IndieSmiles.com » online craft business

Do you Google?

March 08, 2010 :: Posted by - Barbra :: Category - Biz Advice - Get Noticed!, Headline, how to

By Contributing columnist Susan Averello aka Fantasy Clay

Google Analytics can be one of those great tools that can give you much information about your store or website. It can let you know the number of visitors to your site on a daily basis, how they get there, even what words they use to find your site. If you have your own site or sell on a site that is integrated with Google Analytics, this is a must have tool. Knowing where your visitors arrive from can enable you to market more directly.

Your first step is setting up an account, if you haven’t already. Go to google.com/analytics. This will take you directly to the log in page. From there you can sign in using your Google account; if you have Gmail and/or a Blogspot blog, you have a Google account. If not, there is a link to set up a Google account. When you log in, you need to sign up for Google Analytics-they’ll be a box right there.

The next page is Analytics: New Account Sign Up. It will ask you for your website’s URL. You want to use your store’s main page: i.e. http://username.artfire.com. Then just name the account and fill in the rest with your country and time zone. Click continue. The next page just asks for your name, then click accept policies. After that, you’ll be on a page with some code and some choices. Leave it on the defaults.

And finally, the last step. If you look at the code- there is a UA number; it should be in this format 00000000-0. In a site that is integrated with GA, you just need to enter this number in the stats page. I know ArtFire, 1000Markets and Etsy are and Zibbet isn’t. I don’t have experience with any other shops so you need to check. It will usually be under Stats or Analytics, depending what a site names it.

If you own your own site or a blog, you’ll have to copy and paste the code anywhere before <body> in the page’s html code. It’s easy enough to do on Blogger. Click on Edit HTML, then paste the code any where before the <body> tag. Rather than search the whole page, just paste before any other code. Then click ‘save template’.

Google Analytics stats are not in real-time. They are updated daily, so you’ll have to wait a day before seeing any data. Tomorrow you will have a few graphs, I think everyone gets hooked on the top one; this lists the number of visitors a day. However, Google Analytics will count every visit, including yours, so in the next article, I’ll tell you how to set up a filter so your views won’t be counted.

Photo courtesy of RoundWords

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One or Two?

March 04, 2010 :: Posted by - Barbra :: Category - Biz Advice - Get Noticed!, Headline

One Shop or Two?
by contributing columnist Ashley Pahl aka AshleyPahl

Having an Etsy, Artfire or Folksy shop can sometimes be a very time-consuming activity. Why would a person want to open a second shop? There are many good reasons for making the decision to have two stores, and sometimes it is the right choice. Some good reasons for opening a second shop include:

1. Introducing a new line of items or a different style.

2. Selling handmade if you own a supply shop, or vintage if you own a handmade shop, etc.

3. A shop appears cluttered and is overwhelming to shop browsers.

4. Separating the popular money-makers from the more serious art forms.

5. Dividing a wide range of prices into two so that shoppers can focus and better compare products.

Buyers may have an easier time focusing on the items they are looking for if they are separated from the additional miscellanea that you sell. For example, if you mostly make knit hats, but also have your handmade earrings peppered in your shop, it may be too distracting for shoppers who came to your shop looking for hats. Alternatively, if you have a shop that specializes in sterling silver jewelry, it may help a shopper to focus on what they really want if the more expensive pieces are separated from less expensive “silver-toned” pieces.

Having a second shop may even get you more exposure. You can be listed in directories twice, in Etsy’s search engine twice (when searching for sellers), and could be stumbled upon twice.

The downside, of course, is that a second shop is twice the work. Two shops to stock; two shops to market and promote; two shops to make listings for; two shops to answer messages for and complete feedback for. Additionally, if you decide to move items that you already have listed in one shop to a new shop, you will need to do so manually: copy and paste the titles, descriptions, and materials, re-type the tags, make new shipping profiles, and upload the photos all over again. Not only that, but you will lose all of the hearts and views you have accumulated for such items. Your shop’s feedback will be back at zero and you’ll have to find a way to bring shoppers to your second store.

For many, it may be worth adding a new product line to the original shop and see how it fairs. Additionally, it may help to organize the “clutter” of the first shop into something more manageable for browsers. The shop sections feature and Rearrange Shop feature are both great for accomplishing such a task.

If the pros outweigh the cons and you decide to go for it, here are some things to remember when opening a second store:

1. You will need a second email address. Each email address can only be linked to one account on Etsy.

2. You will need to disclose your additional shops. You must link from your first shop to your second shop and vice versa either in your shop announcement, profile, or shop policies page.

3. All listings must be manually re-listed. There is no way to just switch them to a new account, and you will have to pay listing fees again.

4. The same PayPal account can be used for multiple Etsy accounts – there is no limit.

5. If you are not using the same banner, avatar, packaging materials and business cards that you use for your first shop, you may need to get new ones, which will add additional costs.

All in all, the decision to open a second online shop is really an individual one. What works for one business may not pan out for another. It may be worth the financial risk to open a new store, or it may be more practical to better manage your first shop. Many Etsy businesses do quite well with multiple shops, and as the old adage goes, “you never know until you try”.

Poster image courtesy of The LoveShop

“Open” image courtesy of The Back Porch Shoppe

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Descriptions 101

March 02, 2010 :: Posted by - Sue :: Category - Biz Advice - Get Noticed!, Headline

Picture courtesy of 3gwoodworks

By contributing columnist Pam aka ElectricPenquin
Once your fabulous picture gets a customer to open your listing, it’s the description that makes or breaks the deal. That’s a lot of pressure on a few sentences! Here’s how I attack the description demons:

First, I come up with the answers to these questions. One good way to answer these is to pretend you’re describing it to someone over the phone. What words would you use then?
- To start with, what is it – necklace, terrarium, hat, coat rack?
- What materials is it made of?
- What color(s) is it?
- For necklaces and bracelets (and anything else that closes), what kind of clasp does it have? Extender chain?
- What size is it overall? Most of the world is metric, so measurements should be listed in both inches and centimeters (confession – mine are not!).
- What sizes are the components? I just list the main pieces, not every single bead.
- How is it packaged – gift wrapped, organza bag, recycled padding?
- Any instructions or information the buyer might want to know beforehand – can’t get it wet, will arrive unassembled?
- Is it custom made? If so, it may take longer to ship out than usual.
- If a component was truly handmade and bought from a fellow Etsyian (like ceramic beads or pendants), I think it’s a really nice gesture to mention that. I usually go with something like “The ceramic beads were handmade by xxxxxxx.etsy.com” (no period at the end of the sentence). That syntax puts a link to their shop, once the listing is saved.

Then it’s time to type all of those answers into a persuasive, item selling group of sentences!
- The first sentence has to be snazzy and attention grabbing, as it’s what displays on a Google search. This is the most difficult part!! I try to put as much in it as possible, while still staying at around 100 characters. I always use the “View a preview of how your item will appear in Google search results” link to see the final result, and tweak it as needed.
- I try to type in coherent sentences, with proper cases and grammar. For terrible typists like me, spell check is a requirement!! Hint – put it in Word or an email, and check it there.
- I proper case the title and keep it to a reasonable length. Arrggh, I can’t stand titles that contain 30 words all in caps! I won’t even open them even if the piece looks really cool.
- Finally, in the beginning, I had someone else look at the final version as if they wanted to buy the piece, and had them tell me what they thought was missing.

Ta da, you’re done! Next, it’s off to the dreaded tags. More fun!!

It took me forever to write up just one item when I first started, but now I’m pretty fast. Descriptions do get easier the more you do them, really they do!

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A Ten Step Program

February 08, 2010 :: Posted by - Sue :: Category - Biz Advice - Get Noticed!, Headline

By Contributing article by Ashely Pahl aka Ashley Pahl

The Ten Step Tax Filing Plan for Indie Business Owners:

The new year is here and tax season is upon us. This can generate a lot of anxiety for people, especially for some creative types who shy away from numbers, and in some cases, even organization.

For those small, creative business owners who did not file their receipts, categorize their purchases, keep track of their expenses, or even sum up their profits, then the following 10 steps may be the organizational plan needed to get ready for the Tax Man. The plan is meant to take up to 10 days, or 10 weeks if it is an extremely busy time of year. However long it takes to correctly file your taxes, April 15th won’t be such a looming deadline when following these 10 steps:

1. Dig out all of those saved receipts, bank statements and credit card statements. Questioning what can be counted as a business expense, and what cannot? Basically, a business expense is anything that is necessary to carry out a business, but cannot be mixed with personal use. This can include materials, advertising, office equipment, travel expenses, etc. Certain items that serve both a personal and business purpose, such as a laptop, may be deducted, but it requires proof and very specific record keeping. If you cannot prove the percentage for which you use an item for business purposes, it may be best not to try to expense them. Remember: any item that you wish to expense must have proof of business usage and a record of purchase. A tax guide for small businesses can be found here: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p334/index.html

2. Familiarize yourself with the 1040 Schedule C, which you will need to file your 2009 taxes if you are a sole proprietor. You can find the official form here: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040sc.pdf
The form itself already has the general list that you should be categorizing your expenses as. Use this as a guideline when categorizing your expenses, and the whole process will seem a lot less daunting. It may be helpful to have physical copies of your receipts and statements, and then label them accordingly.

3. Once you have all of your expenses categorized and labeled, add them up in a lined note pad, or alternatively, you could use a simple spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel or Google Docs. A simple template can be found here: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=rWhxbBtSd82A-6pwKL6E6Gg&output=html

4. Go through each month and add up your sales. If you sell exclusively at online sites, go through your sold sections. Etsy makes it easy to do this, as they provide the data to be downloaded at the bottom of your sold items section under Your Etsy. The data can be downloaded as a CSV file here: http://www.etsy.com/sold_orders.php?page=1&order=&export=csv If you sold at craft fairs, hopefully you kept excellent records and created receipts.

5. Input totals. After you have located the data for all of your sold items and added up the sales, input this total into the correct page on your excel sheet or record book. This is your gross profit. Subtract your business expense total from the gross profit. This is your net profit.

6. Find your forms. Go online or go to your local library, for example, and obtain the necessary tax forms you need. Sole Proprietors will fill out the 1040 or 1040 EZ form and the Schedule C. LLCs with only one member will do the same. Partnerships will fill out the 1065.

7. Fill out your forms, and go over them at least once to check for mistakes. Have someone check your work if possible – there’s nothing worse than thinking you will be getting money back when in reality, you end up owing money!

8. Mail in your forms, or file online at http://www.irs.gov/efile/

9. Take precautions in case you are audited. Keep a filing system for your receipts and statements for up to 5 years, so that you can prove your expenses to the IRS. Creating a labeling system in an accordion box or binder will help greatly.

10. Get organized for 2010. So that you don’t feel overwhelmed or unorganized when you get ready to file 2010’s taxes, create a spreadsheet to fill out monthly, buy another accordion box or binder and label it with the same categories you just created for 2009. Keep up with expenses as they come. Keep an on-going tab of all of your sales. Be prepared, and filing taxes for 2010 next year will be a piece of cake!

For questions, the IRS has a very informative website for small business owners at http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/index.html

Coaster image courtesy of Etcetera Media

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It’s all in a box!

February 03, 2010 :: Posted by - Sue :: Category - Favs, Headline

By Contributing Columnist, Cynthia Nodland aka Puddin Pies

For anyone who has enjoyed visiting shops that think outside the box as well as inside the box will enjoy this interview from the owner of Blisstopiabox.

1)How long have you been in business?

I started Blisstopia Box this past fall in November 2009.

2)I was wondering why you started your own business (website) instead of joining one of the other handmade venues, did you start elsewhere and then started out on your own or did you always have your own .com.

I started Blisstopia Box with the concept of creating themed gift boxes using handmade bath & body products from small indie businesses. As a woman I wanted to share my passion for bath & body products by purchasing from other women and re-selling these fabulous products on my own website. This is my first online business.

3)What caused you to decide to start your business?

Blisstopiabox is a concept of mine that started out of the idea to categorize bath & body products by scent into themed boxes, such as, The Bakery, The Beach, The Chocolate Shoppe, The Happy Home, The Spa and others. blisstopiabox is an online boutique featuring fabulous handmade bath & body products made by small indie owned businesses.

4)What is your favorite/recommended product

I carry so many different products that I don’t really have a favorite. I do love the handmade soaps if I would have to pick one. As for recommending a product, that would be all the gift boxes of course!

5)Your shop reminds me of a boutique that I would enter in a quaint but lovely tourist town, did you ever have your own bricks and mortar shop and do you have any thought of doing this?

No I have never run a boutique shop before. But in designing the website that was the look I was going for. I feel I have succeeded in bringing the boutique style when you visit my shop. At this point I am happy just to run the online store. But you never know where things will take you, so I could never rule out opening a bricks and mortar shop if that is what the future brings.

6)If you were asked to pass along advice to others about starting their own .com as opposed to a group venue: what would that advice be?

I like being the boss and having total creative say over what my website looks like. I do everything behind the scenes that is needed to keep blisstopiabox up and running. All the pictures and written material and where they are placed is all done by me. I believe with a group venue that your creative input would be limited since they already have a format for you to follow.

7)Have you always been into crafting, tell us about any other businesses or day jobs you might have had or still have?

I have always had a hand in crafting. I love to paint with acrylics, but unfortunately have not done a painting in a few years. Recently I have been making up-cycled trinket and keepsake boxes from old cigar boxes and adorning them with beautiful papers, paint, vintage brooches and bows. I have them for sale on Etsy and Artfire under the name of Bejeweledboxes. I do work outside the home as well with two part-time jobs. I am an in-home caregiver and also an administrative assistant.

You obviously have a passion for your business. Why do you love what you do?

I love what I do because plain and simple, I am creative and need that outlet to express myself. I also love to share my love (bath & body junkie) of these fun and fabulous handmade bath & body products with others. Not only are customers benefiting from these products but I am also helping other women by purchasing their wonderful products for resale.

9)Tell us a bit about your family or home life, how does where you live play into your art?

I will be married to my wonderful husband this upcoming April for 16 years. I have a son who is 14, and twin identical daughters who are 12. As my children are older now it allows me to run my business from my home with minimal interruption. My husband is supportive of my online craft business and is proud of what I have done with my website, and of course that makes me feel good. The kids think it’s pretty cool too!

Thank you blisstopiabox for a wonderful interview and for sharing your life and and loves with us!

Chinese Valentine Boxes by BlueRockGourds

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Look at me!

February 01, 2010 :: Posted by - Sue :: Category - Biz Advice - Get Noticed!, Folksy Favs, Headline

Tracy Smith of Cinnamon Jewellery

We all know how exciting is it to make the decision to sell online. Deciding where to sell and setting up your brand new shop is all part of the fun. So. You’ve got your shop set up, your items are photographed and looking good, you’ve worked out your prices, listed your beautiful creations and finally your online shop is ready for business! Now all you have to do is wait for all those lovely online customers to stampede through your open “door”……….

But unless you are selling something so wonderful that everyone simply must have, you may be waiting quite a while for your first sale. I’ve seen several posts on the Folksy forum along the lines of “Not had a sale yet”, “How do you get people to buy?”, “What’s the secret to selling on Folksy?” There is no secret formula to selling on Folksy or anywhere else online. Although having a good product to start with gives you a big advantage, the only way to let people know you are there is to shout about it. In other words PROMOTE!

Quick! Grab that megaphone and start walking the streets shouting about your new shop! Or better still, try promoting from the comfort of your computer chair where you’re less likely to get arrested!

There are so many ways to promote your shop online, many of them free and easy to do. Sites like Facebook, Twitter and flickr allow you to post comments and photos and put your stuff “out there”. Blogging is a great way to promote your online shop and lets people get to know you, the artist/designer, and get behind the counter, so to speak, of your shop. Giveaways on your blog also help and promote your shop. Taking part in forums like the ones on Folksy and Etsy helps get you noticed as people will often click on the link to your shop to check you out.

Free listing sites such as Craft Juice, byhand.me and UK Handmade that allow you to post photos and comment on other people’s photos are another great way to be seen plus you can post your shop/blog link there too.

And of course you can also advertise your shop on IndieSmiles for a small fee!

Promoting online is just one way to let people know about your shop. Another way is face to face. I asked four Folksy sellers how they promote their businesses in the “real world”.

Anne of haptree has been selling on Folksy for just over six months and sells handmade pencil cases, purses and beadkits. She promotes her shop and website online but also, once she gained confidence after a few online sales, Anne decided to try selling at a craft fair, making the most of the event by handing out cards and stickers advertising her shop. The craft fair went well and resulted in lots of follow-ups and a commission.

Anne says – “I have now taken the plunge to do a more regular arts and crafts market that runs monthly closer to home. I am going to print my own inexpensive flyers and make sure that people know that I will be there and even if they don’t make it, they may visit my shop online. I’m going to pin these on all the local information boards in the area. Just as with your online shops I think it’s important not to rely on the organiser of craft fairs to bring people to your table. All of my daughters’ friends get little haptree gifts for their birthdays too which is great for promoting my shop!”
Incidently, Anne is the owner of two fantastic blogs ~ haptreeand me, full of excellent tutorials and tips to help improve your blog and the new Craft Blog UK, a great resource for designers and crafters of all descriptions.

Debbie of DinkyDaisy has been selling on Folksy since June 2009. She takes her doodles and turns them into pretty applique designs for her purses and brooches. Before opening her Folksy shop she sold to friends and family and at the odd school fair. This year she’s hoping to start her own website.

Debbie promotes her shop by printing her own thank you cards containing her details to send with sales. She says “I have done local school fairs, I donate raffle prizes to my local schools and I do parties at peoples houses. The house parties I find to be a great success and get a lot of repeat business from. I have a few new ideas for this year and would defintely like to get some items into a local gift shop and try some larger craft fairs.”

Lynne of CakeKnitsandCosies opened her Folksy shop a year ago and sells knitted and crocheted cakes and patterns. Lynne finds the forum on Folksy a good way to promote online. She does the odd craft fair and always takes along business cards to hand out. She says “My cakes usually attract a lot of attention at craft fairs and last year I was approached by a local artist The NoSuchDisco, who’s also a Folksy seller. He asked me to knit up his latest children’s character Waldo The Worm into a scarf, to sell alongside his fabulous book.” Lynne also gets her stuff “out there” by being featured regularly in knitting and crochet magazines such as Let’s Knit and the US KnittingPatternaday Calendar. She shares her knitting patterns in the magazines thus promoting her work and gaining wider exposure. One of Lynne’s crochet cupcakes even ended up in a photo shoot for Italian Elle magazine after being spotted and bought from her Etsy shop!

Kirsty of Wharfedale Woolworks opened her Folksy shop in June 2009 selling hand dyed yarn and knitted items. She promotes her shop online and is planning to use CraftJuice and IndieSmiles in the near future. Kirsty has recently joined the UK Work At Home Mum Directory which aims to promote small “Mum-run” businesses. Advertising in her local area has helped bring customers to her shop. “I have been promoting at my local community arts centre (Otley Courthouse) with posters and by leaving bookmarks with my details on. These bookmarks also double as tags for my yarns so customers receive one when they order, if they use the bookmark then more people may become aware of my business. I do the monthly craft fair there and now have some regular customers as a result. The local knitting group, of which I am a member also meets at the the Courthouse and has been featured in the local paper so that was good publicity. I have joined the Leeds Knitterati group on Ravelry and will be attending one of their meetings soon, so this may bring in some more business. Having some of my luxury yarns stocked in a lovely new wool shop in Leeds (Baa Ram Ewe) has also helped me to get my yarns seen in the Leeds knitting community.”

As these Folksy sellers have proved, there are so many ways to promote your shop other than just online. Some of them take more effort than others, but if you want people to “Look At You” you just have to take the plunge and go for it!

Thank you to Anne, Debbie, Lynne and Kirsty for taking part and now here’s some of their goodies to feast your eyes on….

Earrings Image Courtesy of Glamorous Glue
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Please and Thank you!

January 23, 2010 :: Posted by - Sue :: Category - Biz Advice - Get Noticed!, Headline

From the editor:
This article is something that can really hits home, it has happened to each and everyone one of us on numerous occasions. I also want to say that there are many, many retail store owners and counter folks that are kind, sweet and helpful. We are not focusing on them today for a reason, instead we are focusing on the uncomfortable situations, so that we can learn from their mistakes. So even though it may sound harsh to be reminded of the rudeness of some counter reps and other customer service reps…. there is a happy ending, we have some “how-to’s in regards to good customer service and it ends with all of us…with one huge Thank you!

by Contributing Columnist Kimberly Barnes aka TeaTowelCreek and Editor, Susan Rosen

“Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.” Buddha

This morning I was at a local store buying some juice for my son and during my transaction the girl behind the counter answered her cell phone and began a conversation with whom ever was on the other end. I thought it was very rude and unprofessional to say the least. She continued her phone call during and after my transaction with no Thank you to follow.

After I left the store I pondered upon this topic and felt it would be a good information to pass on to the readers of Indiesmiles.

My mind automatically started to think back to other times when I myself have received, what I felt to be, bad customer service at many area stores. This is only my account, I’m sure that everyone has seen or have been in these very uncomfortable situations:

Counter reps that huff and puff and roll their eyes at me when I have asked for something behind the counter.

Or they have talked to other employees and made to wait until their conversation was finished

Then, and worse of all, witnessed an employee yelling at a customer for no reason whatsoever. This is so heart breaking, because I know the person receiving the abuse was hurt and embarrassed.

Whew, I’ve really have seen the bad side of some people in the service and retail industry. It’s unnerving. Not that I want to bring all the readers of Indiesmiles down today…I just want to alert all of us all, so that we know how it feels to be on the receiving end of such behavior. I doubt that we have ever treated our customers in such a horrid manner.

It’s just that I’ve witnessed certain retail shop owners, customer service reps and other employees and sometimes owners that just don’t know the correct etiquette for effective Customer Service. And it happens frequently.

But in order to have you smile today, I want to take these experiences, pass them along and then learn from them. We can then say ahhhh that wasn’t nice and learn from it.

As with any job that involves working with the public even by owning our own online stops ” great” customer service is one of the key elements to success!

How can we leave a customer feeling warm and fuzzy about our shop and wanting to return again and again?

Here are some simple tips that we all can benefit from:

Responding quickly to emails, sending a thank you to a customer, giving positive feedback after the transaction, shipping out the item quickly and letting the customer know that the item has been shipped and by contacting them and letting them know you are there for them will keep them coming back to your shop.

If there is a problem and your customer wants a return, or has a complaint, it’s almost imperative that we treat them with respect and know that we can solve it with out any problem.

But lets say there is a “problem” and the customer emails us with that situation: This is when the true test of customer service comes forth!

Perhaps you can thank them for letting you know (a thank you means so much!), then go ahead and help by solving the problem. It may be that you might need to return their money, or give a partial refund, make them a new replacement product, or send one that is already in stock.

Whatever the circumstances, I have found that most customer service issues that arises with the following 3 Fs, they are called Feel, Felt, Found. What is that you say? Well, it’s simple. Tell the customer that you know how they feel, as you have felt the same way in the past (perhaps tell a story of something that happened to you in the past) and you found that if………… (you fill in the rest as to how the problem was solved and how you are going to solve their problem).

So lets use an example, lets say that you offer jewelry in your shop. A customer purchases a necklace that they adore. The necklace is sent through the mail (you had thought) and never arrives. The customer emails you and the email, well it’s fairly strong. She wants to know where her necklace is, after all you had told her you shipped her order! Now this particular problem could have been easily solved if you use USPS tracking system, but this is just an example of how to handle customer service problems, solving shipping issues and researching other shipping avenues would be a whole article in itself.

You realize that the necklace was never mailed (your children were playing, you were somewhat distracted while packaging up orders…and you thought you mailed it!) and it’s now close to a month since the customer ordered the item. Here is how you could use the Feel, Felt Found scenario.

The customer is upset, they wanted the product 3 weeks ago and writes you a somewhat strong email, so you can write an return email and say the following:

Hi there (customer name)
I know how you must feel about the mistake concerning the necklace, I felt the same way when I ordered something from a shop owner in the past & I did not receive the item in a timely fashion, but what I found is that when the shop owner told me she would mail it right out with a little extra surprise gift…I was delighted.

(now this is where it’s important) Can I do the same for you to make up for my mistake?

So, remember this. A thank you goes a long way, treat the customer the way that you would want to be treated and don’t forget about the Feel, Felt, Found if you ever run into a customer service problem in your online shop!

Many thanks pic courtesy of Betty Hendrick

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We all are a wee bit Nosy!

January 14, 2010 :: Posted by - Sue :: Category - Folksy Favs, Headline, Shoppers village

Tracy Smith of Cinnamon Jewellery

If you’re anything like me – inquisitive, curious or just plain nosy(!) you’d like to know a bit more about who lies behind those online shops………..

Although smaller than Etsy, Folksy has a thriving and ever~growing community of talented designers and crafters. I’d like you to meet two of them…………

Introducing Christine Begg, owner of Folksy shop Planet Events Direct Trimmings and Accessories

How long have you been selling on Folksy?

I started selling on Folksy in April 2009.

What type of items do you make and sell?
I would describe myself as an all around crafter who loves to make and create….from jewellery items created with ornate beads and crocheted pieces right through to patchwork quilts: it’s one big creative melting pot.
Whilst being a crafter myself I recognise that many individuals also have or indeed want to improve their crafting skills and like to purchase quality components to do so which is why I like to stock a number of craft items in my shop such as mother of pearl buttons, fabric pieces, loose beads, furnishing trimmings, jewellery making findings plus lots of hints and tips !

What inspires you to create ?
My background is in Soft Furnishings so the sewing machine plays a large part in my creative world and I am one of those individuals who finds inspiration all around me. I love to use colour in a controlled way so for example if I see beige or magnolia walls I automatically start thinking “Which colours can I introduce to these surroundings to compliment it” rather than “Right I am going to change that completely”…… for me it’s a lot to do with complimentary touches, especially as a lot of my work does involve making items for other people who much of the time know exactly what they want.

When the items are for personal usage and to sell on to potential customers Ii tend to look to the current seasons to inspire me, so for instance in autumn I lean towards chocolate/deep reds/mulberry shades to add warmth to the colder air and in summer it’s all about shades of blue, soft & vibrant pinks alongside big splashes of cool glacier colours.

Is it a full~time job or hobby?
Full time. For me being creative is really a way of life and I do believe that you really do need to put in the hours to reap the best from any business. It’s hard going working for yourself, especially in the current economic climate but like many other self employed individuals you just push on…..working with colours & textures always helps to lift my mood when necessary so you could also say that there are many therapeuatic aspects to being creative which helps to make the day seem easier.

What are your best sellers?
Mother of pearl buttons & Furnishing Trimmings. As I mentioned before I have customers who like to get stuck in creatively themselves and as such I try to accommodate their needs as best I can by supplying ready-to-go items which can be easily incorporated into creative projects.
Knitters & Crocheters keep me on my toes button-wise as they are always looking for nice buttons to add the finishing touches to their lovely hand knitted items !
I must also add that in addition to my Folksy shop I also operate a very robust Mail Order service and keep customers in touch with what I’m up to and items which are currently available through a bi-monthly newsletter which is normally sent by post. I then get to engage with my customers on a more personal level, who in turn will let me know the types of products and items they are searching for, which then gives me a better idea of what to stock in my shop and through mail order.

What are your plans for your Folksy shop in 2010?
Sew-your-own couture inspired cushions and other Soft Furnishing items.
Many people want to create a signature theme around their homes and soft furnishing items are the easiest and most cost effective way to do that.
In this modern day people are short on time and want to “get creative” with the minimum of fuss and I hope that the pre-cut ready-to-go items which I will be offering will offer them the chance to revamp their surroundings without being a drain on their time and resources.

To see more of Christine’s products & to follow her crafting adventures & creative ramblings go to –
Christine’s flickr group

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My NEXT Folksy shop owner is Danni Clarke of nelliD2, home of quirky resin jewellery & handbags

How long have you been selling on Folksy?
I have been selling on Folksy for about 1 year.

What type of items do you make and sell?
When I started nelli D I made handbags and various homeware items…I used to have another shop nelli D homeware, but I didn’t have the time to spend on both so I decided that I would concentrate on the girly items..much more me anyway!
In my shop you will find one of a kind handbags, this includes totes and clutch bags and purses, I love applique so they all get an applique treatment.
On the jewellery front, people will know me for my massive collection of junk jewellery…I LOVE IT…so about a year or so ago I took myself off to a resin course…. it was brill, loved every minute and it has taken me a while to hone my craft but it’s only recently that I have started selling it properly…… I am finally happy with how it looks.
So to conclude in my shop you will find fun,fresh handbags and resin jewellery and sometimes the two are combined!

What inspires you to create?
I love design (I have a degree in printed textile design from Saint Martin’s), past and present and love looking at new trends and designs. This could be from old photos or flicking through magazines, but what I truly love is colour and texture…….this mixed with fairytales and sequins = my shop!
I also have a slight obsession with all things British (which I think shows ever so slightly in my shop) I used to live in London and I love the quirkyness of the people there and the smells and sights of the City, so this all inspires my work. I also love culture and I think that this is evident in the sequined bags I make, they remind me of Morroco and India with all the amazing patterns and foods available…….sumptuous!

Is it a full~time job or hobby?
At the moment I am spending all of my time crafting but due to a pending mortgage I have just secured a place in the police as a pcso (Police Community Support Officer), this does not mean I will give up…….its in my blood!

What are your best sellers?
Key To My Heart pendants, the Teapot brooch and the Union Jack bags…..which I can’t make fast enough!

What are your plans for your Folksy shop in 2010?
As I have said before I have combined my jewellery with my bags and I want to continue this trend, but I will have to plan this one, I am also working on chunky necklaces.
If I can make it happen (ie win the lottery) I would love to get a screen printing system up and running (this is what I did my degree in ) but I think this one will take a bit of time to sort out !

Check out danni’s blog and Danni’s website (in progress!)

Thanks to both Christine & Danni for this article, enjoy their slideshow!

Pic courtesy of Muchinalittle

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Down time to-do time!

January 13, 2010 :: Posted by - Sue :: Category - Biz Advice - Get Noticed!, Headline

Bette Miles-Holleman
Aka BadMsM

Now that the Holidays are over, we’re beginning the usual retail slump that comes along with January. Why not use this downtime to get some things done and grow your business? I use this time every year to reorganize, plan and make way for the Tax Man’s arrival. Here’s a sample of items from my to do list for January:

1. Clean, organize and inventory supplies and equipment.

This is an important step, because it allows me to see what I have, and what needs to be replaced, repaired, donated or thrown out. I work best when all my tools and materials are easy to find, and I spend less money on supplies because I don’t lose things in all the chaos.

2. Gather and organize any receipts, invoices or purchase orders for tax purposes.

My mom was a bookkeeper, so I learned this early on. I find some of this stuff when I’m cleaning out my workspace, so I have a paper bag handy to gather them together. Then, I sort them out by date, and put them in a file or envelope for future reference.

3. Close out 2009 books.

I have to figure out what I owe for 2009 sales tax, and update any other information. My accountant loves me for it.

4. Make 2010 business plan.

As I’m cleaning and organizing, I’m sure I’ll notice that there are some things I want to change, add or drop from my business. Some products may have sold better than others, or I may want to do something a bit different, and go in a new direction. I write it all down, along with any new sales or personal goals I have. Don’t forget to include advertising and social media when listing plans and goals.

5. Learn a new skill that will help business.

My husband bought me an embroidery machine for Christmas a few years back, so I’m going to have a friend who teaches at a shop show me how to use it. I’m also going to study more knitting techniques and patterns, so I can add to my product line and find new customers. What new skill can you learn that will help your sales and business grow?

6. Take a day off!

I’ve worked hard over the past year. So now that my workspace is clean and organized and my business plan is streamlined, I’ve earned a day off! Do whatever you need to blow off some steam and just relax for a day or two.

Image courtesy of notebooksetc

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