big cartel vs. etsy

I list some of my products on Etsy. The upside is that there's a decent amount of traffic that comes through...not necessarily buyers – but it's nice to be part of a community that appreciates each other's work. I don't get a chance to get on it too much. It's definitely one of those sites where you could lose yourself for hours. Which brings me to the downside. Potential clients get lost in there! Lured by the promise of fun product linked from the website they've been perusing - one thing leads to another and they've gone from polymer clay jewelry to vintage headbands to silkscreened prints... you get the picture. It is however pretty useful for one of a kind pieces and it's very inexpensive. I'd say for me it doesn't generate a ton of sales but it's a decent marketing tool.

I just recently subscribed to Big Cartel. I've had my eye on this site for quite a while and jumped in the other day. They provide templates that can be customized fairly easily. And with some knowledge of coding  - one can really tailor the look of their online shopping site to their exact specifications. I plan on tackling that project over the next month or two but am pretty happy with the pristine look I've got happening at the moment. I'll be adding more product soon - hint: bracelets. Just waiting for my newest samples to arrive from the caster. 

etsy, etsy, etsy

My booth was busy on Saturday but I did have time to ponder what I could do to improve my business. With my energy recharged and thinking on the positive it was easier to think about forging ahead. Many of my items are one of a kind so it doesn't make sense to list theses individual items on my website for sale. That's where Etsy comes in and my glaring laziness over the past few months in posting new product becomes detrimental to the success of the business. Why put your name out there as a vendor if you're not going to have a means in which to purchase your unique wares? Yesterday I forced myself to focus on listing 10 items on Etsy. It involves taking decent product shots and writing compelling descriptions - I don't know how well I hit the mark but I try - it takes work.