Tuesday, 21 April 2009

Online selling

When I first started making jewellery, I had no intention of selling it. Then I made so much I decided to sell it and tried a few craft fairs, with modest success.

In January 2008 I made the decision to open a shop on Etsy. Little did I realize how consumed by the internet would I become. I was so naive. Having worked for the NHS as a physio all my working life, I had no experience of the joys or trials of running my own business.

First thing every morning I check my shops to see if I've had any sales, how many views my items have had, if I'd had any communication from prospective customers, have any items made it into a treasury etc.

I feel great excitement if I make a sale. One or two days without a sale and I start to promote a bit more. A week or more without a sale and it's hard not to wonder if my last sale has come and gone.

I don't know if it's just me that feels so obsessed with their shop. Does anyone else 'have words' with their other half about spending too much time online? Can anything beat the feeling of getting a sale and posting off the item you designed, made and sold?

I know that I'm happy with how my wee business is going and the enjoyment I get out of creating something new is great.

But I wish I didn't have the need to check my shops so often.
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13 comments:

  1. Anonymous21 April 2009 at 16:42

    it's lovely getting repeat custom - and very cool when you post something off to a new part of the world! see, you're not the only saddo :)

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  2. Piggy21 April 2009 at 17:15

    I can totally understand how you feel. I have work in the IT profession all my life and my Etsy shop is my first stab into running my own business. I checked my shop / emails every morning before I go to work.. and like you I get excited if I have a sale.. and if not, i will continue to promote more.. :)

    Btw, my little sister is a physio too :) Unfortunately she is not too crafty :P

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  3. dsfsdfs21 April 2009 at 19:17

    definitely - my boyfriend begs me to get off the computer when i get home! it's not that i'm on etsy all the time; it's that i'm on etsy, promoting our myspace and adding new friends, tweeting, blogging, editing pictures, and everything inbetween.

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  4. AMIdesigns21 April 2009 at 19:41

    it's good to know that I am not the only one!
    and you are so right SweetTooth, it is everything in addition to the actual shop

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  5. Thumperdd22 April 2009 at 01:42

    It's such a personal thing to have your own shop and sell your creations. How can you not spend that time devoted to insuring it's success?

    My hubby was fussing about it last night. What's worse - I haven't had the sells to justify the time... Sometimes that is hard to explain, even to myself!

    Danita

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  6. AMIdesigns22 April 2009 at 08:30

    That is without doubt the hardest bit Danita - when you put in the time, effort and hope and sales are slow. But don't let that take away from the enjoyment you get from creating and look on each sale as a bonus :)

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  7. Michelle22 April 2009 at 13:23

    I am completely obsessed with my shop. Sometimes I feel like I watch my hearts, treasury lists and shop views non-stop. To my boyfriend's dismay, I'm always trying to sneak in some sewing time so that I can list something new! It's so good to hear that others are in the same boat.

    I love etsy...

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  8. Linden22 April 2009 at 17:45

    Thanks for posting this, I've been getting discouraged recently but your experience and success is inspirational, long may it continue!

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  9. ATELIER22 April 2009 at 19:42

    Hello there - keep at it girl! It sounds like you are being very level headed and practical about it all. And, at the end of the day, you are making sales. Well done!!

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  10. AMIdesigns22 April 2009 at 19:57

    This post seems to have struck a cord with a few people, glad to have all your feedback :)

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  11. Cherry Tart Design23 April 2009 at 04:28

    I'm totally obsessed! My boyfriend actually makes me shut down my laptop because I'm barely listening when he talks to me. LOL.

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  12. Jo's Jewels27 April 2009 at 00:11

    Hi Alison, I've just found your blog through somebody else I follow (JoLicious) and had a look at your Etsy shop too - I just want to say I absolutely love your jewellery, well done!!! I've got masses of jewellery made by my mum and myself and would love to set up an Etsy shop - it's the time and peace aspects I have to fight with, although on a career break just now, I'm now having to possibly return to work (due to husband's impending redundancy) plus we have 3 gorgeous kiddies and a house (oh yeah and the other half) for ME to look after; so not a lot of spare time to get on the laptop with a decent length of concentrated time, without little fingers trying to help me tap away!!! Hence the reason I'm on here at THIS TIME, the only guaranteed peace I get as even hubby's given up and gone to bed lol. Anyway just to say I'm a new follower, and would be very grateful if you pop over to my blog for a nosey - jrjewels.blogspot.com - atm not a huge amount to look at, for all the above reasons! But fingers crossed I'll get round to setting up on Etsy ... one of these days! Thanks again for sharing and inspiring, oh and well done to your very talented author sister, fantastic!!! (unfortunately another interest I don't get much time for - reading). Jo x

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  13. Katian28 April 2009 at 17:36

    Yep, I'm exactly the same! I check when I get up, whilst eating my breakfast, during my lunch break at work if I get one and then as soon as I get home! Then I'm checking on and off all evening too. If I added up the hours I spent just checking I think it would be shocking!

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