Lesson Learned

So in my last post I ranted and raved about devaluing my work, marking down prices, the value of a sale.
And what did I do? Had a sale!!!! Head hanging in shame? No, this one worked. Why?
Last week was my last show of the season and we all know meeting and talking to people in real life is vastly different than our on-line experiences. I also am well aware of what I call the "touch factor"....beng able to pick up, touch, try on beats examing a photo on the computer. As I was packing for the sale I was thinking how some pieces have been with me awhile. Read that as:OLD! I want them gone!
I decided to have a sale on my hats, gloves and scarves-a pre-holiday draw. I also sent an e-mail blast to local friends, neighbors and previous buyers, offering them the sale price AND delivery. I would never do this at the start of the craft show season but since it was my last, I felt it was worth a go.

Well, it worked! I had a good fair, moved many scarves, hats & gloves and the verbal interaction definitely made the difference. That also included 4 local sales.
The best comment I heard was "Your prices are so reasonable, I feel like I'm stealing!"....to which I replied, "Well, you can pay full price!!!"...she bought.

The lesson learned: Sales may work in real life.
Did I lose any money? No.
Did I network? Yes.
Did I devalue myself? No.
Oh, did I mention I had the same sale going at the same time online? Zip, zilch, nada.
And now I have some extra coin to buy more yarn and make new items. Well, I won't buy any yarn....we all know how huge the stash is.....the photo shows a teeny fraction!

In case we don't 'talk', I hope your holiday is warm and wonderful!

To Sale or Not To Sale!!!

My goal when I embarked on the online craft path was to make what I love and share. My family (few females) are probably sick of receiving my creations and now, unless they ask, they get nothing made by me. (Right now I am making the boys hats with beards attached...who knew that would be a request?)
I have always been thrilled to sell my work as it is a type of positive validation. As Sally Field said "They like me. They really like me!"
Of course earning some extra money has been wonderful if only to feed my supply addiction and stash. So I think I have always priced fairly. I'm not looking to rip off anyone but entice by design, good pricing and heart.
Then there are holiday sales....a not so positive experience for me over the years but I didn't want to be left out so I joined those promotions. Selling scarves in July kind of yells for a price reduction and I've done it. Not to great success,though. 
Back to school, Halloween and then Cyber Monday and I see fellow crafters marking down their creative endeavors by 15-20-30 even 40%!!!! I'm confused so I posted a query on Facebook.
Responses varied but many agreed that their prices were fair and marking them down was a hurtful loss. And, like my experience, they really didn't work. I understand the desire to drum up business, get positive feedback or move older pieces but the profit margin for many is so slight, a sale hurts.
I say, do what you love, love what you do and don't devalue yourself. Does that mean I'll never have a sale or a discount or free shipping? Maybe. Maybe not. But I don't think I'll allow myself to follow the big box pack....I'm not in that league and don't want to be. I don't have items in the $100+ range, far from it and although more sales are always welcome, I will not devalue myself just for a sale.

Here's my latest...price firm!!!

Down Time in Selling

Down time...a pause....a lapse...a quiet period? All of the above and what to do about it is the real question. I was wonderfully busy saleswise in January and February and became wiped off the internet map during March. Fortunately I had the earlier mentioned shows in March to keep me busy and now it's April and soooooooo quiet. So I am using my time to promote online. I've reorganized my studio. I've inventoried my yarn stash (too much!) and bought new containers for paper. Fortunately, the weather has turned and I've spent time outdoors and love the way the garden is developing. I'm writing a new article for indiesmiles and upping my presence there. I'm reading and commenting on other blogs. I've read 3 books (a must read "The Book Thief") and am now concentrating on a custom shawl from a wonderful customer in California.
So as you can see, although selling is the goal, there's much more to life and I'm looking productively at the selling down time. The guys at the Post Office may miss me but I'm getting alot done. Do you think I should inventory this? Nah!!

The Shows

I can rant, and have, to close friends about what the fairs were like but I'm over it! The shows were okay, PERIOD!!!! Not great,not awful, disappointing.
Since they were 2 different shows in a row, inventory was a pre-show concern. One always thinks, what happens if I sell out? Let me have that problem...please! Anyway, I learned a little, laughed alot and had bones that hurt that I didn't know could. It's done. Back to online promotion and maybe a sale from one of the dozens that took a business card-easily 75-100 cards were taken. Maybe I should charge for them? Just kidding. Big hugs to my DH for his great sportsmanship and companionship.
Interestingly, again, the most popular items were the magnetic bookmarks which barely move online. Sold about 16-17. I have more to list like these.

The Sales Curse

A few months after I started on Etsy, I decided to post a shadow box I had made which had been hanging in my bedroom. I actually put a fairly high price on it, not being well versed in the art yet. Literally 15 minutes later it sold. Hmmmmmmmm.... I went out, bought the materials for 2-3 more, made them, posted them and there they sat.
Last year I saw something in a catalog I thought I could reproduce better. I did. It enabled me to use the vast majority of mini chairs that I had collected. The finished product elicited raves from family and friends so I posted them. Have you guessed yet? They sat.
I have made dozens of magnetic bookmarks which sell in real life 10 to 1 as opposed to online. Why?
Today I posted a pair of handwarmers made from an upcycled sweater with crochet trim...an experiment for me. One hour later they sold. So the questions begs...do I make more? Or do I not press my luck?!

Perspective

There was a post on the etsy forums asking how many sales you had in June. Some complained about 18 being so low, some grateful for 2. It made me stop and think and note my own. Last June I had 5 on etsy. This year I had six. Bigger in price and larger in number. And fortunately, I did have a bunch offline. It made me stop and think about this business and being careful about your wishes. Would I like more? Yup! Could I handle more? Yup! Are my comparatively lower numbers a sign I should stop....nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I'm gonna eat some worms? Not yet. Basically, the question is...why am I (you) doing this? For me....
I love to create.
I love the process.
I love the planning.
I love the validation when a sale is made.
I love the raw material that morphs into something new.
I love the activity.
I love the stimulation.
I love the joy given to others.
Enough reasons to continue? I think so! I think it's beneficial to step back every now and then and evaluate. Is this enough or is there something or somewhere else your energies may be directed? And if you have any reasons like mine, you just keep on pluggin'!
And on that note here's a new item!

Etsy and Postage and Shipping, oh my!

Well, I blew it again! Estimating shipping costs is very tricky and an inexact science. Sure, I could take dummy boxes to the PO and get weights and prices but that's not terribly practical when you may be selling items of multiple sizes and weights. My things range from a light bookmark

to a heavy clock like this one.

I had a package go out to Norway a few weeks ago that I had 'guessed' would be $32 and it was $33...not bad. Today I had to mail a clock to England and my guess was $10 but in fact it was $14...ooops. You certainly don't ask the customer for more money.

That coupled with the upcoming postage increase in the US forced me to revisit all 98 items in my shop and re-guess the shipping costs. A slow process at best. I'd rather err on the high side and refund money when it is a substantial amount. Most of all, I'd rather make sales and have this be my problem!

WOW!!!

Yesterday was so exciting,sales wise! I was actually going to keep this piece myself since I had never done anything like it & I really loved it. Yesterday I decided to sell it. Took photos, listed it and immediately went to the etsy forums to place it under promotions. I did that and just clicked on the link to make sure I pasted correctly...it shows up SOLD!!!! Not 3 minutes. Then I went to e-mail and was feeling skeptical that it was a scam since the buyer just joined and apparently this was her first purchase. (There have been horror stories of this happening-sales from new members and no payment) The etsy e-mail notice was there but no PayPal confirmation so now I'm really anxious. Waited another few minutes and bam!, there's PayPal!!!! Very exciting! I e-mailed a thank you to the buyer & she responded very excited about her purchase. Maybe this is the kick start to a sales turnaround!