Tuesday, September 20, 2011

A Tale of Patience and Diligence... It's Worth All the Work (Part I)

I don't know about most people, but when I started selling my product online- I thought it would just fly off the shelves... I was wrong.

GrapeVine Ceramics & Gifts officially opened an Etsy account and set up shop on May 28, 2009. Prior to that we had our items in my husband's shop and followed the area craft show circuit. My first and only Etsy sale that year did not happen until December 17th. While I was excited and grateful for the sale, I had no idea what I was doing. Etsy was supposed to be this great place where you put your item out there, someone found it, fell in love with it and purchased it. You didn't have to have a degree in computer science, web development or marketing. I was frustrated and basically turned my back on the shop.

Sunflower Ring Vase similar to the first sale from
GrapeVine Ceramics and Gifts on Etsy
Fast forward to August 2010, I've discovered that if I want to go to my sons' football games, I'm going to have to cut back on the number of shows I do each year. This is majorly going to cut into my ability to fund Christmas, not to mention helping to pay my other bills. I start to look at Etsy again. This time I do my research. I look at everything the Etsy website provides in the way of guides and suggestions. My personal favorite bookmark quickly becomes The Etsy Seller Handbook. If I had a question about how to list something, what my policies should look like, or just what was lacking in my shop - that's where I went. I read it through several times. I literally absorbed any and all information I could find on Etsy.

I discovered that Etsy is more than an online market, it's a community. If I wanted to succeed I was going to have to tap into and become part of that community. So in October I joined my first team. The Etsy D Listers is a team that was started to help new and struggling shops. To become a member you have to have a low number of sales and at least 10 items in your shop. I should note that one of my many mistakes was that I started my shop with five items that I would renew whenever they came due. This is one of the most supportive teams that I belong to. As your sales grow, you help others to succeed in their shop. We celebrate each others successes and help smooth over and correct the failures.

Good Ole Santa found himself a lovely home
with another Etsy D Lister
My dry spell lasted until December 2010. When a member of the Etsy D Listers bought a Secret Santa gift for another member. Within a week I had my third sale, this one like the first one in 2009 was from a complete stranger.
Purple Santacicle 
I spent a lot of time online trying to gracefully elbow my way into the Etsy community. My husband became concerned that I was wasting time and effort. He really wanted me to give up. I think he forgot how stubborn I could be when I put my mind to it. So to appease him, I set goals for 2011 and made a list of what I was going to have to do to meet those goals.

Goals for 2011:
25 sales from Etsy
50 listing in the shop

So begins my lesson in patience and diligence...

25 comments:

  1. Thanks for telling us about your journey as an Etsy seller.

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  2. Great post! It's good for us other Etsy sellers that haven't been around that long that it takes time and patience.

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  3. Thanks for sharing... it helps to know that patience does pay off. My experience has been very similar...;-)

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  4. This sounds so familiar! Thanks for sharing your personal Etsy journey - as another Etsy D-Lister, I look forward to seeing how your journey unfolds!

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  5. Really great post! I have only been around for a few months and I just keep reminding myself that it takes, on average, 2 years to build a profitable business.

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  6. Hard work and pereverence. We're all on the journey! Thanks for sharing! (love your santacicle by the way!)

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  7. Looks like you are learning the "rules of the game" and its making a difference. good luck on reaching your goals!!!!

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  8. Good luck Grape... your shop is beautiful and so are your creations.

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  9. yes it does take time and patience. I love your shop!

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  10. You have no idea how much hope this gives me! Here's to perseverance!

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  11. Great post! I've been on Etsy now for 3 yrs. The first two years I just posted a few things and thought they would sell since they always did at shows. Very slow. This year I was determined to figure Etsy out.. I joined Promo Frenzy and found out that promotion was key! It has definitely taken time and patience but it's been worth it!

    I absolutely LOVE the sunflower pencil holder I just got from you. The colors are magnificent!

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  12. good post - I think you're doing fantastic! I've been open since March & I'm working hard at being seen. I've learned so much being on PromoFrenzy!

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  13. Patience is a virtue, for sure! I'm glad you're sticking with it. Sometimes people open an etsy shop and get so frustrated if they don't start making money immediately, then they just give up and let everything expire. It definitely takes a lot of time and effort, but it will get there! I'm constantly updating, changing, researching to see what else I can do to improve! I wouldn't say I'm super successful yet, but I'm doing better than I expected in my first year:) Best of luck!

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  14. Glad you stuck with it and the sales are showing for you! Your shop is GREAT and you will do very here, I just know it:)

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  15. Your shop is amazing, good luck on reaching your goals - I'm sure you will surpass them!

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  16. ugh the first few months are rough! I'm coming back from a 2 month break and it feels like I'm starting all over again, I feel your pain! Good luck!

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  17. Right there with you, patience is the key. I'm trying to convince myself as well. Your shop is beautiful, keep plugging away. You'll make your goals this year! Good luck.

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  18. awesome and encouraging. Thank you! I was getting frustrated myself.

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  19. Great post! It really is a new experience and has proved to be an educational experience for me. I LOVE your santas! I'm going to check out your shop!

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  20. Lovely items! Patience... ahhh I will get there some day ;) I'll HAVE to given my latest blog post (you'll understand if you check it out LOL)

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  21. What a fun beginning! I love your shop! Such beautiful things you make!

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  22. It is definitely a lot of work. I am glad you feel you are gaining momentum and sticking with it :)

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  23. I agree, it can be so hard to find that right balance between home and business! Welcome back to Etsy and I'm wishing you much success on making and even exceeding your goals! *Ü*

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  24. Etsy is a dynamic place, it's alive from all point of view - extended everchanging market and lots of wonderful artisans and why not wonderful buyers! It's definitely complicated keeping up with it as internet and the online market moves fast, but I think if one gives his/her best feedback catches up with that!

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  25. Good luck with your goals! I'm having a hard time selling, too. I hope it gets better for everyone.

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