Progress , Photos and Sales !

Sorry , its been a while since I last spoke to you all.  It was then that I was a bit disappointed with Etsy , thinking that recent changes to the system had meant that sales were no longer coming my way from the US.  I decided that I would make a concerted effort with Etsy whilst looking at other options for selling my hand made goods.  

Other options have included trying to sell my goods at a craft fair, whilst this was unsuccessful (see http://bloglaunchfemininetouch.blogspot.com/2011/07/thefemininetouch-1st-craft-fair.html) I did learn lots and lots about craft fair selling. It’s totally a different game to on-line selling but has many similarities too. Presentation is the main thing, and that will be what I concentrate on when doing my next craft fair in November.  I have already got my eye on house-hold things that I can present my hand made items in / on.

I have also taken a look at some of the other on-line shops selling hand made items and I have listed 5 of my bags on the “Big Cartel”. http://thefemininetouch.bigcartel.com/ 5 items can be listed for free. Listing an item on the “Big Cartel” is just like listing on Etsy, exactly the same information is asked for. The only drawback in taking the free option is only 1 photo can be displayed per item.  Since listing my 5 bags I have limited views of them , but with no way of promoting its just a matter of leaving them there and seeing what happens.

As for Etsy itself, I have concentrated on trying to make my items more appealing to everyone.  Thinking that if my items are more appealing , then they will be featured in more treasuries , get more hearts and then potentially end up on the Front Page in the FP treasury and taste tests.

I believe I now have retaken photo’s of maybe 90% of my items , transforming dull grey shots into colourful bright and crisp shots. 

Examples are all over my shop - http://www.etsy.com/shop/TheFeminineTouch?ref=si_shop .

I’m no expert but I believe with a bit of trial and error I have improved my photographs 100%.  I have looked at what gets on the Front page now and tried to mimic the same in terms of crispness , brightness and interest.

And has it made any difference ?, I personally think so , 5 of my items have been on the Front Page during the last few weeks and whilst this has not brought any direct sales it has brought me many hearts , and what do hearts mean ? they mean more chances to be in the taste tests and with the recent Etsy changes in using Relevancy as the default , it means that my items are becoming more relevant to the potential buyers.

Am I happy once again ? Yes – 5 brilliant sales in August – That’s what its all about.