If – on January 1, 2015 – you decided that this is going to be the year where you get off the couch, sort your shit out and maaaaybe try to turn your knack for knitting booties into more than just a sideline hobby, listen up.
Etsy, the online marketplace for handmade goodies, stocking everything from Ryan Gosling body pillows to embroidered vaginas, are kicking off the Pedestrian Coach year with a masterclass on setting up shop and making bank. So if you’re keen on cash (i.e. you, reading this, RN) and know how to wield a glue gun, sign up to get yourself sorted and for once, maybe, stick to that new year’s resolution.
Crafty minx who also happens to be Etsy Australia’s Seller Growth Manager Jennie Smith answered a few of our hard-hitting questions to get you started. If you wanna know more secrets, you’ll have to watch her session.
What drew you to Etsy?
I was inspired by the amazingly talented community of sellers from all around the world who were following their creative dreams. I was also intrigued by the company’s mission to reimagine commerce in ways that build a more lasting and fulfilling world.
And what compelled you to start your own shop?
I opened my Etsy shop in 2008. At the time I was feeling run down and uninspired in my day job. I had always felt the need to create and decided to take a leap of faith and explore the possibilities of a more creative career. Etsy felt like a natural place to start as it had a ready-made audience who were looking for unique items and it didn’t require a big investment to get started.
What’s a common mistake people make when first opening their store?
Sometimes new sellers can underestimate the significant role their product photography will play in the success of their shop. In the world of online selling, a product photo has to answer a customer’s questions and make them feel confident that they know exactly what it is that they’ll be buying when they click that ‘add to cart’ button.
Have you made any mistakes along the way? What did you learn from them?
Being too much of a perfectionist has been my biggest mistake. I now live by the mantra ‘Done is Better Than Perfect’ when it comes to many facets of business (and my life!). For Etsy sellers, I think it’s important to remember that you don’t need to spend a fortune (or a huge amount of time) on creating the perfect website, designing the perfect logo or second guessing every aspect of your products. I tend to find that it’s the people who just put stuff out there, get it done, and then tweak things over time who have the most impact and get the best results.
In your opinion, how important is to set goals and create a timeline for your business?
Focus and planning are absolutely key in finding success in business. When you’re not answering to anyone else it becomes easy to let time slip by without making any real progress towards your goals. I recommend setting yearly goals and then breaking these down into monthly actions. For example a yearly goal might be ‘Increase sales by 20%’ and a monthly action might be ‘Start sending a monthly newsletter to encourage repeat purchases’. Effective daily planning is also important.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone wanting to start up their own store?
Done is better than perfect.
For more insights on selling your wares on Etsy, sign up for Jennie’s Pedestrian Coach session.
If that’s not enough to get you going, Etsy Australia are running #EtsyResolution, a free four week online course covering everything you need to know about setting up a shop – from your brand’s story to shipping to SEO. Register for #EtsyResolution here.
Title image via Etsy’s instagram.
