You are only as good as your word

So you better make it count! I wrote a post about a great little shop, The Sky Ruby Project the other day. I got myself a whole new attitude about running this Etsy shop of ours. I also said as soon as I got another sale I was buying this cool bangle bracelet they had listed. Well, wouldn't you know, I got a sale! And so, a woman of my word, I just bought it! I am super excited, by the way!!!

But that's not what I am here to tell you about. Well, not all of it anyway. The other thing was the difficulty in keeping my word to the person I sold to. Who would have believed that when you allow 3 days to ship something, you would have a hard time? Sheesh. Suddenly, I was short handed at my full time job, leaving me alone all day for the past three days. For the past 2 of those three days, I was not able to leave before the post office closed. Today, I had someone scheduled to come in at 3:30, so at 3:31 I was in my car driving like a maniac to the post office.  I looked like a crazy race commercial, running into the post office, thinking I had only minutes to spare.

Funny thing about post offices. Apparently they stay open 'til 4:30. Good to know. But I got the package shipped. It cost me about $2.60 more than I had estimated. Good thing I had extra money with me. But now, I have sold, I have bought, run the good race, and now I am starving. It's dinner time! Have a great day!

It's All About Attitude!

So I was whiney and mopey about my lack of sales, right? And a lot of others were whiney and mopey about their lack of sales, too. And even more people were sick of reading about us being whiney and mopey about sales. It was becoming a horrible depressing circle, and I just couldn't take that anymore. I knew I had to do something. I just didn't know what, exactly. And then it hit me. If I couldn't sell my own stuff, maybe I could at least help someone else sell theirs. So I started creating Etsy treasuries, for people with little to no sales. Showcasing the talent, showing their stuff, and just giving what little boost I could to help them promote their shops. I met some great people, and now I want you to meet some of them too.

So, allow me to introduce one of those cool shops. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you...
 The Sky Ruby Project!!! This shop has an awesome eclectic mix of items inspired by vintage jewelry. The story behind the shop is as inspired as the items it holds within. The Sky Ruby Project  was started back in 2007, and while it had some success to start, the owner had other dreams to pursue as well. A 7 year hiatus from the shop earned a Masters in Anthropology, as well as some pretty awesome work as art instructor and a writing specialist. Talk about well rounded!! But the desire to craft, to create beautiful items remained. And so the shop has reopened, and had a pretty good start if I do say so myself. I chatted with the owner, and learned that success is going to be all about attitude! And The Sky Ruby Project has got the right attitude for sure! The shop owner stressed to me the importance of doing your research!! Don't just expect to throw some pictures on a storefront and watch the cash roll in. Don't even consider defeat for at least a year, as research showed that it takes at least that long to get a good start, a feel for the marketplace, and the ability to gauge how your work is received. Another thing I learned in this chat is that you are going to have doubts, even if you are successful right off the bat. Doubts will haunt most every artist at some point. You just can't let them rule you and your craft. I admit I was totally inspired, and it turned my attitude around. I know we can all make this work! And thanks to The Sky Ruby Project, I have a short term goal. Just one sale this month. Just one. Why, you ask? Quite simply, because I covet a piece in this shop, and I swear out of my very next sale, I am going to buy it!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/185106975/vintage-inspired-bracelet-vintage-floral?ref=shop_home_active_4

 

 

Yes, this is what I want out of my very next sale. But there is more great stuff for you to check out and enjoy too! So drop by the shop and browse. Or better yet, shop! You never know, you just might find the piece that gives you just the right attitude!

Is this an epic fail?

I am starting to think we will, in fact, fail at our Etsycapade. Driving traffic to the site has been successful, for sure. But I have had almost 10, 000 people visit the shop, and only had 1 sale. Think of it as a brick and mortar store. If you had 10, 000 people walk through your store, and only one person bought anything, it would be a little disheartening. Actually, it's more like soul-crushing. I have a couple of more strategies I am going to try, and if they don't work, I will end up closing us down. What I can't figure out is whether or not this is a reflection on the things we create.

Anyway, I am going to try the new search ads Etsy has in place on their site. Well, I will if they get the bugs out. I have activated them, but they only run for a short amount of time before they stop working. Then I have to go back in and restart them. I am also going to try renewing items to keep us up in recency. Like I said, if this fails, I think I will shut it down. I won't stop crafting with my daughter, and may even open another storefront on another site, but I am just flat out running out of ideas for Etsy.

I have noticed that Etsy picks some favorite shops of their own, and they promote the heck out of them. Always listing items on the front page, showing them off in emails etc. I wonder if without them backing these artists, if their sales would be as phenomenal. Maybe they would. I don't know. I am just feeling the negativity today, and the impending doom of what I hoped would be a great idea. Good thing I didn't quit my day job. Which is where I am headed now. Have a great Friday everyone!