Online Resources for Handmade Businesses

Hey guys its Brittini with a list of online resources for Handmade Business. I hope its helpful for you guys. 

Unanimous Craft

"Its a directory of resources for crafters artist and indie business owners"

Basically this site is dedicated to organizing all the sites, blogs, stores, shows reviews ect. You could literally spend hours reading and discovering all of its wonder. Plus its FREE!

visit here: http://www.unanimouscraft.com/ 

Etsy Seller Handbook 

Here you can find all of Etsy's How-To's and 'Need To Knows' about selling on Etsy in one epic list. I personally have read every one of these list and feel its essential, I mean come on they should know whats up.

visit here: http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2011/the-etsy-seller-handbook-all-our-how-tos-about-selling/ 

Funky Finds

"Funky Finds goal is to promote all funky artist, crafters, & designers"

And they do just that, on their site they offer:
- A way to sell your items
- Giveaways
- Right On! Graphics
- Blog
- Funky Find Events
- A calender full of events and shows coming up

visit here: http://funkyfinds.com/ 

Handmadeology 

"Handmadeology exists for the purpose of teaching artist how to successfully sell their handmade goods online, and to feature the newest handmade, vintage, and supplies found on Etsy"

Features:
- Blog Features
- Etsy Tips
- Etsy News
- Top Links
- Crafty Ideas
- Gift Ideas
- Handmade Polls

visit here: http://www.handmadeology.com/ 

Etsy Forums

I am sure most of you have visited here, but if you are new to Etsy and have questions this is your place to go.

It includes:
- Announcement
- Site Help
-Business Topics
- Ideas (improve Etsy)
-Bugs (report bugs to Etsy)

Under the Community link visit the link that says Forums.

Lesson 2: Be Yourself

There are a bunch of local bars in the neighborhood where I live. Most of them have a retro or upscale feel to them. The buildings are well maintained and have interesting architecture and design. But this one bar really just looks like a hole in the wall. You know, the kind of bar you would expect to see in a student ghetto? No windows, no decoration, no class. Simply put, it looks out of place. I found myself wondering the other day why this bar doesn’t do something to make itself look more appealing to the eye. Why not renovate so you fit in with the rest of the neighborhood? I started thinking about how their business would bring in wealthier customers, and therefore bring in more money. But then it dawned on me that my assumption may not be correct.

You see, this people who run this bar know who they are as a business. They know that their bar appeals to a certain group of people, and they are not ashamed of that. They fit into an aspect of society. And perhaps if they renovated their bar to appeal to a different group of people, they business would no longer succeed. They may fit into the neighborhood better if they renovated, but they would be competing with local bars for the same group of people.

As small businesses (and humans in general), it is too easy to try to fit in to a mold instead of standing out as ourselves. While it is smart business to follow certain consumer trends and fashions, we do not want to change who we are in order to appeal to another group of people. We will just end up competing with other businesses for the same group of people, while leaving our original clientele without a business to serve them. And most importantly we lose sight of ourselves and our originality in the process. We are creators, not copiers. We cannot be afraid to be who we are, because really that is when we will be at our best. At the end of the day, I will succeed by just being me.

Welcome to Etsy

Dara's note: We often have newbies post in our forums with general questions of how to help their shops succeed. Because this has been a reoccurring theme, I decided that we would start a weekly post to help answer some general questions. Please know that I certainly am not an expert and that I am learning right alongside of you. 

Lesson 1: Don't Get Discouraged

We all know how it is. You finally get the courage to set up a shop and list your babies, your creations, for the world to see. You dream of being an overnight success, and yet at the same time you are afraid of being an overnight failure. You check your email constantly for any sales. One day passes, then another, then another. Still no sales. Maybe a week passes, or two or three. Perhaps a month or more. Doubt starts to set in and you begin to wonder if you ever should have done this. You start to doubt your abilities and talent. 

The good news is you are not alone! Most of us are not overnight successes on Etsy. Most of us do not bring in enough sales in our first few months (or years) to quit our days jobs or take lavish vacations. It takes time, lots of time, and effort to succeed on Etsy. Often times newbies will post in forums their discouragement and wonder what they are doing wrong. While we all have things that we can improve on (are we ever really satisfied with our photos?), not being an overnight success does not necessarily mean that you are doing everything wrong. Take time to learn what to do right by reading articles and blogs, but mostly give yourself time to learn and succeed. Don't let a lack of sales drive you away from Etsy. Make a decision that you are not going to quit or give in, and come learn with the rest of us! We are so glad that you are here :-)

Etsy Shop Tips

Hi! My name is Danielle Furstenberg. I live in Oklahoma City, and just started doing Etsy as a full-time job when I finished school in May. It looks right now like I’ll be writing for the OKEtsy Team Blog on the second and fourth weeks of the month.

I just officially started my business in January of this year, so I thought it might be a good idea to share two of the most helpful things I did when getting started. First, I super duper duper recommend signing up for and taking a free New Business Workshop. The Oklahoma Tax Commission offers one every few days all over the state. I was able to take one just a few blocks from my house. The one I went to was about three hours long, but the time flew by because it was SO informative and helpful.

I knew very little about the legal side of starting a business, so this workshop helped me a lot. I learned how to register for a FEIN number, open a business checking account, officially register my business, report sales tax, register my trade name – and I learned about things I can purchase for my business that are tax exempt.

Secondly, Etsy offers so many helpful articles for getting started. In the months prior to opening my shops, I tried to read a few articles from the Etsy Seller Handbook every night before going to bed. By the time I was ready to officially open my shop, I had learned a little about everything from photography and writing item descriptions to shipping internationally and pricing items.

Having that base of knowledge was incredibly beneficial to me starting out. I try to still read a few new articles from Etsy each week, so I’m always learning, but in reality it’s been several weeks since I’ve made time for that.

I hope my suggestions can help any of you that are just starting out! Also, if you’re new to Etsy and have questions or are confused, please head over to the OKEtsy Team Discussion Board! There are a ton of really nice people there that would be more than happy to help! Thanks!

Meet Our Members: AScrappyDesign

I'm very happy to introduce to you Heather of AScrappyDesign, a longtime team member, a true sweetheart, and a real class act. Let's all give her a warm round of applause. Heather, come on out!





1. Introduce yourself to the team.
My name is Heather Mills, and I am sole owner of A Scrappy Design in Oklahoma City. Unfortunately, A Scrappy Design is only part-time for me but one day, I will be able to do it full-time . . . just wait and see. :D

Calendar Circle Tags -- Set of 12

2. Tell us about what you make. When did you start making it and why?
I make all kinds of paper goodies such as cards, gift tags, and scrapbooking embellishments. I started working with paper when my best friend got me hooked on scrapbooking, which turned into getting a second part-time job at the local scrapbook store to support my hobby, which turned into an Etsy shop! Making cards, for me, was very satisfying because the recipients were delighted to see a card that was handcrafted with a personal touch rather than just something purchased from a big box store. My cards are something that can be cherished and kept forever.

3. How long have you been crafting? When did you decide to start selling your handmade goods?
I have been crafting for as long as I can remember. I remember as a little girl making crafts with my little sis and selling them at a craft mall nearby. I started selling my paper goods on Ebay and had some success there, but then I found Etsy. It was so much easier for me to navigate and the fact that I could have my own store front was a plus. So, in January 2007, I signed up and immediately started listing.

Birdhouse Thank You -- Handmade Greeting

4. Other than what you sell, what's your favorite thing to craft?
Between my full-time job and my Etsy shop, I don't have much time to do any other crafty things but when I have the chance, I love to draw and paint. Who knows, maybe some day you'll see some of my work in my shop. :D

5. What do you love best about Etsy?
I love all the people here on Etsy...they are all so supportive of each other.

Field of Mushrooms -- Handmade Paper Embellies

6. What's your favorite thing about Oklahoma?
My favorite thing about Oklahoma would have to be the unpredictable weather. I love how it can be 70 degrees when I go to work and as I leave work the same day, it's snowing.

7. Do you sell anywhere else or have a blog, Twitter, MySpace, etc.?
Right now, I don't sell anywhere else online but I do have some of my stuff at the French Cowgirl.
Blog: http://ascrappydesign.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AScrappyDesign
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ascrappydesign
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ascrappydesign

Heather also graciously shared some promotions tips with us in our group forum thread. Since she implemented these steps, her sales have picked up. Here are Heather's (paraphrased) secrets to success:

1. Use your blog wisely. Heather has done two new blog features that have generated some shop traffic.

2. Increase your tweets. Twitter is a great tool, so let your followers know when you have a new item in your shop or a new blog post.

3. Remember the forums. Heather said she avoids the Promotions section, but the Etsy forums are a good place to draw traffic to her blog.

Thank you, Heather!