Sunday, March 6, 2011

Do You Buy or Sell on Etsy?

Isn't this a striking string quilt? It's for sale from Pippa Patchwork for $80 on Etsy. I'm thinking about selling some quilts and I'd like your input about using Etsy. At this moment there are 33,715 quilts for sale on Etsy! A search for "new quilts" on eBay showed 18,954 listings. That's a lotta quilts! Any thoughts? Thanks.
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19 comments:

  1. Vic H.March 6, 2011 at 12:20 AM

    I've bought on Etsy, and considered selling there as well...from what I understand, you don't pay much to list an item, but you will need to relist it often to keep it at/near the top of the list. Like listing it every day. This will increase your costs very fast...otherwise, it all seemed nice. But there are a lof of nice quilts for sale for less than I would consider reasonable, so I'm not sure I'd make enough to make it worth my time. ??? But I've been thinking the same thing as you. I read that there is a button we can put on our blogs to help us accept Paypal....I was thinking about just selling through my blog? Hmmmm...There is another place...check out www.thatgirlthatquilt.blogspot.com....her Feb 26th post about breaking up with Etsy and where she is selling now...interesting. Good luck!

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  2. Kristin @ wRIte iT DOwNMarch 6, 2011 at 12:32 AM

    I just opened an etsy shop within the last month. I have listed 6 quilts so far, none have sold. It was $.20 to list the item and that lasted until June I believe but I don't have plans at this point to relist often.
    I really don't know how to be successful with etsy as there are so many out there. It is wonderful if you are able to get the business. I see some shops with thousands of sales and wonder how they got to that point.

    Just some thoughts from a newbie!
    kristin
    blog: http://kheaney-writeitdown.blogspot.com/
    etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/kheaney

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  3. JudeeMarch 6, 2011 at 12:40 AM

    I listed three quilts on Etsy for nearly a year and they did not sell. I took them to a local consignment shop and two sold in three months. That's my story.

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  4. monika@mysweetprairie.caMarch 6, 2011 at 1:07 AM

    I have been there almost a year. I sold 1 quilt, but ony because the buyer saw me bogging its creation. Another gets featured in treasuries ALL the time. My custom art is selling great. Quilts... not so much. I do better when people hire me to make something specific.

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  5. Our Hands For HopeMarch 6, 2011 at 1:13 AM

    Just looked at thatgirlthatquilts...great shop. I would think you have such a great following that you could do it independently also.
    The most brilliant marketing I have seen on the web is this guy:
    http://www.acollageaday.blogspot.com/
    simple, consistent, clear...
    I found him because someone had posted a collage a day on my facebook page as a gift! So I followed the lead.

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  6. Our Hands For HopeMarch 6, 2011 at 1:15 AM

    Also...
    I am using Shopify.com for the handknit alpaca. I think I am going to like it. Its not public yet so I can't give you any details but it looks promising.

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  7. Abby and StephanieMarch 6, 2011 at 6:09 AM

    I'm an etsy seller and I occasionally buy. Items can get buried fast with the daily listings. I have sold many quilts however it slowed to almost a halt when the economy took a turn for the worse and the foreign money exchange changed. Listing an item is very inexpensive...20 cents per item and it's listed for 4 months. You can renew the item whenever you want and it's always another 20 cents. Etsy also takes a small percentage of your sale but Pay Pal does also. And hopefully you figure the shipping correctly otherwise you incur that cost as well. Looks like you already have some good input.

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  8. Kathi's KreationsMarch 6, 2011 at 7:49 AM

    Oh, Karen, you should sell your quilts on Etsy. It has been the greatest thing for me to have an Etsy shop.

    It's worth a try and only $.20 to list. Network like crazy about you shop. You'll sell in no time!!!!

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  9. UnknownMarch 6, 2011 at 8:03 AM

    Yep, I am an Etsy seller and buyer. It is easy and there is not much of an investment. I think if you are serious about selling quilts this is the way to go. You have tons of info here on this post and they are all good. Go with your gut and give it a shot.

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  10. LindaMarch 6, 2011 at 9:35 AM

    I've had an Etsy shop since July 2010. It's done well and it's been alot of fun too! Like most things, you get out of it what you put into it. There's really nothing to lose, why not give it a try? I think you would have a big advantage at the start, that you're already a published author and you have a huge following on this blog, those things would drive traffic to your shop from the start. My vote: go for it!
    http://TheQuiltingViolinist.etsy.com

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  11. thequiltedmittenMarch 6, 2011 at 10:37 AM

    I sell vintage clothing on Etsy and really enjoy it. I have not ventured to sell a quilt however, because there are many quilts listed for around $80, and I feel that my quilts are worth much more than that. It's not worth it if you can't pay yourself a decent hourly wage to make these quilts. Also I've been known to spend more than $80 on the materials alone.

    However if you're just trying to de-clutter the closet, Etsy is a great website, and is very user friendly.

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  12. UnknownMarch 6, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    I have been wondering the same thing abut Etsy and all this input is great. I have also been curious about users of a site called Art Fire? Doesn't seem to be as popular yet.

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  13. JoAnne in southern CaliforniaMarch 7, 2011 at 1:35 AM

    I've bought on Etsy but only items that have shown up in a Google search when I'm looking for something particular. I have never gone there and searched for anything because I think I would be there for the rest of my life.

    How about showing us what you want to sell? We may know someone who is interested.

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  14. patty a.March 7, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    I was thinking the same as you, Karen, on how anyone would ever find me on etsy with so much stuff listed. You have such a large following on your blog that I think you would be off to a great start. I have bought from etsy and have been happy with my purchases.

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  15. Daryl @ Patchouli Moon StudioMarch 7, 2011 at 11:00 AM

    Karen,
    I set up an Etsy shop too, but unless you are DEVOTED to selling selling selling you really stand about as much chance as finding a needle in a haystack! There are thousands of stuff on Etsy. Just looking at quilts alone you get overwhelmed and I am sure that every few minutes more items are being listed from someone somewhere in the world so you cannot ever see them all if you were a buyer. Even if you were to include some great keywords to bring up your specific quilt, I noticed others use about every keyword imagineable and still thousands come up. I've typed in keywords and things that aren't even quilts or have anything to do with quilts come up in the search. While it is 20 cents to list each item it only lasts for 3 months and they take a percentage IF it sells. Prices are all over the map too. It's nearly impoosible to sell anything on Etsy unless you sell something so unique as to be able to find it quickly or you are one in a million who has a large following. You really need to devote your life to selling and promoting in order to even sell one thing, let alone be in any kind of regular business. People are more lookers than buyers. I have tried selling my things at local shows, on Etsy, on my blog and it's not easy. I guess you need a unique product, luck or just being in the right place at the right time, because it doesn't matter how wonderful your quilts are or whatever it is you are selling it has to be seen. You posting items on your Selvage Blog to showcase an Etsy item is great advertising for others. The only one making any money on Etsy is the person who started Etsy. He/she is the one who is making a lot of money and all off others who do the work. That's my experience and 2 cents about Etsy.

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  16. UnknownMarch 7, 2011 at 8:57 PM

    Karen, Do let everyone know where your quilts for sale are and I bet you'll be surprised by the response. Your quilts are special. You are very accomplished and published. So - tell the bloggers.

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  17. Annette TaitMarch 10, 2011 at 3:25 PM

    I've had my etsy shop for a few years now and I love it. I'm very 'etsy friendly' and don't use my local UK equivalent at all as I have a good market in the US for my niche products.
    If you find a niche for your quilt style by all means open an etsy shop - there are many very lovey, very professional, very helpful people out there (I know quite a few) and it is very fulfilling selling on etsy! (and buying - have to treat myself every now and again!)
    best wishes!
    Annette

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  18. Annette TaitMarch 10, 2011 at 3:30 PM

    I should have said Karen, that the key is to finding your niche on etsy and exploiting it with beautiful photos, superb work and great descriptions.
    It won't take long to be noticed when you stand out, no matter what product you make, etsy has many eyes ready to promote beautiful work

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  19. PamelaMarch 14, 2011 at 1:26 AM

    Definitely, I think you should sell your quilts on Etsy! I've been selling quilts there for five years and have done quite well - much better than I expeced. Just have great photographs, clear descriptions, and put some heart into your listings and you should be successful, and it's not a huge investment to try it out.

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