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Post by phil on Mar 28, 2014 17:05:49 GMT -5
I'm thinking of opening an etsy store, and would like any tips, insights, warnings, etc anyone can give. Also, what do they charge? Are they like ebay that gets you both pre and post sale with fees and charges and takes 12%?
Anything you think I should know, I'd like to hear!
Thanks!
Phil
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aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on Mar 28, 2014 18:18:34 GMT -5
I've been selling on Etsy for quite awhile now... and I really like it. My biggest issue is that sometimes it's hard to be 'found' in the Great Sea of Etsy. Then again, it's hard to get found in a lot of places.  You just have to learn out to play the tagging game there. My dealings with customer service have been pretty lame too. Thankfully I don't have to contact them that often. Oh yeah, and like all online sites, they're always tweaking something that takes awhile to get figured out. *sigh* Check out this linky for most of the answers to your other questions - www.etsy.com/sell (It's not nearly as pricey as Ebay, unless I'm doing my math all wrong!) My best advice? It doesn't hurt to give it a try. |
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deedolce
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2006
Posts: 1,828
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Post by deedolce on Mar 28, 2014 18:24:21 GMT -5
I really love Etsy. I've had an Etsy shop for 8 years now? Yikes! You just have to keep in mind that it's a store front, and you have to be the one to get people to your shop, amid the thousands and thousands that make up Etsy. Sometimes it takes months for that first sale, but Etsi-ers are great about giving advice too, on pictures, on descriptions, and SEO, and whatever else it takes to stand out from the crowd. Do a search in the forums there, and read up on it! General advice is use all 5 pictures, take the best pictures you can, and try for at least a couple of pages of items. Write you policies too!
You pay 20 cents to list for 4 months (or until it sells) and pay a percentage to Etsy after it sells at 3.5%. If you accept Paypal, they take their cut too.
You can also join teams on Etsy, some are more active than others.
Right now, many cab and rough sales are happening on Facebook too.
Good luck!
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Post by phil on Mar 28, 2014 20:21:13 GMT -5
tagging?
teams?
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 30, 2014 10:13:41 GMT -5
I really love Etsy. I've had an Etsy shop for 8 years now? Yikes! You just have to keep in mind that it's a store front, and you have to be the one to get people to your shop, amid the thousands and thousands that make up Etsy. Sometimes it takes months for that first sale, but Etsi-ers are great about giving advice too, on pictures, on descriptions, and SEO, and whatever else it takes to stand out from the crowd. Do a search in the forums there, and read up on it! General advice is use all 5 pictures, take the best pictures you can, and try for at least a couple of pages of items. Write you policies too! You pay 20 cents to list for 4 months (or until it sells) and pay a percentage to Etsy after it sells at 3.5%. If you accept Paypal, they take their cut too. You can also join teams on Etsy, some are more active than others. Right now, many cab and rough sales are happening on Facebook too. Good luck! I just took a look at your shop again- it's been awhile. It's gorgeous, of course. I just wanted to point it out to you that heady wraps are real popular and you don't use that in tags or titles. I think your wraps qualify. heady wire wrap |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 30, 2014 10:18:49 GMT -5
Phil- you got some good advice. I'll add that it is a good idea to try to include a picture that demonstrates scale- but not a ruler for Pete's sake. Like a picture with your hand. There is a woman that buys a lot from me off etsy and she insists on that hand picture. Also- people who make treasuries tend to favor light backgrounds. So, if you want to be in treasuries, try and have your first picture with a light background. Treasuries provide promotion.
I just opened my second shop. It seems when one is slow, the other isn't.
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aimeesrockworks
spending too much on rocks
I really do look like my avatar... it kinda freaks me out.
Member since December 2010
Posts: 458
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Post by aimeesrockworks on Mar 30, 2014 11:53:52 GMT -5
When you list an item on Etsy you can 'tag' them with terms people might use to search for them. You don't want to be too general, nor too specific. I sell cabinet knobs, so my tags run along the lines of "rock knobs, cabinet knobs, kitchen knob, stone knob, beach décor, beach rock knob" etc. I think you get 14-ish per listing (I can't recall the exact number, it warns you if you try too many). Just what you think might lead the people to you! Etsy also has Teams... which you can think of as Etsy Clubs. They normally have a certain purpose, or theme to keep them special, and a lot of them have rules you must follow (although admittedly, I'm not so great at following those rules but most teams are fairly forgiving). I'm in the On Fire for Handmade Team (the rule here is that you have to make Treasuries - collections of items that you put together to help with advertising - one a week). I'm also in the Amy Team (because it's fun and doesn't require anything other than being an Aimee, Amy, Amie, etc). There are teams for wire wrappers, upcyclers, techy folks, specific-location ones, and on and on. Pretty much anything you can think of. *Ditto on light backgrounds (I'm not so good at this, I have a slate tile I use that I'm having a tough time giving up) and the size-showing. I use a quarter a lot of the times for my knobs. Something that is understandable at first glance. If I make a ring, I kidnap my hubby to take the hand-shot for me.* Just dive on it, doesn't hurt to give it a go!! And let us know when you make your shop so we can visit. |
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Post by phil on Mar 30, 2014 14:33:10 GMT -5
Thanks. I've kinda started to put together a shop, I have lots of cabochons I want to sell plus some turquoise nuggets, fines and etc for the wire wrap and inlay craftsmen. So I'm working on getting pics, etc and slowly loading them up, but haven't "published" yet. I figure I need 50 or so items to make an opening worthwhile. Will try and find a cabochon focused team, if there is one, and now to think up different tags other than cabs.... <G>
Thanks!
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,993
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Post by Tommy on Apr 1, 2014 13:55:43 GMT -5
Good questions and good advice given thank you all. I read every word which is rare for me and my short attention span lol.
I just (gasp!) opened a store too but only have a pitiful few items for sale so far.
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Post by phil on Apr 1, 2014 14:21:44 GMT -5
yeah, I'm trying to get more photos taken of my cabs and slabs so I have something to put in the store. I understand it takes a while to develop a following, sure hope I can get it right so they find me... "If you build it, they will come".... I sure hope!
I found several other cabs and slabs places, but one only allows trades, one only "look what I've got", and etc. Only found 1 or 2 that are actually selling cabs, so maybe there's a place for me....
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 1, 2014 21:02:30 GMT -5
Good questions and good advice given thank you all. I read every word which is rare for me and my short attention span lol. I just (gasp!) opened a store too but only have a pitiful few items for sale so far. What's your shop address, Tommy? I'll fav it. |
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,487
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Post by Roger on Apr 3, 2014 9:12:51 GMT -5
So far I, I love Etsy. I opened my shop in the middle of February and have had 48 sales, through April 2nd. My advice is to read the articles on Etsy concerning how to setup your shop and how to build your search/keyword/tag lists (different for each item type). Upload at least 2 photos of your items (I do 3 minimum) and make sure at least one has something to give them a scale. Tela uses her hands; I use a coin. I include actual measurements in my ads as well. The first two weeks I had the shop open, nothing sold. Once I had my first sale, things have taken off for me.
Roger
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,993
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Post by Tommy on Apr 3, 2014 11:47:25 GMT -5
What's your shop address, Tommy? I'll fav it. thanks Tela! I don't want to jack Phil's thread and I'm still feeling uncertain about opening my work to public scrutiny... let's just say that it's along the lines of my Facebook page name that started as a joke and grew legs when a lady friend asked us "where can I get a Tommy Lay original" |
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Post by phil on Apr 3, 2014 13:10:36 GMT -5
Thanks. am taking photos now of a bunch of turquoise silver jewelry from my mom's estate, it's time to sell it all. (I sure can't wear it... grin). Rings, necklaces, bracelets, etc. |
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Post by Rockoonz on Apr 5, 2014 12:37:34 GMT -5
RogerRoger your etsy page is nicely set up. We tried etsy but we never learned how to speak the lingo, maybe will try again when we have more time if that ever happens.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2014 16:44:42 GMT -5
If you haven't already, I hope y'all will put your etsy store url hereTommy, that means you too! phil - go for it! get er done!! |
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Post by phil on Apr 13, 2014 18:23:17 GMT -5
Scott,
I am, but slowly. I'm trying to get decent pics of enough items to make it worthwhile and attractive to buyers. My OLD digital cam is very old school, and the photos are only decent when taking shots of things at a distance. Up close, they remain blurry, even when set at highest resolution and macro... But then again, what can you expect from a camera that was designed for how the world worked back in 2001.
I bought a new $300plus camera, figured it's be great... takes good up close pics, but everything comes out yellow. Called GE to ask about a fix, some education, whatever, and they told me it's over 2 years old, we don't support that mode anymore, go suck an egg. That's the last item I will ever buy from GE.
In the meantime, I've been selling various sizes sorts and etc of turquoise on ebay, I bought 180 pounds at a very good price. If anyone wants any, email me and I'll see if I have what you want. I've been sorting and grading, and even crushing some to sell for inlay. Somehow, I doubt that crushed turquoise will sell on Etsy.
Thanks!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2014 20:57:22 GMT -5
I have a duplicate of the camera setup that took this image:  That I am going to sell. This is a Canon digital SLR with a high end macro lens both at an affordable price. I bought them on a whim and dont really need them. I wont spam your thread. If you want to know more PM me. |
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You just have to learn out to play the tagging game there. My dealings with customer service have been pretty lame too. Thankfully I don't have to contact them that often.
