Search results (tags) for: "selling"

Quit Your Day Job: soulyyours

2010-02-08T10:52:00-05:00

Barbe of soulyyours spent over twenty years working in the public school system before leaving to take on her growing Etsy shop full time. While in the process of transitioning to a part-time schedule in order to plan ahead for the big leap, Barbe was let go like so many others this past June. Since becoming her own boss, Barbe can't imagine how she did it any other way.

How did you originally get into the business of making things?
I was volunteering with Hospice of Summa’s art therapy program, assisting Beth Wade, of Beth Wade Design, with activities for children having been touched by death. I was commissioned by a couple involved in the program to draw the logo for a 5K race, in memory of a daughter they’d lost; they wanted the caricature created in her image. Realizing the importance of symbolic mementos after having lost a loved one, I decided to design angel pins. After a lot of trial and error, Internet searching, and guidance by other artists, I stumbled upon precious metal clay (clay comprised of fine silver particles, water, and an organic binder that becomes 99.9% fine silver once fired in a kiln) and my first designs came to life! Since then, my pins (now retired), along with my other handmade original rustic jewelry designs, have been sold at juried art shows, galleries, and of course here on Etsy!

Tell us about your previous working situation:
I began my full-time work experience in 1986. Its initial purpose was not one of passion, but a means to a nice paycheck and a sound retirement. After the birth of my daughter Chelle in 2007, it became very difficult juggling a full-time job, running a small business, and giving quality time to my family. I was exhausted by the end of the day. Wanting to accumulate a couple of more years towards my 25-year retirement before setting out full time on my own, I decided to go from a management salary to a secretarial salary within the public school system. I relished in the thought of fewer hours, long winter holidays, spring breaks, and glorious summers. Not unlike many other businesses touched by recent economic challenges, as a low woman on the seniority scale, I was laid off after a year of employment in June of 2009.

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
Not at first. I didn’t really have a concrete plan of where I wished to take my business. I pretty much stumbled upon Etsy, and after getting up enough confidence, decided to post my first piece in 2006. After some time away, I decided to revisit Etsy in 2007— when my daughter was just a few months old, and I was seriously considering other career options. In 2008, I began making a commitment to Etsy, building my shop, and posting on a regular basis.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time? Feel free to give us the nitty gritty business details.
Working for the school system, I was already prepared to be without a paycheck during the summer months. Given a couple of months notice prior to my layoff, I made certain our family bills were in order and stocked away funds enough to cover expenses regardless of how my Etsy sales and art shows were going.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?
I would probably receive a “D” in marketing...

Although, I’ve found that wearing my jewelry is probably one of the best free promotions!
Visibility at art shows has proven a huge marketing outlet for me, bringing in many repeat local customers, wholesale accounts, and commissions.
I absolutely love Etsy Treasuries! The luck of the draw with capturing one or being featured in one (thanks Kara of Knme) makes the home page is a sure marketing success!
Listing, listing, listing! For me, with the right mix of balance and timing, this has proven a sure way to increase my visibility and sales on Etsy.
I am a proud member of the Etsy Metal Clay Team, an absolutely amazing Team of fine silver jewelry artisans! The Team offers a wonderful support system, a wealth of resources, as well as an avenue for cross promoting.

What have you found to be an unsuccessful promotion?
On occasion I’ve purchased ads. I noticed little, if any, increase in sales. I’ve been a bit more consistent with blogging than I have been with Twitter, and I use Facebook mainly to keep up with friends.

Walk us through your typical workday.

6:00 a.m. — The alarm rings, and I make my way to my zen space and practice meditation and yoga.
6:30 a.m. — I indulge in a cup of coffee while catching up on news, emails/Convos, Etsy Metal Clay Team posts, and Facebook. Somewhere in the midst, I kiss Jeff goodbye as he leaves for work, and greet my daughter Chelle good morning. Then, it’s time for a warm milk sippy before breakfast (for Mommy, Chelle, and our Great Dane Moia) and getting dressed. While Chelle is playing, I prep dinner.
9:00 a.m. — A couple of days a week, Chelle visits her grandparents so that I can work uninterrupted. Eventually, she will be attending the Spring Garden Waldorf School part time; otherwise, she “helps” me in my studio (mixed with a bit of free play, coloring, play dough, and reading). I print out, fill orders and pop them in the mailbox for our wonderful USPS man to pick up (very convenient and saves gas). Early in the week, I design (make/finish jewelry), and towards the end of the week I complete administrative tasks (order supplies, research, marketing, finances, etc.)
11:00 a.m. — During lunch, Chelle watches PBS, and I check emails, relist items, and check out the Etsy Forums and blog.
12:00 p.m. — While Chelle naps for a couple of hours, I work hard at finishing any remaining tasks.
2:00 p.m. — Chelle wakes up and sits on my lap while we share conversation and a snack, and when the weather is nice, we enjoy a bit of play outdoors. Jeff arrives home shortly thereafter, and a few days a week, I’m off to teach my creative awareness through jewelry making workshops (Promise Project) to elementary age school children.
5:30 p.m. — I arrive back home for dinner and the majority of the evening is spent with my family, outside of relisting a couple of pieces.
7:30 p.m. — Bathtime and story for Chelle, followed by her bedtime.
9:00 p.m. — At last, some free time with Jeff! …and the computer, checking emails, relisting, Facebook.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?
I love being home, I love spending these irreplaceable moments with my baby girl — it feels so natural! I have my social moments, but I love my space and serene moments — the flexibility to draw from within. I certainly don’t miss the drama and tension of deadlines. I love living my passion! I love not feeling sacrificed.

What's the hardest part about running your own business?
It did take some time adjusting to the inconsistent paycheck after 20+ years! But, it’s been a true lesson in priorities, and being able to joyfully live without spending just to spend. The comments of others who don’t necessarily perceive what I do as “real work,” because I enjoy it and because I do so from the comfort of my home, can be frustrating. Creating balance can be a challenge — trying to “leave work” in the evenings/weekends to fully be in the moment with my family and friends. Not being so hard on myself when I feel I’ve accomplished less than I should have on any given day. Although the Internet creates a world of opportunities unlike any other, with that comes the pressure as an entrepreneur to hop on every digital tool/marketing bandwagon. There is only so much time in one day… really.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? What advice would you give someone else?
Not to wait for the universe to make the decision for me. My sister had been encouraging me for years to set out on my own. Now that I have, it’s hard to believe that I did it any other way. Never let the fear of others determine the path that you are meant to take. It is never too late to start dreaming about what you want to be when you grow up.

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?

Finding new, economically viable ways to market my shop.
Presenting new collections I’ve had on the back-burner for a while.
Happy customers, healthy sales!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I can’t say enough about how wonderful Etsy is! Not merely a place to display and sell your wares, but a wonderful community of support and resources! The world seems a bit cozier being able to connect with so many wonderful people! Thanks for taking the time to learn a bit more about me!

Thanks to Barbe for sharing her story. You can see some of Barbe's beautiful work in the Related Items. Check out previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

From Etsy's Merchandising Desk: Sprouting Up in March

2010-02-05T13:48:00-05:00

It's that time again, and those of us behind the scenes at Etsy would like to share our merchandising plans for March. As we continue to plan Etsy’s calendar for the year ahead with thematic merchandising, we will be incorporating many of the concepts you shared in response to February's report and continue to welcome your input. It is our goal to create a healthy balance between promotions for traditional holidays, seasonal changes, and lifestyle trends.

Rounding Out February

Keep abreast of the February seasonal themes, holidays, dates to remember, and trends in February's Merchandising Desk edition.
Promotional Opportunities for Sellers:
- Etsy's Voting Series: Keep an eye on the Announcements section of the Forums to find out about calls for nominations. You can nominate an item from your own shop and other shops fitting the theme for a chance to be entered into the weekly vote. Items with top votes, along with many originally nominated items, appear on Etsy's home page.

Stay Engaged in March

Our critical merchandising focus this month will center around springtime, the environment, Easter, Mothering Sunday, glamor, and taking ourselves a little less seriously. You'll find the extended list of topics we're excited to highlight throughout the month of March below. We're looking for your creative interpretation and spin on each of the upcoming seasonal themes.

Spring: March brings the spring equinox and themes like spring cleaning, spring fashion, spring break, spring planting, and a fresh outlook.
Saint Patrick's Day: Parties, celebrations, parades, touches of green, shamrocks, feasting, drinking, and a nod to the Irish.
Glitz and Glam: With the Academy Awards early in the month look for red carpet fashion, accessories and glamor.
Mother's Day: Mothering Sunday is celebrated in March throughout the UK. Now's the time to think about which items would make great gift ideas for mothers and make sure your international shipping settings account for a UK excursion. Now's also a great opportunity to plan ahead for the United States' celebration of Mother's Day in early May.
Easter: March is the time to have your Easter items made and listed, as the holiday is celebrated in March in Finland and early April elsewhere. Think bunnies and chicks, eggs, baskets, bright spring colors, pastels, candies and confections, ornaments, decorations, DIY projects and kits, feasting, Easter dresses, the Easter lily, spring flowers, and spiritual representations.
The environment: International Earth Day and Earth Hour are both celebrated in March. Think about the use of recycled, upcycled, reclaimed, natural, and environmentally friendly materials, as well as items that facilitate earth friendliness, cleaning the air and being conscious of your surroundings.
Gardening: Springtime marks a time for sprouting, planting, nourishing the ground, and pops of color with early spring bulbs. Think watering, aprons, gloves, soaps, seeds, tools, planters, indoor gardens, beds, garden markers and labels, and organic options.
Pets: Gear, feeding, clothing, accessories, toys, housing, furniture, and accouterments for adventures with your furry friend.
Fashion: Spring fashion is at its peak. Channel bright and pastel colors paired with neutral and muted hues, light textured fabrics, references to nautical and scholastic styles, showing some skin and embellishments.
Home Decor: Find spring renewal with items for refreshing and organizing the home.
The International Vacation: Global adventures, warm weather destinations, taking a holiday, romantic getaways, beach gear, and highlights of summer and upcoming autumn fashion in the Southern Hemisphere.
Weddings and Celebrations: Spring wedding season abounds. Get inspired by creative and classic spins on all aspects of the big day including attire, decor, invitations, favors, and gift ideas.
April Fools: Gag gifts, disguises, funny cards, pranks, and clever tricks to get the best of friends and loved ones.
March trends: Alice in Wonderland: Teacup imagery, chess, lockets, rabbits, pocket watches, mushrooms, whimsical stripes, headbands. Globe and map imagery. Anatomical and natural history: Feathers, acorns, seeds, pods. Animal hats and accessories with ears: Both baby, pet, and adult versions. Tech imagery: Cassette tapes, vintage cameras, video game accessories, vintage telephones, MP3 players and social media. Fashion: Embellishments, accentuated shoulders, over the knee socks and boots, tribal and military motifs, vintage-inspired swimwear, aviator, jumpsuits and playsuits, sheer fabrics and statement accessories. Farmhouse: Imagery, art, decor, rustic, quilts, repurposed and vintage industrial throwbacks. Color trends for March include muted pastels, indigos, lemons, salmons, lavenders, seafoam and classic combos such as navy and white.
Aquamarine is March's birthstone, and March's astrological signs are Pisces and Aries (Pisces: February 20 - March 20, Aries: March 21 - April 20).

If you'd like to stay engaged and involved with the approaching merchandising themes, interpret them in your own artistic voice. This can be translated in your listings, photos, shop announcement, descriptions, tags, titles, sales promotions and more. We're excited to see your creative interpretations!

If you make items that would fit well with the themes outlined, try stocking up and listing them in advance to take advantage of potential shipping deadlines and site features. Do you already have items in your shop that meld well? That's great! Now it's time to revisit those items to make sure your tags, titles, and descriptions reflect keywords shoppers might be looking for this time of year. This is also a great opportunity to revamp your item photography with a new look, if you think they need some work. Check out some great how-to's for item photography to get started.

If your items fall under the main thematic categories we'll be highlighting this month, it might be a great time to consider purchasing a spot in a Category Showcase. For those of you who enjoy making Treasuries, we'll be looking to highlight lists that interpret these themes in a creative and cohesive way, as well as the many innovative and beautiful collections that we normally feature.

Upcoming Dates to Remember

March is known as National Craft Month, National Poetry Month, and was named for the Roman god of war, Mars
March 7: The Oscars
March 5: Alice in Wonderland movie premiere
March 12: Labor (Victoria) Day
March 12: Plant a Flower Day
March 14: College spring break
March 14: Mothering Sunday (UK Mother's Day)
March 14: Daylight Savings at 2 a.m.
March 17: St Patrick's Day
March 20: International Earth Day
March 20: Spring equinox
March 20: National Quilting Day
March 21: Human Rights Day (South Africa)
March 27: Earth Hour
March 27: Easter Day (Finland)
March 29: Youth Day (England, Taiwan, Venezuela)
March 30: (Sunset March 29) Passover begins at sundown, lasts 8 days

Do you have a date to remember that you don't see on the list? Let us know in the comments section below. We are currently working towards incorporating a more detailed calendar of international holidays into Etsy's thematic merchandising plans, so we're eager to hear which dates you would like to see included.

We’d like to hear from you!
We appreciate your support and look forward to your feedback and suggestions in the comments section below.

Top 10 Tax Time Tips From Outright

2010-02-05T10:32:00-05:00

Here in the U.S., we're coming up on that dreaded time of year: tax time. In the past few months, our bookkeeping partner Outright.com has added a host of features, streamlining your bookkeeping and lessening the hassle that comes with running an indie business and doing your taxes. We asked them to provide some helpful tips to get 2010 off to a good start. (This info may only apply to U.S. sellers.)

More often than not, what sellers think of as a hobby, the IRS treats as a business. Every U.S. citizen who sells on Etsy has to file a Schedule C with their income taxes (unless they've incorporated as an LLC or corporation — in which case they have a different set of taxes to file). If you're confused about the business or hobby question, check out this information on Outright. Our services and the following Top 10 Tips are designed for people who make hundreds of dollars, millions, or none at all. It is the type of business, rather than the size, that matters.

While automatically recording your income through PayPal, fewer Etsy sellers are automatically recording expenses put on a credit card. With both PayPal and your credit card set up, Outright.com will do all of your 2009 bookkeeping in minutes, categorizing a great majority of those expenses to form Schedule C and helping to identify deductions. On top of those out of pocket expenses, a new feature on Outright.com records mileage put on the road picking up supplies and shipping orders. A simple mileage calculator now records the deductible expenses, properly reporting them to your Schedule C.

Top 10 Tips to Get Your Finances Organized

Stay on top of your sales and expenses. With online banking, few balance a checkbook anymore, but you should never presume the bank is faultless. Ensure that an expense or sale isn’t missing but also check the bank fees and records. We’ve experienced more than a few mistakes on the part of the bank, and you don’t want an expense erroneously appearing twice. Bookkeeping delivers insight to your best customers, accuracy of transactions, and goes well beyond getting you ready for tax season by watching everything.
Categorize expenses. This is where things get a bit tricky, but time spent is well worth the effort. Make sure all of your income and expenses have been properly categorized. Categorizing your income (for the most part, all “Sales”) is not nearly as critical as those deductible expenses. The Schedule C categories can be confusing but they make the difference; Mileage under “Car and Truck Expenses” is deductible while “Other Expenses” are not. Outright.com will do most of the categorization automatically for you. When in doubt, ask a professional or hire a bookkeeper.
Speaking of mileage. Let’s reiterate that you should be recording all the time spent in the car. We have one Etsy seller using Outright.com that wrote off over $2000 in mileage. You can deduct $.55 per mile driven for business in 2009 and $.50 starting 2010.
Pay your estimated taxes. To avoid penalties, be sure you’ve paid enough in estimated taxes for the year. The fourth installment of your 2009 estimated taxes should bring you up to at least 90% of what your final total taxes are for the year. If that’s still too confusing, pay the same amount as you actually owed from last year. Food for thought though: the penalty for not paying your estimated taxes is around 6% of what you owe…
Double check your profit and loss. Take a look at your profit and loss statement for the previous year. Do the numbers seem reasonable? Search your pockets for receipts, don’t neglect that credit card that was canceled, and keep in mind that payment to your sister for some consulting.
Prepare a budget for next year. Don’t want to bother with the hassle? It’s worth it. The quick way to get it done in minutes is to take that previous profit and loss statement and download it to a spreadsheet. There you can easily add some formulas to evaluate an increase in sales next year by 10% or reduction in costs by 5%.
Organize your home office to take the deduction. If you use your part of your home exclusively and regularly as your principal place of business or to meet with clients or customers or store inventory on a regular basis, you should qualify. Use Tax software or an advisor to calculate the deduction; your job this year is to consider your use of space and make sure the deduction doesn't go overlooked.

Even phone calls. Any business-related calls or expense you have in your home is deductible. Highlight each business-related call on your monthly bills. At the end of the year, tally up the cost from the 12 bills and deduct 100%. Office supplies, furniture, and certainly technology like a new computer or printer, all qualify as well. The rules get a little tricky so stick to these tips: Record the expenses so you don’t miss out, and when in doubt, ask a professional.
Stay focused on paying customers! The success of your business has far less to do with your bookkeeping and taxes than this single priority. Don’t fret over business plans, licenses, or whether or not you should incorporate — get buyers. Once in the door, delight them! Happy customers are the greatest sales and marketing channels of all time. They do a far better job of selling your talent to new customers than you. Keep them happy and absorb the costs of dealing with those that are disappointed or frustrated, and they will return the cost in dividends.
Get out there and talk with other small business owners. One, sharing tips and tricks will make you each smarter and better. Two, it’s a great way to get referrals — especially as you find other stores who offer similar or complimentary crafts to your own. Three, and most importantly, you’re going to need a support network of people who have been in your shoes. Sure, social networking sites are fun, and yes, you should be on Etsy’s community, Facebook, Twitter, and Outright’s community, but it’s also useful to have people you can talk to about your challenges, people who understand where you’re coming from and what you’re going through.

Outright.com just added a service to collect and manage contractor taxpayer identification (form W-9) and automatically file the 1099s required by the IRS. What are all those forms? If you contracted someone to help, a graphic designer, photographer, or consultant, you have to a file a 1099 on their behalf. Outright’s taxpayer identification service is free, a critical first step to filing 1099s properly. Outright.com simplified the tax forms and hosts everything online, making it easy to get tax season off right on the right foot and file those 1099s with both the IRS and the contractor for only $5. Use code “etsy1099” when you check out of a 1099 filing on Outright.com and we’ll cut that price in half.

Etsy wants to make it clear that this article isn't legal tax advice! (And please don't ask for personal tax advice in the comments!) Consult with a professional or your lawyer if you have specific questions. Here's a good place to start on the IRS FAQs for the self-employed. As noted in the Terms of Use, Etsy expects our sellers to comply with all applicable local laws that pertain to their use of Etsy, including taxes.

Seller Handbook | More Posts Related to Taxes

Just Jewels Showcase: On Sale Thursday, February 4, 2010 12 p.m. ET

2010-02-03T10:11:00-05:00

Do you find yourself mesmerized by the sparkle in her eyes? Keep it traditional this Valentine's Day and dazzle her with gifts that gleam. The Just Jewels Showcase will be a treasure chest of splendor.

Info for Sellers

Get your items ready! We encourage sellers to add items that would give a flash of radiance this Valentine's Day. In order to keep the Showcase on-point thematically, the tool will only pull items placed in the following Categories: Jewelry (top-level tag being "jewelry") or Vintage.

The Just Jewels Showcase goes on sale Thursday, February 4, 2010 12 p.m. ET.
Go to the Showcase Gateway to purchase a spot.
This Showcase will run from Monday, February 8, 2010 12 a.m. ET until Sunday, February 14, 2010, 11:59 p.m. ET.
For $15 USD, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24-hour spot, which will be linked from a prominent banner on Etsy's home page.
Sellers determine which item will be featured in your Showcase slot. Sellers must use the tool in Your Etsy > Promote > Showcase. Learn more about this process here.

Future Showcases

If you are thinking about planning for other Showcases that may be more appropriate for your items, here are some of the front page Showcases we will be highlighting:

Spring Fashion Showcase: On sale Thursday, February 11, 2010; the Showcase will be live from Monday, February 15, 2010 to Sunday, February 28, 2010.
- Think light, flowing dresses and fashion accessories that help transition your wardrobe into spring.
Artwork for Every Room: On sale Thursday, February 25, 2010; the Showcase will be live from Monday, March 1, 2010 to Sunday, March 7, 2010.
- Think paintings, prints, sculptures and all artwork to transform the look and feel of a room.

What is this Showcase thing? For a general introduction to Showcase, read Matt's Storque article 13.5 Questions about the Showcase, and for deeper thoughts on figuring out if Showcase is right for you, see Beth's Showcase Deconstructed article.

Community Council Summary: January 2010

2010-02-02T16:33:00-05:00

The first meeting of the second seller Community Council is in the books, and it has been and is a learning experience for all of us. More than anything else, this first month and meeting has been devoted to orientation and assessment. Members of the Council have had a chance to introduce themselves to one another, but were very quick to jump into the task of getting feedback about Etsy from the community. They consolidated the thoughts you provided into a small series of broad topics that were referenced most often on a discussion thread created for this purpose in the Etsy Forums. I'll go into those in a little more detail in just a bit.

Vanessa, editor-in-chief of Etsy's blog, gave the Council an early look at her recently published article on spamming to make sure that the tone was lively but not too harsh. Council members enjoyed the article as it was written and thus didn't have any major recommendations for it. Additionally, we all talked a little about basic spam standards and the even more recently published blog reader survey.

Before delving into the bulk of what we discussed, I have to acknowledge that it's a challenging time to be on the Community Council. Much is changing under the direction of Rob Kalin as Etsy sets about gathering the resources to work on projects that are priorities to the community and also to Etsy staff. Rob covered many of these in his recent Q&A Forum announcements. As more work is done we'll be able to discuss individual projects in greater detail. Consequently, we didn't really talk specifics at this first meeting; I hope we'll be able to discuss those more over time and bring them to you as well.

So what did we cover? The first broad topic was seller tools. Among the most referenced topics on the Forum thread were batch editing tools and currency conversion tools. The Council recognized that there were many, many other tools beyond these two that would be helpful to sellers. Etsy recognizes this too, as Forum moderators in particular keep track of features and tools that the community asks for. Though we at Etsy have made efforts to provide individual tools in the past, now we are creating a seller tools team focused just on building tools like the ones referenced above.

Policy enforcement was also a topic that was very strongly represented. Though everyone on the Council wants to see Etsy do a better job in cleaning up persistent or blatant policy violators, some said that this should simply go without saying; it shouldn't have to be a topic of discussion. Frankly, we at Etsy agree. It's a matter that we're not happy about, and along with multiple new positions to assist the Support team we're also assembling a specific, multidisciplinary team for this task: the SCRAM (Systems for Catching Resellers and Abusers of the Marketplace) Team. The solutions to this problem require both more people and better tools, and we will get both.

The third strongly represented topic was Checkout, and this too encompassed a few different phenomena. There was a general consensus that the Checkout interface should be easier for first-time Etsy buyers to understand. Additionally, we discussed our want to avoid problems with non-paying buyers by not removing an item from a seller's shop until the buyer pays for it. Some Council members expressed concern in a system like this over artists who make one-of-a-kind pieces that multiple buyers may attempt to purchase at once. I'll make sure that we're looking out for our artists making OOAK pieces as this particular project goes forward.

There are many other topics that we wanted to cover but couldn't due to time constraints (search, privacy controls, etc.). The Council will continue to take input from the community for topics of discussion over the coming months, though the way that we collect those thoughts from you may change in order to make that process both easier on you and on the Council. I'll be back with another summary next month, and in the meantime the Council and myself will continue to advocate for you, the Etsy community!

More Community Blog Posts | Tech Updates

You be the Judge: What's an iPad?

2010-02-02T16:00:00-05:00

First, the iPod, next the iPhone, and then, on Wednesday, January 27, 2010, the world stood still as Steve Jobs announced Apple’s latest soon-to-be-must-have-product, the iPad.

What’s an iPad? According to Apple, the iPad is "our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price." This You Be the Judge post will look at the term “iPad” and whether Apple should have any concerns over the use of this word.

In 2002 a Japanese electronics company, Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc., built a hand-held computing device, complete with Wi-Fi, called the iPad. Fujitsu’s iPad is most commonly used by clerks in retail stores for keeping track of inventory and recording sales.

In 2003, Fujitsu filed for trademark U.S. protection to the term “IPAD” for goods and services “hand-held computing devise for wireless networking in a retail environment.” In early 2009, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office declared that Fujitsu had abandoned the iPad trademark. However, Fujistu re-opened its trademark application in June, 2009, and according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the mark was published for opposition on September 1, 2009.

When searching the USPTO for "iPad," you’ll also find registration number 3389082 (ENGINES, NOT FOR LAND VEHICLES; ELECTRIC MOTORS FOR MACHINES AND ELECTRIC STARTER MOTORS, NAMELY, DRIVING GEARS) and registration number 3396165 (BRAS; LINGERIE; PANTIES; PADS FOR USE IN BRAS).

Trademark infringement may occur when one party uses a trademark that is identical or confusingly to a trademark owned by another party, for products or services that are identical or similar to the products or services which the registration covers.

Even though, at the time of this article's publication, no lawsuit has been filed, in the case of Fujitsu’s iPad versus Apple’s iPad, you be the judge. How do you rule? Post in the comments below!

Quit Your Day Job: slippedstitchstudios

2010-02-01T15:17:00-05:00

Laura of slippedstitchstudios decided to take her career into her own hands after being laid off eight weeks into maternity leave. She soon turned her newfound passion for knitting and sewing into an Etsy business. Laura says she requires ninja skills to keep up with every aspect of her business and that she's now working harder than she has in her entire life. Keep reading to discover her best marketing tools and goals for the year ahead.

How did you originally get into the business of making things?
I have always made things. My mom was excellent at fostering my creativity as a child. My dad is also very artistic and I have great memories of creating dioramas with him for school projects.

Tell us about your previous working situation.
After several dead-end, soul crushing jobs, including skip tracing for a car financing company (a.k.a. repossessions), I began at a CPA firm as an office manager and was on track to entering the financial advisory field. It wasn’t a very fulfilling job, but it was a paycheck and it had a future (or so I thought). In 2007 I found out I was pregnant and nine months later I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Just days before my eight week maternity leave was over I received a blessing in a very good disguise: I was laid off.

Even though I dodged the bullet of the looming economic crisis, it was a very scary time. I half-heartedly looked for another job but I was beginning to realize that I couldn’t bear to leave my little eight-week-old bundle of joy for eight hours a day. I really just wanted to stay home. Unfortunately, living in Southern California requires either a dual income or a very rich husband. Since trading him in wasn’t really an option, I decided to find another source of income.

Meanwhile, I had started knitting in 2006. From the moment I rubbed those two bamboo sticks together, it was love. In 2007 my friend and I started the Orange County Knitting Meetup Group. I joked, as I am sure many fiber lovers do, about trying to find a way to make my love of this craft into a business. I tooled around with the idea of creating a sock club, buying a yarn shop, or knitting scarves for Melrose, but nothing really clicked. At least, nothing did until I started sewing.

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
When I started selling on Etsy I was unemployed, so I was hoping and praying that it would be something BIG. I was scared, but deep inside I was proud: win, lose, or draw, I was trying something so seemingly out of my world that even if I failed I had won something. It seems like just yesterday when I spent nap time playing with my sewing machine, coming up with pattern ideas for my bags and taking different types of pictures to post.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time? Feel free to give us the nitty gritty business details.
I didn’t really "prepare" so much as stick my toe in. To start, I got three or four bags, a few needle wraps and a few stitch markers made, photographed and listed. Then I hung around the Forums. I got a sale in six days. This really got my mojo going. That first sale can make or break you, depending on how long it takes, but its quickness was enough reassurance for me to cannonball into it!

Within a month of setting up shop and listing those first few items I had a sewing routine down and a modest fabric stash. I had also sent away for my sales license with the state, as well as my business license with the city. It was then that I got my first batch of Moo cards and set up advertisements. By that time I was also an active member in the Forums and on Ravelry.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?

My best marketing tip is to find your market and know it. When I began knitting a world opened up for me that few non-fiber artists know exists. In truth, there are more fiber artists (knit, crochet, spin, weave, etc.) in North America than I ever imagined (it's a bigger market than golf!). Gender, race, and creed are no match for the love of a soft merino or a beautiful handspun, hand-dyed masterpiece. We are also very tech savvy. We are a community of mavens, connectors, and salesmen. I have not met a knitter yet that hasn’t tried to sell me on their latest find or tell me about a great new yarn shop that has opened.
I do most of my advertising on Ravelry. I think it is the best place to spend my money. I also have a Facebook fan page, a Twitter account, and a seriously neglected blog. I post sales or new listings on Twitter and Facebook and it’s a great way to keep my customers up on new designs without them having to remember to stop by my shop. I try very hard not to spam my Twitter followers by remembering that it's a community and not a billboard. To that end, I participate in different people’s promotions and tweet about everyday aspects of my business. I have made several sales off of Twitter, not to mention new friends that I meet offline at shows.
Another EXCELLENT way to advertise is to go to local indie craft fairs. Attend as many as you can as a vendor and go to the ones you can’t as a patron. Your fellow crafters need your support like you need theirs. I try to buy indie whenever I can! The great thing about this is you are getting your name out there and you have the opportunity to sell things at the same time. The money spent for a craft fair can be just as useful as a $100 advertising spot on a blog. Try it out. Also, craft fairs give you that something you never get online: the look on someone’s face when they see your product. Sometimes you can use these fairs as your own personal focus group!

What have you found to be an unsuccessful promotion?
Don’t put your things on sale all the time. It makes people think you're sorry your prices are so high. In fact, none of my sales have really worked.

Walk us through your typical workday.

I wake up at 6 a.m. with my husband (who still has to go to work). I roll over, pick my BlackBerry up off of the nightstand and flip through my emails for my favorite words: “Etsy Transaction.”
From 6:30 to 7 a.m. I drink mass quantities of coffee while at the computer returning emails, checking Ravelry groups, printing sales, gathering a general to-do list, chatting on Facebook, updating my Twitter account and listing a new item or two to my shop.
From 7 to 8 or 8:30 a.m. I sew 'til the littl’un awakes and demands my immediate attention.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. I run errands. Typically I go to the post office, the store, or for a fabric stash enhancement. I also find time to take my little girl for a walk or meet a friend for a play date and lunch.
1 to 3 p.m. is nap time (not for me). I sew like a crazy person, but with ninja-like accuracy.
From 3 to 6 p.m. I attempt to ship, or prepare shipping while simultaneously entertaining my two-year-old, making dinner, and following up on email/Convo communications. Ninja traits are useful here, too.
From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. I start to think about tomorrow. I figure out where my deadlines are and possibly finish up draw-stringing or ironing while my wonderful husband gives my child a much needed bath and gets her to bed.
After that I watch TV with husband and "relax." This means I am either making stitch markers, prepping Thank Ewe cards for orders, draw-stringing, ironing and/or making pattern magnets. This lasts until I can reconcile going to sleep. My husband may or may not be snoring by this point.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?
I cannot put into words how wonderful it is to not feel directionless or like a worker bee. I am in charge and I make or break the rules. I know where I am going and I am happier than a clam about it. I do miss being able to say “This is my to-do list and that item does not fit on it." Haha. I can see my husband’s face as I say that to him when I forget to pay a bill.

What's the hardest part about running your own business?
Even though I know that I am working towards a goal that will make this irrelevant in a few years, I am working harder now than I ever have in my entire life. There is no "off switch." If I am out with my husband or girlfriends or daughter I can get an idea or an email or meet someone who has never heard of Etsy. I am a walking, talking advertisement. At this point, I must add that I am so grateful for my family and friends who are bearing with me through this difficult time.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? What advice would you give someone else?
I’d say, “Self, you don’t need to stress out when things slow down for a week or so! Be persistent. When you go days or even a week without a consistent sale, persevere. Make inventory, find a craft show to attend, visit the Forums for a tweak that might give your shop back an edge you feel you have lost."
To others my advice is to know there won’t be an off switch if this is the right career choice and, even though that is a hard bite to swallow, it’s okay. It will make you successful, and if you are successful, the majority of this stress will only be temporary.

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?
I had several goals last year and I hold their existence, as well as the unwavering support of my family and friends, responsible for my success. My goal this year is to do all these in a bigger and better way.

My current goals are as follows:

First, to be accessible in local yarn shops everywhere. Last year I became available in six shops throughout the country and even one in Canada. I also contribute to two excellent sock clubs on an almost monthly basis.
My goal of reaching a thousand sales last year was exceeded by six hundred sales! This year will not be a numbers race but more of a focus to continue to improve upon the excellent quality and service that I’ve had since the beginning.
I plan on launching several new items for fiber lovers this year and I’m very excited. I have a book of ideas and I can’t wait to make each one a reality. A big goal for me is to keep my shop both diverse and unique to fiber artists.
My final goal is one I look forward to immensely: I want to travel. Last year I was stuck at home but this year, with the help of my small team of awesome helpers, I want to attend sheep and wool festivals around the U.S. I love traveling and to being able to incorporate this into my business will be a great test and a great experience. Of course, I won’t forget about the home turf. California has way more knitters that you would think and seems to be a bit overlooked in the festival department. This is the perfect excuse to get out and be seen!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
In this economic climate I believe it is critically important to support people working from home on their own terms. If this is your dream, even in the slow times, you have to be secure in the fact that you are working toward something. Nothing you create and have the wherewithal to stand behind can be bad. Find your market. When you do that, sell like a crazy person with ninja accuracy.

Thanks to Laura for sharing her story. You can see some of Laura's beautiful work in the Related Items. Check out previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

Ecouterre's Tips for Snagging a Feature on Design Blogs

2010-01-27T14:17:00-05:00

As the managing editor of Ecouterre, a leading online magazine about the future of sustainable fashion design, I get a lot of email, from random press releases that have nothing to do with the environment or fashion (think Jon Gosselin's latest whereabouts) to announcements about budget vacations in the Caribbean. I'm sure a lot of good pitches get lost in my desperate attempt to tame my inbox with my itchy "Delete" trigger finger.

The good stories that I do see often come with issues that make me less likely to pick them up. Here, I've listed a few suggestions for businesses looking to appear on Ecouterre — or any other design blog for that matter. Besides the first one, they require little to no investment, but I promise, the dividends will pay off in no time flat. Now about that Caribbean vacation...

Photo by everyeskimo

1. Take Good Pictures

With most design blogs, aesthetics are paramount, not just with the product itself but also the way it's presented. Investing in crisp, quality photography (no watermarks or logos, please!) is essential. And because bloggers are often racing to meet deadlines that expired yesterday, offering high-resolution images — in both horizontal and vertical formats — right on your site is a boon for both of you. If the blogger has to email you to get those images, you're going to get lost in the shuffle after she has moved on to something else.

Photo by Zanzibargains

2. Accentuate the Positive

Do you sell sweaters hand-knitted by throat-singing Tibetan monks deep in the heart of the Himalayas? What about wooden sculptures that were gnawed by a bevy of beavers? Don't bury that information. Besides knock-your-socks-off eye candy, design bloggers are also looking for a good story — one that makes you stand out from the sheer quantity of products that pass through our desks and inboxes each day. If your product is green, fair trade, or holds the key to curing cancer, make that apparent from the get-go.

Photo by calloohcallay

3. Make Your Pitch

Getting noticed is another crucial factor. A design blogger can't write about you if he's never heard of you. Keep your pitch email short and concise — no need for your entire life story, por favor — with a descriptive subject line that will tug at his eyeballs and keep his hand away from the Delete key. Try something like "STORY PITCH: Hats handmade from preserved roadkill" rather than "Cool story idea" or "Hats!". Know your audience, too; don't pitch a story about naughty knickers to a blog that writes only about baby products. Throw in one or two visuals for good measure.

Thanks to Jasmin for these insider tips! Check out the Related Items below for some Etsians previously featured on Ecouterre.

Etsy Seller Handbook | Sign Up for Etsy Success Emails!

Valentine's Day Just Because Showcase: On Sale Thursday, January 28, 2010 12 p.m. ET

2010-01-27T10:21:00-05:00

Valentine's Day isn't just about goopy couples sharing milkshakes, declarations of love via boombox under balconies and a never-ending stream of rose bouquets on the subway platform; it's also about showing the depth of your adoration for the friends and family that make your life awesome. I hope you never need an excuse to show your BFFs some platonic love, but if so, now's the time to say, "Thank you for being a friend" — Golden Girls style. Get out the cheesecake!

Info for Sellers

We encourage sellers to add items that could would make heartfelt Valentine's Day gifts for friends and relatives. There are no category restrictions for this Showcase.

The Valentine's Day Just Because Showcase goes on sale Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 12 p.m. ET.
Go to the Showcase Gateway to purchase a spot.
This Showcase will run from Monday, February 1, 2010 12 a.m. ET until Sunday, February 7, 2010, 11:59 p.m. ET.
For $15 USD, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24-hour spot, which will be linked from a prominent banner on Etsy's home page.
Sellers determine which item will be featured in your Showcase slot. Sellers must use the tool in Your Etsy > Promote > Showcase. Learn more about this process here.

Future Showcases

If you are thinking about planning for other Showcases that may be more appropriate for your items, here are some of the front page Showcases we will be highlighting:

Just Jewels Showcase: On sale Thursday, February 4, 2010; the Showcase will be live from Monday, February 8, 2010 to Sunday, February 14, 2010.
- Think all things sparkly to spice up any winter wardrobe.
Spring Fashion Showcase: On sale Thursday, February 11, 2010; the Showcase will be live from Monday, February 15, 2010 to Sunday, February 21, 2010.
- Think light, flowing dresses and fashion accessories that help transition your wardrobe into spring.

Handmade Comments: How Not to Spam While Being Active Online

2010-01-26T17:19:00-05:00

You're at a gallery opening, discussing the paintings with the artists and other attendees. Someone bursts into the room shouting, "I MAKE PAINTINGS TOO!" and tosses a fistful of flyers on the floor and leaves.

This is what it feels like for many readers when a seller comments on our blog with just a link to her item, completely out of context.

Making a real-life metaphor for an online situation is always tricky. It's useful here because I want to discuss what self-promotion "feels like" to those on the receiving end. (Aren't you glad I didn't use the flasher metaphor?)

This post is about etiquette (or, that wonky neologism "netiquette"). It is not about Etsy's rules or policies, but rather our behavior and culture — the way we do things around here, you could say. So let's talk about spam-ishness, self-promotion vs. welcomed participation in conversation and community. What social behavior do we as a community enjoy? What do we tolerate? What makes us cringe? What can we do about it?

It is not just me.

Recently, I, as the editor-in-chief of Etsy's blog but more so as a reader, was struck by the increasing number of comments on Etsy blog posts that were simply a seller pasting a link to an item in their shop. I'm not talking about posts where the author invites members to show similar items or share links to items along a theme — that is helpful to Admin trying to find undiscovered items and useful to shoppers who want to extend beyond the twenty-one or so Related Items highlighted in the post. I'm talking about sellers pasting links either where none are called for or that are irrelevant to the topic of the article or theme.

I started a Forum thread asking Etsy Forum-goers if they considered this kind of blog comment "spammy." While clearly these are not professional spammers pasting links to their discount factory outlets and porn sites (believe me, I take issue with those much more!), there was a general consensus in the thread that these self-promoting comments are spam-ish in that they are unsolicited. Some Forum folks suggested Etsy disable linking in comments altogether or make a rule that Admin enforce by deleting comments. On the other hand, some felt that although the comments are off-putting, they can just be ignored. I cringe when I click to an article about Etsy.com on a major newspaper's website or a blog post where the blogger mentions Etsy, and Etsy sellers have posted a ton of comments with nothing but, "Check out my shop (link)!" Because this is about our community's culture and because this issue extends beyond the Etsy blog to off-Etsy blogs and social networks too, I don't think making a rule is the way to go (or at least can't solve the problem completely). But I don't want to ignore it for fear of seller spam catching on and becoming common practice. I think we need to start a discussion to raise awareness. And further, I want to hear your suggestions for better ways of participating in comments and social networks without being spammy. A lot the sellers who do this kind of thing are new to Etsy and new to the Internet. Post in the comments with your tips, and I'll share some of mine below.

Beyond the self-promoting kind of "Promote, promote, promote!"

Let's acknowledge the motivation behind such spam-ish comments: Sellers want to get their products out there. It's a hustle, I know. Sellers have heard that you need to be "active" online if you want to get sales — you can't just sit back and wait for the sales to roll in. And yes, I fully agree that Etsy needs to build more tools for sellers to show off their work. But the linking we're discussing here is not helping these sellers. It's making them seem robotic at best and desperate at worst.

You move to a new neighborhood and you're excited to meet your new neighbor and local shop owner at the corner store. But ever since you shook your neighbor's hand the first day, now every time you leave the house, she accosts you on your stoop and yells at you, "COFFEE AT MY HOUSE!" Annoyed, you say no thanks and stop by the corner store on your way to work and get your coffee there. The next day and every day thereafter, the shop owner screams at you when she sees you, "AREN'T YOU GETTING YOUR COFFEE HERE TODAY?" More people move into your neighborhood and yell random demands at you. It starts to feel like a neighborhood you don't want to live in anymore.

Trust me, a seller will annoy her potential customers and scare away returning customers if, every time she lists an item, she auto-tweets and drops an item link on Facebook and that's it. I've also seen sellers repeatedly dump product photos into Flickr groups clearly not meant for this. They're called social networks for a reason: They are social places. We are not robots that churn out messages on an assembly line and shuttle them out into the world for nameless, faceless customers; we are humans capable of sharing funny, insightful, moving, or even off-the-cuff ideas about ourselves and other people!

I'm not suggesting sellers stop being "active" online. There is an alternative: I want sellers to make their updates, comments and Flickr photos more interesting! I'm looking for a good story — even if it's bite-sized. I want to see your sense of humor or find out what challenges you worked through. All it takes is some thought and care and practice. Just like in real life, it takes picking up on social cues that may be subtle (or in the case of this article, not so subtle!).

My Tips for Tactful Participation

Read a blog post before you consider whether or not you want to comment.
If you are moved to share a thought or your reaction then post a comment.
If you're on the Etsy blog, your avatar and username link to your shop. If you've said something that intrigues people or resonates with them, maybe they'll click through and check you out. There's no need for an additional "footer" with your shop URL. (On an off-Etsy blog, you may want to have a footer or signature with your URL.)
If you have an item that is meaningful to the discussion because you can use it as an example when telling an anecdote or sharing a tip, then link to it to illustrate your point. Add something to the discussion and show some personality. Same goes for a Forum thread on Etsy, tweeting or updating and commenting on Facebook.
Link to other Etsy shops, not just your own. In the Forum thread I started, one person likened self-promoters to those people you know in real life who only talk about themselves. Those people are boring.

It takes more time to read the article, to think of something relevant, witty or touching or provocative to say. But that is what Etsy and the handmade movement are all about, right? Take the time to craft something unique to you.

P.S.
When I was talking with the other Admin about writing this post, this Forum thread came up from seller HautTotes. As a seller, she has worked through many of the points I've made here.

P.P.S.
I don't want to discourage people from simply saying they liked a post or the items featured. Not every comment has to be the most profound thing you've ever said — it just has to be true to you and the post.

More Posts About Selling and Social Networking

Quit Your Day Job: poppychicdesigns

2010-01-25T10:24:00-05:00

Taryn of poppychicdesigns is a one-woman powerhouse: she manages her own business, is a wife and mother, and still manages to indulge her creative side. This song and dance act may seem too hectic for some. However, Taryn is used to the hustle and bustle from her early days as a showgirl for Carnival Cruise Lines. After meeting her musician husband she directed dance for a local theater company for eight years before deciding she wanted to spend more time with her growing family. Taryn developed an appreciation for costume construction through her work in dance and theater and emerged with her own line of flower hair accessories, which she now sells full time on Etsy. Her mottos include staying focused on what you love to do versus what you think you should do and the power of teaching your significant other how to print shipping labels.

How did you originally get into the business of making things?
I used to be a dancer…yes, mommy used to be a showgirl. While working in the world of dance and theater I always loved the costumes and accessories and would help out with them whenever I could. I even worked as the seamstress's assistant for extra money while dancing on cruise ships. Those costumes were full of sparkling goodies and feathers and I was always reattaching them and beading my brains out!

Tell us about your previous working situation.
After meeting the love of my life while dancing for Carnival Cruise Lines (daddy used to be a musician) we settled in Maryland. I directed dance for a local theater company, taught dance classes at local studios and choreographed local musicals. After having my second child I found I was longing to be home more.

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
I really had no idea I would quit my job, but I really wanted to find a way to be at home with my boys. I thought if I could make a little extra money it might give me the freedom to cut back a bit and be at home in the evening.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time? Feel free to give us the nitty gritty business details.
Honestly, apart from creating and registering my business name, I just started making goodies for my friends and got their feedback. After some trial and error I decided I needed to focus on creating products that made me happy. Flowers make me happy.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?

Wear your stuff. I have had more people stop me and ask where I got that cute flower. I love chatting with folks, so it’s a great chance to promote my shop! I also have my collection in local boutiques, which has allowed me to develop a great local fan base.
I’ve had my poppies included in celebrity gift bags at the Golden Globes and have donated to charities like MDA Jerry Lewis Telethon’s auction baskets. These types of promotional opportunities are so much fun for me, and receiving positive feedback is fabulous!
I try to list new designs on a regular basis. I also think it’s important to keep shop announcements fresh and current. I always answer Convos as soon as possible and think it's very important to provide excellent customer service. I love, love, love to rearrange my shop so my layout is aesthetically pleasing. Thanks, Etsy!
Oh, and I totally dig the share tool on my Etsy page!

What have you found to be an unsuccessful promotion?
I did every craft show and holiday bazaar I could find my first holiday season. I learned that waking up at 4 a.m. to set up my table of retro flowers next to an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast just wasn’t worth it. Now I only do a few of the local artist markets that I just adore!

Walk us through your typical workday.
I have two boys who are seven and two years old. I have yet to have a "typical" workday, as there is always a curve-ball at some point! But here it goes…

The morning is full of cuddles, cartoons, breakfast, checking emails and Convos. Then I get my second-grader off to school.
I spend the next part of the morning playing with my two-year-old and packing up the orders that are heading out that day.
My son loves to go "bye byes" so we usually head out around lunchtime to mail orders and then go do something fun (bookstore, playdate, take a walk, park, grocery store, or lunch at the coffee shop).
During his naptime I do my computer work. I answer more emails and Convos, list items, work on my Facebook fan page, edit photos… you know, quiet work. I also try to coordinate it so that happens during One Life To Live — love that show.
The rest of the afternoon and early evening is family time. I love family time: that’s why I do what I do!
Once the kiddos are winding down for the night, my glass of merlot and I get to crafting while the hubby entertains them for bit. My office is in the kitchen so I’ve been known to make flowers while engaging in an intense light saber battle. After their bedtime I finish up my orders, catch up with my husband, curl up and watch a little Chelsea Lately — love that show too.
Of course there is the occasional day when my mother comes over to watch my little guy so I can work on my flowers nonstop like a crazed elf on Christmas Eve — it’s been known to happen.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?
I enjoy being creative for a living, inspired on a daily basis and truly loving what I do. I feel so blessed that I get to be with my boys every day while working on my dreams.

What's the hardest part about running your own business?
Sometimes being the business woman, the creative artist, the PR person, the computer whiz, the mommy and the wife all at the same time can get a little hectic. You just have to roll with it.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? What advice would you give someone else?

Stay focused on what you love to do, not what you think you should do.
Focus is good, whims cost money.
Keep your receipts.
Teach your hubby how to do shipping labels, then wink and tell him he’s the best shipping label guy ever (he will then continue to do your shipping labels whenever you need help).

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?

First and foremost I want to continue to create retro girly flowers that make me smile.
Next I want to focus on blogging. I’ve dabbled in the past but I’m going to get serious!
I’m going to do more charity work. I was recently blessed with the chance to work directly with Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia by donating a bunch of Poppy Chic Designs goodies to a New York women's shelter for domestic violence called Safe Horizon. It was amazing; I’d like to do more of that!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I would like to thank all of my fabulous customers who rock the retro look and have made this all possible! And would like to thank my husband and my little boys for being the best (and cutest) support system I could ask for. Lastly, never underestimate the confidence boost of a well-placed hair flower.

Thanks to Taryn for sharing her story. You can see some of Taryn's beautiful work in the Related Items. Check out previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

You be the Judge: Who Owns the Hulk?

2010-01-21T11:03:00-05:00

Most “You be the Judge” articles examine issues of intellectual property infringement. The Etsy community reviews arguments from both sides, slams down an invisible (yet handmade) gavel, and makes a decision. In this case, let’s look at the issue of who owns a copyright. When is a piece of work owned by a creator and when is it owned by another person or company (like an artist's employer)?

Jack “The King” Kirby, who passed away in 1994, is credited with authoring or co-authoring some of Marvel Entertainment’s most famous properties including X-Men, the Hulk, Iron Man, and Spider-Man.

Kirby’s four children claim that Kirby was not an employee of Marvel, rather he was a freelancer who worked out of his own house with no employment contract. According to Kirby’s kids, in 1972 Kirby granted Marvel the copyrights in his works. Now, the family wants to terminate those copyrights.

In September, 2009, Kirby’s children sued Marvel, claiming that their father died without proper payment or recognition for his work. The children served Notices of Termination under the 1976 Copyright Act on several companies including Marvel and The Walt Disney Company, relating to numerous comic book characters and stories authored or co-authored by Kirby. The terminations become effective in 2014.

In January, 2010 Marvel sued Kirby’s kids for exercising their rights under the Copyright Act to recapture their father’s copyright. According to Marvel, Kirby was an employee of Marvel, not a freelancer. Therefore, all of Kirby’s creative efforts were “works-made-for-hire” and Marvel is the “author” of such works. As such, Kirby’s heirs are not owed any further profits.

Under the U.S. 1976 Copyright Act, when examining whether a creation is a “work-made-for-hire” (and therefore owned by the creator’s employer) the court may examine factors like:

The control by the employer over the work. The court may examine if the employer gave direction or provided equipment.
The control by employer over the employee. The court may examine if the employer controlled the employee’s schedule in creating work.
The status and conduct of the employer. The court may examine if the employer was in the business to produce such works. The court may also look into whether the employee was provided with benefits.

What other questions would you, the judge, want answered to decide on this issue? Although we may not yet have the necessary information to address each of these factors, you be the judge.

Valentine's Day Gifts For Her Showcase: On Sale January 21, 2010 12 p.m. ET

2010-01-20T11:29:00-05:00

Looking for a Valentine's Day gift that will reflect the true romance of your relationship? The artists on Etsy offer the care and craftsmanship your lady deserves. This year, explore the intimacy of a personalized, innovative, or one-of-a-kind treasure in the Valentine's Day Gifts for Her Showcase. She will return the favor in kisses, tenfold.

Info for Sellers

We encourage sellers to add items that could would make the missus swoon. There are no category restrictions for this Showcase.

The Valentine's Day Gift for Her Showcase goes on sale Thursday, January 21, 2010 12 p.m. ET.
Go to the Showcase Gateway to purchase a spot.
This Showcase will run from Monday, January 25, 2010 12 a.m. ET until Sunday, January 31, 2010, 11:59 p.m. ET.
For $15 USD, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24-hour spot, which will be linked from a prominent banner on Etsy's home page.
Sellers determine which item will be featured in your Showcase slot. Sellers must use the tool in Your Etsy > Promote > Showcase. Learn more about this process here.

Future Showcases

If you are thinking about planning for other Showcases that may be more appropriate for your items, here are some of the front page Showcases we will be highlighting:

Valentine's Gifts Just Because Showcase: On sale Thursday, January 28, 2010; the Showcase will be live from Monday, February 1, 2010 to Sunday, February 7, 2010.
- Think items that would bring a smile to your platonic loves.
Just Jewels Showcase: On sale Thursday, February 4, 2010; the Showcase will be live from Monday, February 8, 2010 to Sunday, February 14, 2010.
- Think all things sparkly to spice up any winter wardrobe.

The Etsy Seller Handbook: All Our How-To's About Selling

2010-01-19T15:45:00-05:00

Sellers!

Below you'll find a handy index of all the useful how-to's about selling on Etsy. We're calling it the Seller Handbook, and we first posted it on The Storque in September of 2007. We add every new how-to's for sellers to this index and bumping up the post when we do. In this way it's a living document.

You can also search the Storque tags for "Seller Handbook" for a chronological list of all our published how-to's related to Selling.

Your Shop 101: How-To's for Getting Started on Etsy
Start with this one: Etsy Success for Beginner Sellers!
Please also see the Setting Up Shop Help Guide, Selling Dos and Don'ts, Selling FAQs, Listing an Item Help Guide, Etsy Guide to SEO.

[image by Artsy]

Photography How-To's

[image by CarolinaCottage]

Etsy International How-To's (plus How-To's translated into foreign languages)

[image by T woHiddenHeads]

Alchemy and Custom/Reserved Listing How-To's

[image by moxiethrift]

Shipping How-To's

[image by missplum]

Advertising How-To's
Please also see the Showcase Help Guide.

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Business and Pricing How-To's

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Promoting & Marketing How-To's

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Craft Show & Events How-To's

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Gallery Go-getter Series

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Social Networking, Blogging, Podcasting & Video-making How-To's

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Handmade Code (Third Party Applications from the Etsy Developer Community)

"Etsy Addict" iPhone Application
Craft Cult (a site that let's you track your hearts and where you've been featured, plus more)
ColorMatch from 26OliveStreet (a tool that suggests items that fit along your color palette)
ESeller Ads (an ad builder for sellers)
EtsyHacks (a suite of tools for sellers — "Copy Listing" is particularly handy)
Morecloth (an application that lets you browse fabric on Etsy by color)
Sellit.com (a service that helps you spread the word about your shop)
Soopsee (an easy-to-use website building service that enables you to feed in your Etsy shop, blog, etc.)
Statsy (a variety of tools helping sellers glean information about their shops and items)
Tag Finder Tool from Craftweasel.com (one of this developer's many applications the Tag Finder gives sellers insights into what tags might be appropriate for their items)

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Legal Info for Artists

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Tagging How-To's

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Team Tips Handbook

See all the how-to's relating to Teams, groups of sellers who self-organize by location or craft.

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All about Etsy & Site Features

We have to close comments here because the page is taking too long to load! So if you have additional tips, please post in this Forum thread.

If you'd like to write a how-to for the Seller Handbook, pitch to the Storque editors.

Etsy Success Tips: Increasing Your Item Views

2010-01-19T10:20:00-05:00

How do you get your Etsy items found by many? I started a dialogue to help answer this question in the Etsy Forums. This thread took on a life of its own so I decided to post my suggestions here and add in a few of the clever responses my thread received. For example, Etsy seller, shalana suggests, "The more items in your shop, the more items that you have to be found on Etsy — that's my little theory!" Read on for more little theories...

1. Make sure you are using all 14 tags. Your item's tags are directly related to search. If you aren't using all 14 you are missing opportunities! Soov says: "I revisited each piece I had for sale and checked the tags. Yowsa! What was I thinking? I edited the tags and within days sold 3 pieces that had been in my shop for 9 months or more."

"Keep a notebook and for every item, start brainstorming descriptive words for your product. Once you get going, it's quite fun. The notebook will serve as a great source of inspiration to return to.", suggests themefragrance.

Guidelines & Tips: Tagging on Etsy

1a. Make sure those tags relate to your item's style, very specific colors, textures, size and themes/motifs. Archeress adds, "One of the other things I've started doing lately, since I sell internationally, is to list my tag colors in the languages of the countries I sell to, as well as list the type of item (necklace, earrings, etc.) in the languages of the countries I sell to."

Tag-o-rama with Descriptive Keywords

1b. Don't just copy and paste your tags from one listing to another. Varying your tags will get your work seen in many different searches.

1c. Make sure your tags are accurate! If you are tagging a necklace with "earrings" in the hopes of getting more views, I beg you to reconsider this tactic. Not only is it against Etsy's DOs and DON'Ts, but shoppers looking for earrings are going to pay no mind to your listing so you'll only be wasting a tag!

1d. Team tags don't need to be added to every single item in your shop. Just use them on a couple of items. Same goes with your shop name. It's smart to tag a few items in your shop with your business name just in case someone searches for your name but forgets to use the dropdown menu to select "Search Sellers."

2. Follow the Etsy blog. There are all kinds of buyers and sellers reading the blog (check out the views each article gets — anywhere from 3,000 to 20,000). If you leave a thoughtful comment on a blog post, you're bound to get people curious about you and that means they'll check out your Etsy shop. Jewelsbyldesigns says, "My plan this year is to spend more time on the blogs and getting out there to meet more of the Etsy community. I think the Etsy blog sounds like a great place to start!"

3. Set your location. In your profile, make sure your location is set to City, State, Country. That way buyers who are using Geolocator or Shop Local are going to be able to find you. "I've gotten art shows and several invitations to craft fairs just by listing my location. People (myself included) love searching for local talent!" says PeppermintDaydreams.

How to Sell Local

4. Etsy Karma. Have I told you my favorite way to shop on Etsy? Browsing Favorites. "Hearting" other items and sellers can help people get to know you on Etsy, and maybe they'll like your work and heart you back! Don't just go heart crazy and favorite every single item or seller you see. A discerning eye will help people understand your style and design sensibilities when they are browsing your Favorites. The Etsy community is pretty savvy, so always be authentic. Lushboutique says, "I love to promote other people's work on my blogs and Twitter as well as my own. It's a great way to spread the love and they usually reciprocate."

5. Be seen off Etsy. The more content you create on the web, the more people are going to bump into you. If the content is interesting (or funny, smart, weird) people will want to know more about you and will find your Etsy shop in the process. The best part? Creating this content is free!

You may be wondering what I mean by content. This can be anything from a tweet on Twitter to a photo on Flickr or even just commenting on blogs you love. Just make sure it's not spammy. Nothing will get you ignored faster!

6. Photos. If your photos are bright, crisp and pack a punch, you'll get more views. Your ideal customer might be needlessly glossing over your items, and it may take three of four instances of seeing your item in search results until they actually see your item. How do you know if your items are standing out from the crowd? Go to the Poster Sketch tool and plop your newest item in with items from sellers that inspire you. Does your item stand out?

Feature Friendly Photos

7. I've seen sellers rely on renewing items listed in their shop to get additional views. If you use my tips, I think you'll find that you can renew less often. Linkeldesigns says, "I often rearrange my photos or take a couple of new photos before I renew, especially if it's something that I think should have already sold. Sometimes a fresh angle makes the listing pop, especially as a thumbnail." OneClayBead adds, "...Renew one to two hours before the Treasuries open, so those of us who are scrambling for new finds for our Treasuries can find you."

If you are intend on renewing, set up a spreadsheet and keep a tally of how many times you've renewed each item in your shop. Don't just renew on a whim: have a plan in place and give yourself a budget. DesignedByLucinda says, "I add a small amount into the overhead of each listing for renewal costs — so I know it is covered. Adding new items always gets my shop more views than renewals, so my tip is add more product." I agree: listing new items on a regular basis is a much more effective approach.

8. This tip comes courtesy of Etsy admin HeyMichelle: "Don't forget Google! Describe your item very well (pretend that you are describing it to someone who can't see it) and include a descriptive title (keep it artistic and in line with the feel you are going for in your shop, but work in some good search terms) to help bring in traffic." Uknowuneedanother says, "Use the Google preview tool! It's located in blue underneath the actual item description box. This lets you concentrate your efforts on title and description character counts as will be picked up by Google."

This article started as a Forum thread. I encourage you to read through the thoughtful responses shared by other sellers here. Thanks to all who contributed their insightful tips.

Etsy Seller Handbook | Sign Up for Etsy Success Emails!

Quit Your Day Job: Peaches4me

2010-01-18T14:20:00-05:00

Kristin of Peaches4me worked full time as an administrative assistant in the accounting department of an oil and gas company. She began selling on Etsy as a way to supplement her income and explore her creative outlet. It wasn't until she lost her job last January in the weakening economy did she start looking to her shop as a serious business option and began planning to make it her full-time venture while she took on a few temp jobs. Over time, Kristin has seen enough success through her Etsy sales to make a full-time go at her jewelry business. Keep reading to find out how Facebook has been the best marketing tool for her Etsy shop and why she can't get through her day without her list.

How did you originally get into the business of making things?
I got into making jewelry because I could never find exactly what I wanted, so I began putting things together on my own. When I discovered Etsy, I just knew I had to try to give it a go.

Tell us about your previous working situation.
I worked as an administrative assistant in the accounting department of an oil and gas company. It was rigid, structured, and allowed for no creativity. So not me, but I didn't feel like I had many choices. I was let go last January due to cuts and had to take a bunch of temp jobs. It was tough. I felt so out of place.

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
No, not at first! I just thought it would be nice money on the side. When I lost my regular job and started the temp jobs, I began dreaming and planning. I knew I didn't want to go back to a regular full-time office job.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time, feel free to give us the nitty gritty business details?
I took some small business courses and I followed some of the tutorials for marketing that I found here on Etsy. In April, my business took off like a rocket, so I decided to give up the temp jobs and give it a go. It was certainly a leap of faith.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?
Facebook has been tremendously successful for me. My fan page not only allows me to show off the goods, but it allows me to interact with my customer base in a personal way. They are an awesome bunch and that fan page has been tremendously satisfying. I've also done some paid advertising with Facebook and that has brought me a lot of business as well.

What have you found to be an unsuccessful promotion?
Honestly, I can't seem to get the hang of Twitter. I know it's a powerful tool and so many have great success with it. I don't know why, but I just feel silly when I try to use it. Blogging has also not been a strong point of mine.

Walk us through your typical workday.

Well, I always shower and get dressed, including shoes. I can't seem to be as productive in my jammies.
Then I go through the list of items that need to be made and jump on those first.
I break from that for a short while to catch up on Convos and emails.
I get back to my list and try my very best to knock it all out.
I then print labels and pack the items I made for shipping.
I make at least one post office run a day as well.
The last thing I do before I stop for the day is to review that day's orders and make myself a list of what I need to make the next day. That list is invaluable to me. As long as I stick to my list, nothing falls through the cracks. It also gives me a wonderful excuse to buy beautiful notebooks and journals from talented Etsians.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?
The thing I most enjoy is the flexibility. I just don't do well with rigid structure. At my last job, it was very hard for me because I tend to be a creative person and I like to go with the flow. Rigidity is just not my strong suit. At the same time, I miss the 8-5 hours. I work a lot more hours than that now and since I am a one woman show, I am always on call. I always have to have my phone with me so I can answer quick inquiries and check on my shop. I also miss the camaraderie that comes with having coworkers. It can be a little lonely at times.

What's the hardest part about running your own business?
The hardest part about running this business is the fact that everything falls on my shoulders — succeed or fail, it's up to me entirely. That can lead to big stress at times.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? What advice would you give someone else?
My advice to myself would have been to do this sooner! And more than anything else, treat it like a business and not a hobby from day 1. If you're really serious about wanting to do it full time, then you have to get a business mindset.

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?
My goal for 2010 is to build up business a bit more and be able to hire an assistant to help with packing and shipping and some of the tedious administrative tasks so I can concentrate on creating. I'm very much looking forward to a great new year!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I'd like to say that doing this full time is neither easy nor instant gratification. I have never worked harder or longer in my entire life. Yet, when I look back on the past year and see what I have accomplished, I cannot help but feel really proud. Doing this has built my self esteem and empowered me more than anything else I've ever done. It's truly a blessing for which I worked very hard, and one for which I am also very grateful.

Thanks to Kristin for sharing her story. If you have questions for Kristin come by the VIrtual Labs on Wednesday, January 20 at 12 p.m. ET. You can see some of Kristin's beautiful work in the Related Items. Check out previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

Being Safe on Etsy: Spotting and Avoiding Advance Fee Fraud

2010-01-15T16:15:00-05:00

It's important for us at Etsy to ensure our community is safe while using the site. Unfortunately there is no foolproof way to ensure safety online at all times. Sometimes all we can do is give information and hope that well informed users will be able to protect themselves. As the Etsy name spreads throughout popular culture and the world, it is bound to attract more and more unscrupulous individuals with ulterior motives. Unfortunately, this happens to web companies as they become more popular.

One of the most common scams is known as Advance-fee fraud. Also called the "Nigerian scam" or the "419 scam," this type of scam is frequently seen in emails where a person claims to be looking to engage in a business deal involving a large some of money, but these scams are now cropping up more and more on online retail sites.

How this scam shows up on Etsy:

Typically this scam begins with the scammer sending out conversations (also known as "convos," Etsy's internal messaging system) to a wide range of Etsy sellers, specifically those that list one or more high priced items. In some cases the scammer may simply purchase a large number of these expensive listings. If they have checked out and committed to buy these listings, it's likely they have not "paid" in any sense and will send a conversation along with their purchase.

The convo will usually indicate that this buyer will pay with a money order or a check and will need to tack on an extra amount for their "shipping agent." Usually this amount is very high — sometimes even higher than the original cost of the listing. If this is agreed upon, then the buyer will send out the money order or check and typically a fake "invoice" from the shipping agent. They will then request that any over-payment from the money order be sent back to them.

This works because the check or money order (typically from an overseas bank) is a forgery. Your bank will allow you to deposit it, and then by the time the bank realizes it is a forgery, you have already sent back the over-payment to the scammer. Once the forgery is detected your bank will hold you liable for the amount, and now that the con artist has their money, you will not hear from them again.

What to do:

If you receive any suspicious convos like this the best thing to do is ignore them and report it to abuse@etsy.com. You can cancel the transaction as well.

Sellers should never send any money in a situation like this, no matter what reason is given. If you do find yourself facing a potential loss, or realize too late that you were being targeted by a scam, be sure to contact your financial institution as soon as possible. You may also want to contact local law enforcement. Again, let us know about this and send us the pertinent information, so we can take steps to remove and block these types of users from our site. Please share this article with your family and friends so we can spread awareness!

More posts about Scams | Seller Handbook

[This post was originally posted October 6, 2009, but we'll bump it to the top of the heap now and again as a reminder for everyone.]

Second Community Council Announced

2010-01-15T14:40:00-05:00

I'm very excited to share with you that over nine hundred people applied to the second seller Community Council. That's in addition to the more than one thousand who applied to the first Council! Everyone who applied then and now was considered, and once again we hid usernames and selected artists representing a cross-section of the Etsy seller community by way of their location, tenure with Etsy and respective sales histories. Thank you so much to everyone who applied; my hope is to build on the strong foundation that Matt created with the first Community Council so that the Council can better serve the Etsy community at large.

With that in mind, there are two specific additions to look for in the coming weeks. First, in the days before each meeting, I'll post a thread in the Ideas section of the Etsy Forums to encourage you to share specific ideas or feedback that you'd like the Council to address with us. This is something that many of you already do really well in the Forums; the key difference is that in this topic, the Council will act as moderator by selecting the top few threads that we'll be covering as a key part of each meeting. Additionally, I'll also post a summary of each meeting — reviewed and approved by the Council itself — here on the blog a week after each meeting is held. We hope that this will give the community a better sense of what we're doing and the progress that's being made here at Etsy thanks to the Council's help and your input.

Now, without further ado, your second Community Council. Please give a warm welcome to: benconservato, britishvintage, christinesbeadworks, dalesdreams, dayslonggone, designedbyrj, ebruk, feralglass, futurowoman, gilbea, imaginationkids, jenngee, LauraLoveLee, MetroGypsy, mountainmancreations, OhFaro, piddix, primelias, silverfrogstudio, soap, Storeyshop, SuperVery, thymbyldesigns, towncountryjewelry and TwoSugarBabies.

Thank you once again to everyone who took the time to apply! We'll include all applicants in selections for the next council when we open up the application process again, in about six months.

Seller Handbook | Handmade Video Portraits

Working Overtime: RollingHillsVintage Tells Her Story

2010-01-15T10:15:00-05:00

Sometimes you'd like to quit your day job, but life gets in the way. Patti of Northernlodge wrote to us about her friend Anita of rollinghillsvintage. We asked her to share her story about her struggle to carve out creative time despite everyday setbacks.

I've always been a very busy person. When I was a little girl, I made all of my doll clothes and all my relatives received numerous woven potholders from me on any given occasion. I loved creating. I once made a skirt for myself out of paper. Of course, I didn't go out in the rain.

In 1969, I married the love of my life, the boy next door. I worked as a nurse and he as a financial analyst. We were blessed in 1976 with our son, James. Soon after my son's birth, our world came crashing down. My husband became totally and permanently disabled.

I suddenly had to balance my life with an infant, a very ill husband and a brand new house that came with mortgage payments.

I worked nights in my nursing profession, called for Amvet pick-ups during the day and delivered flowers on the weekend. It was tough, but I feel it has made me a very strong person and forced me to learn how to do twelve things at once.

In the fall of 2008, my daughter-in-law told me about Etsy. At this point in my life, I no longer had to hold down three jobs, and I still loved to create. I had also developed a passion for vintage. I can stare at a vintage item — an old quilt or a piece of kitchenware — and wonder where it has been, who owned it and what story it secretly held. I opened anitarae822 for paper goods, sold two Halloween cards immediately and became hooked! I expanded to rollinghillsvintage.

Soon after I opened my shops, the drop in the economy hit my place of work. We were going to start closing on Fridays — a big loss of pay for a solo wage earner. My husband and I used the Fridays to hunt for vintage at estate sales, thrift stores, flea markets. Saturdays are research and photo sessions and keeping up with my paper goods shop. I started making some wonderful friends on Etsy through the Forums, and sales were steady and affording us to continue living the lifestyle we were used to. And then, another bomb fell, my husband was diagnosed with cancer. The medical bills were mounting, his treatments were uncomfortable and side effects were not pleasant. Etsy again put balance in my life. I would sign in to Etsy, and all the bad things would go away, I would list and chat and lose myself in Etsyland. And thanks to Etsy, I kept up with the bills.

I work eight hours a day as a nurse in a surgery center. Once I'm home, I spend time with my husband, do chores and get our dinner. After dinner I work on Etsy for four or five hours. (Well, I must confess, a lot of that time is playing on Etsy, chatting with friends, looking through shops and working on my goal to become the Treasury queen! I'm addicted!) I work long days, but Etsy has made them rewarding days.
My sales are steady, and we are grateful for the Etsy income. I couldn't have made it through the past year without the encouragement I have received from Patti at northernlodge, Sarah at fenandneds and Karl at halfpintsalvage and of course my beautiful daughter-in-law Mary at thecareerscrapper. And all of the vintage sellers who regularly promote on the Who Loves Vintage thread, they have been most encouraging.

Tell us if you have a person like Anita in your life. Post in the comments!

More Posts About Disability | Quit Your Day Job Series

From Etsy's Merchandising Desk: February's Love Story

2010-01-14T16:50:00-05:00

It's that time again, and those of us behind the scenes at Etsy would like to share our merchandising plans for February. As we continue to plan Etsy’s calendar for the year ahead with thematic merchandising, we will be incorporating many of the concepts you shared in response to January's report and continue to welcome your input. It is our goal to create a healthy balance between promotions for traditional holidays, seasonal changes, and lifestyle trends.

Rounding Out January

Keep abreast of the January seasonal themes, holidays, dates to remember, and trends we are looking to highlight in January's Merchandising Desk edition.

Stay Engaged in February

February reminds us of love in the air and new possibilities. Our critical merchandising focus this month will center around Valentines, self-reflection, the winter Olympics, celebrations and a nod to fashion week. Below you will find the extended list of topics we're excited to highlight throughout the month of February. We're looking for your creative interpretation and spin on each of the upcoming seasonal themes.

Valentine's Day: All things amorous: conventional and not-so-conventional. We'll be highlighting the Valentine subcategory, relevant searches and the following themes: relationships, engagements, romance, gifts for her, him, the little ones, and for friends. Also look for the funny Valentine, naughty side, the anti-Valentine, DIY solutions for parties, decor, and edible delights.
Fashion: With February 11 kicking off New York's Fall Fashion Week, we've got the wardrobe on the brain. Think avant-garde, emerging designs, and new interpretations of classic staples. As February comes to a close, look for hints of spring fashion.
Winter Olympics: It's finally here: February 12-28 in Vancouver, winter sports will be all the rage. Look for highlights of athletics, gear, imagery, and competition.
Celebrations and Festivities: With Carnival and Mardi Gras as inspiration, think international parties, decor, music, dance, costumes, vibrant colors, parades, masquerade, the circus, and delectable treats.
Reflection of Self: A time to take it easy, slow down, rejuvenation, health and wellness, spa, bath and beauty, pampering, and indulging.
The International Vacation: Global adventures, features on warmer weather destinations, taking a holiday, romantic getaways, beach gear, and highlights of spring/summer fashion in the Southern Hemisphere.
Weddings: A creative and classic spin on all aspects of the big day including attire, decor, invitations, favors, and gift ideas.
February trends: Our trend forecasting for February includes expressions of love: notes, personalization, and keepsakes. Alice in Wonderland motifs and themes: tea cups, rabbits, whimsy, stripes, pocket watches. Back to basics: farmhouse aesthetic, imagery, art, decor, rustic, quilts, repurposed and vintage industrial throwbacks. Textured soaps and scrubs. Text and numbers incorporated into items. Chalkboards and organizational storage solutions. Innovative twists in fashion: embellishments and textured materials, slim fits and statement pieces, vintage boots, and leather accessories for gadgets. Color trends for February include shades of red, turquoise, navy, and white. Hints of spring arise with nautical and classic motifs, stripes, and softer palettes on their way.
Amethyst is February's birthstone, and February's astrological signs are Aquarius and Pisces (Aquarius: January 21 - February 19, Pisces: February 20 - March 20: Pisces). We also celebrate the Chinese (Lunar) New Year in February, which is the year of the tiger in 2010.

If your items fall under the main thematic categories we'll be highlighting this month, it might be a great time to consider purchasing a spot in a Category Showcase. For those of you who enjoy making Treasuries, we'll be looking to highlight lists that interpret January and February's themes in a creative and cohesive way, as well as the many innovative and beautiful collections that we normally feature.

Upcoming Dates to Remember

February is known as Black History Month
February 2: Groundhog Day
February 7: Superbowl Sunday
February 11: NYC Fall Fashion Week
February 12-28: Winter Olympics in Vancouver
February 13-16: Carnival
February 14: Valentine's Day
February 14: Chinese New Year (tiger) aka Lunar
February 15: President's Day
February 16: Mardi Gras

Studio Envy: Tips From Our Community's Inspiring Spaces

2010-01-14T13:00:00-05:00

There's no time like the present to stop, look around your workspace, and try something new. Combing through our Etsy Open Studios group on Flickr, I've seen everything from expansive solo studios to cramped crafting nooks in the corner of the living room. Either way, you have to make it a space that inspires you and beams you up to your creative outer limits.

Our needs for our creative spaces are going to be as different as our OOAK pieces, so my goal here is to spark ideas from a variety of photo examples and open-ended questions. Please comment with your tips and deep thoughts. (Make sure to share your photos with our Open Studios Flickr group.)

Handmade and Vintage Solutions to Storage Problems

I'll start off with my biggest pet peeve (good place to start, right?): My creative flow gets in a kink if I have to use plastic storage bins and a hideous office chair — makes me feel like I'm living in a post-contemporary, mass-produced nightmare. Happily, there are alternatives — just scrounge around a little!

Jennyleefowler stashes her odds and ends in a vintage card catalog, and thisisalliknow uses vintage suitcases to stow her supplies.

obellanaturals uses these antique soda crates to stow her supplies. Hindsvik has some great vintage lockers.

dolangeiman constructed a whole storage wall out of upcycled crates — this genius move also got him featured on design*sponge's Sneak Peeks. He told me, "When I first moved into my studio, in a previously abandoned warehouse on Chicago's Southside, the basement was full of trash and old junk. I spent two full days exploring and cleaning and found a secret room that was hidden behind a pile of old bikes. These crates were stacked up in there, covered with 100 years of dust and old burlap bags. I unearthed them and polished them up and they became my new wall shelf. Prohibition liquor crates turned functional shelving/room divider."

Mooliki made shelving out of recycled packing styrofoam — so colorful when painted! Jodee Ruppel, Event & Home Organization Guru, made this thrifty recommendation for creative reuse: "As you are organizing, try to sell the things you no longer need on Ebay or Craigslist to generate extra money. Then start with what you have around the house. Need to separate jewelry pieces lying in a drawer? Use a custom-decorated egg carton. Don't have pretty boxes or baskets? Use shoe boxes and decorate them with wrapping paper."

Fabric is a flexible way to customize your space. Reupholster your office chairs with vintage fabric like Mundoflo. (Here's the tutorial. Any care to translate it?) Cover not so attractive furniture and storage shelves with sham cloths, or just add personal touches like simbiosisbyjulia's pennant garlanding her shelves. (She used a how-to from "Stitched in Time" by Alicia Paulson.) I had a hunch Sewlola stashes stuff under that subtle grey drop cloth on her sewing table. "The table skirt helps me hide away the fabrics efficiently while keeping my sewing studio looking neat. My husband made the sewing table using a spare shelf from our TV cabinet and folding legs."

Minimalism: A Breath of Fresh Air

The pack-rat gene was passed down through the generations in my family. I admire artists who aren't afraid to strip away the clutter, but I'm always left with the sneaking suspicion that they make messes, too — they're just better at hiding it. Check out the white drapes in the background of Upintheairsomewhere's studio. "I share my studio with my boyfriend Ben (a photographer) and my friend Sarah (of cursivedesign). With three people working in an open space, things can get visually cluttered pretty quickly. The curtains were a great way to hide a wall of storage while maintaining easy access to materials I use regularly.

I bet Littlebrownpen makes her mess vanish by using white on white containers. "I am a pathological minimalist. Before I even think about starting work, everything must be clean and in its place. It sounds borderline scary, but the act of staying organized is more zen than stressful. A minimalist, white office is my favorite in which to work — airy, bright, inspiring."

Minimalism doesn't always mean all white. Gatheringspriggs adds mellow touches of pink and blue to her antiqued white. She explains, "Three walls are painted white so that I can photograph my work, then I created an accent wall in pale aqua behind my desk for a cool calm. I thrive in this juxtaposition." And, yes, she does have a closet where she hides all her "unsightlies."

If you're a minimalist, do you need to be in this type of space to clear your head and get into the groove? Is it a constant battle against stuff? Tell us in the comments. I'm fascinated by you.

Express Yourself

Whether you're a minimalist or a hoarder, or something in between, Etsians' studio spaces can end up being expressions of aesthetics.

Alice Wingerden, a.k.a. aliceslookingglass, has crammed her space with so much shabby chic goodness! This space must make her super happy. Look at the care she took with putting finishing touches to her computer alcove: lace curtains, white gloves and antique photos — her aesthetic hanging on a clothesline for all to see!

Somethingshidinghere are the masters of the limited palette, and they express that in their studio space. ShoshonaSnow's ceramics have a lot of bold repeating patterns on vivid black and white with a splash of color. I can see that in the look of her studio space too. She told me, "I guess I did it a bit unconsciously at first and then realized that since I spend 14 hours a day in my studio, it might as well be as much of a happy space as it is a functional space."

As I looked through the photos in our Open Studio group, I noticed that I could identify many of the artists from the decor I saw. Does the process of defining the look of your studio help you refine your work?

Small and Focused

mlee needed to move into a smaller studio to give more room to her child. She is "actually liking it better. It is organized better and I think the small area will keep me focused." She hangs her tools up on the wall in a neat way. She's got the plastic shelves/storage unit, but they're rainbow colored!

Jodee Ruppel, Event & Home Organization Guru, makes this suggestion: "Determine what no longer belongs in the space, what you need to bring into the space, and what items may help you do that in an organized manner (shelves, desks, collapsible tables, boxes). A good trick is to take a picture of the space, print it out on letter paper, then draw your dream vision over the picture or beside it."

Tamar has a lot of stuff in her space, but notice how the red ties everything together to make this an inspiring space. Tamar told me that her studio really is just "a space...not a room. It's the back walls of our small dining room. The chair is there so the kids can come and chat while I'm working. I didn't think of the colors matching...but yes, I guess it does match and pulls everything together."

If you don't have a lot of room to collect objects that inspire you, you should definitely have an inspiration board — something I see in a lot of Etsians' studio photos.

Inspiration board from adrianneillustration

Inspiration board from tamar

Ponyparty's clipboards on the wall are an effective, modular way to visualize your ideas and move them around.

Even if it's a plain old bulletin board — make it you. Own it! Rikrak bulletin board by modernromancepdx.

Let's hear your tips and tricks for inspiring studios in the comments, and Jodee says ask away, if you have questions for her!

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Valentine's Day Gifts For Him Showcase: On Sale January 14, 2010 at 12 p.m. ET

2010-01-13T14:09:00-05:00

Just when you think you've overcome the wily precipice that is holiday shopping for your dude, Valentine's Day rears its angelically tousled head. Allow Etsy's intuitive and thoughtful sellers into your heart with the Valentine's Day Gifts for Him Showcase. This collection of man-friendly gift ideas will assuage your anxieties and confirm your affections.

Info for Sellers

Get your items ready! We encourage sellers to add items that would make unforgettable gifts for the XY contingent. There are no category restrictions for this Showcase.

The Valentines Day Gifts For Him Showcase goes on sale Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 12 p.m. ET.
Go to the Showcase Gateway to purchase a spot.
This Showcase will run from Monday, January 18, 2010 at 12 a.m. ET until Sunday, January 24, 2010, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
For $15 USD, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24-hour spot, which will be linked from a prominent banner on Etsy's home page.
Sellers determine which item will be featured in your Showcase slot. Sellers must use the tool in Your Etsy > Promote > Showcase. Learn more about this process here.

Future Showcases

If you are thinking about planning for other Showcases that may be more appropriate for your items, here are some of the front page Showcases we will be highlighting:

Valentine's Gifts for Her Showcase: On sale Thursday, January 21, 2010; the Showcase will be live from Monday, January 25, 2010 to Sunday, January 31, 2010.
- Think items that would make great gifts for the special ladies in your life.
Valentine's Gifts Just Because Showcase: On sale Thursday, January 28, 2010; the Showcase will be live from Monday, February 1, 2010 to Sunday, February 7, 2010.
- Think items that would bring a smile to your platonic loves.

All About Etsy FAQ Series: Get Involved in the Voter

2010-01-12T11:15:00-05:00

UPDATE: Hello voters! We're going to be doing some experimentation with how the Voter works, including the process for how to nominate items and where the entries and winners are featured. Please stay tuned!

[The following was originally published July, 2009.]

Have you heard about the Etsy Voter? It's a fun part of Etsy where people can vote on their favorite Etsy items. In this installment of the All About Etsy FAQ Series, I'll answer some frequently asked questions about how this site feature works and how you can get involved, whether you're a shopper or a seller. The more people who get involved, the more fun it is!

FAQs

What is the Voter?
The Voter is an interactive tool built by our Flash guru Jared Tarbell. It allows people to vote on Etsy items, and at the end of the voting period, we can all see which items come out on top. Because it's such a neat tool, we're using it every week since fall of 2008 for informal, fun polls. The Voter can be used as a way to see which items resonate with the Etsy community. Ultimately, it's a way for shoppers to find some wonderful, fresh items.

The Voter is located at www.etsy.com/voter.php. When you go there, you'll see themed groupings of polls — the voting has closed for some, but you can still click in to see how the results turned out and how many people voted.

Who gets to vote?
Anyone! You just have to be registered and signed into Etsy in order to cast a vote. We encourage everyone to get involved in voting! After you place your vote, you can see the running tally of which items are in the lead.

How do I find out about rounds of voting and the winners?
Click on the "Voting" Featured Column on the left hand navigation of Etsy's blog, The Storque. Every Monday, we announce the winner and ask for nominations for the following week's vote. Every Tuesday we put up the call for votes for the current round.

Can I purchase an item from the Voter? Will that remove the item from the Voter and mess things up?
It won't mess things up! Absolutely, you can buy items from the Voter. (That's our not-so-secret mission, in fact!) Purchasing an item you see in the Voter will not remove the item from the application.

How do items get included in a round of voting?
When the top favorite is announced on Monday in a Storque post, we include a call for nominations for the next round. You may nominate one of your own items or any item that you think fits the described theme. Simply paste a link to the item page in the comments of the post.

We cannot include all the nominated items! The Voter performs best with about 45 or less items (60 at max). If your item did not get into a vote and you're feeling discouraged, it could just be that we didn't have the space. You may also want to take another look at your item photography and double check to make sure your item is not breaking any rules and is tagged properly. Here are some tips in the Seller Handbook.

How do Admin decide the weekly themes?
We plan our themes according to the Editorial calendar for our blog, which in turn is integrated with the Merchandising themes. Feel free to suggest ideas in the comments of the posts.

How do I know if one of my items has been included in a vote?
Etsy Admin try to convo each seller individually, but sometimes we're just too swamped with work! We're aware that we need a better way to notify sellers when their items are featured.

My item is included. Now what do I do?
Congratulations! You've been nominated for this week's round of Voting. Please spread the word about your nominations (Twitter, blog, paste the link in your Shop announcement, etc.) and get folks to vote. You should be proud!

What happens after the top favorite is announced?
For our informal weekly votes, the goal is to help shoppers find some great items and to help sellers make some sales or get their products noticed. We use the Voter to share the love (and some fame and glory)!

When the voting closes on Mondays, we will shortly thereafter feature the top favorite on Etsy's blog, The Storque. Etsy Admin use this Voter tool as a way to find a top favorite to feature on our blog, in the Members' Choice Gift Guide (or other Gift Guide if there's a specific one that fits the theme), and perhaps on the Etsy home page. We may include some of the runners up in the curated areas of our site.

If you are a runner up, we cannot promise that your item will be featured in these places — as some items sell or expire, some sellers may already be featured in the Gift Guides, some items may be inappropriate for the curated areas of the site, or we may discover a slight rule infringement preventing us from putting it in the spotlight. Sometimes our tools can be wonky and we have to do things manually (especially when items sell), so let us know if you think there's been a human error. We will do our best to include as many of the runners up as possible.

As a general rule of thumb, if you're a runner up and you've made a sale from the Voter or being in the Related Items in the Storque post, we consider that accomplishing the goal of this exercise!

My item featured in the Voter sold and the sold listing is still in the Voter. Can you replace it with another listing so I can have a fresh item in the running?
Because sold items remain in the running, we cannot replace them in the Voter with new listings once voting has started. Even if it's an identical listing, our tool does not have the capacity to swap out the item id number and retain the votes.

If your item hasn't sold, you can replace the main image of your item and ask us to "refresh," if you want to re-photograph your listing to make it more visually compelling. (Just convo Vanessa).

Wait a second, I thought my item was in the Voter, but it's just in the related items of the Storque post. What gives?
If your item is featured in the Related Items or main image of the Storque announcement, but not in the Voter, don't despair! We apologize if you got excited when you saw your item and thought it would be in the vote. Being in the Storque Related Items is actually really good exposure too. We need to illustrate our posts with eye-catching product, but we cannot repeat items in both the post where we call for votes and the Voter. (This was pointed out as potentially "swaying the votes.")

How come I've never heard of this site feature? Where is the Voter linked on Etsy?
Funny you should ask...We added the link to the Voter to the Community Hub in October 2009. Click on "Voting" under the Featured Columns on the left navigation of The Storque to find the latest post.

The items below are some of our previous top picks!

All about Etsy FAQ Series | Seller Handbook | Help on Etsy

We closed comments on this post and have started this discussion thread.

Etsy Statistics: December 2009 Weather Report

2010-01-12T10:00:00-05:00

This holiday season there were quite a few Etsy presents under the tree.

The stats:

$25.6 million of goods were sold by our community in December; roughly 17% higher than November's $22 million.
That represents 1,449,171 items sold for the month, 12% higher than November’s 1,297,964.
1,815,177 new items were listed in the month, 6% lower than November's 1,931,988.
307,671 new members joined the Etsy community in the month, up 61,441, or 25% from November.
671,752,056 page views were recorded on the site this month.

The $25.6 million of goods sold by the community represents a 98% increase from from 2008's total. At the same time, items sold were up 78%, which means the average price per item sold was up. We translate that to mean that sellers are doing a better job of pricing their items, thus increasing their income.

Some of our members have been reaching out to me with specific requests for stats. Each Etsy shop is as unique in its data needs as it is in its product lines, so figuring out what stats to distribute is challenging — and that's if we even have the information available. We are working on selecting a few metrics we think will be useful to the seller community, but we need your help. I will read the comments left on this post to see if a popular request sticks out. Hopefully, we can add the data to future Weather Reports.

Curious about how other months compare? Check out our past Weather Reports for more statistics.

Quit Your Day Job: zhenunleathers

2010-01-11T14:27:00-05:00

Jen of zhenunleathers worked for two and a half years answering phones for a major telecommunications company before leaving for greener pastures abroad and venturing into becoming her own boss as a result of her growing sales on Etsy. After stumbling across Etsy, Jen claims the site opened up a new world of possibility to her as she came home from work each night to sew and create. Over time, she saved enough money to make a go of selling on Etsy as her full-time gig. She now enjoys making weekly trips shopping through the leather market in Bangkok and explains how the hardest part about being her own boss is finding the time and balance of letting go and taking a break.

How did you originally get into the business of making things?
My first real attempt at making things occurred over 11 years ago when I lived in Beijing. I was a communications manager for a luxury hotel back then, and always visited the local markets for new corporate gift and giveaway ideas. One of my favorite places for inspiration was the Pearl Market.
I was amazed at all the glorious pearls and semi-precious gemstones that I found there, and just as amazed at the talented vendors stringing up all sorts of goodies for the locals and tourists. I thought that it looked fun and doable and decided to try making my own pieces as well. I had fun making things exactly the way I wanted them. This is when I realized that I had a talent for design and creation! Little did I know that it would lead to handbags and working for myself.

Tell us about your previous working situation.
Oh boy, I hope no one from my previous job ever reads this. I worked for a major telecommunications company for two and a half years. I took the job because I needed to pay off credit cards from my self-funded entrepreneurial dream, and also make money if I ever wanted to continue being self-employed. It was an inbound call center. Minimal breaks, short lunches and an endless stream of cranky customers all wanting something taken off their bills. The only thing that kept me going was the fact that by nighttime and weekends I was a design and creating machine. I guess you could say I had a very lackluster social life back then because I didn't give much time to friends and going out. I had traded my grandmother's old Singer sewing machine for leather and sewing lessons from a neighborhood leather shop. I put my poor fat cat Angel in my bedroom and practiced sewing little leather wristlets. In the beginning I used a Wal-Mart run-of-the-mill $99 household sewing machine.

Come Monday, I would drag myself out of bed to drive to my job, which was almost an hour away. A wonderful travel program called Globetrekker would run in the mornings before work, and I would watch that show prior to my daily grind. I knew from day one of my telecommunications job that I wanted to move
abroad, once again, to some place warm and sunny where I could dedicate my life to exploration and creation. I still have nightmares to this day of me being in my old call center frozen and not being able to answer one call.

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
I did, but I didn't realize it would be through Etsy. I found Etsy on Stylehive years ago, and didn't really know what it was all about. One day I clicked on an item featured on their site and it lead me to this wonderful new world. It didn't take me long to realize that this site was for independent artists like myself. I decided to give it a try and put all my jewelry and handbag creations that I had worked on for years and never sold. To be honest, I didn't have any expectations. I guess I was kind of pessimistic because I had even tried selling my work in a major luxury department store and had mild sporadic success.

It didn't take long before people from various places in the world started to purchase my creations! I was so excited. I started to read the Forums and take the advice that I learned from other Etsy sellers. I noticed a difference when I started to put more effort into my site. After a couple of months of selling, I was able to put more towards my debt and saw a glimmer of hope in being able to pay things off and actually start to save. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't making tons of money by any means, but I did notice the fruits of my labor and saw light at the end of the tunnel. Etsy gave me hope. I could finally see that there were people around the world who appreciated handmade items without big name labels being attached. I realized that I really wouldn't have to work for "da man" forever.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time? Feel free to give us the nitty gritty business details.
I got my day job with the intention of quitting relatively soon. I knew that if I wanted out fast, I would have to change my lifestyle. I had to say no to a lot of my sushi dinner splurges, expensive makeup binges and just about whatever I found not absolutely necessary. I knew that when I would finally get to quit my job, I would want to move abroad to a place that would feed my creative energy and that in itself, would require me to save a pretty penny. In a nutshell, for the 2.5 years that I worked in the telecommunications industry, I became tunnel visioned in killing debt, saving money and honing my creative design abilities.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?
Short term, I have found renewing to be my best marketing tip. Renewing items that have good descriptions and photos, of course. Long term, I have found that approaching high traffic blog sites for write-ups is another good avenue for exposure and possible sales!

What have you found to be an unsuccessful promotion?
In every promotion I have, whether it be free shipping, or some sort of sale, I haven't found one that completely flopped. Not every promotion I run comes with many sales, but I haven't had one promotion where there were zero sales.

Walk us through your typical workday.
Oh dear, this is where I expose a bad habit of mine. I cannot say exactly where my day ends nor begins. You see, I have an iPhone and wireless Internet in my apartment. Often I find myself checking my email several times throughout the night, when it is daytime in the United States to check for Convos or sales. Most of my sales come from the United States, so I try to renew at least once while people on the other side of the planet are awake. I have found that answering Convos while not fully awake is a bad thing.

Recently I try to renew before I sleep, and wake up relatively early, so that it is still a decent hour in the Western Hemisphere. Here is a typical day for me...
Around 8 a.m. I'll wake up, waltz over to my computer and cross my fingers for sales. I know this sounds funny, but I always tell my friends that waking up to a sale kind of resembles the feeling that I had waking up on Christmas morning when I was a child. So exciting!
Answer any Convos that I may have and check craftcult.org to see if my store was featured anywhere on Etsy.
I'll package any sales and wait until noon to walk to my local post office. In that way, if I sell anything in the meanwhile, I can include it in that day's shipment.
Upon returning home from the post office, I'll work on finding new blogs to approach for reviews or mentions and check out the latest news on the Etsy blog and Forums.
By the afternoon, after I have had a couple of coffees, I'm wide awake and ready to sew or cut leather. I'll turn on what I call "the beast," which is my Siruba sewing machine.
Once a week, I'll travel to the leather market in Bangkok where there is a full block of tiny cramped leather stores and leather accessories. I absolutely love doing this. It is really hard for me to say no to any of the colors that I love. I often bring a list of colors that customers have mentioned to see if they are available.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?
I love the freedom to be able to pick up and go on a little travel excursion at whim. It helps to give me a break, come up with new ideas, and also meet other people besides my local post office workers, whom I adore, and the leather shop owners. I miss interacting with people face to face sometimes. Although I meet a lot of wonderful people from Etsy, including customers, I spend a lot of time in my apartment working on my bags and don't get out as much as I'd like.

What's the hardest part about running your own business?
I am a one-man-band, as other Etsy sellers are as well. Sometimes it can be hard to be your own cheerleader. I find it really hard to draw a line between work and play and can't simply "let go" when I know it's the best thing to do. Relaxation is a pretty big stranger to me for the most part. I am still working on finding a balance.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? What advice would you give someone else?
Previously in my years of designing and creating, I had never really come up with a solid plan, or at least a short term one. I went by the seat of my pants and whipped out the credit cards to self-finance my endeavors. I should have come up with a budget and a bit more conservative forms of marketing and PR. Although I got some of my designs into major publications in the past, the cost to get them there was much larger than what I could really handle. Unfortunately, back in the day, I didn't know about Etsy or the power of internet exposure.

I would say to others, what I say to myself now, which is start small but think big! You might not sell that much in the beginning and need a day job, but if you stay focused and be innovative in product creation and marketing, your efforts add up. See what successful people do in your industry and build upon that. Most of all, utilize the Internet and all of the information that is at your fingertips! The information is free and the reach is wide.

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?

In addition to the local leathers that I use in my creations, I would like to use a little bit of the local fabrics. They are so colorful and intricate. I plan on incorporating just a tad bit for a twist in next year's creations! I hope they are well received!
I would also like to increase my sales. Just being honest. Steady and sturdy sales would be awesome! It would allow me to try out more of the pretty leather colors that I see, and travel to find more awesome materials to work with.
I would love to get more mentions/articles/reviews in major publications whether online or on hard copy! I understand that media folks get bombarded by requests, but it sure would be nice to get spotted by the publications first! Pretty please!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Sometimes it is hard to time things right, but I really do LOVE LOVE LOVE doing photography in natural lighting! I found that anytime from 4-6 is great, weather permitting. It really does help to capture the true color of your work.
Read the Etsy Forums often because there is always some tasty advice in there!
Inspiration doesn't come when you want it to, unfortunately. Pay attention to your surroundings and take a notebook with you as often as you can. Jot down the shapes and colors that you see that turn you on, because you might forget about them when actually trying to create.

Thanks to Jen for sharing her story. You can see some of Jen's beautiful work in the Related Items. Check out previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

Destination Vacation Showcase: On Sale Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 12 p.m. ET

2010-01-06T17:34:00-05:00

If your chapped lips and anxiety-ridden insomnia are pushing you over the edge, it's clearly time to flee. Indulge in some much-needed R&R with the Destination Vacation Showcase. Whether your wanderlust takes you to the tropical beaches of the southern hemisphere or intimate street cafes of foreign cities, this Showcase will complete your packing list.

Info for Sellers

Get your items ready! We encourage sellers to add items for escapism, such as passport holders, travel journals, tropical swimsuits, and vintage cameras. There are no category restrictions for this Showcase.

The Destination Vacation Showcase goes on sale Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 12 p.m. ET.

Go to the Showcase Gateway to purchase a spot.
This Showcase will run from Monday, January 11, 2010 12 a.m. ET until Sunday, January 17, 2010, 11:59 p.m. ET.
For $15 USD, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24-hour spot, which will be linked from a prominent banner on Etsy's home page.
Sellers determine which item will be featured in your Showcase slot. Sellers must use the tool in Your Etsy > Promote > Showcase. Learn more about this process here.

Future Showcases

If you are thinking about planning for other Showcases that may be more appropriate for your items, here are some of the front page Showcases we will be highlighting:

Valentine's Gifts for Him Showcase: On sale Thursday, January 14, 2010; the Showcase will be live from Monday, January 18, 2010 to Sunday, January 24, 2010
- Think items that would make great gifts for dudes, whether they be hopeless romantics or sarcastic cynics.
Valentine's Gifts for Her Showcase: On sale Thursday, January 21, 2010; the Showcase will be live from Monday, January 25, 2010 to Sunday, January 31, 2010.
- Think items that would make great gifts for the special ladies in your life.

Quit Your Day Job: kukubee

2010-01-04T10:34:00-05:00

Brandi and Brent of kukubee once only imagined the possibility of quitting their day jobs to pursue their artistic dreams. It took little more than six months of Etsy sales before they were able to say goodbye to the daily grind to keep up with their newfound Etsy success. Brandi and Brent stress the importance of branding, using Etsy's resources and sporting their wares as some of their best tips for success. Read on for more insights from this resourceful pair.

How did you originally get into the business of making things?
Brandi: I've been making things my whole life, actually. My grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was eight years old and I began making clothes for my dolls right away! My parents encouraged my creativity very early on, so I always had a project going of some kind. Once kukubee was born, creating products seemed very natural to me.

Brent: My earliest memories involving art go back to when I was about 8 years old and my daddy would bring home stacks of paper from work for us to draw on. I have always had dreams of becoming a cartoonist with my own Sunday funnies strip. I soon realized I wasn’t even a little bit funny, so I had to resort to becoming an artist instead.

Tell us about your previous working situation.
Brandi: I was working for a community college in the finance department. Although I adored the students and my co-workers (most of 'em!), it wasn't my dream job at all. I think most creative-minded people will say that working a 9-5 isn't really cut out for them. It's certainly the case with me.

Brent: Before going full-time with art, I used to take portions of cheese from larger bags and put them into smaller bags for ten hours a day. As much satisfaction as one can derive from such an occupation, bigger-to-smaller-bag-cheese-portioner just wasn’t the career for me.

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
Brandi: Of course! I never thought I'd be able to do it within six months of starting on Etsy, though. We started out really slow. We had two sales our first month, I think. We were pretty excited to have sold anything at all! I think initially we thought it was going to be a much slower climb to the sales goal we had set for ourselves, and we were totally okay with that. In July I started realizing I was running out of hours when I got home from work to sew the volume of pouches we were selling. We were faced with the decision of quitting the day job pretty quickly, but I honestly wouldn't change a thing about how it happened. Our success on Etsy so far has been an awesome experience and welcomed surprise!

Brent: I had quit my day job prior to selling on Etsy. In a risky move, I quit my job at the restaurant I worked for to become an artist without having a single job or lead in the industry. I spent months and months unemployed before I scored my first art gig illustrating for a greeting card company. However, one learns a lot about one's own strengths and weaknesses during this time of fear and doubt. One also becomes very, very good at Mario Kart.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time? Feel free to give us the nitty gritty business details.
Brent and Brandi: We used to spend hours in this local coffee shop writing and sketching out ideas. We're both such creative, positive people that it's extremely easy to feed off of each other. (Being soulmates helps!) We made an extensive, prioritized list of what we felt needed to be done and researched before we officially started listing items. Then we just started marking items off as we went: applying for a business license, researching packaging and supplies options, ordering business cards... We actually started our Etsy shop in January 2009, but didn't start listing items until April. It honestly took those three months to feel prepared enough to open.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?
Brandi: If you make jewelry, wear it! If you make bags, use them! Everywhere I go, I wear or take something kukubee-related with me. It's a great way to start talking about what you do when someone asks about an item you're carrying (and they WILL ask!). I used to be really shy, but now I have no problem striking up conversations with complete strangers! It just takes some practice. Be proud of your craft and make sure to carry a stack of business cards with you.

Brent: Branding! A strong brand keeps you memorable amidst a sea of similar, competing products online. When people leave our shop we want them to remember us for the next time they're looking to buy cute pouches. We try to unify our brand using similar characters, style, and color throughout our entire online presence: in our Etsy shop, on our own website, and our Twitter. When people think of our shop, we don’t want them thinking, “Remember that shop with those little vampire zipper pouches and some were blue and some were red and some had a bunny and some had those zombies and pandas…” We hope they’re thinking, “Remember Kukubee?”

What have you found to be an unsuccessful promotion?
Brandi: So far, so good! We haven't even been selling a year yet, so it's hard to tell if anything has really been unsuccessful. We've been pretty fortunate in terms of promotion.

Walk us through your typical workday.

Brandi: I'm usually up a few hours before Brent, so I spend the morning drinking coffee (priorities, right?) and packaging up the previous day's orders for the afternoon mail run.
After that I answer any convos, relist items and check the Virtual Labs schedule.
I start sewing in the early afternoon and sometimes don't stop until well after midnight!
Brent and I both are night owls, so our most creative hours are anywhere from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. We usually reserve that time for sketching new ideas or discussing future projects together.

Brent: I draw pictures until my fingers fall off.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?
Brent: I miss my fingers.

Brandi: I can honestly say that my favorite part is NOT having to hit my alarm at 6:00 a.m. and think “WHYYYYYYYYYYY?!” Keeping my own hours is definitely a plus, but also requires a little more structure than I originally thought. It took a little while to get into an efficient, yet comfortable, routine (which I'm constantly trying to improve!). I do miss the social aspects of my day job. The students and staff I used to work with are truly amazing people with such interesting stories. I'll never forget them!

What's the hardest part about running your own business?
Brandi: For me, it's knowing that the work is ALWAYS here. I love what I do so much that I forget that it's been hours since I looked up from the sewing machine. Sometimes Brent has to remind me to take a break (which usually consists of reading, video-gaming or baking). If I ever start to feel even a tiny bit stressed out, Brent is SO good at making sure I step away for a bit to relax. Our family is also really supportive when kukubee gets super busy. My mom has stayed up really late to help me print mailing labels and package orders, and Brent's sisters come over sometimes and stay for hours to help us with orders, too. I don't know what we'd do without any of them!

Brent: The hardest part is being held accountable for every facet of your business: the day-to-day duties such as placing orders for supplies, preparing mailing material and bookkeeping that can easily be overlooked when first starting out. I also sell art in my other Etsy shop, meowza, so I also have to make sure I have supplies stocked for that shop as well. I guess the hardest part about being held accountable for every aspect of a business is not being able to blame anyone but yourself when something goes wrong. By the way, we have an opening in our studio for a Head Scapegoat.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? What advice would you give someone else?
Brandi: Hey, self...don't use hair dye from a box anymore! Seriously, though...there isn't much I would change about how everything happened. Maybe I would tell myself to start earlier! As far as advice for others: don't get discouraged when you first start out. The wonderful thing about having an Etsy shop is that you can go at your own pace. It's YOUR business. If your sales seem slow, stay positive and use your downtime to dream up new ideas for your shop! 

Brent: If I could go back in time, I would tell myself, “Just do it!” It’s so easy to scrutinize and doubt any idea for a design or product you may have, especially when starting. Just remember, your brain doesn’t have an allotted maximum-awesome-idea count. If one idea doesn’t work, do another! Also, I’d make sure to grab a sports almanac.

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?
Brandi: I hope to be able to build up enough inventory so I can focus on creating new products for our Etsy shop. I'd love to be able to regularly list kukubee tote bags (they take a long time to make) and still have time to try out different patterns for other merchandise as well. I'm also looking into some eco-friendly fabrics to use with our designs. Adding those to our product line is also something I'd like to accomplish this year.

Brent: Earlier in the year we were creating a number of time-intensive personalized fabric designs from scratch before we got too busy to keep up with the requests. We conceptualized a system which would make it easier for a user (and much easier for us) to customize a fabric design for use in our products using a series of templates. I’d love to finalize this system in the coming year to bring more personalized designs into our shop!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Brandi: Etsy has an amazing amount of resources for sellers. Spend as much time as you possibly can educating yourself by browsing the Forums or attending a few Virtual Labs. I frequent the Virtual Labs as often as time will allow and still learn new things every time I attend! It's a great way to connect with other crafters with tons of helpful advice. I've been so impressed with the Etsy community and their willingness to help sellers succeed. You're awesome. Every single one of you!

Brent: I graduated from the same high school as Colin Mochrie.

Thanks to Brandi and Brent for sharing their story. You can see some of their work in the Related Items. Check out previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

Cozy Home and Attire Showcase: On Sale Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 12 p.m. ET

2009-12-30T15:00:00-05:00

Looking to retreat from the callous weather outside? Snuggle up with the Cozy Home and Attire Showcase! Treat yourself to some thick knits, nourishing body creams, or chamomile tea. Your spirit will be soothed into rejuvenation.

Info for Sellers

Get your items ready! We encourage sellers to add items that would offer some comfort in the midst of this brutal winter. In order to keep the Showcase on-point thematically, the tool will only pull items placed in the following Categories: Accessories (top-level tag being "accessories"), Art, Bags and Purses, Bath & Body, Books & Zines, Candles, Ceramics & Pottery, Children, Clothing, Crochet, Furniture, Glass, Holiday, Housewares, Knitting, Paper Goods, Plants & Edibles, Quilts, Vintage, Woodworking.

The Cozy Home and Attire Showcase goes on sale Thursday, December 31, 2009 at 12 p.m. ET.
Go to the Showcase Gateway to purchase a spot.
This Showcase will run from Monday, January 4, 2010 12 a.m. ET until Sunday, January 10, 2010, 11:59 p.m. ET.
For $15 USD, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24-hour spot, which will be linked from a prominent banner on Etsy's home page.
Sellers determine which item will be featured in your Showcase slot. Sellers must use the tool in Your Etsy > Promote > Showcase. Learn more about this process here.

Future Showcases

If you are thinking about planning for other Showcases that may be more appropriate for your items, here are some of the front page Showcases we will be highlighting:

Destination Vacation Showcase: On sale Thursday, January 7, 2010; the Showcase will be live from Monday, January 11, 2010 to Sunday, January 17, 2010.
- Think escapist items for those in warmer climates or jet-setting on a winter break.
Valentine's Gifts for Him Showcase: On sale Thursday, January 6, 2010; the Showcase will be live from Monday, January 18, 2010 to Sunday, January 24, 2010.
- Think items that would make great gifts for dudes, whether they be hopeless romantics or sarcastic cynics.

Quit Your Day Job: adVintagous

2009-12-28T15:30:00-05:00

I'm excited to bring you the next Quit Your Day Jobber who just so happens to have taken the plunge to focus full time on her success in selling vintage on Etsy. Allison of adVintagous started out listing a couple items from her closet in order to clear out some room and make a few extra dollars after realizing there was a Vintage Category on the site; she never imagined she'd soon be making a full-time living from it. Allison went from a recent graduate during a recession working full time as a character photographer at a theme park to being her own boss bringing new life to vintage finds. Her best marketing advice is keeping up a shop newsletter and taking photos in natural light with a simple background. Allison is most thankful that Etsy has allowed her to concentrate on her true passions in life including vintage and birds.

How did you originally get into the business of selling vintage?
I've always loved the different eras of vintage — mod 60s, glam evening dresses, big poofy 50s skirts, all of it! I'd been collecting vintage dresses at thrift stores and estate sales personally for years, as well as shopping on Etsy for handmade goods. One day last year, I noticed that Etsy had a vintage section and decided to put some pieces from my own closet up on the site, and things just went from there. It's great because if I find something really amazing, I get to buy it, even if it doesn't fit! I always hated to leave something wonderful behind because it was too small or too large.

Tell us about your previous working situation.
After I graduated from college, I found myself working as a character photographer at a theme park in Orlando. While the park was fun, and the people were great, it was not a career that I wanted, and graduating during a recession didn't leave me many options.

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
I knew that other people had been able to support themselves through Etsy, but it wasn't something that I thought I would be able to do. My goal was to maybe find new homes for some of my dresses, and make a little bit of money to supplement my income. After spending a few months with just my toes in the water, I started selling vintage seriously this past March. I wasn't expecting much, maybe a sale once in a while, but I was overwhelmed by the response to my finds, and was able to quit my day job this past summer. I've sold wedding gowns to brides, prom dresses, and even shimmery sequin pieces to bands for their photo shoots! I love the interaction with customers on Etsy, it's very different from my experiences with other online selling venues, and everyone is so friendly and happy to communicate.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time, feel free to give us the nitty gritty business details?
At first, I cut my hours to part time, to make sure I wasn't getting in over my head. Then, when I left the park for good, my husband and I made sure we had enough saved up to last a few months if things didn't work out, sort of a safety net.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?
I've tried a ton of things — Twitter, Facebook, blogging, Flickr — but I think the most effective thing I've done as far as marketing is to have a newsletter. Once or twice a month, I'll send an email to people who sign up, letting them know about sales, and things like that. I also had little business cards printed up for my shop. I'm always meeting people who ask what I do, and it usually starts a big conversation about selling online. It's still a pretty novel idea to most people! It's nice to have a card to hand out so they can see my site when they get home.

What have you found to be an unsuccessful promotion?
I've tried a few paid blog advertisements, and while I got some views, I didn't really see any sales from them. In the end, I didn't feel the money was worth it. I'm still experimenting with paid advertisements in different places.

Walk us through your typical workday.

I wake up around 8 a.m., when my husband leaves for work.
After he's gone, I spend some time with our little bird, Peanut, eating breakfast and catching up on email and Convos.
Three days a week I volunteer at a local bird of prey rehab center, so on those days, I head to the center and spend the day with the birds.
Other days, I usually spend time visiting estate sales looking for those special vintage finds. In the afternoons, if the light is right I'll take pictures, if not, I'll process photos, and list items.
I usually pack up the day's orders at night, so they are ready to go out in the morning mail the next day!
Afterwards, my husband and I will usually watch some junky TV or play video games to unwind.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?
The best best best thing about not having a day job is that most of what I do on Etsy can be done in the evenings, or on the weekends. Having an "unconventional" job has left my days free for a different kind of work — volunteering! Animals, and birds especially, are one of my big passions in life, along with vintage and traveling. So three days a week I get to volunteer at a local bird rehabilitation center helping to care for sick and injured birds of prey, as well as educating the public about their importance. I love being able to devote so much of my time to something that means so much to me, and I would never have been able to do that without Etsy.

On a more selfish note, I also love not having a commute. Before, I was driving an hour to and from work each day, and usually getting up at 6 a.m. to do it. I'm a born night owl, so now I can wake up at a comfortable hour, and work into the night if I have to. I really miss having coworkers and friends that I see every day, though. Sometimes it gets a little lonely doing everything myself. I do make time to spend with friends and family, but it's not the same as having people that you work with every day.

What's the hardest part about running your own business?
One of the hardest things is having no one else to rely on. If I get sick, or have to go out of town, nothing gets done. Since I do everything myself, the photography, the listing, the buying, and the shipping, if something goes wrong, I know I have no one to blame but myself. I take it pretty hard when something like a lost package happens, even if there's nothing I could have done about it. Also, it is frustrating when I tell people what I do, and they act like I told them I live on the moon.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? What advice would you give someone else?
I would love to go back in time and change the way I was taking pictures in the beginning. I had been switching back and forth between trying to take photos outside and trying to bring light to a dark room. When I switched to a well lit room with natural light and a simple background, it was like a breath of fresh air. Now I have to move furniture every time I want to take pictures, but it's a trade I'm more than willing to make. I think photos are the most important part of your listing, the best description in the world can't help a blurry, underexposed photo.

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?

Aside from, of course, more hearts and sales, I would really like to make a dedicated shipping area at home. Somewhere I can lay things out for packing, and not have to run around finding tape, tissue paper, the scale, and all that. I think it would make shipping so much faster.
I also need to work on keeping up to date spreadsheets and records of expenses and sales. Not my favorite part, but something I would like to accomplish.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Having an online shop, and being your own boss is fantastic, but also a lot of hard work. I have so much respect now for others who do it full time! It's not something that I ever expected to be doing, but I love it, and I've long since stopped wondering about the crazy places that life has taken me.

Thanks to Allison for sharing her story. You can see some of Allison's beautiful work in the Related Items. Check out previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.

Quit Your Day Job: alinahayes

2009-12-21T16:26:00-05:00

Alina of alinahayes spent seven years in the medical billing and collections field before getting married and moving cross-country. Alina decided to take a pottery class to get back in touch with her creative side and make new friends. She soon realized she wanted to take the plunge into selling her wares full time via Etsy. Alina now successfully supports herself making and selling pottery, loves her newfound freedom, is expecting a child, and is reaching for goals such as a guest feature on the Martha Stewart Show.

How did you originally get into the business of making things?
I always loved making things. What still amazes me is that it’s possible to create something out of nothing. While attending The School of Visual Arts in New York, drawing and painting was a huge part of my life, until I discovered pottery and the beauty of three-dimensional objects. Clay had completely won me over.

Tell us about your previous working situation.
As a single girl in New York City, I needed a day job. Somehow I managed to get into the Medical Billing/Collections profession. Yikes! I was very good at it, so one job led to another, a promotion, a bigger pay check. Before I knew it, this “career” was going on for seven years. When I got married, my new husband had a job opportunity that would require us to move to Los Angeles, and we jumped on it! Sticking to what I knew best, I got yet another job in an office as a medical collector. I knew I was sinking. I was newly married to an incredible man, living in a fabulous city, and yet I was miserable. I decided to take some pottery classes to release some creative juices and make some friends, and so here I am!

When you first started selling on Etsy, did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
Yes! As soon as I saw how well some of Etsy’s sellers were doing, I realized that quitting my day job was a real possibility. I plunged into making as much pottery as I could in my spare time to fill up my Etsy shop.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time? Feel free to give us the nitty gritty business details!
I am not much of a planner, and I tend to second-guess myself, so I decided to jump in with both feet before I changed my mind.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?

Consistently listing new items kept me more visible and active in the Etsy community. Joining the Etsy Mud Team was great and helped me get into some of my first Treasuries.
Treasuries are a great way to get to the elusive home page! Creating Treasury lists and including your favorite sellers likely ensures they will return the favor.
Participating in Etsy-wide promotional sales is always helpful and will direct extra traffic to your shop.
My blog, which I started because all I wanted to do was talk about clay and pottery, has helped in my marketing efforts.
Facebook and Twitter are great networking sites to consider if you don‘t have time to devote to a blog.
I also think it’s important to go beyond the Internet to grow your business. Doing local shows and sales as well as swinging by gift boutiques with your product will ensure that more people know you exist. The more people know you’re out there, the better your chances are for a sale.

What have you found to be an unsuccessful promotion?
Discounting work for the sake of doing so. Knowing what your work is worth is important, and just because it’s cheaper, does not mean you will sell more any faster.

Walk us through your typical workday.

I wake up, walk over to my laptop to check for Etsy sales and Convos (even before I make the coffee…just can’t help it).
I like to pack up my orders first and get them ready for the post office.
I then make my way to the garage where, depending on what pottery making phase I am in, I will either throw, trim or glaze pottery. I like to spend at least four hours a day “making” pottery, otherwise I don’t feel productive.
Often times I will be so caught up in it all, I'll forget to eat lunch. However, I am pregnant at the moment, so that is not a possibility. Gotta make time for lunch!
When I feel I need a break, I’ll make a trip to the post office and answer daily email.
I don’t really keep a constant daily work schedule.
Some days I will work well into the evenings. Others, I will end around 4 p.m. The same goes for weekends.

What do you enjoy most about not having a day job? Is there anything you miss?
I enjoy the freedom! The fact that I do not have to be in an office for a given number of hours every day. I love working in my pajamas! I love that I do not have a supervisor watching over my shoulder. I love that I get to do what I actually LOVE. I miss absolutely nothing, and that is how I know I have made the right decision.

What's the hardest part about running your own business?
Separating my personal and professional life. Working and living at home sometimes makes it difficult to stop doing one and start doing the other.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself? What advice would you give someone else?
Have confidence and take the leap.

What goals do you wish to accomplish in the coming year for your Etsy business?
To maintain a steady and flowing production schedule. At the end of my first year on Etsy, I wanted to double my sales the next year and it was something I was able to accomplish. Now that my Etsy shop is my full-time job, I would like to double (if not triple) this year’s sales. I would like to keep increasing traffic to my store and continue to create quality product people will enjoy. Oh, and I'd also like to be a guest on the Martha Stewart Show. Hi, Martha!

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Your Etsy shop will only be as good as the amount of time you’re willing to devote to it. Take great dynamic photos and sell quality products. Do not be discouraged. It takes time and a lot of effort, but I assure you it is possible to succeed.

Thanks to Alina for sharing her story. You can see some of Alina's beautiful work in the Related Items. Check out previous Quit Your Day Job posts here.