Business unplanned
My tackle this week is a hugely tiny task of how to get up and running on “Etsy.”
I don’t know if any of you have any experience of “Etsy” but hopefully I’ll be ready tomorrow for the start of Autism Awareness Month.
If anyone has any advice you’d like to offer I’d be very grateful for any tips you might be able to share. I’m especially looking to anticipate problems, irritations and other annoyances, things that you did not like about your purchasing experience. I am especially terrified of the Post Office / mailing trips as getting to the post office is a complete nightmare for my family and sadly they’re not open when my children are asleep. How tolerant will people be if they place an order and I can’t get to the post office for a week? Not very I suspect.
Additionally I now have a load of commissions and bowls that are already spoken for, for a wide variety of charitable events which means I have hardly any to sell. What a twit. Clearly I am in need of some sound business advice.
Cheers dears
March 31st, 2009 at 2:25 am
I hope sales are good Maddy. I love your Pi dishes
March 31st, 2009 at 3:02 am
I don’t have much on the side of advice, but looks like you will do just fine with your lovely bowls
March 31st, 2009 at 4:22 am
I’ve only ever bought off Etsy, not sold – but I’m sure your pi bowls will fly off the shelves! Er… webpage! Best of luck
March 31st, 2009 at 4:53 am
I have no advice either, but I love your blog and your bowls are lovely!
March 31st, 2009 at 4:57 am
I haven’t sold enough to give any “fair” advice…but the shipping part of it is not too bad! Love the bowls BTW!
March 31st, 2009 at 5:45 am
I’ll send you our ‘narrative’ we use on e-bay. If you are very clear about length of time after purchase, you should have no problem with going to the PO only once a week (at your convenience). Also, there are means to do all post from home. I’ll send that, too – later today. I’m off to a nearby town to see a lecturer from Scotland on massage!
March 31st, 2009 at 6:41 am
Your bowls are beautiful. I have no advice about ETSY either but what about waiting a week or two until you have more bowls, and working on your ETSY store on the side before going public? A little less stress is always nice.
Hope it goes great for you!
March 31st, 2009 at 6:52 am
You can call and schedule a pickup through UPS they will bring you the shipping labels and pick up the boxes at your door. Be sure to have plenty of bubble wrap.
You just go online to ups.com and set up an account.
I used to do this all the time when my boy was small and I was selling items online.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:30 am
Although I don’t Etsy, I do have a list of “dumb chores I gotta do” related to blogging, that keeps growing and growing…. I really need to sit down and just DO IT someday… when I have time…
Tink *~*~*
Yet More Disney Characters Who Wear RED
March 31st, 2009 at 7:41 am
Oh good luck!! I sell on ebay frequently for extra money
it’s more like a hobby than an actual way to make money for me — but it sure comes in handy!
I use shipping through USPS online. All you need is a small postal scale (purchased mine for $20) and you can print labels with a regular printer right from the internet. You can also schedule the post office to pick up the packages from your doorstep!
I use this because if I didn’t there would be no way for me to sell — our local post office is NOT accessible by wheelchair :O so no way to get Jack in and out
Another issue for another post, but still online shipping is the way to go!
March 31st, 2009 at 7:52 am
Hi there… I’m friends of Brandon and Jeneil Russell. and followed their link to your blog…
I have good news for you- you can package your bowls from home with free boxes you orders on the US Postal website http://www.usps.com/
You can use “flat rate” boxes- where the price is pre-determined as long as you can fit it in the box= the weight doesn’t matter…..
AND THE BEST PART- you can set a schedule for your postal carrier to pick up the pre-paid/addressed packages from your house.
(I’ve sold lots on ebay). Then for Etsy you just charge your customers the flat rate (make sure you research overseas=rates as I do not know that info)…plus be sure to charge them at least $1 extra for packaging/handling fees as you will probably spend a lot on bubble wrap-and the time it takes you to set up these deliveries…time is money.
You also may decide to make it mandatory to include delivery confirmation- maybe 75 cents- but I think it’s like 20 cents if you do it electronic from your house (print the labels etc.)
http://www.usps.com/prices/extra-services-prices.htm
I love your Pi bowl…you are very talented! I hope this helps you tackle today.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:53 am
I have bought from ETSY and it was a very pleasant experience. I think if you explain about going to the PO only once a week, people would understand…
Now, I’ll be back to read what other’s suggestions are to you.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:45 am
Last I read up the post office had the ability to pick up packages at small businesses, even homes. You can rent a scale from them, get packaging and have everything ready to go before the regular pickup window. ( ususally they give you a 3 hour window or so before they pick up). You will do best if you can print out the shipping information… but its not necessary.
UPS and FedEX also pick up, and both have lower pricing structures and great delivery now. Since your products are fragile, you may want to consider going this route.
- Susan
March 31st, 2009 at 10:36 am
I love your bowls. I too don’t sell on etsy or ebay too often because I don’t like dealing with the po either…. Lately, I’ve been doing Craiglist…sell locally with no mailing. You could do Farmers Markets…
March 31st, 2009 at 11:15 am
I love it… you are so creative….. try sell them online…
March 31st, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Good grief! My Mister Linky has magically reappeared.
March 31st, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Bowls??? or ribbon??? I cant tell…weird. Happy WW:)
March 31st, 2009 at 8:34 pm
I have nothing to offer but a sympathetic ear (er, reading eye). Best!
March 31st, 2009 at 9:48 pm
I heart etsy “to the max.” I can hardly wait to add your “shop[pe]” and products to my Favorites. I really appreciate the personableness of Etsy and love having a direct connection/communication with sellers. While I have zero crafty ability, I like to read the features on Etsy about Featured Sellers; the Etsy blog seems to have a lot of tips about getting your shop up and running.
Regarding ceramics, I have had a good experience purchasing from this seller:
http://naomiclearyceramics.etsy.com/
One of my total favorites–maybe check out her shop policies?
http://moop.etsy.com/
Happy selling!
March 31st, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Well, I know nothing about Etsy but I do a lot of Ebay and Amazon selling. Still these are books so it’s quite different!
I do love your bowls though! SO happy!
April 1st, 2009 at 3:56 pm
Can you tell us the name of your shop? I love esty!
April 1st, 2009 at 7:46 pm
What beautiful work!
I have not ventured onto ebay or half.com for the same reason – not sure how to figure out postage and get to the post office, etc.
One person told me to have the things that are for sale already packaged up and ready to go so I just have to put a label and postage on them. If you get a postage scale and either buy stamps or get postage online, you could probably have your mailman take packages.
One of these days I’ll actually give it a try myself!