Etsy Holiday Bootcamp - Products

Looks like I fell behind a little on my Bootcamp assignments from week 2 and 3, so I've decided to lump them together into one big post. Which is perfect, because they're both focused on products - most popular, new work and custom holiday work.


What a lovely pair of crafty product ideas. (Source: disco smurf on Flickr)

Assignments:
1. List your most popular items
2. Brainstorm new work
3. Consider custom work
4. Fill in a blank, i.e. do something on your To Do list.
5. Find a Bootcamp buddy


Alright, let's get the ball rolling...

Popular items
This is a hard one. I could base it on views, but some of my highest hearted/viewed items haven't even sold yet. So I'll go with frequency of sales. And based on that my top items are:
- Mustache ring
- Hardware earrings
- Custom silhouette pendant
- Botanical specimen pendants
- Anatomical pendants (skeleton, hearts, etc)
- Steampunk/Victorian rings (raygun, penny-farthing, zeppelin)


New work
This one has been on my mind a lot, especially since the craft fair this summer, because I don't think there has been a lot of variety. So here are a few things I'm already working on and planning to work on:
-Drop earrings (for lack of a better term than "non-stud earrings")
-Diorama jewelry (multi-layer scenes in resin, paper and acetate)
-Vial earrings and pendants
-Steampunk machinery rings and necklaces
-Victorian inspired purses (drawstring and clutch)
-Messenger bags (mini and full-sized)
-Matchbook notebooks
-Gift tags and notecards
-Photo album / Guestbook
-Journals


Custom Work
Everyone knows personalized gifts are big for the holidays, in fact they're generally a great seller. So I'd like to add a few more things in addition to the custom silhouette pendant - and this Etsy article had some great tips.
Some options I may consider:
-Monograms and silhouettes added to items
-Custom colors, finishes and backgrounds (like maps)


Fill in a Blank
So far I've been pretty good with my to-do list. I've been making new items, updated my profile and checking tags. However, there is one thing it's taken me a while to scratch off and I need to do it this week: Take pictures of my NEW items!
I have purses, jewelry and a few paper items that haven't been listed because I haven't had the time to take photos. This is partly due to it getting darker earlier, so by the time I get home there's no natural light left. So that's my goal - get those photos taken and create an alternative (light box!) to my lack of daylight to make things easier.

A really great tutorial that I plan on using is the DIY $10 Macro Photo Studio by Strobist.


Bootcamp Buddy
Ah...this one I haven't done yet. So, anyone out there still need a buddy?


Done!
And just in time for the next set of assignments to arrive in my e-mail box.
That's right, you can join the Etsy Bootcamp fun each week. Just follow this link to sign up. Each Thursday they send out tips, homework assignments, etc to make sure you're ready for epic Holiday sales.


Happy Crafting!

Preparation...

I've decided to take the plunge and join a craft boot camp. I totally know what you're thinking...

Craft, damn you craft! I can't see you making jewelry!!

No, not that kind of boot camp. I'm talking about Etsy's Holiday Bootcamp. That's right, Etsy is going to help their sellers get into shape and so we can take on the big bad holiday season with skill.

This week's assignment: Sign the pledge, vote for our cheerleader and write a mission statement.


Ahem...my pledge:

I, inkstrand, pledge to participate in the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp to the best of my abilities. I vow to check in every week, do my homework and support my fellow Holiday Boot Campers. I will read the weekly newsletters and blog posts, check in on the weekly forum thread, read the weekly blog post, check off the checklists and salute the mascot. I promise to share what I've learned with those who need it, support my fellow Etsy indiepreneurs and, most of all, have a positive and persistent attitude. I understand that together we can spread the word about our handmade and vintage goods, making this holiday season a more unique and meaningful one to gift givers and give-ees everywhere!


and le Mission statement...
To create more diverse items and designs that will excite my new and old customers this holiday season, while still maintaining my theme of well-made, yet affordable, vintage-inspired pieces.


So far so good and I can't wait to do the next steps.

Interested? Join the fun, simply visit this link to sign up. Each Thursday they send out tips, homework assignments, etc to make sure you're ready for epic Holiday sales.


And on a slightly unrelated note, Moo is finally offering their StickerBooks in the US! Much like their business cards, you can pick a separate image for each one, which means endless options. Endless!!! (Well...it is limited to the number of stickers you purchase.)


Fabulous!


Well...that's all for now. Happy crafting!

Getting Cozy; or Fall Prep

So whether we like it or not, Fall is right around the corner. The days are going to get shorter, colder and wetter and soon we'll be wearing knits again. Honestly, I can't wait. I love the summer, but miss wearing peacoats, scarves and long skirts - plus Halloween!

I haven't quite gotten into making fall inspired items yet, but I'm looking for inspiration all over. Here are a few of my favorites from Etsy:

Right Around the Corner

Buckled women's Coach
DeNovoStyle$350.00 USD

Meli in Mustard Yellow
Stemellina$16.00 USD

Messenger Bag in Brown an
fuzzylogicfelt$95.00 USD

RIONA hand knitted cardig
ovejanegra$145.00 USD

17 inch laptop sleeve Ham
packandsmooch$77.00 USD

Chunky Knit Circlular Sca
handknittedthing$32.00 USD

Large grey crochet flower
TheBroochBoutiqu$12.50 USD

Marigold Buttonup Cowl /
awkward$75.00 USD

Irish Donegal Tweed Knitt
handknittedthing$38.00 USD

ViCTORiA COAT
designbynihan$268.00 USD

Lavender Knit Tube Neckla
CandacesCloset$20.00 USD

Handknitted Textured Wool
thepottyknitter$34.00 USD

BEIGE lace wrist warmers,
Christyyyn$30.00 USD

Hand Knit Hat - Oversized
pixiebell$45.00 USD

Felted earrings Nights /
jezek$15.00 USD

Aubergine purple knit bag
creationsbyeve$78.00 USD

Generated using Treasure Trove by packagery.com

Lovely! Grey, purple, white and black are definite faves - not to say I don't love the more natural red, green, yellow and orange that are quintessentially fall - these colors just struck me as unique, clean and beautiful.

Looking for your own fall inspirations?
Here are a few great resources to check out:
The fall is coming. Are you all set? - by Maru of Pronta
The Etsy Storque Merchandising Desk: September - of course!


Happy crafting.

Road bumps (Craft fair countdown: 4 days)

So it's been busy. So busy I haven't even had the time to take photos to show how busy I am (don't worry they're coming). It's been both good and bad, but boy has it been challenging.

I have pretty much everything I need for Sunday (tents, card imprinter, packaging, etc), so right now the focus is on the inventory and getting it ready for the event.

And that's where I've encountered some bumps in the road, the biggest being that my favorite brass supplier, General Bead, just closed it's national location in San Diego. Thankfully the San Francisco location is still open, but I'm not sure they'll even keep selling the supplies I need - like tons of brass bezels.


These guys. Yes, you can get them on Etsy, but not at the volume/price prefer. If you have a supplier you'd like to recommend, I'd greatly appreciate it.

This is not the first time that my source of supplies has disappeared, had to close shop or just stopped selling something I depended on. Frankly it seems that the current economy is making procuring wholesale jewelry supplies in the US harder and harder without having to look overseas.

Sigh...