How's your Etsy shop doing now?

[WIPs]

My first sale on Etsy
http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=5756942

Congrats! It's so cute!

[rhino]

thank you! just had another sale  http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=5757517
selling on-line  is all so exciting and new someday ill be a pro like you guys

[BeaG]

Congrats rhino!
BeaG

[WIPs]

thank you! just had another sale  http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=5757517
selling on-line  is all so exciting and new someday ill be a pro like you guys

Yay! Congrats!

[rhino]

thank you

[gina-marie]

i'm fed up with a lack of sales.. any advice?

[mommys little badass]

Arg. I'm frustrated. I was left my first neutral feedback. 

I wish I had known that the customer had a problem. She never contacted me or anything. Not that the feedback was that bad. But I would have done something for her to make sure she was compensated for the issue. Now I can't do much. I can send her a freebie as an apology, but that wont get rid of my neutral feedback.

Bummer...I was really enjoying my "+" streak.

I'm fed up with a lack of sales.. any advice?

What I do is think of my shop as merely a hobby. I've decided that whatever I don't sell will someday make it to a craft show with me. That way I don't feel the pressure to make sales. But that's just me.

[Jillie]

Arg. I'm frustrated. I was left my first neutral feedback. 

I wish I had known that the customer had a problem. She never contacted me or anything. Not that the feedback was that bad. But I would have done something for her to make sure she was compensated for the issue. Now I can't do much. I can send her a freebie as an apology, but that wont get rid of my neutral feedback.

Bummer...I was really enjoying my "+" streak.

A lot of people will do that, they get mad and think you're trying to cheat them instead of realizing you made an honest mistake.

I've seen a lot of sellers have notes in their item descriptions that say "If you have a problem, are unsatisfied with your order, or receive the wrong order, please email me at blahblah@craftster.org before leaving feedback."

That might help in the future 

[BeaG]

Mommys, I'm so sorry that happened to you!
Don't be too sad though. One negative feedback (especially if it was out of tone with your other feedbacks) would not put me off as a buyer.
I once received a neutral feedback (very glad it was not negative), because the American postal service had an accident with my package. It turned up three weeks late and broken. I offered the buyer a full refund or a replacement. But she did not want either. All she wanted to do was complain and leave me a neutral feedback. Because the transaction was 'overall a bad experience'. Like I control the American postal services... These things happen.

Eh... could I give any tips for succesful selling on Etsy? I could give you my personal opinion. I for instance don't think luck is a big factor in it (although getting featured on the Etsy frontpage helps and that of course IS luck).
I think this is what it takes:
1. Unique quality items (talent!)
2. Excellent presentation of those items (pictures, descriptions, tags, etc.)
3. (Re)listing on a regular base (exposure)
4. Letting as many people as possible know about your items (also known as promote, promote, promote)
5. Have excellent customer service (happy customers will spread the word and might become return customers)
So in short: it takes talent and a lot of hard work.

BeaG

ETA, PS: I don't mean that sellers without sales don't put in a lot of hard work!

[Modus Operandi]

Good advice BeaG. I agree 100%.

I'm stuck at 88 sales, though I'm not really complaining, because I want my stuff to go to my show, but 89 is still one step closer to 100. I havent been focusing at all on promotion as I have been too busy making things.

I did, however, find out the one of my giant ant pins made it to Jennifer Perkins of The Naughty Secretary Club (DIY's Craft Lab also) and she said it was her favorite thing in her Sampler. That made my week last Tuesday.

I got part of my booth display done over the weekend, could someone take a peek and let me know how it looks? You can find pictures here http://enamor.wordpress.com/2007/07/23/display-construction/.
Thanks!