Etsy Business Tip: Embellishments, Samples, and Lots of Love!

One of the best ways to get repeat customers for your Etsy shop is to turn your order packages into captivating gifts! Beautiful embellishments, desirable samples, and handwritten thank you cards will transform the one item you sold into a bountiful gift of surprises and treasures...as well as add a personal touch that customers love, for this is a gift from a friend!

You don't have to spend a fortune gathering up these ornamental items; great embellishments for your packages include: colorful tissue paper, ribbon, scrapbooking stickers, elegant decals, and so much more (use your imagination)! If you can give a sample of something you sell in your shop, this will intrigue your customers, introduce them to other items that you sell, and increase your chances of attaining a repeat customer! Shop samples could be handmade soap, perfume, candles, cookies, tea...or give a small gift of something you sell in your shop like a bookmark, bracelet, magnet, etc.

Don't forget the handwritten thank you card or note! This is essential for adding the "personal touch"; a handwritten message to me says "traditional elegance", "kindhearted effort", "the gift of your time", and "exceptional sincerity". Also, including a business card or flier is a great addition to your packages so the customer can easily find all of your contact information in one place...this will also serve as a reminder of your shop.

Pictured above is what I send will all of my packages: a handwritten thank-you note that expresses my personal style (have fun with your embellishments and stationary; if you can convey your unique style that is fantastic...your customers can really get to know who you are)! I also include a simple flier with my Etsy shop web link and an elegant sample of my newest line of all-natural handmade "Orange Blossom Beauty" soap (which I will be adding to my Etsy shop soon).My soap samples have a handwritten tag tied on with twine and a whimsical flower embellishment; the backs of the soap samples paper pouches are secured with an elegant and forever timeless wax seal.

It's Read a New Book Month! My Pick: Organizing from the Inside Out

December is Read-A-New-Book Month! To celebrate this occasion, I would love to share with you all a book that I just can't put down..."Organizing from the Inside Out" by Julie Morgenstern. This book not only motivates me to organize my home and office but it also helps me take a look at my own personality, traits, and desires so I can figure out the most effective and personally pleasing way for me to organize my space and for me to want and enjoy keeping it that way! I encourage you all to purchase or check out this book at your local library so you can finally feel comfortable in your own space and instantly find what you are looking for with ease!

Hey there all of you crafty ladies and Etsy shop owners...I am talking to you! You all have got to check out this awesome book! ;-) Improving your organization skills may assist you in the success of your Etsy shop business as well as give you a more stress-free lifestyle...don't we all want that!

One of the organizing tips in this book that totally makes since to me it to use storage containers that fit your style, interest you, and make you smile...doing this will make organizing fun you and therefore easier to maintain. Here are some beautiful storage organizers that I found on Etsy that just might get some wheels turning in your head; but remember READ THIS BOOK before you start diving in so you will not make organizing mistakes that will take you off track...or you will end up back where you are now!

"Antique and Vintage Farm or Tool Crate - Wood Shelf" by Honey's Treasures

"Primitive Shelf, Coat Rack, Double Vase in Shabby Green - Home Organizer, Hat Rack, Coat Hooks, Key Holder" by TR Woodworks

"Antique Wood Magazine Rack" by Kizzyrayan123

"Vintage Coca-Cola Crate" by Riff Raff Review

"Hat Boxes - Stack of Four (4 boxes) Elegant Textured Leopard Pattern Miniature Millinery" by Petit Chapelier Emporium

...and lastly one of my own creations! A hand-painted upcycled decoupage canister makes a wonderful storage tin for your pens/pencils/paintbrushes, buttons/scissors/sewing supplies, spools of ribbons and lace, kitchen utensils, candle sticks, and many more uses...just use your organizing imagination!
"Paulie's Confession - Hand-Painted Upcycled Decoupage Decor Canister" by Eco-Friendly Freckles

My Curiosity with Etsy's Alchemy

Maybe my curiosity was sparked by playing "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" with my husband; our character has leveled up to a "Journeyman of Alchemy" for we have worked diligently creating mystical potions with our mortar and pestle. However, I think the leading factor in sparking my curiosity with Etsy's Alchemy was stumbling across this thread in the Etsy forums in the Business Topics forum titled: "1000 Sales and How Alchemy Helped Me Get There".

http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=6599385

This post has enlightened and inspired me to give Alchemy a second chance on Etsy. I have tried it in the past and have only been turned down; yet luck might be on my side and I might just end up with a custom order! I like The Midnight Oranges' advice to hold off on clicking the "I Will Make This" button in order to post pictures of your finished custom order on Etsy and get featured on the "Recent Custom Creations" for other potential customers to see (this is something that I would not have thought of). I am mainly going to focus on suggesting items that I already have created that are listed in my Etsy shop (since my hand-painted upcycled decoupage canisters are a rather time-consuming and meticulous craft); however if the request is right, I might just offer a custom order...we will see. ;-) I do offer handmade soaps, exotic herbs, and other items to suggest too; I am hoping that my shop's variety with catch their eye!

My Shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ecofriendlyfreckles

To all of you fellow Etsyians, good luck in your Alchemy aspirations! Now, I am off to make something magnificently magical!


By the way, my sister, Andrea, and I are really intrigued with learning about herbs and coming up with our own herbal tea blends for enjoyment and healing! I bet our homemade Christmas gifts are going to be awesome this year! I have some high-quality medicinal and exotic herbs in my etsy shop...if you are interested, you should check them out!

Successful Summer Garage Sale!

My Nana, twin sis (Andrea), and I made some awesome cash and got rid of a bunch of our junk or "other people's treasures" at our very successful garage sale this Friday and Saturday. The garage sale (hosted by our Nana) was quite easy to put together and we made sure to have a clean, presentable garage with everything displayed and organized appropriately. We sold lots of clothes, appliances, and other items...Nana even sold her old car!

I hope this motivates any of you ladies out there to host a garage/yard sale; it is a great way to make some extra cash and it is a lot of fun to do with family and friends (a great time to "catch up"). It definitely helps to advertise your garage sale on Craig's List (this brought us a lot of customers from all over) and to host a sale titled "Huge Four Family Garage Sale" or "Gigantic Moving Sale"...or something of the sort to catch peoples' attention.

The left over items that didn't sell we donated to our local Salvation Army ("Good Will" is great too)...it feels good to donate, you can right it off your taxes, and you will have a lot more space and a lot less junk in your home...think of all the bonuses! :-D You can even display your Etsy shop items at your garage sale!

Free Marketing for Your Etsy Business at Your Local Library!

I found this great free marketing tip in an Etsy forum titled: "10 Ways to Advertise for Free"; this particular tip was on a thread posted by Berry Blue Creations:

“One of my favorite forms of free advertising, besides those previously mentioned is to talk to the people in charge of exhibits at your Local Library. If you can get a week or two to fill a display case.. you'll be amazed at the response you get.” – Berry Blue Creations


I love this novel idea...and I fancy the thought of locals oohing and aahing over my one-of-a-kind creations at a very comfortable and popular place: the library! I have noticed art work in display cases at my local library and normally there is a plaque or something that features the information of the artist...also, I have noticed library books on the topic being displayed along with the art. For example here are two displays I have seen at my local libraries recently: books featured on "how to make mosaics" along with an artist's provided mosaic art...and the other was a professional camera with nice photography provided by the artist and books displayed on "how to become a great photographer". So I suppose a very fitting theme for my upcycled decopuage canisters would be featuring books about "how to create art from recycled items" or "how to decoupage".



Also, another great FREE marketing tip that I have taken advantage of is the computers and printers at my local library. I am assuming that the policies of this varies among libraries, but I am able to print off five pages in black and white for free. So when money is tight and you would like to print some promotional fliers for your Etsy business, create a document of mini fliers and print them off in black and white for free at your library. Post them in appropriate and noticeable places with bulletin boards such as: your favorite coffee shop or café...at the post office, community center, and even the library!

New Promotional Design and a Sweet Sale!

My darling sister, Andrea, just created a promotional flier on this lovely card stock for me to include in all of my orders...and I LOVE them! They are beautiful, eye-catching, and say just the right thing. ;-) Thank you Andy!

Here is a picture of the back of them:



My stunningly gorgeous sister, Andrea, in Las Vegas (ha ha, yes she is my twin!):



You can find out more about my nutritionally enlightened sister, Andrea, on her fun and informative blog:

http://naturallyconscious.blogspot.com/

On these custom-made promotional fliers my canister Lady Liberty Weeps for Peace is featured...This is the latest art piece of my collection that I have sold (this Sunday)! I got the sale through the Mod Podge Rocks blog feature over the weekend! :-D

A Chance to Get Your Art Featured on Cable TV for FREE!!!

I have a chance of getting my art and Etsy shop featured on cable TV for FREE...and you can too!

I was reading some of the Etsy forums yesterday in the Business Topics section and I came across a great, free marketing idea suggested by Berry Blue Creations; she said:

"If you have REALLY good pics of your work, upload them to http://ovationtv.com
If the community there likes it and the pics get high enough ratings, you and your items can get a few seconds of glory on cable tv in between programs in a segment called "My Art". It doesn't cost anything and they have forums and other great features for ALL genres of art.. not just performance arts or Fine Arts. You can receive some good advice from other artists and loads of inspiration."

I have set up a profile on ovation tv's website and I have already received 21 views without advertising it! Here is a link to my Ovation TV Profile:

http://community.ovationtv.com/service/displayKickPlace.kickAction?u=21435407&as=16878

Good luck with your FREE marketing ventures!