Workmanship

Workmanship.. I have noticed both on Etsy and at Craft shows that some vendors believe that just doing enough is okay. I totally disagree. I think that if it is not the best work that you know how to do- then you should not sell it. Period.

One artisan recently wrote about how she cut costs (and workmanship) to sell her item at a "reasonable" price. Why? It takes no longer to make something correctly than it does the less correct way. For example, with sewing it takes no longer to match plaids on a item than it does to match them-- and the item looks so much nicer with the plaids matched.

I wonder if these vendors who think this way get a lot of repeat business? I would hope that everyone who reads this note... Please just do your very best. And if you know that your sewing machine is skipping stitches or you are sewing with rotted thread.or your wood is cracked (or whatever your medium is)that you just don't sell that item.

 I absolutely think it is to the vendor's benefit to have integrity when they are making and selling. And really think-- would you want to receive the item that you are trying to pass off as perfect, if you had bought it? I wonder... thanks for reading along...

Come Meet The 1829 Farmhouse on Etsy

My New Interview is with Judi at  The1829Farmhouse

1) How did you come up with the name to your shop?
    My home is a farmhouse built in 1829, it has been in my husband's family on & off through the     years.

 2) What was the first thing that you created or sold that made you think- Wow- I CAN do this?
      My first sale was a soft grey Homer- Laughlin covered vegetable dish that I bought at a yard sale for very little money.  I sold it for a very good profit and was ecstatic.

 3) Who or What started you on this path?
   I believe I discovered Etsy via another blog and decided to check it out.  It was such a simple concept, although it took me almost a year to stock it after I set up shop!
 4) What is the Favorite tool of your trade and why?
      I would have to say yard sales, thrift stores and antique shows are my tools plus my love of the     neglected item along with paint to repurpose and breathe new life into.
 5) What is your best advice or tip to give another vendor?
       Stay focused, be consistent (I struggle with juggling the rest of my life with this) and keep learning how to improve.
6) Are you doing any craft/antique shows this year? Where can others find you?
   I have many of my items in a little shop called Antique Harbor in Liverpool,NY that is open Saturdays (so far) from May thru December.
 7) What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
    My favorite item is the handpainted antique dresser:

 It was a sore sight before it was beautified with a sweet paint treatment, drawer pulls and lined drawers. The mirror was found in a dumpster and married to the dresser. It would look so perfect in a little girls bedroom or nursery.

This is one of the items that I like in her shop:

                    peppermint soak, bath salts, organic ingredients, natural, one pound package
     8) Please tell us your links (ie facebook/twitter/web site etc).
 the1829farmhouse.blogspot.com, twitter.com/burrows_judi, pinterest.com/1829farmhouse/
Thanks, Judi!

Please go check out her shop and follow her links!  

Scam Convos...Sellers Beware

I received this Convo today... I have reported it to Etsy. I believe It is a scam. Notice the way the English is not "right". (i would like to purchase some of it in bulk order) and "price lists" (when the wording should say Price List not the plural).  "I saw"-- that should read 'I see'.  She also goes from capitol I to small i's in her words.

Granted some of it is minor grammar mistakes that anyone could make, but When you read the convo out loud you can see that is not how natural Americans talk....and together with the subject is the other red flag.

Plus the fact that she is trying to get me to sell her my things off of Etsy-- which is a Major No-No.

AND the fact that I only have 1 Quilt up for sale.. and I don't promote my shop as a Quilt shop. That was the biggest Red Flag to me.

Also- she doesn't have any feedback, nor does she have a shop...and she just joined today!

Here is the convo:
Hi there!
I saw that you are selling quilts ,and i would like to purchase some of it in bulk order.
Can you please send me your price lists together with your phone number that i can call?
Or you can email me at ... (I removed her email).
Thanks!

I also know that there are other scams with sellers trying to get your phone number and bank account information. I have had team members tell me of ones where someone convos to ask about an already sold quilt-- that they will pay more for it-- if you just refund the difference to them..

Another-- watch out for the persons asking you to put your item on their web site-- then if it sells there-- they will pay for it and you ship to the customer.... a drop shipper.

I have not responded to her as I don't want to encourage her. I am not interested... as much as I would love someone to buy a bunch of items from me...But I want it done legally.

Understand... also that with Yahoo or Hotmail or even Gmail-- you do not have to give your real name or age or zip code or anything. You can totally make up a new identity for yourself.

Sellers- Just be careful.. I get that we all want sales.. but I like Etsy and have no desire to mess that up. I think if some convo you get--- doesn't feel right, it is best to just report it and let them handle it.

Have a good day...

Do You Have New Items in your Shop?

Are your are sales slow?  I will be posting a series of posts about what works for me and what might work for you. This is just the first.

The time of year is probably the cause.. Jan & Feb are traditionally slow in the crafting and bricks/mortar shops.

But could it be that you are not working your shop? 

I know from past experience that I need to list something in my shop every 5 to 6 days or I come off the front page of a Google search. Everyone is different. I have a friend who also has an Etsy shop and her time frame is 3 days. Check your own times. 

I had been helping another team weed out it's non contributing members and noticed that the ones with little to no sales-- have just listed a few things and walked away. I had one lady tell me, that she doesn't check her shop until she gets an email saying she sold something-- she has been here 2 yrs and has only sold 3 things. I predict that if she continues to carry on this way-- it will be another 2 yrs before she sells the remaining 5 items in her shop! 

People-- You have to work your shops to get sales.. and that means listing new things in your shop. Think about it.. when I go to a shop.. I don't want to see that this item has been sitting in your shop for almost 4 months ( I can tell in the list view of your shop)... and basically that you just walked away. 

I get that some of you are discouraged.  But if you never have anything new in your shop-- why would I want to come back to see the same ol' thing. When you are out and about and stop into a store and they never get in anything new-- you don't go back. You write them off. And they eventually close their doors. 

I know that I only have to list 1 thing every 5-6 days.. So, when I am sewing-- and I have made say 8 things... I space out my listings. I don't have to list them all the same day. Sometimes I do.. but my shop is established and I don't worry as much.  I can list 1 of those 8 items every 5 days and still be on the front page. That is the goal-- to be on the 1st page of Google. 

I will be talking about helping you get more sales in the coming blog posts... My thoughts on what is working for me... and what I am reading on the forums that works for you.

Next post with be about Avatars.

 

Stay warm everyone, Linda/The Homespun Loft