Etsy Shop Owners- How Is Your Year Going??
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
United States
April 19, 2010 1:22pm CST
Wow, it's been about 3 months since the last thread was started for Etsy! So how has your shop fared in 2010?
I'll start... My 2009 ended much slower than previous years, and in hindsight, a slow holiday season should have been a pretty good predictor for how 2010 was going to be.
In my previous years on Etsy, a slow month usually meant 5 or 6 sales. Well, November 2009, I only booked 4 sales. December had 9 sales (which is good for most months, but during the holiday season, was a bit disappointing)
So 2010 rolls around and I started off with high hopes. On New Year's Day, one of my items was selected by the Etsy admin to appear on the front page...and the item sold! With that front page appearance came about 10 shop hearts and 9 or 10 item hearts and 6 days later, I made another sale. I started believing the newspapers that were saying the economy was improving and started thinking everything would be back to normal soon.
"Thinking" was my first mistake. That sale was my last one for the month and it was the 3rd straight month of my lowest sales on Etsy. February has also been a good month for me on Etsy with Valentine's Day, but I only booked 1 sale for the month (and recorded my 4th straight lowest sale months) March wasn't any better and I went 52 days between the Feb sale and my first sale in March. I once again had the audacity to "think" things were going to improve as I booked a second March sale a day later.
So that's my first quarter of 2010. 5 or 6 sales used to be a slow month for me, but in 3 months this yr, I've made all of 5 sales. I hoped things would improve in the 2nd quarter of the year...and it looked like they might, when one of my more expensive pieces sold...but it's been 5 days since the sale & the buyer has yet to pay for the piece (and my email has yet to receive a response)but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I'm not ready to raise the 
and will continue to plug away with a few new designs and introduce a few new se glass items to my shop.
So how has 2010 been for you on Etsy, or at craft shows in general?
and will continue to plug away with a few new designs and introduce a few new se glass items to my shop.
So how has 2010 been for you on Etsy, or at craft shows in general?8 responses
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
4 Jun 10
Hope 2010 sales begin to really pick up for you. It's been a struggle all over from what I understand. I was a member of Etsy for about a year. No sales and I was terribly disappointed. My craft is not always in demand therefore I don't do craft shows either any longer. I work with plastic canvas and very often use my crafts for that little, added extra gift at a baby shower or something of that nature. I make alot of Sesame Street items, my designs and ideas, but haven't been able to contact Jim Henson's son in order to ok the sales without causing any legal problems. So I am kind of stuck in a rut!
Much success this summer with your sales,
carolbee
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
5 Jun 10
I think the worst that could happen in your case is you could receive a cease and desist order to stop selling. I've come across a lot of people creating things that are similar to a trademarked item, but they are their own creations...not blatant copies, and they've been selling their creations for a few years with no problems.
It really has been a struggle this year. There is just a different feeling to Etsy, and to doing shows. In previous years, when someone found something they "they just had to have", they always found a way back to my display to bring that item home with them. Nowadays, it doesn't happen nearly as often. Now I find myself picking and choosing shows that were exceptional in past years, and not investing in some shows that were just okay. At least the shops I consign to have been keeping me quite busy.
I hope you find your way out of that rut soon. Thanks for stopping in, and for your response 
@jswindell10 (417)
• United States
3 Jun 10
Super slow as in zero.
It's partially my fault since I haven't updated my items nor really taken time to promote the items(zzzz)I have in my shop.
Like another poster said, the economy plays a part in everyone's sales.
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
3 Jun 10
The sales come in dribs and drabs, but I can honestly say that they've come because of my promoting, listing and re-listing items as they expire. When I go without promoting (as I have yesterday and so far today) I don't even receive any views.
It's hard to motivate myself to go to Etsy and promote, especially when I know that most of my efforts will yield no results. But then there are days when someone notices something in my shop. Maybe I get a shop or item heart, maybe someone includes an item of mine in their treasury, or maybe, on that rare day like last Thursday, I sell an item.
I guess, even in this economy, every once in a while, someone sees something they just HAVE to have. If I'm not promoting, they'll never see what I have in my shop.
I hope things pick up for you soon !
!@jswindell10 (417)
• United States
3 Jun 10
Thanks for the positive words.
"HAVE" to have is what I've been going for in my writing (as in a hook) but have yet to apply this to my crafts. I've been silly enough to believe that improving my photo game was enough (one consignment place rejected me but encouraged re-applying w/new pics) but I'm trying to keep a consistent format going.
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
31 May 10
The economy certainly has affected my little business. Even though the news, government, & financial analysts all claim things are getting better, it seems like things were better when we were supposedly in a recession. Now that things "are getting better" and we are no longer in a recession, it sure seems a lot worse.
As far as marketing, I am promoting my Etsy shop far more than in previous years with fewer results. Obviously, sales are down, but even my views are way down when compared to previous years...the customers just are not on Etsy (although in the last couple of weeks, I've received several views from new members that have never been to my shop before & several brand new members that "hearted" an item in my shop) So maybe things will pick up.
I think the most disturbing aspect of the economy is the number of stores that have closed their doors, never to re-open again. I had several seasonal shops and galleries near the beach that I had planned to solicit about carrying my sea glass jewelry. Less than 20% of these shops re-opened this year.
My passion remains, and I'm busy working on a few new designs and "looks" for my sea glass jewelry line. I'm hoping that customers will eventually begin to come back and purchase my creations...I'm just not so sure that they'll be back again this year.
Best of luck with your marketing, and I hope your sales pick up soon! Thx for responding.
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
21 Apr 10
I did a show last weekend. It was an outdoor show and it coincided with an event in the town, but it was the first time the event had held the craft show in several years.
It really wasn't marketed very well, and the weather was very windy and quite cool (especially when the sun wasn't out-which was about 50% of the time... almost everyone had to take their tents down because of the wind. Show traffic was very slow and there was a large number of jewelry sellers, some of which were resellers.
All in all, not a good show for anyone... hopefully next year, they will promote the show with the event better.
Since posting this thread on myLot, I sold a couple of sea glass necklaces, so things have turned around for me and hopefully they will turn around for you too!
Thanks for responding 
!!
!! @OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
5 Jun 10
It was getting a little slow but then I adapted to what was selling and started making some jewelry to sell.I am not selling tons but sales are up and money is coming in a bit. I just don't get so much feedback like I do on Ebay. There I get usually 70-80% feedback on Etsy it's about 50%. Why?
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
5 Jun 10
I've noticed the lack of feedback also. During the last 4 or 5 months, approximately 25% of the customers returned to leave feedback (a couple of them a regular customers in the gift shops I consign in...so I know it isn't that they are unhappy with my work). On Etsy you almost always received feedback 2 -3 years ago, but it was more of a community feeling then. Now I think they're more mainstream, and many, many more people have joined, and it just doesn't dawn on them to leave feedback. But I've received feedback as long as 2 or 3 months after the sale...so there is always hope
I think you and DancingMooney both hit the nail on the head. When things slow down, you need to work harder on your shop. Change things up a bit, and adapt to what the market is looking for. Even in a tough economy, there are still customers making purchases on Etsy. Improving your shop and adapting to the times is the key.
Great comment...thanks for sharing your views on Etsy!
I think you and DancingMooney both hit the nail on the head. When things slow down, you need to work harder on your shop. Change things up a bit, and adapt to what the market is looking for. Even in a tough economy, there are still customers making purchases on Etsy. Improving your shop and adapting to the times is the key.
Great comment...thanks for sharing your views on Etsy!
@freedomg (1684)
• United States
20 Apr 10
It was rough starting off and then every one started losing their jobs. I have let my shop go for now as it wasn't making enough money to be worth the time I needed to put into it right now.
School is going to have to come first for a few more months.
School is going to have to come first for a few more months.@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
20 Apr 10
I can sympathize what you are going through. It is very tough for many people right now (and I don't really think people believe the news reports that say things are getting better...things are getting worse for the average person)and to make an Etsy shop a success takes time, patience and the willingness to spend a little money upfront. Without having the time to promote, any one with an Etsy shop knows that sales will be few and far between.
I hope things begin to turn around for you and when you get back to your shop, you find many sales in your future...best of luck to you!
@Cargoleta (723)
• Spain
8 Sep 10
I have an Etsy store too, and so far this year has been very, very slow... as in, no sales at all :(
I'm not giving up though, I'll continue making items and promoting my store and hopefully things will improve. Maybe when it's closer to Christmas things will get better, since many people will be buying presents and all that.
