Renew, Renew, Renew

For quite a few days, until I run out of steam, I'll be posting tips for Etsy sellers. A little background on me, and then we'll get going.

I opened my Etsy shop on 1/7/09, and I've learned a lot, mostly trial and error. I'm 70, and I live on the East side of Vegas, in a senior mobile home community. I've worked my entire adult life. The first 30 years, in bookkeeping and minor accounting; the next 35 years in writing and editing. I know, I know, the math doesn't add up but that's because I was working them both for a few years while getting ready to dive into full time writing/editing. My general profile is on my Etsy shop.

Etsy vendors depend on folks finding them. One of the best ways is to be at the top of the many search venues Etsy provides. I spend a lot of time on Etsy Forums (I'll post about Forums ASAP), and saw many posts encouraging Etsy shops to renew their items often. They said that this brought the shop up higher in search engine searches. My budget is limited, and I knew that renewing meant another $.20 per item fee for each renewal. Because of that, I dragged my heels for a long while.

Two days ago, I added two widgets to my blog, and one was a slideshow of my shop (I'll post about widgets, too, ASAP). I wanted the slideshow to show the items in a better order. I noticed that the widget always started with the most recently renewed. My first slideshow was showing about 5 items of the same type (just different colors) in a row. Overkill, for sure. I could just see blog browsers with eyes glazed over. Aha! Renew!

I went into my shop and renewed four items that were each entirely different from each other, to provide variety at the start of the slideshow.

Today, I saw an unexpected result of that renewal. I happened to be exploring, trying to find out which items were "hot" on Etsy. I went to Buy, then scrolled down to the various venues. One was Shop Local. I clicked on that, just to see how far down I was, and amazingly, I was the second shop of only two listed! Anybody, at least today, who clicks Buy Local, and puts in Las Vegas, NV, will see, first, CarolynsJewelry, and next, EvelynMayfield.

Why did I get this lucky? Because that venue lists the 2 most recently updated shops in the search area! Her shop and mine were the only two shops in our area that had updated in the past 24 hours. Does that tell you something?

You can bet I will be renewing at least one item a day. I figured that $.20 a day is $6 a month. For those on an even tighter budget, try renewing once a week. That's less than a buck a month.

For those who do not know how to renew: Go to your Etsy shop. Across the top of the page, go to Your Account, and Currently for Sale. Then, pick the item you wish to renew, check the box to the left, and scroll down to the bottom and hit renew, and in the next window, "renew" again. That's it.

Good luck.

May Is Lupus Month

Hello all,

I was diagnosed with Lupus in April of 2007. It was a very difficult time, I was in pain, tired and it took a good 2 years of trying to get the right mixture of medications to get me to a functional level. I spent a lot of time doing nothing and sleeping. I needed to fill my time and to take my mind off the daily struggle, as it was causing a depression that I feared would get very deep. Not working caused another level of stress, financial. It was getting close to Christmas and I decided that sitting on my but watching TV everyday was not getting me anywhere and with money tight, I needed a hobby to fill the time, take my mind off the pain and get Christmas gifts with little money. I made a necklace with a boyfriends sister back in high school and it has been hanging around my stick shift in my car for years. I was starring at that necklace one day, sitting in the car wondering if I should go to the mall or....a bead store! I can make a Christmas gift for my mom with beads! That was it! I was able to sit and bead with out to much effort physically and it took my mind off what my body was doing to me everyday. This beading hobby is now a full blown business. It has been a while but as you can see from the pictures my work is progressively gotten better. My 4 yr anniversary of living with Lupus was last month and this month is Lupus month. There is just now a new clinical trial out now for the first new drug to treat Lupus in 52 years! That needs to get better, fast!

Thank you for taking the time to listen to my story and view my jewelry that has become the key ingredient to a healthier me. I am making the Swarovski crystal butterfly bracelet seen below in colors that match the Mt Charleston butterfly, chosen by the director of the Colors of Lupus Nevada. Lupus uses purple(the color of awareness for Lupus) butterflies as a symbol so this bracelet works perfect for raising awareness. We will be selling this new version on my site starting tomorrow (you get a sneak peek) and a portion of the sales will go to the Colors of Lupus Nevada to help others with this disease in many different capacities.

Thanks again for the soapbox!

Laura Graham

Desert Star Creations

The Lupus Mt Charleston Butterfly Bracelet

Swarovski Crystals Butterfly Bracelet

My first necklace I made back in '08

New to Handmade in Vegas

My name is Stephani and I live in the northeast/downtown section of Las Vegas. I am a medically retired Registered Nurse. I make and sell baby and children's items, specializing in cloth diapers and accessories. I sell mostly online and am looking forward to connecting with other crafters and increasing my presence in the Las Vegas area. My shop is called Chubbie Bums Heirlooms. The name came from the fact that it takes about a fat (chubbie) quarter of fabric to make the outer layer of a cloth diaper and because I have a love of sewing heirloom infant and children's clothing. My grandchildren are the most common recipient of the clothing to date. My motto is "Cloth diapering the world, one Chubbie Bum at a time" and dressing kids like kids, not small adults" My etsy store is Chubbiebums1 and my Facebook page is facebook.com/shubbiebumsheirlooms. I look forward to meeting you all soon

UPCOMING CRAFT SHOW

http://www.moapavalleyartguild.net/festival/festival.htm

Here is some info. on an upcoming show

Kathy

Mt. Charleston Show Update

Hi everyone. I haven't sent out any contracts yet or accepted any money, but I do have several interested people. I plan to start working on the details in May, so that's when I will send out contracts and start accepting money. I sent out an Etsy convo to everyone on the team shop listings, but I may have missed someone. If I didn't send one to you, and you are interested, please e-mail me at nevadawoods.@hotmail.com.

Artwork by Bob Kimball: TIme Lapsed Video Tutorial - Drawing a Cat

Artwork by Bob Kimball: TIme Lapsed Video Tutorial - Drawing a Cat

Last Call for Festival Craft show

Hello!

So the craft festival is this Saturday, April 16th from 10 am to 6 pm. We have had some people cancel so we have some spots available. If you would like to still be in the fair you can email me at artsylasvegan@yahoo.com and pay the 25$ fee when you get there on saturday. It is going to be an awesome event so let me know if you would like to come. Thanks!

Melinda Stender

artsylasvegan@yahoo.com

Tomorrow's Meeting

How many of you are going to tomorrow's meeting at Findlay Chevrolet? I'll bring my laptop, and if they have wifi, I can help with any questions you might have about certain internet aspects of selling.

http://www.meetup.com/Handmade-In-Vegas/Las-Vegas-NV/62937/

Team Meeting this week

Hi Team - Kathy has planned another NorthWest Meetup this week on Wednesday (details here).  I have put together the regular 2nd Tuesday team meetings in the past, but due to seriously poor attendance (last month we only had three people, the month prior only four), haven't planned one for this month.  However, the space at Findlay Chevrolet is still available for us tomorrow night for anyone who wants to get together and hang out. There is a meetup event created for anyone who wants to go here. As far as I know, there is nothing official planned for the night.  Anyone who would like to take charge tomorrow is welcome to but I am unable to make the meeting myself.  We do have the space reserved every 2nd Tuesday of each month through the end of the year.

At our last team meeting, we had talked about only doing quarterly meetings to see if that would help boost attendance.  Also, it would be great to have volunteers to help lead meetings and share their experience so you guys don't have to listen to me every month.  Any feedback about how to make our team meetings better attended would be great.  I've been doing an hour of driving and a few hours prep time on our meetings so far but with the turnout, realize it's not working out.  Thanks to everyone for your feedback and suggestions.

Craft Events

Just a couple craft events coming out, if u r out and about stop by and say Hello to all of us!

UNLV Festival Saturday April 16th 10 am - 6pm
Student Union to Ham Hall Area

Arts & Craft Festival Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary--April 17th
9:30 to 5 pm
Carriage Rides, Pic nic Areas Tours of Sanctuary

Weather will be awesome this weekend!

Kathy

Hello from Homespun Sprout!

Hello! My name is Lindsay, and I'm new here. Just wanted to take a minute and say hi. I'm SO excite to have found this team! My shop, Homespun Sprout, has been open for almost a year, but I'm ready to try and boost sales. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Castle with Mote!

This is eight inches of miniature fun.....and my newest listing.
Megan Dresback (FFTFandB)

Lost at Studio8ten

Hi everyone, fun event for first friday at studio8ten.  When  I got home I was missing a large black zipper portfolio with all my art quilts in it and my Aquariart Sign and a little off white fold up table.  If you find it in your vehicle please call or email me.   We had great helpers and it may have just been packed in the wrong car.  Thanks, Heather - heatherp22@msn.com Aquariart...