Etsy :: A Work in Progress

The one thing that I struggle with when it comes to my jewelry is selling it. I love to make it, to talk about it, to blog about it and I even enjoy photographing it. But when it comes to selling it; I simply struggle. I don't enjoy 'working the sale' and would far prefer to just give my jewelry away as so many of you know!

But alas, there is this nagging voice in my head. Ok, truth be told it is actually my husband (ha! there I said it) asking that I at least attempt to break even on my beady obsession. And so I have taken some steps to improve my Etsy store. 

I joined a wonderful group of Etsy shops this Fall called the BBA (Blogging Business Artisans) who have been a source of encouragement on Etsy. They have put out a challenge to all of us in the group to think about how we might improve our shops. I took this as a sign. 

In the past week I've taken several steps to update my shop. And I have to admit; it feels good to stop avoiding this, and I can see that this might actually help sales. So here is my running list (I'm sure I'll come up with more, but let's start here).

1. Photography: I've been in search of a style that I like, that I think will shout "oh yes, I know that look ... it's so-and-so's shop."  Anyone whose been to my Etsy knows that it looks like perhaps 12 different people work here. Sadly, that is both my art and my curse. I like lots of things. But I've committed to getting my photography to one style. It will take a bit of time to swap out the photos, and I need a new camera. But I've begun. You'll see a new look in the shop (the photos in this post are examples - and taken by a friend - Thea of Baby Cocktails). 
2. Regular Re-Stocking: I was really on top of this when I first opened my Etsy Shop in 2010, but in the past year I've let re-stocking fall off. Sometimes I went several months without adding a single item. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to diagnosis the problem there. I added about 30 new items in the past month. I don't expect to keep up that pace, but I needed to make up for some lost momentum this year. 
3. Sections: Sections are a way to navigate your shop. I'm now at almost 100 items in the store. That's a lot, and people get lost. So I re-worked my sections in a way that makes more sense. Well at least to me, and I hope to my shoppers.
4. Treasuries: One great tip I picked up from my BBA team is optimizing the use of treasuries (my treasuries). When I stock a new item, or add a new section (as I just did with Kitsch Stitch), a treasury is a great way to get the word out. But remember to include other shops, and then be sure to send them a note letting them know they've been included (don't forget the treasury link so they can find it!). This way you spread the word, and get views. 
5. Social Media Linking: I've been trying to make sure I stay on top of this, but this feels a lot more like 'working the sale.' One way I've been able to deal with this (at least for me) is to have social sites that are separate between my personal (my real name) and my shop (Antiquity Travelers). I don't want all my personal friends on Facebook to think I'm constantly asking them to buy my stuff! But I have linked my shop FB page to twitter, so when I post on FB it automatically 'tweets' an update. I have entire boards dedicated to my jewelry on Pinterest, I have collages to highlight my jewelry on Polyvore ... but all absolutely need to link to the Etsy shop. That way if someone really likes a piece, they know exactly how they can buy it. This is still a work in progress for me, but I'm getting more disciplined about it.

I have a few more ideas in the works like a revamp to my logo. I want to keep the Shiva as it is part of my identity. It is a real item in my studio, and one I brought back from the Himalayas. So that stays. But everything else is up for grabs. How about all of you? Will you be making New Year's Resolutions to update your shops? Any ideas to share on what makes a better shop experience? Leave me a comment .... I'm interested!