In Over My Head

Etsy.

Need I say more?

Easy peezy, right? Open an Etsy shop for The Sparrow Fund this weekend where we can sell the jewelry from Mary in Kenya. I’ll put pics of the stuff on there, some description of the jewelry, Mary, and our nonprofit. Totally easy.

Hours later…not so easy.

See Etsy has all sorts of Dos and Don’ts for stores that are a collaborative effort (rather than me simply selling things I made myself only) and for stores claiming to sell things for a charity (guess a lot of people have used that claim falsely as a marketing ploy…geesh). So, okay, gotta read all the rules and make sure we’re good to go.

Then, gotta write up a profile and our own store policies and procedures and a welcome announcement and shipping and payment info and a message to buyers at checkout…oh my. Starting to feel a bit overwhelmed.

I started loading pics on there — one of the jewelry and a few from Mary. Thought that was cool. Spent a good bit of time figuring out what to write in the description. Then, I realized I had to name each piece. Just putting “Paper Bead Bracelet in Red” wasn’t going to cut it. So, I got creative…which I confess was sorta fun…until I realized I have a lot to post and my creativity tank is getting a bit more shallow with each post.

But, as I was still loading some items, I made a sale! Oooo…fun! My very first sale — for the Living Water in Kenya bracelet! (Told you I was naming creatively) Okay, feeling encouraged to keep going.

Several hours later, got 30 items posted and ready for more buyers…but barely any page views happening.

So, I decide to message a handful of “etsy store experts” who volunteer to help new shops by taking a look at their shop and giving feedback, etc. Couldn’t hurt, right?

Oh, boy.

Love your pictures. Your pictures with the wood background aren’t doing anything for your pieces; use a light background. Like the pictures of the women. Don’t use the pictures of the women; customers want to see the jewelry only and more of it. The jewelry market on etsy is saturated; do more to stand out. Prices are good. Prices are too low. Love your artsy titles. Redo your titles to be more descriptive. Explain your organization better and why these African women have anything to do with you. Your descriptions are good. Love what you’re doing. Good luck.

Took all they said seriously — they’ve sold thousands of items between them. So, more hours today were spent taking more pictures on a light background — and, honestly, I think I like the wood background better. And, edit and write more and edit more.

This will get easier, right?

Anyone got any creative names for the pieces I have pictured in this post? There might be something in it for you if you come up with good ones…

www.thesparrowfund.etsy.com — send it to your mom, your kids’ swim coach and piano teacher, write it on a post-it for your neighbors, leave it on a napkin for your waitress when you go out to eat…I don’t care who you give it to, but spread the word. I’ve got lots of these to sell…and more coming!

Oh, and click on these links. If you are a blog stalker (do I have any of those?), click them both once a day. Higher rankings on those lists bring more people by, and I’m resorting to drawing strangers in just to get them to see this jewelry…and possibly name it for me…before they BUY IT. Think of it as your little virtual post-it to a neighbor…

UPDATE: 20 minutes after posting this, got an email confirmation for a sale of 2 pieces! A big ole “oh yeah!” for Carol in TN who bought the Aganpanthus in Kenya necklace and Savannas in Kenya bracelet…yup, creativity people. Apparently, the expert help may have helped!