Mind the Gap

I had the best intentions of being a consistent blogger, I really did. So much has happened since I last wrote. Some of it was wonderful and some it was terrible. I do feel as though I am on the other side. I picked up my knitting needles last week for the first time since December and I am really excited about all the creative juices that are flowing. I will post some work in progress photos for you shortly. 

Go forth and create, 

LB 

Battling Burn Out

Okay guys, we all know that we can get board when working on our projects. I can only knit certain items for a month or two before I need to take a break. I tend to blame this on my ADD then try and push through it. Then I would start to resent what I was doing and it was bad news.

Now I stop when I start to feel burned out. Crazy right? It helps me to move to a different project or stop knitting all together. Here is a list of things that you can do in your down time.

- Photograph your work

- Update your inventory paperwork

- Look coupons for items you use everyday

- Make a Treasury on Etsy

- Catch up on your reading list (remember at least 3 "improvement" articles a day )

- Prep your packaging so that you are ready to ship when the orders come rolling in. (Make sure you have at least 5 at all time.)

- Look up local craft fairs or shops in your area to see if that might be a good fit for your business.

By the time you finished working on this list you will be ready to start your project again.

Go forth and take a break!

-LB

The Million Dollar Idea

I was visiting with my in-law this weekend and we decided to watch some "I love Lucy" episodes. We all love Lucy, I think it's a fantastic show and I love to watch Lucy get herself in to these crazy situations. I laugh and think about how silly she was to even think that was going to work out the way she thought.

I found this particular episode relevant to etsy sellers though. It is called the Million Dollar Idea.

Lucy decides to bottle her amazing salad dressing and sell it for $0.40 a jar.

To market it she phones a friend who's husband has a TV show and promises her $0.03 a jar of the total profit if she can have an 5min spot.

The orders come rolling in.

Lucy and Ethel are creating their dressing when Ricky ask them how much it cost to make their product. They look at each other and realize that they have no idea. So Ricky does the math. Without factoring in shipping they are making $0.03 a jar to which they have to turn around and give to their friend who snagged them the TV slot.

It is a wonderful reminder to all of us about the importance of pricing and planning.

There are all kinds of websites and handbooks about pricing, but I just use this model:

Time to create x Your Hourly Rate + Materials = Gross Profit

Gross Profit - Etsy Fees - PayPal Fees - Shipping - Packaging = Net Profit

I also take into account that there are some items in which I sell for a little bit more so that I can afford to sell some items for a little less.

Go forth and watch Lucy's Million Dollar Idea!

-LB

The Pickiest Shopper on Etsy

If you are an Etsy Seller you should try and buy on Etsy when you can. If you believe in handmade items and feel like people should buy from you instead of from Target then you should try to do the same. I am not the best at this, but I try. However, if you have never purchased from etsy you REALLY should because you will learn a ton about what kind of customer you are.

I recently made an Etsy purchase so I thought I would share my thoughts on the off chance it helps you.

First of all I have to say I love the product I received and I was purchasing a supply that was not handmade.

I believe that I am the pickiest shopper. I ordered unfinished wooden buttons on etsy because my supplier stopped carrying them (there were lots of tears.)

Here is how my purchase went.

- I found my item by searching "Unfinished Wooden Buttons." I then proceeded to debate over the store that looked really cute and the one that had more of what I was looking for at a better price.

- I purchased them and etsy sent me a receipt. There was a note from the seller. "Thank you so much for stopping by my shop!!!!! and thank you for you order. I will be shipping your order within the next day or two. Good Luck with your project!!!!!!" I loved the note and then went to bed excited about my purchase.

- Then I waited. Not any length of time, but it seems like a long time to me. I was waiting for a message or email from the seller about my product. When you buy from a commercial retailer you receive a email saying that your product has shipped or something along those lines. I wanted that from my seller.

- Now is when you have to note that she informed me that my item would ship within the next day or two. However, the picky shopper in me did not go back and look at that. I wanted more interaction. (Crazy, I know)

- I went out of town and when I got back my item had arrived. Just like she said it would. I received it less then a week after I ordered it.

- Sat down to open the package (much like a child on Christmas) and saw my wonderful products. There were also two marketing items in there. A business card with all of their information on it and a thank you note. It is a nice note with helpful info on it, but it is not signed. In fact there is nothing on the product that has any handwriting on it. Apparently, I wanted that.

I learned a lot from my etsy purchase. I want a second order confirmation from the seller as well as something personal to accompany my order.

What will you find out about about the buyer in you?

-LB

Test Photoshoot

From the LowlaBug Test Photoshoot today. I can only think to discribe this as "I love you Dress Form." It's nice to work in a theatre with so much stuff hanging around.

Knitting in progress

The process.



- LB

It's all Relevant: Etsy's new search

Hey Guys,

Much like you I am trying to research all I can about the new etsy search. I must admit I am still a little confused, but making a treasury really helped.

I made a private treasury (that only I could see) and filled it with my items. I have done this before to evaluate how my photos stack up against other shops, but it also helped here. I picked a theme (Autumn Harvest) and I searched for my work.

I defiantly learned a lot about what triggered my items to appear and how many pages I would have to go through to see them.

I suggest that you grab a piece of paper and start searching for your items now. It will help you understand the difference between a "Colorful Cowl" (pg. 9) and a "Green Cowl" (pg. 2)

Go Forth and Search!

-LB