Apps I Use for Selling on Etsy

Along the same lines as Blogging Tools, I found myself getting into tools/sites that I use for sales so I broke that off into this post:

Etsy

Even as I am starting to branch out into physical booth for sales (and possibly consignment??) I still like to have Etsy as a landing page & sample of work available by me.

Pinterest

Along the same lines, I like to keep a dedicated Pinterest board to my previous work, especially when it comes to one-of-a-kind pieces to be referenced by customers or used as inspiration for future work.  This has also been handy in knowing what needs to be duplicated for popularity's sake.  I also use Pinterest to brainstorm my craft show set up, new patterns to try, and any marketing or advice I might come across that I find worth referencing.

Square Up

Square has been a great tool for accepting credit payments in person plus generating a neat, digital sales receipt for anyone requesting one.  So far the only draw back has been that my particular smartphone (LG Spectrum 1st gen.) is not fully supported so I always have to type in the card numbers which results in a higher fee.   I still did fairly well at the Make It Indie fair in November but it sure has me thinking about that next phone upgrade this spring....
*Edit: Now that I have a Samsung Galaxy S5, the Square card reader works like a charm!*

Facebook

To promote art/craft shows I am participating in, to send customers for product + experience feedback as well as interaction, share new items listed in the shop, latest blog post link, and anything I find interesting that I think my followers may also enjoy.  I like to keep my Facebook light-hearted but centered around the knitting/crocheting/crafting theme.

Maybe not so surprisingly, I have noticed that some have even used my Facebook page as a way to contact me via message instead of my email.  This is how I was invited to join the Merchant's Landing Arts & Craft Show!

Free "scrap" bracelets

Freebies

Speaking of physical shows, I've also found that a little freebie is a great draw to your table.  I like to crochet long leftover scraps of cotton yarn into bracelets which I offer for free to whomever.  I find it is a great way to strike up a conversation with anyone "brave enough" to pick out a free bracelet.  :)

PDF Compressor

Once I started selling PDF patterns, I needed a compressor for the large image-heavy files that are my pattern's signature.  And not only do I want to make friends wait hours to download a large file, but Etsy does not allow pattern files greater than 20mb.  So needing a solution, I found Chrome's free PDF compressor + was instantly impressed with not only it's ability to crunch the size of my recent pattern from 38mb to 1.35!  But it even preserved the quality of the crisp images!  Sold!

Wholesale

So far I haven't branched out into wholesaling (purchasing or selling) but it has crossed my mind several times.  Does anyone have any wholesale experience?

Spread the Word

And as always, word of mouth through supportive friends and family members has helped generate a fair handful of sales this past holiday season.  Plus a few times when asked what do I do for a living (a question that always makes me cringe), I mention that I am a knit/crochet instructor as well as an Etsy shop owner.  I like to show pictures of what I make via my smartphone (images taken directly with my phone as well as pulling up my Etsy shop on my phone) and hand them a business card, encouraging them to explore my shop more when they are home.  I don't know how well it works, but I figure it can't hurt, right?


I'd love to hear what tools you use for "pedaling your wares" :)  If you already have a post about it, would you mind pasting a link to it in the comments section?  I'd love to read it!

Referral + Affiliate links help me bring you valuable content without ads.  I recommend products + services that I use myself or that come highly recommended by peers.  
Any sponsorships that you see in my sidebar are handpicked by me because I believe in their products + services and think they could benefit you.

Soap Savers

You may have seen me mention these little things in passing (I believe the first time I even mentioned them was Flower Weekend back in May & then again in July at my first Art Walk) but it doesn't look like I've ever really talked much about my Soap Savers on the blog.

If you follow me on Facebook you may have seen their debut at the Toledo Farmer's Market:

Facebook Post

This handy bath item is the perfect size to collect those little shards of soap in to get every last bit of use out of your soap, or you can even store a whole bar of soap in it!  I describe them as self-refilling loofas/washcloths because once you have added soap to the inside of the pouch and started working a lather through its walls, it will continue to lather every time it is massaged.

Here is one of my friends who has used hers since last summer (about 6 months at this point).  She loves how well it lathers:

I've even found that it makes a nice scrubbie and would probably work to scrub dishes or the bathtub walls!  Does anyone else use a soap saver?

Another Blanket and a Trip to Bristol, RI

I did it!  I finished an adult lap blanket it ONE WEEK!!

Here I had only just started the pattern the Thursday before July 4.  Aren't the colors fun? :)  

I brought this blanket with me on our mini vacation to Bristol, Rhode Island to visit a former roommate and experience the longest celebration of Independence Day.  During the 4 and a half hour long parade I accomplished an entire segment (yellow, green, variegated, pink, and back to yellow)!  Yes, I did get quite a few "compliments" on my "knitting,"  i.e. "Isn't it a bit too hot to be knitting?" one soldier joked.  Why yes sir, it is merely 88* in the sunshine, but that is why I am not keeping it on my lap, but next to me.  :)  

It was a wonderful day of amazing period costumes and many military veterans along with local business owners and organizations' floats.

I can't believe I get to say it is already complete but I do and what makes it even better is I get to display it for the Toledo Art Walk that I am participating in tomorrow!  If you are in the area, I hope you'll stop by and say hello.  :)

I have a few other new goodies that are awaiting their close-up, like a few braceletes and soap savers, and I hope to post about them soon.

Happy Fourth!

It's One of Those Days

The ones that are too-few coming in 2012 but have hit me like an Energizer-Bunny tonight :]

The beautiful productivity of constant-motivation (still going strong for over 4 hours!!).  Almost seems like one of those new 5-hour-energy commercials.  Anyway, check out all the progress!

I have photographed & drafted 6+ listings today; including a new cowl with my cousin modeling!

I will be staggering the dishcloth listings over the weekend, but you can enjoy the new cowls tonight!

My Autumn earwarmer was featured in a treasury today!

See it?  Bottom-right corner.

Did I blow up your Newsfeed today?  I apologize; some sort of creative bug grabbed hold of me this afternoon and I couldn't help feeling the need to share those stories with my followers.  Did you find any inspiration?  Or should I stop sharing others' posts/pictures and keep it to just Etsy shop-related stories?

I have more to share but I guess I ought to save some for another post and that energy is finally starting to slow (after 6+ hours!).  Anyone else excited for the new year?

First Show!

I would have mentioned it sooner, but it just all happened this week!  Sweet Addictions messaged me on facebook about her upcoming show and mentioned that knit/crochet might be in the minority at this event and they were still looking for vendors.  Even though I was very nervous & a bit hesitant to jump head-first into my first show, VERY unprepared, ...I'm hoping it's more of a "trial-and-error equals improvement" result rather than "first impressions can make or break you,".....

Here's hoping it's the former and not the latter.

So if you're in the Toledo or Greater Toledo area this weekend, I'd LOVE for everyone to stop out and show your support!  It's free to get in, come do some shopping for fun and/or for Mother's Day.  And feel free to drop off a few suggestions if you have any ;)

I hope to be back with more soon!

Ear Warmer Giveaway - Round 3

Congratulations to Liesl at LieslMade for winning Week 2!  She chose the mustard yellow ear warmer.

This time around, let’s change things up a little bit.

Rose Pink

Pick your favorite item in the shop.  Then, in your comment, link back to the item & tell me what you like about it.  Or tell me what you would do to make it better (written description, photo, pattern design, anything you see that needs improvement).

Pink & Chocolate

For an extra entry, post a link to this giveaway on your site (Twitter, Facebook, blog, etc) and share your link in another comment here.

Thanks for all the love!  I’m so happy to share my craft enthusiasm with you. :)

*Please be sure to include an email address at which to notify you of the good news & which color earwarmer you would prefer as your prize.  A winner will be chosen at random Saturday, Jan. 21, around midnight and notified Sunday morning.  Please respond during the day Sunday so I can ship your prize on Monday.  Otherwise a new winner will be chosen Monday morning.  Thank you!

Round 2 Giveaway

Congratulations to HomesteadTess, the winner for Week One.  She chose the multicolored ear warmer.

 

If you didn't win last week's giveaway, this is your second chance.

Rose Pink

The rules are the same,

Mustard Yellow

with a few different ear warmer options.

Rose & Taffy

(prototype while making up Lisa's, it came out too big.)

To enter, please leave a comment on this post, with an email by which to contact you, about something you'd like to see listed in the shop and/or which ear warmer you would preferred to win.  For another entry, please like my Facebook page if you haven't already done so and let me know in your comment. 
Week Two  will end Saturday, Jan. 14 at midnight.  A winner will be chosen at random & notified on Sunday the 15th.  I will need to hear back by the end of the day in order to ship it out on Monday.  Otherwise I'll pick a new winner.  Week 3 will begin Monday, Jan. 16th with a new post.  If you didn't win the previous week's, you can enter the following week's giveaway.

Good luck!

Giveaway Week 1

Since picking up the needles to make an ear warmer for a friend of mine, the addiction has seized me once again.  I can't stop!  Earwarmer headbands are too much fun to make & I fear what could happen if I don't keep them moving on.

Rose Pink

My solution?  A giveaway!

And since they've gathered quite a bit of love in the shop, I figured I could give away a small handful instead of just one or two.  :]

Mustard Yellow

I was thinking one winner a week; or four total.  And even though I had many more than four ready when I planned this, my supplies have dipped just below that number due to a Christmas Eve purchase that I wasn't expecting.

Dark, multicolor

So for the first week, the winner will have 3 choices (pictured above) and then next week I'll add another option to the mix.

To enter, please leave a comment on this post about something you'd like to see listed in the shop and/or which earwarmer you would preferred to win.  For another entry, please like my Facebook page and let me know in your comment.
Week One will end Saturday, Jan. 7 at midnight.  A winner will be chosen at random & notified on Sunday the 8th.  I will need to hear back by the end of the day in order to ship it out on Monday.  Otherwise I'll pick a new winner.  Week 2 will begin Monday, Jan. 9 with a new post.  If you didn't win the previous week's, you can enter the following week's giveaway.


Good luck!