NGKUR: TTMA your side business

[mustloveerica]

I have an etsy shop. It sort of fell apart the last few months because I wasn't keeping up with it. The main problem being that what I was selling was much too time consuming to make and I couldn't keep up with keeping a decent inventory of sale items.

I'm currently working on some creating some new stock. But I'm also changing the focus of my shop so it'll be interesting to see if I can sell more items this way. The new items that I make are much much faster for me to make (about 2 hours each) vs the old item (about 10-13 hours each). Which means I can have a ton more listings at once.

I don't really have any tips since I'm trying to make my shop better as well. So I'll be stalking this thread for tips. One of my shops biggest problems was although I was making sales, no one ever left me any reviews (good or bad). I'm not sure how to encourage reviews.

[akraus2015]

Hi starbuck27 !

I recently started as an Independent Stylist for Stella & Dot and I LOVE IT!!

How did you get started? I went to a trunk show and fell in love with the product. I have been trying to keep my mind busy during my recent losses, and thought this might be a really good way to have fun.
What's one thing you wish you'd known starting out? Hm...I wish I would have known a little bit sooner to reach out to my team of fellow stylists who are local when I have questions, they're a great resource!
How much time do you put into it? If I'm hosting a trunk show, maybe 5 hours a week or so. Other than that, not much, really.
Anything else you'd like to share? I never thought I would enjoy something like this. When I first signed on, I just wanted to do it for the social aspect, and to get free product, but I'm actually making WAY more money than I thought I would. I'm planning to use this money to take my hubby on a surprise anniversary trip in May!

[akraus2015]

Jan 5, 2016 13:06:50 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

I have an etsy shop. It sort of fell apart the last few months because I wasn't keeping up with it. The main problem being that what I was selling was much too time consuming to make and I couldn't keep up with keeping a decent inventory of sale items.

I'm currently working on some creating some new stock. But I'm also changing the focus of my shop so it'll be interesting to see if I can sell more items this way. The new items that I make are much much faster for me to make (about 2 hours each) vs the old item (about 10-13 hours each). Which means I can have a ton more listings at once.

I don't really have any tips since I'm trying to make my shop better as well. So I'll be stalking this thread for tips. One of my shops biggest problems was although I was making sales, no one ever left me any reviews (good or bad). I'm not sure how to encourage reviews.

That's crazy!!  I leave reviews every single time I buy something from Etsy!

[mustloveerica]

akraus2015 it's crazy! I too leave reviews everytime. That's why I don't get why I'm not getting any. Again I'm hoping the change of product will help that.

[joy]

I've wanted my mom to start an Etsy shop foreeeever. She doesn't understand computers much so I said that I'd run the computer end and she could make the crafts. I'm being very serious. Perhaps when she retires (in the next year or so) I can convince her to do it! Sooo... reading this thread :-)

[daisy818]

Is it fairly inexpensive to list items on Etsy? The only item I am capable of making would probably only sell for $15-25, and I'm just not sure how profitable that would be after fees/materials/time.

[teraiin]

Jan 5, 2016 13:06:50 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

I have an etsy shop. It sort of fell apart the last few months because I wasn't keeping up with it. The main problem being that what I was selling was much too time consuming to make and I couldn't keep up with keeping a decent inventory of sale items.

I'm currently working on some creating some new stock. But I'm also changing the focus of my shop so it'll be interesting to see if I can sell more items this way. The new items that I make are much much faster for me to make (about 2 hours each) vs the old item (about 10-13 hours each). Which means I can have a ton more listings at once.

I don't really have any tips since I'm trying to make my shop better as well. So I'll be stalking this thread for tips. One of my shops biggest problems was although I was making sales, no one ever left me any reviews (good or bad). I'm not sure how to encourage reviews.

I'm not going to lie... I almost never leave reviews on etsy. For some reason I feel like they make it complicated, although that's probably just my way of justifying being lazy.

However, thank you for reminding me that shop owners DO need and appreciate the reviews. I'm going to try to make more of an effort to leave reviews.

[mustloveerica]

Jan 5, 2016 13:28:49 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

Jan 5, 2016 13:06:50 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

I have an etsy shop. It sort of fell apart the last few months because I wasn't keeping up with it. The main problem being that what I was selling was much too time consuming to make and I couldn't keep up with keeping a decent inventory of sale items.

I'm currently working on some creating some new stock. But I'm also changing the focus of my shop so it'll be interesting to see if I can sell more items this way. The new items that I make are much much faster for me to make (about 2 hours each) vs the old item (about 10-13 hours each). Which means I can have a ton more listings at once.

I don't really have any tips since I'm trying to make my shop better as well. So I'll be stalking this thread for tips. One of my shops biggest problems was although I was making sales, no one ever left me any reviews (good or bad). I'm not sure how to encourage reviews.

Thanks to you and akraus2015 for sharing your experiences!

What do you sell?

For your last point...I wonder if you could offer an incentive if they leave a review? Leave a review, be entered to win a personalized item?

Well I was making crochet baby stuff. Mostly stuffed animals and security blankets. @wallflwr926 bought one and loved it. But they just take me so long to make I don't even make any money off of them.

I'm currently working on changing my shop focus to pet items. I'll admit making cute baby things for people was starting to wear on my emotions which is probably why I let my shop go to hell the last few months. So now I'm stockpiling pet items to list but won't list them until I have maybe 20 items made.

Made these two last night...


Switching focus could be a bad idea. But I figured while I was making stuff for my own pets I might as well make some extras and see if I can sell those. We shall see I guess.

[mustloveerica]

Jan 5, 2016 13:29:51 GMT -5 daisy818 said:

Is it fairly inexpensive to list items on Etsy? The only item I am capable of making would probably only sell for $15-25, and I'm just not sure how profitable that would be after fees/materials/time.

It's $0.20 a listing. And then I think 3.5% for transaction fees when you sell something.

ETA: that was my problem with my old sales. Although I was charging more than materials I definitely wasn't making anywhere near enough for my time. So in the end it wasn't really worth the effort. Especially when last minute orders came in right before Christmas and I was rushing to get those done as well as my own projects done.

[daisy818]

Jan 5, 2016 13:34:53 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

Jan 5, 2016 13:29:51 GMT -5 daisy818 said:

Is it fairly inexpensive to list items on Etsy? The only item I am capable of making would probably only sell for $15-25, and I'm just not sure how profitable that would be after fees/materials/time.

It's $0.20 a listing. And then I think 3.5% for transaction fees when you sell something.

ETA: that was my problem with my old sales. Although I was charging more than materials I definitely wasn't making anywhere near enough for my time. So in the end it wasn't really worth the effort. Especially when last minute orders came in right before Christmas and I was rushing to get those done as well as my own projects done.

Yeah, that is my worry. Like your prior store, the only thing I really know how to do that is useful is knit small items like baby hats.  Maybe I'll start making hats and see how long it takes me to make a stockpile. 

[daisy818]

Jan 5, 2016 13:32:32 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

Jan 5, 2016 13:28:49 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

Thanks to you and akraus2015 for sharing your experiences!

What do you sell?

For your last point...I wonder if you could offer an incentive if they leave a review? Leave a review, be entered to win a personalized item?

Well I was making crochet baby stuff. Mostly stuffed animals and security blankets. @wallflwr926 bought one and loved it. But they just take me so long to make I don't even make any money off of them.

I'm currently working on changing my shop focus to pet items. I'll admit making cute baby things for people was starting to wear on my emotions which is probably why I let my shop go to hell the last few months. So now I'm stockpiling pet items to list but won't list them until I have maybe 20 items made.

Made these two last night...


Switching focus could be a bad idea. But I figured while I was making stuff for my own pets I might as well make some extras and see if I can sell those. We shall see I guess.

Those collars are so cute!

[mustloveerica]

daisy818 thank you! Great Dane puppies fly thru collars. I wasn't about to buy him cutesy ones just yet. So I figured out how to make some.

[kleigh]

mustloveerica those are cute!!! The quality looks great too!!

I'm stalking this thread for inspiration. I've always desired to start up something of my own, etsy shop or otherwise, and have a book of hundreds of ideas but can never seem to commit to one or the other because I find fault with every option.

[mustloveerica]

Jan 5, 2016 13:48:38 GMT -5 kleigh said:

mustloveerica those are cute!!! The quality looks great too!!

I'm stalking this thread for inspiration. I've always desired to start up something of my own, etsy shop or otherwise, and have a book of hundreds of ideas but can never seem to commit to one or the other because I find fault with every option.

Thank you. I had to tear them about 4 times to get it right but I finally got it. The true test is to see if they hold up well before I try selling them. Ain't nobody wants to sell poor quality items.

[akraus2015]

Jan 5, 2016 13:32:32 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

Jan 5, 2016 13:28:49 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

Thanks to you and akraus2015 for sharing your experiences!

What do you sell?

For your last point...I wonder if you could offer an incentive if they leave a review? Leave a review, be entered to win a personalized item?

Well I was making crochet baby stuff. Mostly stuffed animals and security blankets. @wallflwr926 bought one and loved it. But they just take me so long to make I don't even make any money off of them.

I'm currently working on changing my shop focus to pet items. I'll admit making cute baby things for people was starting to wear on my emotions which is probably why I let my shop go to hell the last few months. So now I'm stockpiling pet items to list but won't list them until I have maybe 20 items made.

Made these two last night...


Switching focus could be a bad idea. But I figured while I was making stuff for my own pets I might as well make some extras and see if I can sell those. We shall see I guess.

I WANT A DOG COLLAR!!!!  LouDog needs a new one anyway.  His Cardinals one is getting a little dingy.

[mustloveerica]

Jan 5, 2016 13:59:14 GMT -5 akraus2015 said:

Jan 5, 2016 13:32:32 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

Well I was making crochet baby stuff. Mostly stuffed animals and security blankets. @wallflwr926 bought one and loved it. But they just take me so long to make I don't even make any money off of them.

I'm currently working on changing my shop focus to pet items. I'll admit making cute baby things for people was starting to wear on my emotions which is probably why I let my shop go to hell the last few months. So now I'm stockpiling pet items to list but won't list them until I have maybe 20 items made.

Made these two last night...


Switching focus could be a bad idea. But I figured while I was making stuff for my own pets I might as well make some extras and see if I can sell those. We shall see I guess.

I WANT A DOG COLLAR!!!!  LouDog needs a new one anyway.  His Cardinals one is getting a little dingy.

You can be my first customer once I get them listed! I have like 10 other kinds of fabrics right now. Those are just the two I used for my guys. I wanted them to have winter collars. Cuz I'm a crazy dog mom and my dogs must be theme appropriate.

[akraus2015]

Jan 5, 2016 14:01:41 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

Jan 5, 2016 13:59:14 GMT -5 akraus2015 said:

I WANT A DOG COLLAR!!!!  LouDog needs a new one anyway.  His Cardinals one is getting a little dingy.

You can be my first customer once I get them listed! I have like 10 other kinds of fabrics right now. Those are just the two I used for my guys. I wanted them to have winter collars. Cuz I'm a crazy dog mom and my dogs must be theme appropriate.

Yay, can't wait!  Lou is also always theme-appropriate.  I got him the CUTEST Christmas hat and sweater that he wore for most of December.  He hated it, but I loved it!!

[mustloveerica]

Jan 5, 2016 14:13:32 GMT -5 akraus2015 said:

Jan 5, 2016 14:01:41 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

You can be my first customer once I get them listed! I have like 10 other kinds of fabrics right now. Those are just the two I used for my guys. I wanted them to have winter collars. Cuz I'm a crazy dog mom and my dogs must be theme appropriate.

Yay, can't wait!  Lou is also always theme-appropriate.  I got him the CUTEST Christmas hat and sweater that he wore for most of December.  He hated it, but I loved it!!

/ded

[kleigh]

akraus2015 CUTEST ever!!

[wannabmama]

Jan 5, 2016 14:01:41 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

Jan 5, 2016 13:59:14 GMT -5 akraus2015 said:

I WANT A DOG COLLAR!!!!  LouDog needs a new one anyway.  His Cardinals one is getting a little dingy.

You can be my first customer once I get them listed! I have like 10 other kinds of fabrics right now. Those are just the two I used for my guys. I wanted them to have winter collars. Cuz I'm a crazy dog mom and my dogs must be theme appropriate.

I totally will buy (and leave a review!) my dogs change their collars for each season, too. I just took off their Christmas collars and they are in boring ones now...I need some Valentine's Day ones or other winter theme that isn't so Christmas-y. So once you have your shop set up with the new products, send me the link! I love dog accessories

[daisy818]

I'm jealous of all the cute dog collars. Pugs are great dogs in many ways, but Daisy is a mastermind at slipping a collar if it's loose enough not to choke her. She's a harness gal, and those are never cute. #noneckdogs

[mustloveerica]

Jan 5, 2016 16:22:47 GMT -5 daisy818 said:

I'm jealous of all the cute dog collars. Pugs are great dogs in many ways, but Daisy is a mastermind at slipping a collar if it's loose enough not to choke her. She's a harness gal, and those are never cute. #noneckdogs

Have you tried martingale collars? That's going to be my next attempt.

[mustloveerica]

Jan 5, 2016 16:16:06 GMT -5 wannabmama said:

Jan 5, 2016 14:01:41 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

You can be my first customer once I get them listed! I have like 10 other kinds of fabrics right now. Those are just the two I used for my guys. I wanted them to have winter collars. Cuz I'm a crazy dog mom and my dogs must be theme appropriate.

I totally will buy (and leave a review!) my dogs change their collars for each season, too. I just took off their Christmas collars and they are in boring ones now...I need some Valentine's Day ones or other winter theme that isn't so Christmas-y. So once you have your shop set up with the new products, send me the link! I love dog accessories

I have red/gold heart fabric that I'm gig to play with tonight. Cuz my Bindi totes needs a valentines collar.

[wannabmama]

Jan 5, 2016 16:27:58 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

Jan 5, 2016 16:16:06 GMT -5 wannabmama said:

I totally will buy (and leave a review!) my dogs change their collars for each season, too. I just took off their Christmas collars and they are in boring ones now...I need some Valentine's Day ones or other winter theme that isn't so Christmas-y. So once you have your shop set up with the new products, send me the link! I love dog accessories

I have red/gold heart fabric that I'm gig to play with tonight. Cuz my Bindi totes needs a valentines collar.

My one guy is usually in blue (or green for Christmas and poor guy wears pink for v day) and the other is almost always in red...that red/gold heart fabric sounds so cute! Show us a pic if it works out!

[PepperPottsJ]

mustloveerica linky please those are amazing!

starbuck27 - major positive not in your list is that those side businesses are tax deductible.

I know a few Stella & Dot, R+F, isagenix, basically most social marketing businesses, reps who do this on the side more for the tax benefit. So while it may not be enough to quit your job, the tax benefit might make it more enticing :-)

[bex15]

Jan 5, 2016 13:32:13 GMT -5 teraiin said:

Jan 5, 2016 13:06:50 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

I have an etsy shop. It sort of fell apart the last few months because I wasn't keeping up with it. The main problem being that what I was selling was much too time consuming to make and I couldn't keep up with keeping a decent inventory of sale items.

I'm currently working on some creating some new stock. But I'm also changing the focus of my shop so it'll be interesting to see if I can sell more items this way. The new items that I make are much much faster for me to make (about 2 hours each) vs the old item (about 10-13 hours each). Which means I can have a ton more listings at once.

I don't really have any tips since I'm trying to make my shop better as well. So I'll be stalking this thread for tips. One of my shops biggest problems was although I was making sales, no one ever left me any reviews (good or bad). I'm not sure how to encourage reviews.

I'm not going to lie... I almost never leave reviews on etsy. For some reason I feel like they make it complicated, although that's probably just my way of justifying being lazy.

However, thank you for reminding me that shop owners DO need and appreciate the reviews. I'm going to try to make more of an effort to leave reviews.

+1 I've never thought about reviews can make a difference. Just went to review some things I purchase recently from Etsy!

[akraus2015]

Jan 5, 2016 19:20:46 GMT -5 PepperPottsJ said:

mustloveerica linky please those are amazing!

starbuck27 - major positive not in your list is that those side businesses are tax deductible.

I know a few Stella & Dot, R+F, isagenix, basically most social marketing businesses, reps who do this on the side more for the tax benefit. So while it may not be enough to quit your job, the tax benefit might make it more enticing :-)

I do it for the free goods.

[mustloveerica]

Jan 5, 2016 16:33:10 GMT -5 wannabmama said:

Jan 5, 2016 16:27:58 GMT -5 mustloveerica said:

I have red/gold heart fabric that I'm gig to play with tonight. Cuz my Bindi totes needs a valentines collar.

My one guy is usually in blue (or green for Christmas and poor guy wears pink for v day) and the other is almost always in red...that red/gold heart fabric sounds so cute! Show us a pic if it works out!

Boom!

[wannabmama]

mustloveerica soooooo cute!!

[onesweetworld]

If they are sturdy, I'd buy one. I bought my dog a collar off etsy with his name and our phone number on it and he snapped the buckle in half and got loose at midnight and went for a run around the neighborhood almost getting clobbered by a car.