Is there a reason? (regarding etsy and jewelry)

PrudenceH wrote

on Feb 8, 2012 10:15 AM

There is a lot of valuable information in this thread.. I actually ordered that book for my kindle.. and started reading it.. I too just started selling on etsy.. though I have been marketing my jewelry for 5 years privately, i had no shop or online source... in the first chapter of the book I was able to apply several of the things he mentioned.. Hopefully this will give me a start. I am just looking for a way to sell what I love to create.. Thanks for all the good advice posted on here.. I am retired  now.. and this is a full time job setting this up and finding time to create too.. LOL..

xoliana wrote

on Feb 16, 2012 7:08 PM

As someone who just opened their own store on Etsy two days ago, I think you just need to be patient, but as others have pointed out, networking is a good way to build up a following for what you're selling.  You also have to set yourself apart from every other jewellery business out there, because let's face it -- there are a lot of them!  Let people know what's special about your jewellery, and what your store offers that no other store does.

Back to the networking thing -- the entire time that I've been working my way up to opening my business, I've been networking, both online and in person.  I've already sold some items locally.  I have a background in business, and one thing I decided to do was to make a deal with one of my friends who has a rather popular Facebook page and Youtube channel.  I told her she could have her pick of any of the pieces I'd made and have it for free.  She would then wear it in one of her videos and say where she got it, linking over to my store on both her Facebook and Youtube pages.  In turn, on my Etsy and Facebook pages, I will link back to her and get her more fans and hits.

I'm also very active on Etsy and keep in contact with a few people on there, some of whom were kind enough to give me discount codes on return visits.  They've now become admirers of my store and many items within it, and I have shown them the kindness that they showed me in the past, by giving them discount codes for their first purchase.

As far as advertising on forums, it's a good idea to advertise on forums where the members are not all jewellery makers themselves.  As another poster pointed out, most people here can already make all the jewellery they want -- they don't need to buy it; but if you post somewhere where someone has no idea how to make jewellery, they're much more likely to be interested in the type of merchandise you're offering.  Just be sure that advertising is allowed in any forum you visit, and that it won't get you into trouble!

I hope this helps a bit.  Don't be discouraged if it takes a bit of time for anything to sell.  Keep making it and listing it when you can, and people will eventually turn up. :)

Liana

EDIT: I forgot to mention another thing.  Make your own business cards and take them with you wherever you go.  Hand them out to friends and family, who will pass them on to others, and hand them out to locals who express an interest.  Some employees at your LBS may also be open to the idea of allowing your business card to be put onto display once you show them some of your pieces.

Teresa Webster wrote

on Apr 11, 2012 12:53 PM

Thanks Lynette, for the helpful information.