I Sold On Tophatter

Looking for a new venue of selling my handmade items and some free publicity, I tried Tophatter at the decretion of a viable blog. Tophatter was described as a great addition to sell on along with Etsy. What they didn't note that I would not get top dollar for the sold item. I guess this item had set in my shop long enough but $5.00 for an $80.00 item wasn't what I had in mind. This item took many hours to make and four balls of yarn (28 oz). I didn't recoup the price of the yarn in this auction. Hand crocheted in a basket weave stitch, soft and suptle. Beautiful red color and hangs well. Considering the time it took to produce this item I have not done another one, so you see, it was a OOAK. What I learned was that Tophatter isn't an option for a lot of artistians unless you just need to rid yourself of some stock. If you decide to try the site pick something that you won't lose a lot of money, recoup your materials and some of your time and hopefully some of the postage. It's going to cost me the price of the sell for postage. Even though some advice we get and read are from reputable sellers, please people take the time to investigate, start small and not lose a lot in the learning process. I know this may sound bitter, but I'm more disappointed than anything else, disappointed in myself for not taking the time to see if there was any money to be made on large scale OOAK items. I like anyone else enjoy a good deal but not at the expense of the artisian. Look closely before jumping, test the waters once again on small items. We're in this business to make money not to give away the cost of labor and materials. I save the cost for charities. I'm not saying I won't try Tophatter again, but it will be with a less expensive piece. Something that didn't involve a lot of my time and money

Ready For the Holidays?

Are You Ready For the Holiday?



It’s the middle of July and it’s time to start thinking about the holidays. I’ve personally noticed that the decorations for the fall celebrations are beginning to come out with school supplies. What’s the rush? Its simple some of us like to shop early, get a head start, not feel the rush so we can enjoy more. With the state of our economy starting early allows us to stagger our purchases and see a silver lining before the dreaded rush that some people enjoy sets in.

Now is the time to start looking at inventory on hand and thinking of future inventory for the month of August starting and running as close to the holiday as possible. What do you have available for the holidays. What do you have on hand that would make great gifts or what do you need to add. What do you have to fulfill a need or what do you need to add to it. School starts in August in most places and so does the holiday shopping season for a lot of people.

If you have any inventoried items you were waiting for the right time to place in your shop either online or not, now are the time to get them out and stocked, ready for the holiday. Beef up that inventory; give your shoppers a selection of the best you have to choose from. Determine which items you have that are your most popular, best-selling items. Make them available. Add new products to your store.

Good product information is important; update your descriptions if you haven’t done so in a while. Use past customer feedback for items already sold, this is a useful tool. People love to read reviews. Highlight these compliments to help enhance your sells.

Determining What Will Sell

Niche III


Now that you've discovered your niche, it's time to learn how to spot retail trends. Best described as the marketplace, whether the product will sell. We would all love to get in on the ground floor but often times that doesn't happen. So let's at least try to gain some ground by the third floor. There are several ways to do this.

First to understand retail in it's broad sense, selling products to the public. These products are our handmade items to be sold either directly to the public (retail) or to sell to retailers (wholesale).

First to determine the trends, we must look at what is selling in the marketplace. Next we shouldn’t allow our like or dislike of a trend prohibit us from joining in. For example, I don’t like the mixture of pink and chocolate but I’ve had clients who do. Give your clients what they want.

In spotting trends, you need to know if your target market is local or national. If you're selling on the internet you can reach a large audience, use it to your advantage. What one wears in the middle of the US is gonna be different from the West Coast and that coast is going to be different from the East. Use your TV time to spot trends, such as movies, sitcoms even daytime drama. I loved watching Dallas in the 80’s, I could never tell you what was going on but I could tell you what someone was wearing, about a table or lamp in the background. You get the idea.

Below is a list you might find useful:

The Crafts Report
http://www.craftsreport.com

You can learn more about your business in their Industry Information Statistics area. Find craft organizations both local and nationally.

American Craft
http://www.americancraft.com
Information for crafters about buying trends and business principles.

Craftmaster News
http://www.craftermasternews.com

Information for craft show opportunities.

Festival Network Online
http://www.festivalnet.com/events.html?fn00077

Site for craft fair listings both in the US and Canada

Color Marketing Group
http://www.colormarketing.org

Created to forecast color trends one to three years in advance.

Feel free to post any helpful links you might have, that we may create a successful business together.

Fantastic Week

Earlier this year I took a business class at the Community College, via the web. It was a lot to consume for a person that hadn't been to school in years. I did it for the knowledge I needed and wanted and also thought it would be good motivation for my children that are in school.



When I completed the class, I got my Certificate, it hangs above my computer to remind me of my accomplishment. It wasn't all that easy, but it wasn't that difficult either. My children were proud of me and I also.



Well, after accomplishing this feat, I wonder 'Now what?' From February to September I didn't have a clue. I tried a variety of things, including MLM. None of which suited me or made me happy. Then I thought back to my lessons learned, 'Do something you love.' Simple, I love to crochet. But where do I start. I have the yarn, I have some stock to start. I questioned friends and family, some with good advice and some not so good.



I placed an order with a seller on Ebay, and low and behold, a total stranger had the answer I was looking for....ETSY. The seller contacted me as to what I do and with the merchandise I bought, something she says she never does is contact a buyer. I emailed her back, she emailed me. In her third email she told me about Etsy, she understood my plight. She was my Angel.



I signed up with Etsy in late September. Weeks went past, no sales, not even a nibble. I didn't get discouraged. I kept crocheting and listing and one day I stumbled upon something someone wanted a little girl's coat - toddler. I've managed to sell four, three this month alone. Two of which was a special order and the other two went to the first purchaser of the first coat I listed. Then there was a boy's cardigan.



The FANTASTIC WEEK, I sold three of the above mentioned items this week alone. I've got the fever and I've got the bug.



I'm estactic. I'm finally in business. The lesson was during the confusion and not doing what you love, something you're passionate about you don't go far happily. And don't waste a lot of time figuring it out, just do it.