posted on January 27, 2014 09:06:18 AM new
So, I have had 2 small sales over the last week and received our first review. Not exactly a firestorm of sales, but at least things are moving in the right direction.
My experience on eBay has taught me that inventory tends to move more frequently once someone buys the item. This could be due to eBay's "ranking" of items that are popular. I'm not sure if Etsy uses similar logarithms for their rankings.
posted on January 27, 2014 10:06:36 AM new
What do you sell on Etsy?
Many new Etsy sellers are pleasantly surprised how well they are doing,some are just selling what they have around the house,some are brick and mortar stores,I am surprised some of the bric and brac items sell,but they do on Etsy,it could be that it is easier to find the item.
posted on January 27, 2014 12:46:15 PM new
We mostly sell vintage items including small furniture, lighting, home accessories. We also offer some parts to repair vintage furniture and lighting, and finally, we sell items artisan goods that we make including lighting made from recycled/salvaged/repurposed parts, wool pillows, and other home accessories. We are looking to expand into making some smaller furniture pieces.
The two items we have sold on Etsy are parts. I've heard from many Etsy sellers that parts, accessories, and tools do very well for artisans and people looking to restore items, which is why we offer these items.
We have done far better on eBay for our artisan goods made in our studio as well as vintage... BUT, we also have a long and excellent reputation for these items on eBay, while we are new on Etsy.
posted on January 27, 2014 02:49:36 PM new
I know Etsy starts out as artist colony where artists made their own clothes,jewelry,hair pieces for brides,candles,toys ,mostly small pieces.
So they would be shopping for parts and components ,like a broken watch movement as pendant,or beads and semi precious stones as ornaments to add to the finished products,but not aware of larger household items as most of the artists are women,they tend to make small pieces !
posted on January 28, 2014 08:53:28 AM new
That is not accurate. Etsy is well known for offering vintage items.
The most common items that are "favorited" by Etsy users on our store are vintage items, particularly our lighting. I also get a lot of "favorited" on the lighting I build, and the wool pillows Cindy makes.
The issue is the lack of sales, especially considering we have sold many items on eBay that are also listed on Etsy. Also because of the lower fees, many of our items are less expensive on Etsy than on eBay.
[ edited by shagmidmod on Jan 28, 2014 10:46 AM ]
posted on January 28, 2014 12:07:08 PM new
you dont know enough about Etsy.
It starts out as handmade only and only a few years ago,it allows vintage items.
Etsy is doing very well,it shows you can Beat Ebay if you stick to KISS !
[ edited by lostmymojo on Jan 28, 2014 12:10 PM ]
posted on February 4, 2014 05:23:20 PM new
Well, since my last comment a week ago on January 28, I have made 3 more sales on Etsy. Seems like it took the first one to get things moving.
posted on February 4, 2014 09:07:50 PM new
That sounds great. How are your eBay sales? Have they remained at the same volume since you began the Etsy listing?
I ask that because In early January I removed all listings from the DelCampe, eBid, and BidStart marketplaces. All three stores had items listed under the Charity Seal Literature Store brand.
Once I closed those store, sales at our main store came to life, and sales have been good all January and so far this month.
I had heard and read somewhere, that multiple stores containing the same merchandise with similar wording, are penalized by Google search. I have asked Google reps about this, but they have either claimed ignorance or declined to answer.
I might have found the answer myself. Be careful and make sure there are no similar descriptions in either of your stores.
posted on February 6, 2014 03:56:34 PM new
Bill- great insight. I have seen a drop in sales on eBay, but I am not sure it is because of duplicate wording, as I have about 1 Etsy item to every 8 eBay items.
I think the most significant issue I am having is finding enough items to sell online (or locally for that matter). You have to find stuff to sell it. One of the downsides of vintage.
