Obviously, I am doing lots of research as part of my quest to improve my sales. This includes looking at top selling shops and trying to understand what they are doing that I am not. I went to craftcount.com and checked out their list of the top 100
handmade jewelry sellers on etsy. FYI if you haven't been to
craftcount.com definitely check it out!
Let's take a look at the top 10 sellers and figure out
1) what they have in common
2) what they are doing that I am not
As I began clicking through the list and checking out shops one thing became apparent. All the shops have one thing in common that is completely different from my shop.
The first thing I noticed is that most or the shops have long titles for their listings. "Long" because they are made up of short, descriptive titles separated by a "," "/" or "-". That's an easy enough fix.
For example, check out this title from "briguysgirls":
Bezel set freshwater pearl necklace, pearl necklace with birthstone and initial, gold necklace, bridesmaid gift, mothers necklace
and this one from "frosted willow":
Little Owl Bracelet, Cute Owl Bangle Bracelet, Silver Bracelet, Silver Bangle Bracelet, Owl Jewelry, Frosted Willow Bracelet
"distinctly ivy":
SALE - Teacher Keychain - Teacher Gift - Owl Keychain - Play Teach Inspire - Thank You Gift - Graduation Thanks Gift - Phrase Quote
Another thing the top shops have in common is selling one style, a specific type of jewelry- Scrabble Tile Pendants...Stamped Personalized Jewelry...Wire Wraped Jewelry...
The top shops aren't that different from each other. There is a few that carry all types of personalized hand-stamped jewelry. Many shops carry delicate, simple silver and gold jewelry with cute little charms on a chain, post earrings, and bangle bracelets. They offer choices in metals so you can order, for example, a necklace (a chain with a small pendant) in either sterling silver, gold, or rose gold. They don't seem to make one of a kind pieces, a quick look through their sold items shows that necklace sold 20 times.
I sell a bunch of different kinds of jewelry, including: sterling silver, polymer clay, metal smithed, wire- wrapped, beaded... I hate creating multiples. I always was torn about it. I can't work like that. I love making all kinds of things, working with all kinds of materials. Is that hurting me? Does it make my shop seem confusing? On one hand my variety of items should mean there is something for everyone. On the other hand my shop looks a mess, not cohesive, I don't have a style or look.
This is something I've thought about before. When I first opened up
shop I listed everything I made and I sold a bit of each thing. I eventually decided to separate stuff and open a
second shop to which I moved my polymer clay beads, destash beads, origami, and paper art. I thought it was a good idea, it looked better, made more sense. Unfortunately my polymer clay bead sales dropped off. Despite informing those customers they never did come to my new shop.
Well, I went ahead and opened a 3rd etsy shop. The point of the 2nd shop was to stop my original shop from looking like a hot mess, a catch all for everything and anything I make. I should have opened 2 shops at that time. I should have one shop for my polymer clay beads, destash beads and one for my origami, and paper art. So now I do.
Check it out!
