She's Batty Designs

Nightmare Before Christmas Cupcakes

2011-09-24T02:46:00.001-04:00

Nightmare Before Christmas Cupcakes, originally uploaded by death by cupcake.

Sirens' Call

2011-07-22T15:03:00.001-04:00

Sirens' Call, originally uploaded by jannepaint.

Mom found the perfect dress for my wedding!!!!

2011-03-27T23:59:00.001-04:00

Mom found the perfect dress for my wedding!!!!, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Green eye II

2011-03-15T01:37:00.001-04:00

Green eye II, originally uploaded by Sizzo-grafy.

Red Riding Hood Papercut :)

2011-03-05T06:24:00.001-05:00

Red Riding Hood Papercut :), originally uploaded by Elsita (Elsa Mora).

Paper Ring.

2011-03-05T06:20:00.001-05:00

Paper Ring., originally uploaded by Elsita (Elsa Mora).

Three Story Victorian with Tree

2011-03-02T02:18:00.001-05:00

Three Story Victorian with Tree, originally uploaded by !snap!.

I Can Still See You

2011-03-02T02:12:00.001-05:00

I Can Still See You, originally uploaded by jannepaint.

Puppy Love

2011-02-25T04:48:00.001-05:00

Puppy Love, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Studio Close Up: Ribbon

2011-02-22T03:56:00.001-05:00

Studio Close Up: Ribbon, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Batty's Bath Birthday Bash: Cake Close Up

2011-02-18T01:36:00.001-05:00

Batty's Bath Birthday Bash: Cake Close Up, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Hair Cut!

2011-02-18T01:01:00.001-05:00

Hair Cut! , originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Yup, 4 inches gone! Still looks long but it feels so short with those extra inches missing!

My frosted sugar cookie shea butter soap gets a new look :)

2011-02-11T18:48:00.001-05:00

My frosted sugar cookie shea butter soap gets a new look :), originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Lullaby

2011-02-09T02:28:00.001-05:00

Lullaby, originally uploaded by Rainbow Fairy Girl.

Pink and Blue Bathroom

2011-01-30T00:36:00.001-05:00

Pink and Blue Bathroom, originally uploaded by saltycotton.

Ooooh and this bathroom to match the teal kitchen :)

Turquoise GE Kitchen

2011-01-30T00:34:00.001-05:00

Turquoise GE Kitchen, originally uploaded by saltycotton.

Ooooh, can i have this kitchen (minus the brown)

Ames-Westbrook House 2

2011-01-30T00:22:00.001-05:00

Ames-Westbrook House 2, originally uploaded by saltycotton.

Another beauty!

William Collier House 3

2011-01-30T00:21:00.001-05:00

William Collier House 3, originally uploaded by saltycotton.

love love love

William Collier House 4

2011-01-30T00:20:00.001-05:00

William Collier House 4, originally uploaded by saltycotton.

Love this pink beauty! And check out the design on the side! Lovely :)

Craftsman on Lime Street

2011-01-30T00:19:00.001-05:00

Craftsman on Lime Street, originally uploaded by saltycotton.

I think this would be more of Drew's dream house! He wants a "hobbit house" lol

Victorian on Mulberry Street 2

2011-01-30T00:18:00.003-05:00

Victorian on Mulberry Street 2, originally uploaded by saltycotton.

Victorian on Mulberry Street

2011-01-30T00:18:00.001-05:00

Victorian on Mulberry Street, originally uploaded by saltycotton.

Love this house! One day I'll have a great house like this :)
Wouldn't be great to use the left side as a Batty's Bath shop and studio? I think so!

Us - a happy couple!

2011-01-13T12:01:00.001-05:00

Us - a happy couple!, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

we're so darn cute ;P

Shampoo Bar - coming soon

2011-01-12T06:59:00.001-05:00

Shampoo Bar , originally uploaded by She's Batty.

My beautiful sister-in-law Britt modeled for a photo shoot of my new shampoo bar! She did a great job and so did her mom, Darla, who did Britt's hair! If you're in looking for a stylist in Woodstock, look up D J's Designs to book Darla! She's the best!!

The Perfect Little House in the Woods

2011-01-11T01:23:00.001-05:00

PC050306, originally uploaded by Sandy Foster.

"Cluttered" Outside

2011-01-10T08:06:00.001-05:00

"Cluttered" Outside, originally uploaded by maniera.

Love these sculptures!

Miniatures

2011-01-10T08:05:00.001-05:00

Corner, originally uploaded by maniera.

I'm so intrigued by these miniatures!

Us at AAF

2010-12-18T01:52:00.001-05:00

Us at AAF, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Where's Batty?

2010-11-23T10:09:00.000-05:00

(This was first posted at my Batty's Bath Blog.

It includes some references to my soap biz, and

links within my soap blog.)

Studio Update, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

A pic of me working earlier. I've been so busy that the studio has been my second home for the past few months.

I have to apologize for the lack of updates on the blog! I haven't had time to cook up some interesting content because I've been so busy! I thought I should update everyone as I predict that things wont slow down for me until January.

Many of you know that I have Ankylosing Spondylitis and Fibromyalgia. I mention this because as I get busier, my flare ups become more frequent and intense. Right now I'm on a loop of recovering, restocking, doing a show (read: provoking a flare up), and starting all over again - recovering, restocking, show.

As you can imagine that the recovery step takes more time every time the loop cycles. Right now I have an average of 3-4 shows/home parties per week plus restocking in between and managing my online shop. As the recovery process takes longer, the less stock I have at each show, and the more stressed out I become - After all, I want to make sure everyone has all the pampering goodies they are looking for!

Things are certainly a whirlwind right now and I'm so thankful that my little business is doing so well! I'm also thankful that things should slow down and get back to normal in the new year. Being super busy with orders is amazing, but not when my health suffers because of it. I've already figured out a few things to do differently in the new year to make things more balanced. I have to look after my health first and foremost otherwise not only will I burn out, but nobody will get to enjoy my batty creations!

In the new year, I'll reduce the amount of shows I do by half - yup, you read that right, I said half! I feel that since local supporters can order from my online shop (with free delivery), book a home party, or shop at Weezi's 6 days a week, this shouldn't impact regular local customers too much (at least this is my hope). I still plan to be at the Covent Garden Market once a month, so no worries there for all the wonderful people that come out every time I'm there! I've decided to reduce the number of shows I book because this decrease will give me more time to fill orders, connect with customers, and take care of my health without taking away from the needs of my business.

Please accept my apology for the lack of updates and interactions. I'm really trying to make sure everyone who wants Batty's Bath goodies for the holidays has them - thankfully, due to all your support - that's a tall order to fill :) I'm sure since your bathrooms are smelling great, your skin is smooth, and your hair is looking great you don't mind the lack of interesting blog content ;) hehe.

Thanks again for all your support everyone! The blog will get back to "normal" as I have time, and if there's anything you'd like to see here (content and subject matter wise), don't hesitate to late me know. The blog survey is still a a great way to have your voice heard!

Happy Holidays everyone!
Be well :)

Pop Up Christmas Card How To

2010-11-22T22:04:00.001-05:00

Click the image for the instructions.

Nov 21st - Beehives, Bubbles & Bows in London Ontario

2010-11-19T08:46:00.001-05:00

Nov 21st - Beehives, Bubbles & Bows in London Ontario, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Autumn & Kitties Feature! Part 8

2010-11-17T18:23:00.001-05:00

Window View, originally uploaded by alankin.

Autumn & Kitties Feature! Part 7

2010-11-17T18:22:00.003-05:00

Happy Halloween (HDR), originally uploaded by Talke Photography.

Autumn & Kitties Feature! Part 6

2010-11-17T18:22:00.001-05:00

Questioning This Pumpkin's Tail, originally uploaded by sudergal.

Autumn & Kitties Feature! Part 5

2010-11-17T18:21:00.003-05:00

Black Cat, originally uploaded by James B Currie.

Autumn & Kitties Feature! Part 4

2010-11-17T18:21:00.001-05:00

Yawning Rock, originally uploaded by Cassario.

Autumn & Kitties Feature! Part 3

2010-11-17T18:20:00.003-05:00

Dora the Pumpkin Farm cat, originally uploaded by barbara.jackson55.

Autumn & Kitties Feature! Part 2

2010-11-17T18:20:00.001-05:00

Colorful Cat, originally uploaded by Mi Bob.

Autumn & Kitties Feature! Part 1

2010-11-17T18:19:00.001-05:00

Autumn through a cat's eyes - O Outono pelos olhos de uma gata, originally uploaded by * starrynight1.

Autumn through a cat's eyes - O Outono pelos olhos de uma gata

Drew and I at our Halloween buck & doe :)

2010-11-01T03:21:00.001-04:00

Drew and I at our Halloween buck & doe :), originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Photography Tip Articles

2010-10-25T23:51:00.001-04:00

Blog Improvement Articles

2010-10-24T09:45:00.001-04:00

Build the perfect blog audience for you { problogger}
How to show up and write {copyblogger}
Your blog as part of your SEO strategy {smallerbox}
29 no brainer tips for quick blogging success { pushingsocial}
10 tips for a successful blog {epherielldesigns}

The cat's whiskers: Meet Ugly Bat Boy, the follicly-challenged feline who has become a tourist attraction

2010-10-22T05:11:00.002-04:00

He goes by the name of Ugly Bat Boy - no prizes for guessing why.

This follicly-challenged feline has become a tourist attraction because of his bizarre appearance.

Eight-year-old Ugly, whose breed is not known, spends most of his time keeping warm by sitting on a computer at the Exeter Veterinary Hospital in New Hampshire.

Unlucky in looks: Ugly Bat Boy is bald except for an unkempt bib of hair around his neck

Staff at the veterinary hospital have even been forced to put up fliers saying he's perfectly normal - just unattractive.

They claim he makes up for his terrible looks by having inner beauty and a nice disposition.

He's also turned into something of a tourist attraction in Exeter, New Hampshire, America.

'People come in and take pictures of him on their cell phones,' staff member Christie Hartnett said.

Unusual: Staff have been forced to put up posters saying the cat is completely normal - just ugly

'He's just great. The impression from clients that come in is he's not real because he just sits so still.

'When he does move, he scares them, but they still think he's mesmerizing.'

Ugly and his sister, who only survived a few weeks, were both born without fur.

Despite his looks, staff say he likes as much fuss as any ordinary cat

And although he may not look like an ordinary cat, staff at the hospital say he behaves exactly like every other feline they've ever known.

He loves attention and is very friendly.

WATCH VIDEO OF UGLY BAT BOY BELOW

10 Ways to Make the Most Out of Every Etsy Sale

2010-10-20T11:52:00.000-04:00

Personalized Hand Stamped Key Chain | by: riskybeads

riskybeads says:

Check out the rest of the tips here in the Etsy forum.

1. Send a freebie along with each order. Make sure it’s something that people would want. Perhaps a scaled down version of another product or a sustainable marketing item like a magnet, etc. A thank you card goes a long way as well!

2. Invite customers to join your mailing list. (I’ve been using the PayPal Customer Service option, and I’ve added about 20 people since I started it. To do this, log into PayPal and go to: My Account/Profile/Selling Preferences/Custom Payment Pages/Option tab –> scroll down to see mailing list option.)

3. Send a coupon for their next purchase. You can do this by getting cheap biz cards printed as coupons or just put a label or paper coupon in the package. I often use labels because it allows me to customize my marketing materials. Most of the coupons I get from other sellers offer 5-10% off. I offer 15% off an order of $50 or more. Remember, not everyone will use their coupon, so there’s no need to stress about what you offer. Send more than 1 coupon to encourage sharing and/or offer a referral discount. I offer my customers 15% off any item of their choice if they refer a new custom to me!

4. Send a brochure with FANTASTIC pictures of other products you sell. Perhaps offer a discount or coupon as part of the brochure. Using a brochure or postcard works nicely because people can easily show your products to folks who aren’t online… co-workers in the lunch room, etc. You can keep it relative. If a person buys Lavender Body Butter from you, maybe send a brochure with pics/info on your other lavender products.

5. Invite your customer to a future secret sale–not too far in the future, say 2-3 weeks max AND/OR unveil a secret product and offer it early to your existing custom base.

Halloween Craft Ideas!

2010-10-19T09:49:00.000-04:00

Here are a few craft ideas for Halloween!

How-To: Halloween Bat Mobile {craftzine}
Make a Zombie {etsy}
Pumpkin Cozy {craftzine}
Harry Potter and Halloween Ideas {craftster}
Black Cat {etsy}

Gingerbread Man Ring! All bundled up :) hehe

2010-10-19T04:16:00.002-04:00

Gingerbread Man Ring! All bundled up :) hehe, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

You can be sure this will be on my finger at every holiday show! :) I've made a few more that are available online but I'm sure they will get snagged up quickly :)

Soapy Center Piece!

2010-10-18T10:29:00.002-04:00

Soapy Center Piece! , originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Soapy Center Piece!
Holiday Spruce Tree Soap (6 pieces)

Christmas/Winter 2010
Special Holiday Release
Now available at:
battysbath.etsy.com

Ten of the Scariest Scenes in 80s Movies I Saw as a Kid

2010-10-16T09:25:00.002-04:00

Check out this great summery of seriously the most horrific scenes for a kid in the 80s (like me!) to have been exposed to *shiver* : Ten of the Scariest Scenes in 80s Movies I Saw as a Kid

Batty at the Bazaar of the Bizarre 2010

2010-10-12T00:20:00.001-04:00

Bazaar of the Bizarre 2010, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

BOO-icious bubble bath for the Bazaar of the Bazaar in Toronto tomorrow :D

2010-10-09T10:18:00.001-04:00

BOO-icious bubble bath for the Bazaar of the Bazaar in Toronto tomorrow :D , originally uploaded by She's Batty.

BOO-icious bubble bath for the Bazaar of the Bazaar in Toronto tomorrow :D If all the jars I've made don't sell out you'll find them at my events throughout October! :)

Feeling Inspired!

2010-10-08T07:17:00.001-04:00

Happy Gocco Day, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Oct 24th - Beehives, Bubbles & Bows in London Ontario

2010-10-08T05:36:00.001-04:00

Oct 24th - Beehives, Bubbles & Bows in London Ontario, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

A Fall Collaboration Between Weezi and Batty's Bath!

2010-10-08T05:34:00.002-04:00

A Fall Collaboration Between Weezi and Batty's Bath!, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

It's the CANDY CORN PACK!
3 handmade 100% cotton wash cloths
1 handmade glycerin candy corn soap

Available online at BattysBath.etsy.com but only for a limited time! Watch for these at the Bazaar of the Bizarre in Toronto on October 10th!

New Release! Yarn Ball Soap!

2010-10-04T23:43:00.001-04:00

New Release! Yarn Ball Soap! , originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Perfect for the knitters in your life :)

A Fall Collaboration Between Weezi and Batty's Bath!

2010-10-04T05:14:00.002-04:00

A Fall Collaboration Between Weezi and Batty's Bath!, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

It's the CANDY CORN PACK!

3 handmade 100% cotton wash cloths
1 handmade glycerin candy corn soap

Now available in the online shop!
battysbath.etsy.com

Paper Crafts

2010-10-03T18:46:00.001-04:00

, originally uploaded by Jam Wu 吳耿禎.

Batty's Halloween 2010 Line Up!

2010-10-02T01:15:00.003-04:00

Batty's Halloween 2010 Line Up!, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Creepy bubble bath jars are all set and ready for the bazaar of the bizarre!

2010-10-02T01:15:00.001-04:00

Creepy bubble bath jars are all set and ready for the bazaar of the bizarre!, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Haunted Halloween Glitter House

2010-10-02T01:14:00.001-04:00

Haunted Halloween Glitter House, originally uploaded by skybluecrayons.

Diary Project 2011

2010-09-28T02:50:00.001-04:00

some of my favorite combination pages, originally uploaded by fantazya fantazies.

For the last 2 years I've participated in the Diary Project and I'm so happy that my design got picked as one of the coordinator's favs! Check it out in print (mine is the one just to the right of the spine)!

I'll definitely be placing an order for a copy ASAP and can't wait to see all the other designs! :)

Important Artfire Forum Post

2010-09-25T06:11:00.002-04:00

If you're a handmade seller, this post is definitely worth a read.

Weezi record bowls-92 to be exact

2010-09-25T00:12:00.001-04:00

Weezi record bowls-92 to be exact, originally uploaded by Weezi In Canada.

Weezi has been BUSY!!! :)

Check out Weezi.com :)

Oct 24th - Beehives, Bubbles & Bows in London Ontario

2010-09-23T02:53:00.001-04:00

Oct 24th - Beehives, Bubbles & Bows in London Ontario, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

PRESENTING.....

❉ BEEHIVES, BUBBLES & BOWS!!! ❉
We'll get you ready from head to toe!!!
...
...If you're into all things retro and pampering, then THIS is the event for you - especially if you're heading downtown to get your groove on retro style after stopping by! We'll get you looking (and smelling!) fabulous just like the Hollywood stars from the golden era!

Drop by between 1 - 7pm on Sunday October 21st to have a truly fabulous and pampering time with 3 local fun loving crafty gals!

❉ BEEHIVES by Scissor Kitty ❉
Specializing in retro do's, Morgan from Scissor Kitty is ready to back comb you up a beehive or victory rolls! Takes about 1/2 hour. $15 for a beehive and $20 for victory rolls.
www.scissorkitty.com

❉ BUBBLES by Batty's Bath ❉
Batty's eco friendly, skin loving bath & body goodies will be on hand to pamper you and transform you into the glamorous spa goddess you know you can be!
www.battysbath.com

❉ BOWS by Weezi ❉
Weezi's retro inspired designs will have you looking like the glamorous gals of days gone by with a ultra chic modern twist! You're sure to find an outfit that will have you feeling like a real retro bombshell!!
www.weezi.com

1960s Kitchen Dining Breakfast Nook Interior Vintage Interior Design Photo

2010-09-22T06:24:00.001-04:00

1960s Kitchen Dining Breakfast Nook Interior Vintage Interior Design Photo, originally uploaded by Christian Montone.

Can I PLEASE have this kitchen???

Little oldy moldy kitty is super comfy on my lap hehe

2010-09-20T05:17:00.001-04:00

Little oldy moldy kitty is super comfy on my lap hehe, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

My little helper

2010-09-17T18:04:00.001-04:00

My little helper, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Treasury Feature: As the Midnight Mists of Halloween Descend

2010-09-16T07:49:00.001-04:00

Treasury Feature: As the Midnight Mists of Halloween Descend, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

I'm loving this dark halloween treasury! It's up there in my top 10 fav treasuries of all time!

Helpful Blog Articles

2010-09-16T07:43:00.001-04:00

Commenting:

Giant List of Helpful Links!

2010-09-15T17:42:00.001-04:00

GraGra33 says:

Treasury Feature: As the Midnight Mists of Halloween Descend

2010-09-15T05:52:00.001-04:00

Treasury Feature: As the Midnight Mists of Halloween Descend, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

I'm loving this dark halloween treasury! It's up there in my top 10 fav treasuries of all time!!

How to Get into Thousands of Treasuries

2010-09-14T16:55:00.000-04:00

PoleStar says:

This post stems from a few posts I have seen where sellers are astounded at others being featured in thousands of treasuries. I was going to post IN a recent thread but I thought the advice deserved it's own post.

Everyone here should NOT feel like small potatoes for only being in a few treasuries. We all start somewhere! There are unlimited treasuries now so the potential for how many treasuries you can end up in is infinity!

If you want to be in more treasuries some things that help are,

1. of course, great pictures. Set a mood with your photo, if you had a store front, how would you stage the front window? That is what you want to reflect in your shop pictures, of course with out being cluttered.

Someone who posted in the other thread is AmyArtz, her avatar is gorgeous, it makes me want to click, to find out, what is this cool looking cube textured pendant.

2. Of course a well made product and some cohesion in your shop. After a while people will know your shop for a great photographed version of a product.

I sell wire wrapped jewelry. As do A WHOLE LOT of other jewelry sellers on Etsy. I love what I make of course, am obsessed with making it and I do like to run it as a business for profit as well. That is why I am here on etsy selling it instead of piling it on my bed and rolling around in it a la The Proposal or whatever that movie was. My category is swamped. But guess what? I don't let that get me down, I just try to do the best that I can do in my shop.

I take unique photos and people know my shop look and come to my shop for items to put in their treasuries. I know this, b/c they tell me so :D.

I also have a large variety of colors in my shop. From neutrals to bright yellows, etc.

I make what I love. I love owls, Etsy loves owls. I made an owl necklace b/c I LOVE owls. I love foxes, but I am not feeling a fox necklace, just not wanting to go there.

And for SURE I will never EVER make a mustache necklace. If I do, slap me like the passengers do the freak out lady in Airplane b/c I will have done lost my marbles.

If you feel like you want to express a trend, do it! If not, don't! It is important that you do what you love and follow your instincts.

3. Network. Especially network with other people who love to make treasuries. At the heart of the treasury is people loving to curate lists. Be it through your favorites, a challenge through a team, etc. It is a challenging yet fun experience. It can fulfill your need for window shopping and artistic expression as well!

Network by joining a team, START a team! Twitter, Facebook. I have made so many FRIENDS through teams, such good friends, I could go stay with them overnight and sleep at their houses w/o worrying they would be a psycho killer even though I know them only through the internet.

4. Make treasuries and let everyone know you are in them! Pimp them out. That involves convoing people who you featured, tweeting your treasury lists and facebooking them.

Even if you only do one a week it will help.

5. Pay it back and forward. If you are featured in a newbie treasury, make one with newbies; if you are featured by another bow maker who loves your bows, make a treasury with that bow maker.

6. Use the Etsy Merchandising terms.

http://www.etsy.com/storque/search/title/merchandising/

Personally, I go through the articles and pick out "key words" and email them to myself and when I make a treasury, I skim the list and include the relevant tags in my treasury.

I am by NO means curating a ton of front pages even though I would like to. But those help me nonetheless.

I love being on the front page, but you know what feels even better? CURATING a front page. That is such a rush, awesome feeling.

7. When you feel inspired, make a treasury about it! If you think, "oh this was such a great sunny day" make a sunny day inspired treasury.

If you see a show on discovery about alligators, make a gator treasury!

If you feel strongly that unibrows should usurp the mustache in status not just b/c they are higher on the face, then make a unibrow treasury. I have made a few. }:)

You get the point.

8. Renew your items. Even if you only renew one item a day that is photographed and tagged well, you will end up in more treasuries.

9. Look how people tag the treasuries that end up on the front page. If it applies, use those tags in your treasuries and products.

If it applies to your product, then tag it! One of the terms for September was "earth tones" if you have earth tone items, then TAG that.

DON'T tag your hot pink item "earth tones!" lol. But you know what else is hot on Etsy during spring and summer though? NEON< style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; ">
10. When someone notifies you they featured you in a treasury, ALWAYS go comment on it. They took the time to make it, and it is an honor to have your item included, whether you are in one treasury or in thousands.

I hope these tips help, I may copy past this list and add to it as I think of other tips.

I am one of those people who are in THOUSANDS of treasuries. I do not know any admin personally, but I have been selling on Etsy for 2 years and networking and making friends for the same time while listing hundreds of items and keeping in mind merchandising themes in my tags. I do all of the above and I know that if you do all of the above too you WILL be in thousands of treasuries faster than you think.

Jen

From Knotworkshop: I just hit 200 sales. My tips...

2010-09-13T19:23:00.001-04:00

knotworkshop says:

1) Inject your personality into your shop if you can. I am sure that it is my humor that is bringing customers in, not my mad crochet skillz (although they are pretty awesome).

2) Cruise the forums at night. You'll meet some of the funniest (and drunkest) folks. And even venture to Etc. occasionally as cool stuff is hidden down there sometimes.

3) Play the game or don't play the game. It's up to you. But acknowledge there is one. There will always be cronyism and underhanded dealings in every business. Your own shop on here is not immune. Do what you need to do, but just admit it. As my homey fivelittlegems once said 'take care of you and yours cause nobody else will.'

4) Have good enough photos. Seriously, my shop looks more like a copy of Mad Magazine than an Anthropologie catalog. And that's okay. I'm doing fine and I'm holding true to my style. You can too.

5) Sometimes the wolves are in sheep's clothing. Don't understand that? Sometimes the owls are dressed up like felted acorns. And one can claw your eyes out and the other is a squirrel's worst nightmare. So be. on. alert.

6) Our long lost comrade goat once said, 'Etsy is not your boyfriend.' I agree. Etsy is not any one person to love or be loyal too. It is a venue for your business. And remember, even your boyfriend can cheat on you and leave urine all over the toilet- or worse in the corner of the family room if he's really drunk. So keep all your options open.

7) Have fun. Life is too serious.

As the great philosopher Ferris Bueller once said, "A) You can never go too far. B) If I'm gonna get busted, it is not gonna be by a guy like that."

Rock on my fellow Etsians.

Etsy Success Reading List and a Thought About Big Brands

2010-09-12T17:46:00.000-04:00

daniellexo says:

I recently read a blog post about Levi's Worshop, a space dedicated to supporting culture and community.http://designmind.frogdesign.com/blog/nothing-is-what-it-seems.html

"Many companies are beginning to acknowledge the shift from just making good products to providing meaningful experiences," says the author, Kristina Loring.

Creative independent business owners usually don't have to make a shift. We have direct access to each and every customer, so making conversations and transactions meaningful and personal should be natural. My advice is to be careful not to copy the archaic language and practices of business past. Be yourself and make big brands jealous!

And here are my top five helpful blog posts I found this week:

1. How to Rebuild Your Attention Span and Focus
http://lifehacker.com/5596964/how-to-rebuild-your-attention-span-and-focus

2. 15 Ways to Get Inspired
http://freelancefolder.com/15-ways-to-get-inspired/

3. One Small Step to Move Ahead
http://goodwolve.blogs.com/moxieworks/2010/08/one-small-step-to-move-ahead.html

4. If The Price Is Right…
http://bloggertone.com/marketing/2010/08/16/if-the-price-is-right/

5. Unofficial Etsy Featured Seller - Cottonmonster
http://analliteration.blogspot.com/2010/08/194-unofficial-etsy-featured-seller.html

Etsy Admin Give Advice to New Sellers

2010-09-11T14:38:00.008-04:00

HeyMichelle

says..............

Hi everyone,

The most common questions that I'm asked in our Newbie Chat sessions in the Virtual Labs are about how to get more views, and make more (or any) sales. Here are my best tips:

MORE EXPOSURE

1. List more items in your shop! Your items are the most likely way that a potential buyer will find your shop. Think of each listing as an ad that may bring buyers to your shop. They may not buy the specific item but something else from your shop instead. The more listings that you have, the more opportunities to be found! Relist sold items that you can make again.

2. Your Search Terms (tags and titles):

a. Use all 14 tags with good search terms that buyers might use. Use especially important words in the title.

b. This article will help you brainstorm words that might be helpful:

http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/guidelines-tips-tagging-on-etsy-281/

You can also use this article and add any accurate terms:

http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/seller-how-to-tag-o-rama-with-descriptive-keywords-5474/

c. Use the Search Suggestions feature to come up with search terms. Start typing what you sell in the search box (with Handmade, Vintage, or Commercial Supplies selected) to see the suggestions. These are based on recent buyer search terms. You can use any that are accurate.

d. Your tags determine what sub and sub-subcategories your item is in. Your item can be in multiple subs and sub-subs. Click any words that are accurate for your item while listing, or go look in the category where you've listed to see what's available, and add any that are accurate, exactly as written, as a tag.

e. If your items fit in multiple categories, try listing some in one, and some in the other, for exposure across categories.

f. To help your items be found in Google, use good keywords in the title (while still keeping the titles attractive and in line with the image in your shop)

g. Use your shop stats to see what's working- what search terms are getting views for you? To set up the shop stats, go to Your Etsy > Web Analytics. Here's a link if you need to troubleshoot:
http://help.etsy.com/app/answers/list/kw/google%20analytics/search/1

Set it up so it will tell you what search terms are working for you on Etsy. Follow #2 here to set this up:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/etsy-news/tech-update-etsy-web-analytics-enhancements-3350

h. You'll hear a lot in the forums about SEO (search engine optimization). This is a fancy term for helping google and other search engines find you. This can be a very complex topic, made all the more challenging because Google is continually changing their algorithm. Here is the short version of SEO:

i. Have a title that describes what the item is (try to put more relevant words near the beginning).
ii. In the description, describe the item as if you are speaking to someone who can't see it.
iii. Use a variety of keywords throughout the shop. Don't title every item nearly exactly the same! This will help you diversify where you item appears. Think of every keyword, and the potential combination of words as ads for your item. Using the same words over and over is like placing lots of ads all in the same magazine! Instead, you'd place ads in lots of magazines- do the equivalent of this by varying your titles. Use the Etsy and Google search suggestions to come up with alternate words that buyers might search. Try adding different types of words to the titles, such as the size, etc and watch the effects in Google Analytics.

3. Your Photos:

A good, clickable photo will get more hits for your item.

a. Try searching for your item, and see the other items that are listed around it. Does your photo make you want to click? Which ones do? What can you learn and apply from this?

b. Check out some tips here for an appealing photo:

http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/etsy-holiday-how-to-4-photographing-your-items-413/

http://www.etsy.com/storque/search/title/seller-handbook-photography/

4. Ship Internationally:

I read a while back that 30% of transactions involved a buyer and seller from different countries. Since buyers can choose to show only sellers who ship to them, having international shipping will increase your exposure. Here's a good tutorial for US sellers:

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5354738

If you're not in the US, you might search the forums or start a new thread asking for help from sellers from your country.

YOU'RE GETTING VIEWS, BUT NOT SALES

1. Perhaps the buyer has questions that are not answered in the listing. Between the photos and the descriptions, the buyer should know everything they need to to make the purchase decision. If you get a convo with a question, consider that there may have been more buyers with the question, but they didn't want to ask! There are so many things I could list here; here's a sample of some things I've seen:

- Of what is shown in the photo, what will I actually receive if I make the purchase?
- What size/how big is it? Measurements?
- If a bag or clothes - how will it look on?
- art: what will the actual piece of paper that the artwork is on look like?
- if listing requires knowing the buyer's size: give a size chart, ring sizing info, etc. If the buyer has to look for a measuring tape or figure out her ring size, that takes her away from the listing! Most people can figure out their size when presented with a size chart.

http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/best-of-the-etsy-forums-20-questions-your-buyers-are-asking-7024/

If you find that you're getting views but no sales, post in the Critiques forum or come to one of the Critique sessions in the Virtual Labs so others can take a look and give you some feedback.

2. Shop policies that are blocking the sale: for example, saying that you're not responsible if the item doesn't arrive will turn the buyer away. If you're using PayPal for the transaction, it may be against their policies and they will side with the buyer if the item doesn't arrive.

3. "Convo me before purchasing": do everything you can to set the listing up so the buyer can just purchase it.

4. Add more items to the shop. Buyers like selection!

5. Prices are unusually low or high (I rarely see prices that are "too high"- almost not worth mentioning). Very low prices are more common, and may make the buyer question the quality of the item, and whether it's actually handmade.

6. Shipping is unusually high: you can use this article to help figure out your shipping prices:

http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/seller-how-to-shipping-6074/

Double check your shipping prices with similar items from sellers from your country to make sure you're in the ballpark.

A FEW EASY IDEAS MAKING MORE SALES WITH YOUR LISTINGS

This in itself could be a book, and there is a ton of fabulous info in the forums and in the Seller Handbook.

Here are a few easy ideas that you can do with your listings to get more sales:

1. Encourage custom orders. Put a line in your listing that says something like, "Would you like this in another color? Please let me know, as I can most likely get any color you'd like." Create a color/fabric/yarn chart with available options so buyers can choose.

2. Upsell! Would this necklace look great with another in your shop? Would this art print look great as a set with some others in your shop? Take a photo of them together to encourage the buyer to get both. Provide a link to the other listings and be clear about what's for sale with this listing.

3. Put a link to your shop or one of your shop sections in the listing and encourage the buyer to check them out.

4. If it doesn't cost you any extra to ship multiple items together, have free shipping with additional item to encourage the customer to see what else they might like to buy from your shop.

5. Show additional uses in the photos to show the buyer how useful and necessary the item is! Would the brooch look cute pinned on a bag? In the hair? Hem of a short dress? As a scarf pin? Draping a loose garment? With a bunch of other brooches from your shop? Would the scarf look good as a belt, tied as a bow around the neck? Etc etc.

Anyway, just a few pointers! I hope this is helpful!

Here are some great links that you may want to check out:

http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/etsy-success-for-beginner-sellers-5142/

http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/the-etsy-seller-handbook-all-our-how-tos-about-selling-2383/

Oh! And we'd love to have you in the Virtual Labs! Please see our schedule here (in your local time):

http://www.etsy.com/storque/etsy-news/tech-update-etsy-web-analytics-enhancements-3350/

h. You'll hear a lot in the forums about SEO (search engine optimization). This is a fancy term for helping google and other search engines find you. This can be a very complex topic, made all the more challenging because Google is continually changing their algorithm. Here is the short version of SEO:

i. Have a title that describes what the item is (try to put more relevant words near the beginning).
ii. In the description, describe the item as if you are speaking to someone who can't see it.
iii. Use a variety of keywords throughout the shop. Don't title every item nearly exactly the same! This will help you diversify where you item appears. Think of every keyword, and the potential combination of words as ads for your item. Using the same words over and over is like placing lots of ads all in the same magazine! Instead, you'd place ads in lots of magazines- do the equivalent of this by varying your titles. Use the Etsy and Google search suggestions to come up with alternate words that buyers might search. Try adding different types of words to the titles, such as the size, etc and watch the effects in Google Analytics.

3. Your Photos:

A good, clickable photo will get more hits for your item.

a. Try searching for your item, and see the other items that are listed around it. Does your photo make you want to click? Which ones do? What can you learn and apply from this?

b. Check out some tips here for an appealing photo:

http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/etsy-holiday-how-to-4-photographing-your-items-413/

http://www.etsy.com/storque/search/title/seller-handbook-photography/

4. Ship Internationally:

I read a while back that 30% of transactions involved a buyer and seller from different countries. Since buyers can choose to show only sellers who ship to them, having international shipping will increase your exposure. Here's a good tutorial for US sellers:

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5354738

If you're not in the US, you might search the forums or start a new thread asking for help from sellers from your country.

YOU'RE GETTING VIEWS, BUT NOT SALES

1. Perhaps the buyer has questions that are not answered in the listing. Between the photos and the descriptions, the buyer should know everything they need to to make the purchase decision. If you get a convo with a question, consider that there may have been more buyers with the question, but they didn't want to ask! There are so many things I could list here; here's a sample of some things I've seen:

- Of what is shown in the photo, what will I actually receive if I make the purchase?
- What size/how big is it? Measurements?
- If a bag or clothes - how will it look on?
- art: what will the actual piece of paper that the artwork is on look like?
- if listing requires knowing the buyer's size: give a size chart, ring sizing info, etc. If the buyer has to look for a measuring tape or figure out her ring size, that takes her away from the listing! Most people can figure out their size when presented with a size chart.

http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/best-of-the-etsy-forums-20-questions-your-buyers-are-asking-7024/

If you find that you're getting views but no sales, post in the Critiques forum or come to one of the Critique sessions in the Virtual Labs so others can take a look and give you some feedback.

2. Shop policies that are blocking the sale: for example, saying that you're not responsible if the item doesn't arrive will turn the buyer away. If you're using PayPal for the transaction, it may be against their policies and they will side with the buyer if the item doesn't arrive.

4. Add more items to the shop. Buyers like selection!

5. Prices are unusually low or high (I rarely see prices that are "too high"- almost not worth mentioning). Very low prices are more common, and may make the buyer question the quality of the item, and whether it's actually handmade.

6. Shipping is unusually high: you can use this article to help figure out your shipping prices:

http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/seller-how-to-shipping-6074/

Double check your shipping prices with similar items from sellers from your country to make sure you're in the ballpark.

A FEW EASY IDEAS MAKING MORE SALES WITH YOUR LISTINGS

This in itself could be a book, and there is a ton of fabulous info in the forums and in the Seller Handbook.

Here are a few easy ideas that you can do with your listings to get more sales:

1. Encourage custom orders. Put a line in your listing that says something like, "Would you like this in another color? Please let me know, as I can most likely get any color you'd like." Create a color/fabric/yarn chart with available options so buyers can choose.

2. Upsell! Would this necklace look great with another in your shop? Would this art print look great as a set with some others in your shop? Take a photo of them together to encourage the buyer to get both. Provide a link to the other listings and be clear about what's for sale with this listing.

3. Put a link to your shop or one of your shop sections in the listing and encourage the buyer to check them out.

4. If it doesn't cost you any extra to ship multiple items together, have free shipping with additional item to encourage the customer to see what else they might like to buy from your shop.

5. Show additional uses in the photos to show the buyer how useful and necessary the item is! Would the brooch look cute pinned on a bag? In the hair? Hem of a short dress? As a scarf pin? Draping a loose garment? With a bunch of other brooches from your shop? Would the scarf look good as a belt, tied as a bow around the neck? Etc etc.

Anyway, just a few pointers! I hope this is helpful!

Here are some great links that you may want to check out:

http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/etsy-success-for-beginner-sellers-5142/

http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/the-etsy-seller-handbook-all-our-how-tos-about-selling-2383/

Oh! And we'd love to have you in the Virtual Labs! Please see our schedule here (in your local time):

http://www.etsy.com/virtual_labs.php

Sampler Packs Now Available

2010-09-10T05:58:00.001-04:00

Sampler Packs Now Available, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

www.BattysBath.com

How to Turn Your Twitter Profile Page into an SEO Masterpiece

2010-09-10T05:33:00.002-04:00

How to Turn Your Twitter Profile Page into an SEO Masterpiece

Etsy Opens Doors, But it is up to you to enter

2010-09-09T10:20:00.000-04:00

HautTotes says:

Etsy opens doors, but it is up to you to enter, push through the crowds and up the stairs!

Etsy offers us a great place to showcase our items, but listing on Etsy is akin to staring through the open door of opportunity. It’s true that some can simply list items and make sales. For almost a whole year that is all I did and I sold ok.

But, I wanted to do more than ok and i realized that to do that *I HAD TO BRING PEOPLE TO MY SHOP!* I had to make my way through the Etsy crowds and try for the stairs.

At my one year mark in Sept. I had 400 sales, now 4 months later I have over double that!

How?

****I realized that for many buyers, buying handmade is as much about the artisan as the item. ****

People who buy handmade like the idea of the human hands that created their item. They want to know about you, they want to know what makes you create!!

**Never forget, Buyers are INCREDIBLY LOYAL to brands/artists they feel a connection with!!**

Social media is perfect for this!! Social media is all about connecting with people, not just being seen by them or talking to them but actually CONNECTING with them.

So, I joined twitter...

As someone who *has* now been able to make Etsy my day job I miss the adult interaction during the day, twitter is an outlet for this and a great way to forge the connections that can lead to $ales. But, it’s important to think of people on twitter as possible friends first and possible customers second.

Use your picture as your avatar, remember you are a human and your picture makes you real and approachable. You are running a business though, so don’t forget to use your items as your background ;)

Tweet about you and your life, don’t just link to your items. People are there to connect with others, not just look at what they’re selling. They however LOVE to look at the stuff people they chat with make, it’s a fine line worth finding!!

I tweeted about a stray dog & my attempts to locate his home. I posted pictures and talked about falling in love with him. People became so invested in the story that when no one came forward to claim him and we kept him I could hear (and literally read) hundreds of cheers that went up all over. I get at least a dozen tweets a day asking how he is doing (very well thank you!) For quite some time whenever they see a pug they’re going to think of me (and my bags)

When I tweeted that my 6 year old daughter had forged my name on her reading log for school or when I overheard her asking her dad if you could fill a bathtub with spit (“Depends on how many people you have” was his answer) I got TONS of people telling me about the first time they forged their parents signature or other funny kid stories.

I’ve made some real friends on twitter, connected with other parents who's kids have the same disability as my 10 yo daughter laughed with them and even cried on a few cyber shoulders about her upcoming surgery. I’ve also tripled my sales!

Do give aways, people love contests & to win stuff and it's nice to give stuff away!

And don’t forget to do a little quid pro quo, retweeting another sellers link or promo is good Karma!

I also create a facebook fan page and highly recommend it. Again, don’t just post photos of your stuff!

Show pictures of new materials, this gives people the opportunity to see it first and even leads to sales of items that haven’t even been made yet!

Post pictures of your workspace or studio, everyone is a bit of a voyeur and likes to see “behind the curtain!”

I post photos of my prototypes & ask for opinions, it’s a great way to get feedback from my customers without lots of time or money. Plus people love to feel that they are playing a part in the evolution of a line.

Let your fans post pics!! I've had people post pictures of everything from them vacationing with my bags in Fiji to a picture of my bag filled with flowers.

Make your posts interactive! It's fun & when people respond to you on fb, their friends notice they've posted on your page & come over to see what's being chatted about.

When we decided to keep the pug I asked for name suggestions and got over 80 on fb, and countless more on twitter. It was totally fun, and led to connecting with lots of people!

We named the pug Sir Floyd the Flatulent (in case you were wondering)

One of the best (and funnest) way to get somewhere is in a group, getting your friends, fans, and followers invested in your success is a great way to gain momentum!

So if I could set one goal for you this year as a handmade artist it would be to get out there and share with your potential customers what makes you YOU!

Good luck,
Melissa

http://twitter.com/HautTotes
http://www.facebook.com/HautTotes
http://cuttheclutter.blogspot.com/

I love fall...

2010-09-08T11:59:00.002-04:00

"I love fall! Fall is exciting.
It's apples and cider.
It's an airborne spider.
It's pumpkins in bins.
It's burrs on dog's chins.
It's wind blowing leaves.
It's chilly red knees.
It's nuts on the ground.
It's a crisp dry sound.
It's green leaves turning
And the smell of them burning.
It's clouds in the sky.
It's fall. That's why...
I love fall."
- Author Unknown

Brain Soaps!

2010-09-05T17:06:00.001-04:00

Brain Soaps!, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Pumpkins for Brains Halloween Soaps have arrived! Since there's only so many brains to go around, once the ghouls and goblins are gone, so are these soaps! These brains are scented with maple pumpkin spice (these are handmade Canadian brains after all) and are sure to satisfy any zombie's soap needs!

20 Ways to Promote Your Shop with Discounts and Sales

2010-09-03T20:00:00.001-04:00

I found a great list of ways to promote your online shop with discounts and sales! Even if you think you have a handle on this kind of thing, it's always nice to reference a list just to make sure you haven't missed anything.

Check the full article here.

Covent Garden Market - August 2010

2010-09-03T07:19:00.001-04:00

Covent Garden Market - August 2010, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Mini Halloween Display :)

Business 101: Etsy Selling Tips from 32NorthSupplies

2010-09-02T15:16:00.001-04:00

32NorthSupplies says:

We hit 5,000 sales a couple days ago and wanted to share a few of the things we've learned along the way. Some things are tried and true, others surprised us and made us wish we'd done them sooner...

* LIST OR RENEW THINGS EVERY DAY
Not only does it keep your store fresh and full, but listing/renewing a few things every day keeps your listings closer to the top of search results. Being at the top means buyers see your items sooner.

*GOOD PHOTOS
Most of us have heard it a million times but it couldn't be more true: good, clear photos taken in natural light that are accurate representations of how items look are photos that make sales happen. There are tons of sources and tutorials if you're not sure how to set up your shots that are all worth looking into (search the forums and the storque to start).

Taking advantage of being able to add multiple images to listings also helps sell items. Different angles and detail shots add to your listing and help give your customers an idea of what they're really looking at.

If you sell multiple colors of the same thing, consider including a color chart as one of your photos to show customers available options.

*RESPOND PROMPTLY TO CONVOS
Customers appreciate prompt responses. It shows you value them and their time and that you take what you're doing seriously.

*SHIP QUICKLY
We ship orders out within 2-24 hrs, the only exception being Sundays and holidays. Customers appreciate getting their items fast. It lets them know their business is valued and that getting purchases in their hands is a top priority. Quick shipping tells your customers they can count on you and increases the likelihood of building a repeat clientele.

*USE CLEAN PACKING MATERIALS
We're all about recycling packaging materials, and encourage it, but we never send out purchases in dingy or inappropriate packaging. For example, we recently received a purchase packed in a used food box. What should have been an exciting moment was instead became "Eew gross!" It's important that when a customer opens their package they're as excited as when they first saw it on Esty.

*DON'T GOUGE ON SHIPPING
Charging for postage supplies is more than fair, as is accounting for things like standing in line at the post office to mail international orders. But charging an exorbitant amount on shipping turns customers off. From the beginning, we've offered overage refunds for combined shipping on multiple items purchased. Customers appreciate and recognize fairness and will come back to shop again.

*INCLUDE MULTIPLE DESTINATIONS IN THE SHIPPING SECTION OF LISTINGS
This is something we wish we'd done from the start. We made postage to Canada, the EU, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan standard on the majority of our listings and saw sales increase immediately. Not everyone wants to ask then wait for you to add their country -- give them the option to shop with you and check out right away.

* MAKE GOOD USE OF THE REARRANGE FEATURE
Keep your shop looking fresh and organized by re-ordering your shop. We recently started arranging certain pages of our shop by color and saw sales increase immediately. Rearranging allows you to make customers feel like your shop is always new.

*PARTICIPATE IN PROMOTIONS
Last month we participated in the Christmas in July Sale and had a great result. We were sure to advertise the terms of our sale in our banner with extra details in our shop announcement to make it clear and obvious to customers.

*USE LOGICAL CATEGORIES
With over 1,000 items in our shop, organization is a must. Etsy allows 10 categories so make the most of them with concise and descriptive names. When we're shopping we often pass over shops that don't categorize their items. Don't get me wrong, we love a good treasure hunt, but there is a such thing as too buried.

*KEEP DESCRIPTIONS CONCISE AND ACCURATE
Descriptions that are short and sweet are easy to understand. Be sure to include accurate measurements and, if possible, include an object like a quarter in photos for size comparison.

*KEEP YOUR SHOP ANNOUNCEMENT BRIEF AND YOUR SHOP POLICIES SIMPLE AND STRAIGHT FORWARD
Etsy is a super visual place so a brief shop announcement means less scrolling to get to items and less text between your customers and their future purchases. Simple shop policies make customers feel comfortable and know what to expect.

*THE GOLDEN RULE
"Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." So simple, so true, something we've all heard before and something to always keep in mind.

See the original forum post here.

Business 101: Consignment or Not? The Solution

2010-09-01T14:49:00.001-04:00

I found this helpful suggestion here.

shamarjewels says:

Several years ago I had a brilliant solution to the question, "Do you do consignment?" and it has been very successful for me. It has enabled me to get my work into museum shops as well as boutiques.

Part of the consignment problem is that a store will always push the merchandise that they have money invested in. Secondly, they might display one's items carelessly. I've had mine stacked in a corner, not even displayed in one boutique.

After that incident, I came up with the following solution. When asked if I "do consignment", my response is to offer them a 2 for 1 deal.
Generally most shops do purchase merchandise and might not want to invest money in the "unknown" or they don't have a large budget.

Here are some fact: All items look better the larger and more unique the display is and it shows customers that the buyers of the shop like and have faith in the artist. So, if they purchase 10 items, I will leave an additional 10 on consignment. This way, the display looks much more complete and interesting and the store has invested money into selling my items. Also, I get money upfront with the potential to double my earnings. If the display attracts more attention, then there's always the chance the customer will buy some of the items left on consignment. Be very specific as to which is on consignment and which has been purchased when writing up the sale.

This has worked very well for me. Because of this setup, it gives me the excuse to stay in touch with the store owner more frequently and helps the seller figure out what is popular and selling.

Unless a shop only sells on consignment, this has worked for me every time. It becomes more of a partnership and I have often helped with the display of my items as well.

Weezi Gnome Greeting Card

2010-09-01T03:37:00.001-04:00

Weezi Blank Greeting Card, originally uploaded by Weezi In Canada.

I'm always on the look out for gnome things for Drew and I was completely delighted when I saw this goodie!!

Business 101: Etsy's Front Page

2010-08-31T15:24:00.002-04:00

emilybidwell says:

Hi! I hope I can help clarify the homepage and Featured Seller process from Etsy’s end.
Homepage:
Etsy’s homepage is curated by the community through Etsy’s Treasury:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/
Etsy selects particular Treasury collections for the homepage based on seasonal themes, a strong display of item diversity from across many categories, and strong photos with clearly represented products.
Additionally, we are looking for lists that meet the following basic guidelines:
- No items from the Treasury curator or from their alternate accounts
- No items sold by an Etsy employee or Admin
- A full list, including 4 alternates
- No more than one item per shop
Featured Seller:
The Featured Seller is always handpicked by a member of Etsy’s staff. We look for ingenuity, well-made items, interesting descriptions and top-notch item photos.
Learn more about seasonal themes and upcoming dates from Etsy’s Merchandising Desk series in the Blog:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/search/title/merch-desk/

Join the Etsy front page conversation here!

--------------------------------------

knotworkshop says:

So many folks wonder how to get on the FP. I thought I’d write a little tutorial to point you in the right direction. Granted, I’ve only been on there a few times and it was totally a stroke of luck, but I’ve done some research and think I’ve figured it out.
1) Have great photos. Yes, you know this already. But it’s not just great photos. It’s great photos that fit the Etsy opinion on what is a great photo. That means extreme close ups of certain types of items, well staged photos- meaning not just your super crisp item on a white background- it has to create a sense of space in the photo- the less two dimensional, the better.
2) Use the merchandising report. Yes, Etsy pretty much flat out tells you what they are going to be featuring on the FP. They say what colors, what ideas, etc. You must correctly tag your items for these themes. Meaning, if you have earrings with deep purple beads on them, tag them with ‘plum’ if that is a color tone that is fitting the merchandising report. If fall/autumn is a merchandising theme (like uh, right now) tag your items accordingly. Therefore if you have something that is orange, tag it ‘pumpkin orange’. That is a shade that they may be looking for. This is also how those who make treasuries will possibly find you if they are making collections based on merchandising- and if they want their treasury to be on the FP, they are likely doing just that.
3) Make treasuries. Yes, same old, same old. But it’s not just making any old treasury. It has to be beautiful. It should contain a wide variety of items with a wide variety of prices. It should fit the merchandising report and be tagged accordingly.
4) Promote these treasuries until the cows come home. We all know that views, clicks and comments make a treasury hotter (along with probably some unknown stuff). Now, having a hot treasury isn’t a guarantee of getting on the FP. But surely admin are more likely to see it if it’s within, oh I don’t know, the first thousand pages of the treasury.
5) Join a treasury team (or start one if you’d like) Power of the people here folks. Get on a team and put each other in treasuries all the time. Cross promote. Comment on each other’s treasuries. Yes, IT IS A SYSTEM AND IT CAN BE MANIPULATED. Use that to your advantage should you so choose. Sure, folks can point to this activity as mafia-like, but the mafia was a very successful business (yes, yes they killed people and it was horrible, I know, I know, but all those bastards made a ton of money). So take what you can from those who manipulate the system and learn.
All of this of course has luck play into it, which you cannot control. And of course, maybe you don’t have enough time to do all this shit and that’s fine too.
But if you want to get on the FP, you can just wait for it to happen, or you can optimize the chances of it happening. The FP is TONS of exposure. I don’t care that people say it doesn’t lead to sales all the time. If you are getting on the FP twice a month, or twice a day as some folks do, you are going to get a bunch of free advertising. And that can in fact make a huge difference.
If your time is better spent elsewhere, so be it. But then don’t worry about who is getting on repeatedly. Those folks are working the system and are getting rewarded for it.

Event Pix: Beehives, Bubbles, and Bows

2010-08-30T15:18:00.001-04:00

Event Pix: Beehives, Bubbles, and Bows, originally uploaded by She's Batty.

Weezi russian doll pillow

2010-08-29T02:03:00.001-04:00

Weezi russian doll pillow, originally uploaded by Weezi In Canada.

This is the most adorable pillow EVER and it's made by one of my besties, Lisa from Weezi!!!

Reading for Success: Twitter Advice

2010-08-28T07:17:00.002-04:00

Chris Brogan's Best Twitter Advice:

50 Ideas on Using Twitter for Business

50 Power Twitter Tips

Using Twitter Search For Business

Get More Twitter Followers Today

Spread Your Wings – Get More Retweet Action Today

Helpful Etsy Business Articles

2010-08-27T09:40:00.000-04:00

Hair How To: Dutch Braid Headband with Corsage Flower

2010-08-26T11:35:00.000-04:00