Does Anyone Actually Sell Anything On Etsy?

[onlyjamesgirl]

 I heard about Etsy through one of my favoriate home magazines "All You" and I have been a little skeptical about it. Do you actually make any sales on there? If so, what do you sell?

I am crafty but only when it comes to SIMPLE items like picture frames or boxes or something like that. I love making these items and I'd love to sell them for some side cash but I don't know if anyone would actually buy them. Here are a couple examples...I made these a week ago for my grandparents and inlaws because i am about to have a baby.

[southernlamom]

I do okay there. I've had 175 sales on my Mama's Little Monkeys, and some on my my Destash shop, soap shop etc. :)

Granted it took 18 months to get to a productive routine on there. I also sell on Artfire but not as much.

[sweetj]

I sell hair accessories and a couple of other things on Etsy. It took me about 6 months to get my first sale. I also have a shop on Artfire but haven't made a sale yet. Most of my orders and sells come from locals.

[onlyjamesgirl]

 Does etsy cost anything to join or maintain an account? i know it's like 20cents to list an item and then 3.5% when the item sells but are there any other fees?

[southernlamom]

Etsy: .20 each time you list OR Renew/relist (you often have to relist a lot to get your items at the top of searches. Plus 3.5% fee on each sale PLUS consider paypal fees (if you dont sell a lot pp fees should be small or none,b ut once you go business verified..which you should..you'll pay fees.)

Artfire: basic accounts are free but tend ot sell less, verified accounts are 12.00 a month I think for now, going up to 15 soon.

I did this blog post abuot renewing and what not on Etsy if that will help. Everyone is a lil different: http://blog.mamaslittlemonkeys.com/2009/12/renewal-experiment-results.html

[houseowl]

Those are adorable items and if I were looking for something like that I would definately buy them.  Good luck in 54 day.

[Candlelady44]

I have had several Etsy shops, I find that when I promote them and relist items I get sales when I sit idle so do the items :)  i just started my new store and it has done OK, mostly my friends are ordering and I don't list their stuff on the site to avoid fees so its serving as an "I can do xyz or abc" for them to look at :)

[MamaCass07]

I am not on ETSY. I am on www.shophandmade.com, but its the same gig, really. I find that having a blog, offering the occasional incentive, and being over on Facebook as well...That helps bunches....otherwise I think a shop can get lost in the shuffle. 

[i.heart.rachel]

If you price things right, and you work HARD, you will sell things on Etsy. Doesn't mean you'll make much $$, but things will sell..

[FRANCISBEL]

I sale no to much there a little be each month...

[wolfmomma30]

I haven't been on Etsy for awhile ( getting ready to reopen shop) however I was a seller for 3 years prior. Sometimes just hitting a listing at the right time also helps. I usually would list 3 x a day on R-Su ( that includes relisting things) and then just one listing in between then. I found alot of people usually would heart something on Friday and then come back and get it on Monday. I used the idk what its called but its a free tracker that etsy has. Showcases,ehhh, again its hit or miss. Ie, if you make hairbows; tons and tons of others do as well, so that would be something definately worth trying to stand out. Now for the customizeable lettering; I am not too sure. I just don't think there are too many sellers like that so you may not have to worry so much.

Also... if you want to dabble in an extra shop. There is also a site called http://www.zabble.com/ and it is totally free ( paypal will always charge fees though, ugh them lol). I found out about that site through a good friend on fb.

Just keep chugging away girlie. Etsy is always hit or miss. Sometimes you can have a backlog of orders; other weeks you are starving.

OOOOH Before I forget!! My biggest #1 way I sold things was to go into Etsy Chat. Just talk to the other sellers and please atleast say hi before you start typing sales. I can garauntee ( well almost) a sale if you just talk and get to know other etsians.

GL!!