QR code is no different. The new code system is similar to a bar code that we are all familiar with but the new codes can hold thousands of characters. The code looks like something I would have doodled while sitting in a boring meeting. The code itself consists of black geometric lines arranged in patterns on a white background, these patterns hold the key to alphanumeric, binary and Kanji(Japanese character) information.
The term QR code ™ itself is a registered trademark of Denso Wave Incorporated. However they have allowed the code to be generated and used openly. I noticed the codes in the last year or so and found an application for it on my Android Smartphone that could read the codes. Last week I counted 15 QR codes in my local newspaper. It was like a treasure hunt or a hidden object game. Some of the codes sent you to a contest site; others offered special discounts for finding their code. I am giddy with the marketing and information possibilities.
I wonder if they might have used this type of communication during the Cold War. Perhaps not, this code system was only invented in 1994 but you can see where I am going with this. Place the code on any publication, public signage or business card. My business card has a nice logo, address etc but if your business card incorporated the QR code you could load that little square with tons of information about sales, products and pricing. You might sell t-shirts with your information embedded in a QR code. I could see myself scanning someone’s t-shirt to find out more information about a concert or special discounts. That might be a new pick-up line, “hello may I scan your QR code!” Perhaps we may see QR code tattoos. It could happen!
I found a unique music video on YouTube that features QR codes. QR Code interactive Video. There is a marketing firm in Asheville called ConnectMe that is right on the edge of new technology and sells marketing with your QR codes. QR Codes Asheville group
While doing more research I found a site that lets you generate your own QR code for your website or business. I made my own QR code for my blog site.
We should keep our eye on the QR codes. It is the future.
Related articles
- Does anybody actually use QR codes? (tech.fortune.cnn.com)
Tuesday Feature on the main blog luckyhappenstance
Image via CrunchBase
This week we hear from a fellow North Carolinian, Claudia from LuckyHappenstance. Gotta love her vintage sewing patterns and we did wear those styles in the 70′s 
but I will only admit to some of them ha! Take a stroll through her shop it will take you down memory lane to be sure. So enough of this chatter on to read about this weeks fantastic feature. And check out the shops that she recommends at the end of the feature beautiful shops
best
BL
Where is your hometown? and current location?
I currently live in Durham, NC and it is the closest I’ve ever come to having a “hometown”. I’ve moved around a lot in my life – never living in a place for more than 4 years. I was born in New York, but grew up in Miami. I went to college in Durham. Went back to NYC after college and then went to live in Japan for a couple of years. After that I moved to Vermont and then Arizona … so I’m a bit of a nomad 
What do you like about where you live now?
I absolutely love living in Durham. It is a great town with a fantastic community of folks that really strive to support the “local” economy in every way. There are a ton of amazing restaurants, great food trucks and a thriving farmer’s market. (Can you tell I like to eat?) It is a great town to raise a family with lots of parks and community events.
Do you work outside of the home?
I just recently went back to working part-time after being a full-time stay at home mom for 5 years. I am working with Early Head Start helping other babies and their mamas. 
What inspires you?
My children are my biggest inspiration. We love to play together and I spend a lot of time observing what they like to do and trying to make things for them to play with and enjoy. My shop has really changed and evolved over the years based on my girls ages and interests. I imagine it will continue to do so in the future.
How did you begin with your art?
I started sewing right before my oldest daughter was born. At that time I didn’t even know how to turn on a sewing machine. I didn’t find out if I was having a girl or a boy, and I am not really a big fan of pastel colors. So, I was having a hard time finding baby blankets in colors and patterns that appealed to me. I asked a friend to show me how to use a sewing machine and sew a straight seam. She did and I was almost instantly hooked. I took a few classes, but mostly I’ve just learned through experimentation and lots of fantastic tutorials on the net.
Are you more creative in the morning or evening?
hmmm … I think I am an “afternoon” person I tend to get my best ideas while daydreaming in the middle of the day.
What do you do for fun?
I love to read. I keep a summer vegetable garden and always have aspirations of a fall/winter garden, but haven’t quite gotten around to it yet. I love to watch movies and go out to dinner with friends and family. I really enjoy doing Zumba and yoga when I have time. I walked my first half-marathon this past spring and I am gearing up to do my second this coming winter.
How would you describe your experience with Etsy?
Etsy has been and continues to be a wonderful experience for me. It is not always easy and can often be disappointing when I go days or weeks without a sale, but overall it is a very fulfilling and rewarding place to be for me. I’ve met so many amazing Etsians from all over the world through a variety of teams, forums and BNRs. I love it!
Do you participate in any Etsy teams?
Yes I am in a variety of teams. I am most active in the EtsyKids team. I am a curator for the EtsyKids team as well, which has led me to participating in a few different treasury promotion teams as well. I am also a bit of a BNR/BNS addict so I belong to several BNR teams too.
Do you sell your products on other sites?
Not really. I have a website (www.snugglymonkey.com), but my “shop” is a link back to an Etsy Mini, so it is really through Etsy. I’ve thought about trying ArtFire, but I haven’t gotten around to it.
Do you sell in Etsy BNR’s? What do you like or dislike about the experience?
As I mentioned above, I am a bit of a BNR addict. I think they are a fantastic marketing tool and a great way to meet folks & get to know the artists behind the shops. I dislike that Etsy no longer allows BNRs to be on the top Treasury pages, but I still think they are a really valuable way to market your items to a very important market share – other Etsy members! One of the teams I am on tends to kind of poo-poo the BNRs and I’ve read several comments on forums about how people don’t see their value since you have to buy something from someone else in order to get something of yours purchased, but I think these folks are missing the point. I view what I spend in BNRs as my “advertising” budget – plus I get to purchase really cool things from other Etsians and support our community. I have made several friends through BNRs and gained some repeat customers that leave fantastic feedback – which I think is another plus of BNRs. Other Etsy folks tend to leave the best feedback because they know how important it is, which I think helps you build credibility as a shop. I’m a big BNR fan
If you have other sites, blogs, facebook etc, please list your links here.
www.snugglymonkey.com
www.facebook.com/SnugglyMonkey
www.twitter.com/SnugglyMonkeyCo
www.pinterest.com/SnugglyMonkey
If you would like to please recommend another shop that you would like to see featured here.
The first one that comes to mind is “ChildishThoughts” because I just received one of her crayon aprons today and it is absolutely gorgeous! 
Loren over at FruitoftheBloom is an all around great person. She does a tremendous amount of volunteer work for the EtsyKids team without really getting much recognition for it. Plus she is just a really interesting person and great to chat with. 
Thanks again for this great opportunity Linda!
Thanks,
Claudia
Tuesday Feature over on the blog: Early Girl
One of the things I love about Asheville is it’s a mini melting pot of the country. We have so many fantastic artists and handcrafters. I am constantly amazed at the versatility of the Asheville Etsy Street Team. I am not sure where I first ran across this shop but was instantly charmed by the cute apple cozies, I thought what a unique idea. Shannon also has some wonderful photos in the shop and I featured a few of them here. So, lets read about this great artist.
best wishes
bl
How did you get started with Etsy?
I stumbled upon Etsy.com by word-of-mouth shortly after moving to North Carolina in September 2004. For the first two years I was strictly a buyer. In November 2006 I decided to kick-it-up a notch and open an official Etsy shop, complete with banner and all even though I really had no clue what handmade goods I was going to sell. Out of boredom and the desire to stay home with my (then) three young kids, I found myself making a lot of handmade cards and marble magnets for friends, teachers, and gifts. It’s safe to say, marble magnets was what got me started with Etsy.
What inspires you?
Thinkers, makers, and do-ers.
Where is your hometown? and current location?
I was born and raised in San Jose, California, then moved to southern Oregon where I attended High School and some college. I currently live in east Asheville, NC.
What do you like about where you live now?
The strong buy/support local presence. The food, the entertainment, and the little-big city vibe while remaining nestled in the mountains.
How did you begin with your art?
After years of not picking-up a hook, I took a refresher crochet class in Spring 2007. Like with the marble magnets, out of boredom (and unemployment…) I started making scarves, cloth sets, and rag rugs for friends, teachers, and gift giving. My friends were great, and insisted on buying my handmade goods. It was after a month or two of giving my crocheted wash cloths a good trial run, that a fellow California friend living here in Asheville begged me to start selling these locally if not on Etsy! Looking back, that was my ultimate toe-dipping experience as a seller.
Within a month of selling my crocheted creations on Etsy, a sweet deep south Bed & Breakfast owner had me busy making color coordinated washcloths to match the bathrooms in Bed & Breakfast bedrooms. Needless to say, she was my very first loyal Etsy customer.
Do you work outside of the home?
No. I currently work from home keeping my Etsy.com shop stocked, fulfilling wholesale orders for shops located in Virginia and Oregon, and keeping my eyes peeled for local selling opportunities (ie: local shops and craft fairs.) I also keep busy devoting a little time each day with Asheville Etsy Street Team related stuff such as: responding to emails, Etsy communications, pushing Asheville Etsy’s presence on the Internet via our Team blog and Facebook page, which includes passing along local/regional vending opportunities to Team Members.
Are you more creative in the morning or evening?
Both actually! I find I need to balance it on both sides of the day to keep things rolling and from becoming stagnant. This also allows me breaks to take time for family-related obligations such as homework, sports/clubs, and meals. When my Husband gets home from work in the evening, I generally try to grab another hour or two to work; it helps me unwind.
What do you do for fun?
Read/browse used bookstores, see live music, watch my children play soccer, take lots of pictures, thrift shop for vintage Pyrex (which I collect – my Husband would say “hoard”), and browse the local well known and not so well known antique shops for vintage buttons – and more Pyrex.
How would you describe your experience with Etsy?
My experience with Etsy has been exceptional. Most notably, Etsy.com was the main source of my recognition, and in turn, is what initiated contact to submit an application to be chosen to appear in a book – which I was! My Apple-a-go-go pattern was published in a book “Lunch Bags!” It was released in bookstores August 2010 by C&T Publishing.
Are part of any Etsy teams?
Yes. Aside from Asheville Etsy Street Team I also belong to: Crochet Originals, Etsy Crochet Lounge, and Etsy Hookers.
Do you sell your products on other sites?
No. I’m a loyal and exclusive Etsy seller. 
Do you sell in Etsy BNR’s? What do you like or dislike about the experience?
Okay, I actually had to Google “Etsy BNR” to find out what this question was referring to. No, I don’t sell in Etsy BNR’s.
If you have other sites, blogs, facebook etc, please list your links here.
I reluctantly keep a blog that’s 75% Etsy related and 25% life related at: www.ashevegan.blogspot.com -
I also keep a flickr account at: www.flickr.com/photos/earlygrrrl/ where I visually chronicle handmade goods I make, things I see, and places I go
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Monday Teaser: Early Girl Feature my blog
You dont want to miss this adorable shop feature on Early Girl. Check the blog out on Tuesday.
http://www.beckleecottagedesigns.com
Tuesday Feature: Sew Upscale
Image via CrunchBase
This week we head to Morganton, NC not too far from Asheville, where we find the lovely shop of Asheville Etsy Street Team member Linda Johnson of Sew Upscale. I admire people you can take scraps of fabric and create a landscape or anything for that matter. I am in love with her fabric postcards,what a unique idea. I can see her love of the Western Carolina mountains represented in many of her designs. There is something so comforting in her creations maybe its my love of nature but I think you will enjoy reading about how she creates her pieces. So read on and thanks to Sew Upscale for giving us a look into her process.
best wishes
BL
How did you get started with Etsy? I first joined Etsy as a buyer. My son told me about the site. He heard about it from a friend. I later decided to start a shop.
What inspires you? I’m inspired by my surroundings, by the landscape, by colors and by fabric. I even like thread. Almost everything inspires me!
Where is your hometown? and current location? I’m from Asheville, NC but now live in Morganton, NC which is about 50 miles east of Asheville.
What do you like about where you live now? Morganton is a small town. Anywhere you go, you always know someone. The weather is very moderate although it can get hot in the summer.
How did you begin with your art? I first started sewing when I was about 9 or 10 years old. I first started making quilted fabric postcards about 3 or 4 years ago. I saw one and thought it would be great for me since they are small and could be finished in a short amount of time. I have a problem with finishing projects! I taught myself how to make them and have since developed my own style. My favorite subject matter is the mountains. But I also love making any kind of landscape.
Do you work outside of the home? I no longer work outside the home. I left my full time job as a social worker recently after having a heart attack. The stress in that job was so great. I am now concentrating on my quilted fabric postcard business.
Are you more creative in the morning or evening? I’m usually more creative about mid morning. I like to get my workout finished before I start work on my art.
What do you do for fun? Love to hike, travel, and spend time with my family especially my granddaughter, Nadia.
How would you describe your experience with Etsy? Etsy has been a work in progress for me and for Etsy. I think Etsy is very easy to use. I am constantly learning more on how to make my shop better. The photographs are the hardest part for me.
Are part of any Etsy teams? I belong to the Asheville Etsy Street Team, Quiltsy Team and the Smoky Mountain Treasury Team
Do you sell your products on other sites? I have a shop on Artfire but I don’t spend much time on it. I also have a beautiful website my son designed.
Do you sell in Etsy BNR’s? What do you like or dislike about the experience? I haven’t participated in the BNR.
If you have other sites, blogs, facebook etc, please list your links here.
Twitter- twitter.com/sewupscale
Facebook- www.facebook.com/pages/Sew-Upscale/72860661647
Website- essentialdesignstudio.com/sewupscale/sew_upscale_index.html
Blog- www.sewupscale.blogspot.com/
Artfire www.artfire.com/SewUpscale
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/pages/AEST/112809652066882
Tuesday Feature: Raige Creations On the main blog
Feature on the main blog http://www.beckleecottagedesigns.com
Our feature today is the very hip shop of Raige Creations, one of my fellow Asheville Street Team members. Tokini’s how cute are they? Her shop also sells vintage items. Asheville is a great city for creative and craft folks to live and Riage’s Etsy shop is a perfect example of craft meets creative. Well, I will stop chatting now and let you read all about this great Etsy shop.
Best Wishes
BL
Where is your hometown?
I grew up in a suburb of Buffalo, NY. I got to experience all the snow, blizzards, and Lake Effect storms anyone could ever hope for. J
What do you like about where you live now?
We recently moved to the mountains of North Carolina, and so far I love nearly everything about where we are now. What I love about this area, first but certainly not the only thing, is the mountains themselves. They are just amazing, beautiful, and take my breath away each time I see them. I almost don’t mind shopping at Wal-mart, because when you walk out of there, the view is breathtaking!
I also love that everyone we have met here is friendly and makes us feel welcome. Coming from NY, that is a real treat.
Tell us a little about your daily life. Do you work outside of the home?
After working many years in the corporate world, I am thankful that I can now concentrate on Raige Creations, and my family. My day consists of making sure the kids get to school, and then take whatever comes my way as a cue as to what direction the day will have. If I have a sale, the morning goes in a slightly different direction than if I don‘t. The morning involves getting the order ready to ship and heading out to the Post office. If there has not been a sale, I either write an article for IndieSmiles.com or my blog, or create, but usually it is a little bit of each. By afternoon, I prepare for the kids coming home with dinner prep and cleaning up the mess I no doubt created. I try to have checklists each day, and tick off as much as I can each day. I do love the flexibility, though, and when the mood takes me in one direction, I usually follow.
How did you get started with Etsy?
A bout of unemployment plus a gift of a crochet hook and some practice yarn for Christmas got me started with Etsy. I created some bags and purses as my first projects once I started crocheting again (hadn’t done it since I was a child). After seeing what I could do, I thought, maybe someone would buy my creations. I read about Etsy in Real Simple magazine, my favorite magazine, and checked it out and it seemed like a great place to start.
What inspires you?
I love to create fun things, to try to change people’s ideas of crochet. It’s not just old fashioned stuff – it can be cool and fun. I love vintage things too, because of the life each item had before what it is now. The story behind the item adds so much to what is can be in its new life.
How did you begin with your art?
Art in my life began as far back as I can remember. Art and music was always in our house. My father played the piano and organ, my mother was a professional photographer who also dabbled in other mediums. My grandmother was a piano teacher and also made quilts. It wasn’t until after they all had passed that I really embraced my creativity as my main work.
What do you do for fun?
When we moved here to the mountains, we tried zip-lining with Navitat, and I absolutely had a blast! I can’t wait to do it again, and I highly recommend it to anyone who thinks they can’t have fun anymore.
On a more regular basis, I enjoy walking and taking in nature and the beautiful views.
How would you describe your experience with Etsy?
I have met so many great people because of Etsy, and have learned so much about creating and selling in the online marketplace. It has been a great experience, and continues to teach me, and I continue to meet other fabulous creators.
What advice would you give to an Etsy beginner?
It is difficult to give advice, being that I feel like I still have so much to learn. I could suggest that any beginner in the online marketplace needs to have patience, work hard, and most of all, enjoy what they create. There are many tough days to get through, so if you don’t enjoy what you are creating, it will be even harder to sell what you create. Have fun, take good pictures, and be active online. The opportunities to meet other artisans in your area are great so you should embrace that. Don’t get discouraged if things start out slow. Remember why you started, and see if that can get you through.
As a buyer and seller what excites you the most about either?
As a buyer, of course it is the thrill of getting your new item to use and enjoy. As a seller, it is tough to explain the feeling when one of the items you created, put so much into, was good enough that someone want is and is willing to pay you for it. I get giddy every time I have a sale, and can’t help smiling all day.
How do you deal with orders, do you have a system? What type of packaging do you use or found that works the best. As I eluded to above, I deal with orders by smiling a lot and feel giddy. I take each order as it comes, package each with the same care, and get to the post office as soon as I can.
What type of shipping service do you use? I use US Postal Service. I have found that to be the best way to ship my items. The shipping time is very good, and the cost is great compared to some other services.
What type of payment processing do you use? I use Paypal and also take checks from people I know.
Have you tried Amazon? Just as a buyer
Are you on any Etsy teams? If so what do you like about Etsy teams?
I am a several teams. Handmade logy Team, Pure Handmade Team, On Fire for Handmade Team, Handmade Harbor Team, The Asheville Etsy Street Team, and the Active Asheville Artists Association Team. Phew! I try to be active in these team, as they are all full of supportive people. I also try to support others so we can all benefit from these teams. When we moved here I was so pleasantly surprised there were so many people in the Asheville area on Etsy. Some of the first people I met after we moved here are Etsy people I met online, and I wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t’ for Etsy.
What do you think about the BNR Experience? I have never taken part in a BNR.
Do you sell your products on other sites, or have blogs if so list the link.
I have three online shops at the moment, and try to keep up with a blog, as well as write for IndieSmiles.com, and I try to keep a presence on face book too. Recently, a local gift shop has decided to carry some Raige Creations items, and so far that has been great. The gift shop is in Weaverville, called Stacies, and right on Main Street. All of their cut goes to help their Home Health Care business, so I am thrilled to be represented there.
www.etsy.com/shop/raigecreations
www.artfire.com/users/RaigeCreations
www.raigecreations.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/RaigeCreations
Please recommend someone you would like to see featured on our blog. It does not have to be an Etsy shop.
My friend Terri Riley, from POPEmbroidery, formerly Paper On Parade, also moved to the Asheville area recently. We met through Zibbet.com, and met in person a few months ago and hit it off immediately. She makes great key fobs and embroidered items. www.zibbet.com/PaperOnParade. Thank you!
