"
Celebrate your succes" I read the other day. Now that's good advice for
someone who just keeps on going. With 2000 sales in my Etsy shop, I
feel I do have something to celebrate! I want to share my festive mood
here, with you. Looking back I think I can share with you my top ten
tips for being succesfull on Etsy. I never wrote something like this
before, so please ignore my writing skills and read "between the lines"
about one happy Etsy entrepeneur, from Holland. I hope this is both
helpful and informative.
So much has been written about these subjects already, so I'll be sharing my favorite links.
Comments and likes are much, much appreciated.
#1 PLAN.
Make a good solid plan. I believe a businessplan also incorporates your
private, personal situation. Where do YOU want to be in 5 years? What
is important in your daily life? Do you want to work alone, take care of
the kids, make a lot of money? How can you get there.
-- I needed
to be able to pick up my work and take it with me in case we would move
abroad (or to the Dutch countryside, where we ended up!). Also, after
some corporate partnership adventures in the past, I needed to be the
sole captain of my creative ship.
Benefits of an Etsy businessplan by an Etsy entrepeneurHow to write a creative business plan in under an hour.
#2 find your NICHE.
With about 1.5 million (!) shops on Etsy you do not want to sell
anything "mainstream". You will not be found. Be VERY specific in what
you make. Find your audience, find your niche.
Etsy in 5 numbers (video)
Find a niche market for your designs
#3 START .
Oh yes, this one seems so easy, but for me it's one of the toughest to
get over with. Plans, designs, ideas, hurdles and opportunities, they
can all be IN your head. But to get it going, start. Make, do, move.
#4 take stunning PICTURES. Bright,
fresh, crisp clean and styled by you. The camera from your smartphone
will probably work well, nothing fancy needed. Nothing beats a white
background and daylight.
4 Essential Product Shots for Your Etsy ListingsTop Tips for Smartphone Photography
#5 LEARN from other Etsy sellers. Dive into the many, many articles on the Etsy Blog.
I loved the 'quit your day job series' .. whilst dreaming of what could
be... and now is! become a member of an Etsy team. There may even be a
local team to catch up with!
#6 Be PROFESSIONAL
. Want to sell like a pro? Act like a pro! Customer service, setting up
policies, financial planning. It's not something on the side. Get rid
of that "I am doing this out of my basement" feel. Your customers expect
the best. And yes... you can.
Good read from FitsSmallBusiness on how to be successful on Etsy
#7 Find your AUDIENCE.
Try tradeshows, craftmarkets, pop up stores etc. Set your goals and
learn from experience. I tried it all, and, for WestermanBags, the magic
fomrula is ... online selling works best, combined with several
handmade markets a year, in the big cities like Amsterdam, Antwerp and
Hamburg.
Sunday Market Amsterdam
Markt van Morgen Antwerpen
Hello Handmade Hamburg
#8 Be PREPARED
for success. Think big. Find people who can help out during busy times,
the holiday season. Work on a vast relationship with your suppliers -
who can send you your goods in 24 hours. The tip relates a lot to #6. Be
a pro.
#9 LOVE what you do. Big or small, 1 or 25 pieces, a product made by you is the best thing that can happen to .. anyone. Smile and share!
#10 NEDERLAND
is klein, met Etsy is de hele wereld je doelgroep! Er zijn meer
succesvolle Nederlandse verkopers (..lees en leer!) en er is een
Nederlands platform. Je kan zelfs je winkel in het Nederlands en in
euro's opzetten. Wat houdt je nu nog tegen?
Nederlandse Etsy Community
**
I hope you enjoyed the first real "read" on my blog. Not to forget .. The reason of all this is my Etsy shop WestermanBags in which I sell felt and leather covers and bags.
Annemieke xo.
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