Look at me now...

I'm getting paper... Well not exactly...

As I progress through this business that is home based handmade jewelry, I am finding that Etsy, although a wonderful site to spring board your activity as an on-line jewelry seller, also swallows you up amid ALL of its jewelry sellers.

To date I have had 41 items sell in a total of 33 orders. Don't get me wrong I am SUPER grateful for the success that I have seen, but I think about how much MORE successful random home sales and workplace showings have been. There are countless other Etsians that are experiencing this same issue, many that are super talented and very personable as well. One issue is the sites traffic...although it is a pretty well known site (whenever I am purchasing beads people ask if I am a seller on Etsy) the traffic is hit or miss and many people that are on it seem to be sellers themselves. Now don't get me wrong I have no problem with sellers making purchases from sellers, but generally as sellers we are looking for buyers. So many sellers have taken to social media promotions (Facebook, twitter, linked in stumble upon...) to generate more traffic to our shops... and it works pretty well... Does the added traffic increase sales... not necessarily. Another issue with Etsy is that to buy an item you have to be a registered user.I have had more than a couple customers contact me and let me know that they were having issues with completing registration and we have had to come to other arrangements for payment. The issue is being worked out and I haven't had many issues since. Finally, and probably my biggest issue with Etsy is that they make the sale and redemption of gift certificates a real headache!!!

I sell and award customers with gift certificates, but on Etsy I am charged a double fee for selling the certificate and before a customer can redeem their certificate on line they have to contact me so that I can change the price of their items to reflect the certificate... Not fun. Gift certificates are a big draw to Etsy shops and any seller will agree with me. What customer doesn't like getting $5, $10, or $15 off of their purchase as a gift for an occasion of for being a loyal customer?!?!? But who wants to go through the hassle of redemption?

Now that I am done ranting... Here's to 33 more orders!!!

Be sure to visit me online on my Facebook fan page or contact by email if you would like to host a jewelry party in your home and receive awesome incentives!!!

My Review of Eyelid Primer

Originally submitted at EyesLipsFace.com

Preps your eyelid for smoother, longer-lasting and crease-proof eyeshadow. The ultra sheer nude color works to increase eye color longevity. The lightweight liquid formula quickly absorbs into the skin for comfortable wear.

Eyelid Primer

GOOD PRODUCT GREAT PRICE!!!!!

By TheEyesHaveIT from Durham, NC on 5/30/2011

 

4out of 5

Pros: Easy Removal, Smooth Look, Great for oily skin, Easy To Apply, Low price, Long Lasting, Dies quickly, All day hold

Best Uses: Going Out, Travel, Everyday

Describe Yourself: Natural Style

I was looking for a different brand of primer after my department store brand ran out and I did not want to pay ($$) for it again... I was walking around a retailer that sells many cosmetic brands and ran into an EXPANDED ELF display and there it was... ELF eyelid primer for ($). I threw it in my cart and checked out. It held my ($$)department store eye shadows as well as my ($) eye shadows ALL day long. I have oily skin (including eyelids) and I sweat from my scalp ALOT. This product is AMAZING!!! I have already recommended it to ALL of my friends and I will be buying more to pass out as gifts!!! Wonderful!!! Why pay more for a "brand" when this works so well!!!

(legalese)

Getting your name out there

Hello!!!
I know that I have been M.I.A lately, I am trying to balance school, business, work (and my ever dwindling schedule), and healthy living (working out), but I am back!!!
Recently, in the world of Etsy.com I have made a total of 9 sales!!!! Wooo hooo party!!!
Speaking of party... I will be presenting a jewelry party in March... Detail soon to follow and I will be making my first appearance at the NC State Fairgrounds Flea Market on April 16th from 9am until 6pm, so if you are in the area, stop on by!!!

Okay, okay, back to business...
I have been working super hard to find ways to get my name out there on the Internet and I am now listed with yellowpages.com!!!
I searched free business listings and pretty much added all of my webshop's information to as many as could stand that day. I also listed on craig's list and backpages.com with a link to my site.
People look for services and products EVERYWHERE so I want to be found EVERYWHERE!!!

Here is a list of the places that I registered:
Yellowpages.com
Craig's list- You can list locally of in other areas with a link to your site
Backpages.com (Similar to craig's list)
Yahoo.com
Pennysaver.com
WRAL.com - you should try your local new sites too

Many of these sites have upgrade services that you can buy so that your ad/business listing is featured or you can stick with the free listings. You can upload pictures of your products as well.

Side note to those that take custom orders:
I made a couple of bad deals which resulted in me having to update my policies- Now when I take custom orders I require 50% of the cost of the job upfront- If you read the last entry I think I added this as a definite DO for custom ANYTHING. I was "commissioned" for a few pieces and left with them after we agreed on EVERYTHING and they approved of the finished product. I now am selling those pieces at cost just to recoup my loss.

Make sure that you are 100% clear with your customers about your policies and if you do not already have a sales order book, get one and make sure, if possible that you very descriptive in what you are going to provide as well as what, when and how the customer is going to pay. Make sure they sign the sales order form. The customer gets a copy, and you keep a copy (Make a copy of your copy!!!).

Happy Shopping!!!

PIFing the days away...

So, as I shop and sell on Etsy I have been noticing listings for $0.20, and I wondered what they were about. They are what we on Etsy call PIFs or Pay It Forwards. These nifty little listings are products that you would normally buy earrings, bracelets, necklaces, gloves, hats... and all that is asked of you is the listing fee ($0.20) and the cost of shipping and handling. How sweet is that? I currently have 2 PIFs listed at my site, www.anhartetsy.etsy.com, they are both earrings and they are SUPER cute. I did have a third PIF, but when you snooze you loose! You can find a host of other PIFs by searching PIF once you are on Etsy. My goal this year is to have at least 3 PIFs a month, they will get better and better as the year progresses... You gotta check them out.
It's a great way to shop and a super community to be apart of.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy shopping

What to do now?

So, your product/service is selling but not as quickly or as often as you would like. You have offered discounts and free gifts with purchase as well as exhausted all of your avenues of marketing. So, what do you do now?

Four steps to get your business rolling along again and at a higher pace:
1. Re-evaluate your marketing: This is a BIG one-
*Are you aggressively marketing or are you waiting for someone to come along and notice your product/service?
--For my jewelry and other products that can be worn- I WEAR them!!! People compliment me on the items and I whip out a business card and hand it to them while I am talking about it. I sold 5 pairs of earrings just by wearing a pair that day to work.
--For other products such as food, that can not be worn- Wear a crafty button or pin that has a picture your product featured and that is eye catching; for services wear the word and it will draw attention. I made an inexpensive button that I wear on me when I go shopping. It has interchangeable faces. One says: YES! I handmade my jewelry! When I catch people looking I once again whip out my business card while I talk about the pieces I’m wearing.
*Are you using EVERY opportunity to market your product/service?
--I use the doors of my car- Door magnets
--I am going to use my lawn and the lawns of loyal customers- Lawn signs- Check with your/ their neighborhood first.
*Are you marketing to your target audience?
--Who are you trying to attract? Ex: Who are your shoppers, most frequently?
--Do you market where your audience (from above) shops, eats, works out, reads the news?
--Is your presentation appropriate for your audience? Ex: Are you using tinker bell to attract a 56 yr old woman?
2. Have you looked for new places to market your product/services?
*Salons/ Spas/ Boutiques/ Galleries
*Mom and Pop (I just like saying that) shops that DO NOT carry your product/ service, but cater to your audience
*Your own website/ Etsy.com/ Artfire.com
*Craft shows
*Church/ Community events
*Hotels
*Home party- to showcase your product/service
3.Have you recently reached out to your customers?
*Send a handwritten/ made thank you note/ card/ postcard/ letter
*Send your BEST customers an exclusive discount as a return customer
*Offer a bonus/ discount for referrals


Last but not least… This one you may need help with:

4. Re-evaluate your product/service
*What is its value to others?
--Convenience
--Aesthetics
--Cutting edge
--One of a kind
*Why should people purchase your product?
--What sets your product apart from others?
--What’s the story behind your products?
*Why should people purchase from you?
--Who are you?
--Why can you be trusted?


--*Ask yourself: Why do I buy what I buy from where I buy it?
---**Apply your answers to your product/services

After following these steps you should be able to get a pick up in traffic and sales. I cannot guarantee it, but it should at least get you moving in the right direction!!!

Happy Sales

More Marketing

So, its coming down to crunch time for me. I am getting ready to start classes again and I really need to focus on school. However, I can not let my business stand idle, so I am working like a MAD crazy woman to get my latest pieces completed and posted to etsy. I am still on my aggressive marketing campaign to get more traffic to my site so I have made buttons for me and my distributors to wear when we are out and about, I have become more aggressive in my distribution of my business cards- if it looks like you are looking at my jewelry, then you get one- and I wear at least 3 pieces so I KNOW you are looking!!! LOL, I ordered car door magnets so that I can be EXTRA visible when I am rolling around the streets of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and last but not least I am getting ready to pitch my jewelry to a salon owner (or 2 or 7- until I get a YES) so that I can set and maintain a display in her salon. I am just trying to reach out to anyone and everyone I can in the hopes that they appreciate my jewelry and if they are not interested they at least mention it to someone who is. I think I an going to go on a promotion day tomorrow, walk through the mall with my most popular pieces and hand out business cards- as well as carry a few pieces for on the spot purchasing- I can't wait until I get my jewelry roll!!!)

Well until next time happy shopping!
p.s- all of the marketing items mentioned above (cards, magnets..) are can be ordered from Vista Print

Refections

Can you believe that we have yet again reached the end of a decade!!! 2010 is just about over and we are all eager to usher in 2011. As a business woman, lol, I love the way that sounds, I too am eager to usher in a new year. But FIRST I must reflect on some of the highlights of 2010...
April- I sold my first piece of jewelry
May- I launched A Queen's Dowry on Etsy.com
October- I revved up my marketing and promotions to increase traffic
November- I started my A Queen's Dowry Facebook page
December- I made it through the holiday season and had my first 2 online sales!!!
All in all it was a GREAT year for A Queen's Dowry


It is very important that I also look back at all of the business elements that have made me successful and those that have not this year, and make changes for the future.
1. Choosing my name- I feel was a success. It draws people in and starts conversation. Dowry is not a word that is used frequently today and that is one of the reasons that I chose it. So, when I hand out my card or simply tell people the name of the business they are intrigued, and of course want to know more.
2.Self promotion- One of the first pieces that I made I wore all of the time and people asked about it- So, naturally I told them what I did... Make jewelry. Coworkers began to commission me for pieces as well as advice. I made my mother a lanyard for her reading glasses and where ever she wore them people asked about the lanyard and she promoted for me. To this day I don't leave the house without wearing  a piece that I made and out of 100 at least 20 ask me about my jewelry!
3. Marketing- SUCCESS!!! Hands down no doubt about it. My first online sale was due to marketing on Facebook and the second was due to promoting my site face to face.
      * Business Cards- I love Vista Print. They always have a super deal and so many cards and finishes to choose from. I sprinkle these babies around EVERYWHERE!!! At school, at church, at work, I carry them in my purse- remember the 20 out of a 100 people per day that ask about my jewelry... They ALL get a card. People who hear via word of mouth get a card so that my site and number are right at their finger tips.
      * Fliers- Color fliers with pictures of some of my most popular pieces and of course my contact info. These go where ever cards go. On bulletin boards, cork strips, anywhere I can get a push pin or tape.
      * Email blasts- So maybe not the most effective, but I can say that I did see increased traffic to my site on the days that the emails were sent out. However, purchases did not directly result from these emails. It does get fingers clicking which is a start.
      * Facebook Advertisement- Not 100% effective at increasing sales, however traffic did increase and that leads to sales. It is targeted as well which is a plus.
      * Blogging-  From what I can tell not much is happening with the blog, but this is still pretty new to me. I do have one faithful follower, and I do promote it on Facebook, so the possibilities are endless. I am going to keep writing about what I know and let you, the reader(s) decide.
4. Pricing and Discounts- Pricing was probably the most difficult thing for me to get a handle on. I had to decide early whether this was a hobby or a business. As a hobby I could charge cost and not feel bad because I was doing it purely for fun; As a business, I have to cover costs and make a profit. So, things such as time and labor do come into play.
Thus far I have only offered one "discount" outside of my normal "buy as a set" discount. It has not lead buyers to me in droves. Pricing and discounting are always highly debated especially when it comes to handmade. I tend to only stick with the buy as a set and get a discount only because my customers usually like to have all the pieces and its the least I can do...
5. Staying true to me- I started making jewelry that I enjoyed wearing and that is still what I do. If I veer too far from that it will not be a good thing. Plain and simple.

I hope that my reflections help you reflect on your business moves from the past year and help you look towards future moves. I look forward to seeing you in 2011.
If there is something that you feel I missed PLEASE feel free to comment on it and I will get back to you.

Thanks Again for reading