"Lost My Day Job" Chapter Four: Trying to Make it Work

In chapter two (http://colieart.blogspot.com/2015/02/lost-my-day-job-chapter-two-what-are.html), I identified some things that top shops were doing that I wasn't. I have made some changes to my shops hoping they will increase my sales. 
1) The first thing I noticed was that top shops carry very specific items. I've been slowly doing this since I opened my second shop but now I'm really getting it done, as I said in chapter two, I opened a 3rd shop. 
I had opened a second shop because my original shop was becoming a catch-all for everything I like to make. So I decided it made more sense to have that shop be strictly jewelry and to move my polymer clay beads, destash beads and supplies, and origami boxes to a 2nd shop.Soon enough that 2nd shop became a catch-all for everything I like to make besides jewelry. Thus my 3rd shop. I am in the process of making the 2nd shop strictly polymer clay beads (I haven't decided if I should or shouldn't continue to destash my craft books and beads) and moving my origami boxes to the 3rd shop. I also love making books so those are going in there. Things I make from paper and or fabric will go in the new shop.

   Check out my 3rd etsy shop! 

ColieArtBooksnBoxes

                                               

2) I have been working on my titles. But unless I figure out how to use the shop stats I won't be able to tell if that is helping or not. I'd appreciate any advice on how to do that.

I've been trying to copy the way top shops title their listings. For example the title for that box at the bottom right is "Pearl Pink Mosaic Mini Trinket Box, Small Round Handmade Polymer Clay  Box". The one on the right's title is  "Pink, Turquoise, White, and Lime Green Chevron Tall Origami Box, Fabric Origami Box, Chevron Print Tall Gift Box"
3) I am offering variations for listings. 
For example a customer can choose to have the necklace with a chain 16", 18", or 20" long, and the earrings with a hammered, brushed, or polished finish, and this pendant in blue, pink, or purple. 

Another way I'm trying to make it work is by using up all the materials I have in stock. Trying to work with only what I have on hand and not buying anything new used to be something I did as a challenge! Without income from a day job I have to do it that way. I found myself unable to pay my etsy bills because I had transferred all the money from pay pal to my bank account so I could eat the billing period before last. Sales were non existent and I only had enough money to keep one shop open. I kept my jewelry shop open and had to wait for a sale so I could pay the bill on my other shops. That can not happen again. 

Today I pulled out all my canes and scrap clay and started to make beads.

all my canes and loaves from my stash, some couldn't be saved because they were hard and crumbling

scrap clay container

I rolled the scrap clay into sheets which I then rolled into logs, ready to make beads with

Now I'll use those scrap clay logs to make beads by covering them with slices from canes or loaves or with a sheet in bead color I want. For example

So, turning scrap clay and forgotten canes into beautiful beads...stay tuned to see if I made it work!

update...
So those turned into these! Which sold within a few days! I love them so much I want to make more. I don't usually recreate designs but...and it kinda defeats the point because now I have to make a new cane instead of using up old ones...

"Lost My Day Job" chapter 3: I wanna be a Crafty Superstar!

I am on a quest to improve my sales in my etsy shops. I've had my jewelry shop for 8 years now and haven't broken 400 sales! I've had my other shop 5 years and recently broke 200 sales! I've not really paid them any attention but now's the time. I certainly have the time...

One of the things I am doing on this quest is reading this book

Isn't it too cute! I love it, super easy to get along with, great resource, if you're trying to be a crafty superstar I suggest you check it out. It is readable, informative, helpful... what else can I say? What do I like so much? There are interviews with different superstars which provide a glimpse into their business and advice on different topics. There is nothing I appreciate more than hearing from someone who is where I want to be. It also has very useful appendices including a price calculator and sample inventory form.

One of my favorite things in the book is this

 "10 Ways to Kick-Start Your Sales" List.

 I think I will share the list with you and take the time to apply it to myself. I'd appreciate any feedback or suggestions on my responses. 

1) Give an item to a popular craft blog or Web site for a giveaway.

Haven't done this yet. I did something similar, I admire jewelry artist Lorelei Eurto so I contacted her and told her so. I offered to gift her some of my polymer clay beads, she took a look at my work, pointed out some stuff, I sent them, and she has since sent me a link to a necklace (I talked about it in a previous post) she used a couple of  them in! 

2) Put your store URL in your e-mail signature.

It seems silly I haven't done this, it's easy enough. But do you want that there even on emails that aren't related? Guess I can always not include it and it would be nice if it was just automatically there.

3) Offer coupons to repeat customers.

Repeat customers...why don't I have repeat customers? I do have a few that purchase my polymer clay beads but not jewelry. Considering my feedback is always awesome, why don't they come back? I tried to offer a coupon to customers hoping to make them repeat customers but not a one responded.  I have also tried like a referral program with no luck. I created two coupon codes- one for the referred (15% off) and one for the referrer (20% off). 

4) Give a gift certificate to the fan who creates the best You-Tube video about your products.

I don't know about this one. I keep hearing "you gotta get on You-Tube. Post a tutorial on You-Tube". Haven't gotten the nerve or an idea for a unique tutorial yet. This leads me to #5

5) Create a tag or pool on Flickr for customers to use to post pictures of themselves with your goods.

I would love to have a place for people that have purchased my beads to post pics of what they created with them. I've only been able to get pics from a couple customers. I have a Flickr, don't really use it. I was thinking of creating a board on pinterest for customers to pin pictures of jewelry they created with my beads but I haven't been able to pull that off yet. What do I do? Go back and harass every customer that's bought my beads? I'd have to offer an incentive. Post a picture of an item you created with my beads and get 15% off your next purchase...

6) Put links to your store in all your social networking profiles.

With 3 shops I think I need to link back to this blog or facebook? I'm making a half-assed attempt at this...important though isn't it?

7) Offer free shipping for a limited time with a minimum purchase.

I've never done this. Why not? It's one of my favorite things about fusionbeads.com

8) Include cool swag with every shipment (buttons, stickers,etc).

How can I afford that? When someone buys at least 3 sets of beads I'll add a freebie pair to say thanks. I have wrapped my jewelry in boxes that were keepers- matching origami box, altered matchbox, fabri-gami box- but that gets expensive. Maybe stickers with my web address on them so they have something to remember me by?

9) Create a coupon code exclusively for your friends on Facebook, Twitter, or Flickr.

I've tried, nothing came of it. 

10) Post about new items in your blog once a week (if it's regular, people will come to anticipate your latest offerings!).

Just started blogging! 

So there it is. I've got some work to do...Thoughts?

A word about that book I'm making the "tuffet" project from that I mentioned in my last post: I've had it for quite a while but only attempted one project, a triangular box and never completed it, all i had left was the lid too.
Anyway, if you're into bead-weaving and boxes like I am you'll love it. Here's a link to it with a preview if you'd like to check it out. 
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/541912.Little_Bead_Boxes