Etsy-curious crafters alert!
Wendy Downs of Moop helps you sculpt a successful Etsy shop
By Amy Strauss
Published: March 26th, 2008 | 2:45pm
You dabble in crafting: An adorable hand-stamped card for a friend’s birthday in spring, a simple A-line skirt for a stylish niece in summer, and even a cozy knitted scarf for yourself in winter. But now, as your busy hands flaunt their undeniable talent, you’ve begun to consider that you could make a living making things.
For Wendy Downs, last year she decided to do just that. With the help of a classic Bernina sewing machine by her side and an impressive skill of stitching modishly durable handbags, she took her sister-in-law’s advice to scope out the easily accessible online marketplace, Etsy. “I had been making bags for myself for years, but never thought too much about it,” she says. “When my sister-in-law told me I needed to set up shop with all the bags I had lying around, it was enough motivation to get started.”
As if it was a success overnight, Downs’ Moop bags quickly caught wind amongst Etsy buyers, causing her to currently sculpt and stitch over sixty market bags and totes a week. Pleased to gain success in an online site where over 120,000 other sellers reside, Downs’ agreed to reveal the how-to’s of getting your handmade masterpieces into appreciative buyers’ hands — stat!
Beginning Your Business — Become an Active Etsy Member
“Etsy is what catapulted Moop from an idea into a reality,” says Downs. Taking an evening to become acquainted with the site’s setup, the pocketbook maker believed it was satisfyingly simple to list her first goods online: “All you really need is your products, a computer, and digital camera.” As Etsy is completely user-friendly, the setup platform allows sellers to establish who they are, what they sell, and what materials they fancy — all within one mouse click.
Pretty Photos Sell Your Stuff
While online shopping doesn’t allow for an actual tangible experience, clear and multi-view pictures help money-spenders more willingly share their wealth. Since Moop solely produces accessories, Downs includes various photos of her bags being worn in varying options. She also provides appealing descriptions of the goods and suggests multiple uses for the gear that exceeds the obvious, a purse. (Customers have accounted that they work wonders as laptop carriers and diaper bags.)
Patience is a Virtue
A business will not automatically pop out of Etsy’s virtual ground. It takes time for online shoppers to uncover your handmade gems, so don’t beat yourself up if your products are taking longer to sell than expected. However, since the site combines buyers and sellers in 127 countries, your wares are conveniently accessible to striking audiences. “I was lucky that someone in Australia bought my first Moop bag, which said to me, ‘Hey, give this a try,” says Downs.
Promote, Promote, and, Promote Some More
You can gain exposure by listing as often as you can afford. If you are always producing up-to-date goods, and updating the current items for sale, you’re fresh business will gain attention. Join online groups where Etsy-friendly users unite, such as WeLoveEtsy.com, or specialty virtual units for your trade — Moop frequents DesignSponge.com.
Being new to a community as Etsy, it is also valuable to participate in contests. Donating gifts for giveaways will help establish admirers from the lucky winners and plant seeds for future sales. “It takes a lot of time promoting your shop,” she says. “Though this is important, it does take away from your making. My advice is to take it slow and don’t do everything at once.”
Become a Blog Hog
Downs suggests blogging in addition to setting up shop online. Allowing favoring fans to be consistently updated on your latest creations keeps past purchasers coming back and also alerts them if your in-progress production has left your Etsy shop looking slim. Aside from keeping a production blog, befriend others whose focus relates similarly to yours, as in independent design and handmade goods sites, and advertise your heart out. “It’s a good way to make people aware of who you are,” she says.
“As important as all of these things are, I have found the most significant thing to focus on is making the best things you can,” says Downs. “With the community aspect of Etsy, word gets around. Your satisfied customers tell their friends, post comments to blogs, and leave positive feedback — all of these things contribute to success.”
Issue #34
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