#106 unofficial etsy featured seller - clayswan

#106 unofficial etsy featured seller - clayswan
Date joined etsy -11/25/08
Sales to date - 411 -Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

my name is lyn swan (no NOT the footballl player) :) .... i live in sonoma ca with my daughter (14 years old with no interest in clay, she really loves her violin) and 7 .... yes 7! cats!!!! they keep me on my toes, and always stay out of the studio! no, not really, they get locked in (by accident) from time to time ..... I am originally from New York, after graduating college (school for the american craftsman, R.I.T.) i moved to california. i never looked back, although i do travel back often to visit everyone.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

each day is spent in the studio, as little as one hour or as many as 14 hours, depending on my show schedule or orders ...... winter is cold and wet, summer very HOT and dry, summer days are as early as 5am, as it can get over 95 degrees by 11 in the morn! yikes ..... that means it is a glazing day, too hot to hand build, the clay dries faster than i can build! i am inspired (and always have been) by color and function. my home is small and therefore dictates each piece be somewhat petite, functional, but with personality, this is very necessary, happy functional pots with happy colors are always necessary. as one customer said to me once when walking into my booth at a show "i feel like i have just stepped into WHOVILLE!" (from the grinch who stole christmas) ... that about sums it up!

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

i have always been a clay addict. i remember being 5 or 6 and sitting in a creek, digging up mud and trying to make a tea set! in the 2nd grade we had a wonderful art teacher who happened to be a potter, he saw the "spark" in my eye when i saw the potters wheel and my first thrown pot way born. from there i never looked back and the teachers were always trying to create more classes for me, there was never enough, i always wanted more art. a tribute to one of those teachers ..... 25 years after i graduated (high school in new york) she came to california and found me ..... was i ever shocked, too wonderful!

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

i really got started on esty when i was doing a wholesale show in baltimore (american craft council show baltimore 2009) and the etsy team gave a wonderful presentation, i looked around the room, and realized we are really an aging crowd, but the is really empowered me as the presenters were all around 25 years old! i never looked back, i love the international exposure, i love that etsy is available to ALL, and for me, i love the "ease" of it all, and the ability to try lots of new ideas on a world market!

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

OK .... so, i love pizza, always have ....... i LOVE the big bang theory, and LOVE antiques roadshow (give me lots of new ideas) ...

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, an instrument, etc.

OH YES, i have tried it all ..... photography, jewelry making, weaving, spinning, dyeing, batik, painting, knitting, glass blowing (HARD and frustrating for a potter, i always want to touch) .... i have made soap, clothing, ceramic furniture, and crazy dolls. love to cook and garden ..... you know, there are just not enough hours in the day!

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

i say to all the new sellers ..... etsy is so ABSTRACT .... you may not sell for some time and then all of a sudden BAMB ..... selling like crazy .... you need to approach esty as a business, atttend to it every day (sometimes that is hard) stay with it, list new fun and crazy work, renew work, take inspiration from other etsy shops, chat with people, take their advice .... but always stay true to you, put your personality out there and ...... stick with it! have friends critique your shop, don't be sensitive, listen to them and learn from it, above all you need GOOD photography, people need to really see and understand what they are looking at ... most important .... HAVE FUN!

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

susaneastman
scottjennings
elementclaystudio

One year from now, I hope my number of sold items is...

in one more year from now i hope my total number of items sold is 1000.
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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#105 unofficial etsy featured seller - myimaginaryboyfriend

#105 unofficial etsy featured seller - myimaginaryboyfriend
Date joined etsy -1/3/06
Sales to date - 454
Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Erika Kern. I have 2 adorable rescue dogs, Viola and Gracie. When I started my Etsy shop I lived in Brooklyn, NY and worked a regular 9 to 5 in addition to my crafting but about 2 years ago I decided to make this crafting thing my full-time gig so to save money I moved back to my hometown of Bakersfield, CA.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

I wake up at 8 but thanks to coffee, the internet, and the dogs, I usually don't start working until about 9. I've been doing a lot of designing lately so I spend a good chunk of my time researching and drawing. Other than that the day is filled with stitching and e-mail and the occasional freelance writing gig.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

I've been making things as long as I can remember. My Mom's side of the family was very creative. Most of my childhood was spent building things out of dumpster diving treasures with my Grandpa and stitching with my Mom. My Dad is more technical. I think both sides come out in my work since I'm known for my creativity with precision.
As a kid I loved drawing and painting, cross stitch, decoupage, paper mache, and pretty much any other craft you put in front of me.
-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

I started doing local NYC craft fairs at the end of 2005 and had a lot of success. Etsy just seemed like the next logical step.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

I signed up for Etsy in June of '06 but didn't load up the shop until July. My first sale was August 13,2006. So about a month.

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

In no particular order:
Food: grilled Gruyere and ham sandwiches, proper Mexican tacos, anything with cucumber, brownies with lots and lots of walnuts, toast with strawberry jam
TV Shows (Only 5? I watch a LOT of TV): Mad Men, Doctor Who, 30 Rock, Ashes to Ashes, Project Runway
Bands (Again, only 5?): Elvis Costello, the New Pornographers, Spoon, They Might Be Giants, Calexico

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, an instrument, etc.

I keep telling myself I'm gonna learn to play guitar. I've had one for 5 years but have yet to find the time and money (at the same time) to take proper lessons. I'd also like to start taking tap dance classes again.
As for crafts, I'd like to get better at screen printing and I'd love to try my hand at pottery. I' also like to begin working with leather to make fancy handbags. I have some lovely pieces of leather but I need to practice before I cut into them.
-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Do craft fairs. Start locally and then try out of the larger ones in your area. Find a fair that best suits your work. Don't apply for Renegade Craft Fair if you're work is more classic and traditional. There are tons of artisan fairs out there where your work will shine.
I usually see a big uptick in traffic to my shop after a big show weekend. You'll get a mix of sales from people who meant to shop the day of the show but didn't and from folks following up on the internet.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

Lindamade - I have 2 of her adorable crochet hats and I get mad complements every time I wear them.

Caitlin Kuhwald - Her illustrations are so beautiful. I just wish I could afford one of her original paintings. . . until then, I'll have to settle for the beautiful prints I have.

Ms Craftypants - My best friend Becca makes the most AMAZING baby and parent items. Her diaper clutch is an inspired example of "necessity is the mother of invention."

-One year from now, I hope my number of sold items is ______.
A MILLION!
No, I'm at 452 right now, I'd be overjoyed to see it at 700 in a years time. Though, if it hits 1000 I won't be sad. . .

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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#104 unofficial etsy featured seller - matdi123

#104 unofficial etsy featured seller - matdi123
Date joined etsy -2/5/08
Sales to date - 1083-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Diana Garrett and I have just moved (about 3 months ago) to Lakewood, Colorado from sunny San Diego. We just bought a house here so we will be moving again at the end of May! I have 2 boys ages 2 and 4 and a wonderful husband. I am originally from Ottawa, Canada and have only lived in the States for 5 years. We love it here and have no plans on going back. I love to cook, read and create.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

My average day consists of getting up early and trying to get showered and dressed before the kids. 3 days a week, I run around like crazy trying to get everybody ready to take my eldest child to preschool. Otherwise I'm at home or at the park. If I'm home, I'm usually doing laundry, reading to my kids or playing board games with them. If they are napping, I can be caught watching reality tv on Hulu on the computer since we don't have any cable at our house. At night, I typically spend time in my office which is currently a walk in closet.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

I wasn't too creative growing up. I actually had a very creative sister and I pretty much lived in her creative shadow. It's funny though, looking back, when we were creative together we often made elaborate 3D greeting cards for our loved ones - call it karma but it was what I was meant to do!

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

I started selling on Etsy as a whim. I made a few cards and after a couple of people told me I should try selling, I signed up for an Etsy shop. I never dreamed that anyone would want buy my items but I thought it was worth a shot!

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

I signed up for Etsy on Feb.5, 2008 and my first sale happened that day although it was a family member who bought. My first really official sale wasn't until April 9, 2008.

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

My favorite foods are chocolate, chocolate yogurt, peanut butter and chocolate ice cream, chocolate chip cookie dough anything, and chocolate! (Notice a theme?!)

My favorite tv shows are Survivor, The Biggest Loser, Lost, The Amazing Race and Buffy the Vampire Slayer

I don't listen to a lot of music but I really like Abba and anything from a musical.

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, an instrument, etc.

I would love to try soap making and sewing. I have a soap making kit but haven't had time to break it out. I love soap and tend to collect and hoard it. It's definitely a weak point for me. I really like to be clean and I like when my soap smells fabulous. Sewing is something that I wished I had learned when I was younger. I wish I could make some cute trinket bags and other small items for my shop so we'll see if I can't learn.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

I try to list at different points throughout the day so my items aren't all cloistered together and I try to list at least one item every day. I also favorite shops I like and buy from Etsy when possible. I try to go to the forums and chat rooms when possible just to see what's going on. I have made a few sales that way and gained many hearts.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

My favorite Etsy shops are: LemonTreeStudio, sunbasilgarden, and creativepapertrail

One year from now, I hope my number of sold items is... 2000!


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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#103 unofficial etsy featured seller - asherjasper

#103 unofficial etsy featured seller - asherjasper
Date joined etsy -4/5/08
Sales to date - 728
Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Vicky and I live in Southern California with my husband, Casey and our 2 boys Asher (who is 5)and Jasper (who is 2). We have two tank frogs (Juan and Fellow), a couple of stray cats (Tim and OC) that we feed and we're hatching chicks in a couple of weeks to raise as our very own chickens!
I'm originally from England and moved to the States after meeting Casey and falling in love on a painting trip to Italy. We have been married for almost 13 years and he is the most wonderful person I have ever met :)

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

I wake up with my littlest, Jasper, at about 6:30am. We hang out, play with trains and make some tea. When I can grab time I catch up on e-mails, re-list items and check on how things look in my store. Asher wakes up at about 7:30 and then Casey gets up if he hasn't already left early for work. Basically my day consists of juggling some really fun activities with my boys, preparing lots of food and snacks, cleaning up large messes and working on my toys when the boys are content and happy playing alone. They actually play very well together and get along great. Asher has preschool 3 mornings a week until 12 and that's when I usually do my grocery shopping and ship internationally so that I only have one boy to wrangle :) I do the majority of my Etsy work after the kids are in bed between 7pm and midnight (sometimes 2am!!! if I'm very busy).

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

I was always very creative. At first this presented itself as me taking every single thing apart to see the insides and how it worked. This wasn't very popular in my household, especially with my sister! I have clear memories of drawing fairies with Princess Leah style hair buns over and over again in elementary school.
When I was about 12 I started to realize that I could draw pretty well and my art teacher gave me a box of oil paints to take home and try. I would spend hours in my bedroom just painting and painting and breathing in awful fumes. My parents were awesome and let me cover my walls in hand painted poster paint murals.
I went to art school and completed my BFA in painting and drawing in England, met my husband and completed my MFA in painting and drawing in California.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

After having children, my creativity was put on hold for a while. I wanted to make something new and taught myself how to needle felt from watching a couple of YouTube videos. I had purchased a couple of things from Etsy previously and thought it would be fun to open my own store and try to sell these things that I had made.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

2 good friends bought from me within days of opening and then I had my first 'real' sale about a week later - 2 bird balls :)

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

chocolate, sushi, nuts, kale, fresh figs.

We don't have TV. Just access to movies through Netflix. My husband and I LOVE going to the movie theater. I like listening to KCRW public radio.
I'm not a big music person. I love silence or listening to interesting things on the radio.

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, an instrument, etc.

I really love to cook and bake and make up my own recipes. It's something I might consider more seriously in the future.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Make sure that your photos are clear and aesthetically pleasing.
Have a great product and keep trying to improve upon it.
Renew listings daily
Create a facebook fan page
Use Flickr

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

I just love these clothes and own several things sarahclemensclothing.etsy.com
My kind of jewelry RachelleD.etsy.com
I just love the sweetness of this store and will buy a piece one day Intres.etsy.com

-One year from now, I hope my number of sold items is... 1500.

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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#102 unofficial etsy featured seller - katskrafts

#102 unofficial etsy featured seller - katskrafts
Date joined etsy -8/25/07
Sales to date - 699
-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

Hi, I'm Katrina Beyer from Holland, MI. If I was showing you the back of my hand as all true Michiganders do (I'm actually a Chicago transplant) I'd be pointing to the lower left side on the Lake Michigan shore. I've been married 6.5 years to the most wonderful man on earth and we have a 9 month-old ball of energy named Caden, who is the absolute darling of our lives. No pets except for the dust bunnies that are multiplying under all my furniture... Wow- a favorite ice cream flavor? I have to choose just one? I like it all, but today I have been craving Royal Coconut and Chocolate from Hudsonville Creamery (an ice cream maker in our area) Yum, yum!

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

I wake up early with Caden, feed/change/play with him, try to eat breakfast and keep up with my active son! At morning naptime (blessed naptime!) I am able to check etsy convos and work on orders. In the afternoon we run errands or go for a walk and if he goes down for another nap I do some more etsy work. When my hubby comes home in the evening, he helps wrangle Caden and I fix dinner. While it's cooking, I usually try to squeeze in a few more minutes on etsy so that I can relax in the evening, although with how busy I've been lately, I've been using my lap desk to assemble table tents or fold cootie catchers while we watch some evening TV. I used to think I was busy as a teacher- ha! Being a stay-at-home/ work-at-home mom is not for the faint-of-heart!

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

Yes, I've always been creative! I had the blessing of growing up in a home where my mom encouraged us to read/draw/create/sing/etc. I'm grateful that my mom always made me feel that if I wanted to express myself, (through words or hobbies or whatever!) I could and should. Because of that, I have dabbled in everything from painting to singing to scrapbooking to sewing to knitting to fill-in-the-blank! (I should give props to my grandma who taught me how to sew as a teenager.) I have a creative gene, I guess.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

I'd been making handmade cards and scrapbook accessories for awhile, selling them to friends and at the hospital where my mom works and wanted to explore doing craft shows. My best friend heard of etsy and told me about it. I checked it out and thought it was so awesome! I knew what I wanted my name to be right off the bat and signed up. Since my best friend was doing it at the same time (although it took her a bit longer to settle on a name- daisysanddots) we were able to confide in one another and learn the ropes together.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

I signed up in August 2007 and got my first sale in November. Those first few months were totally all about research, research, research! I kept taking new photos (built myself a lightbox) and continued to edit my listings as I read forums and tutorials. Each month my sales increased as my learning curve improved. I had a blast, being able to sell the creations I loved to make and support my Hobby Lobby addiction. (There seriously should be a 12 step group for ribbon...) I joke with my hubby that he should find a way to support his golf habit! It wasn't until March of the next year that I had an epiphany on a sleepless night (truly, I did!) that perhaps other brides would enjoy customized cootie catchers for their own weddings. (7 years ago, when I married, most of my family who was from the Chicago area did not know my husband very well. So, I thought it might be fun to include some trivia for them while they waited on us at the reception.) Fast forward to 2010, where my cootie catcher designs have evolved into 5 formats (favors, place cards, menus, programs and invites- I've even sold these for several companies as their brochures!) and they are the sole focus of my shop. I've been blessed to sell all over the world and be featured in several bridal magazines and prominent websites.

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?
Food:
-Chocolate
-Mexican food
-Fresh fruit
-Anything off the grill
-Jelly Belly jellybeans

TV Shows:
-Amazing Race
-American Idol (yeah, I admit it!)
-The Office
-30 Rock
-Parks and Recreation (I watch too much TV on Thursdays...)

Bands/Musicians
-Toby Mac
-Josh Groban
-Britt Nicole
-Mercy Me
-Need to Breathe

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, an instrument, etc.

Considering I've tried just about everything... I guess I would say instead of trying something new, I'd really like to have more time to just dabble in what I already love- sewing, scrapbooking and cardmaking. I would never say we haven't been blessed with how successful my etsy shop has been, but it does take time away from my crafty pursuits. If I HAD to pick, I'd have to say soap making. I made just about every Christmas gift by hand this past year (crazy goal with a new baby, I know- but I did it!) and I think I want to keep that tradition. Be on the lookout next year, female relatives, for hand-made soap!

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Continually refine and improve your product until it can't get any more unique or fabulous, take great photos, list often and be active on the forums and your blog when possible. Do as Dori would- "Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming!"

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

My best friend's shop- daisysanddots.etsy.com
Beautiful announcements and invites- roxterdesigns.etsy.com
Gotta-have'em tags and papercrafts- Pacokeco.etsy.com

-One year from now, I hope my number of sold items is ...

1000! Four-digits would be amazing!

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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#101 unofficial etsy featured seller - 3dots

#101 unofficial etsy featured seller - 3dots
Date joined etsy -1/10/08
Sales to date - 817-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

Hi!
My name is Lucie and i live in Québec, a french province in Canada. As well as making jewelry, i work full time as a furniture maker which keeps me very busy! I studied Arts in College and my brain is always full of new projects! I don't eat much ice cream but i just can't resist a raspberry gelato!

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

A day in my life is quite busy: get up early, check out Etsy while eating breakfast, run to work, get back home, work on new designs, fill up orders, try to "play" a tiny bit and go to bed... and here it goes again!

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

As a kid, if i wasn't catching frogs, playing in the mud or fighting with my older brother then i was cutting, drawing, painting or glueing something. As far as i can remember i've always been creative, it fills me up with happiness to "make stuff", whatever it is!

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

I found Etsy randomly while i was browsing through the internet. It was a revelation! At the time, i just started to make jewelry and i jumped in immediately! It was the begining of my little story. Once i started selling, it gave me the motivation to focus on this project and to extend my creativity by designing new jewels.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

I got my first sale 7 days after listing my first item. Exciting moment!!

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

Food: Sushi, chocolate, raspberries, veggie or shrimp pizza, strawberries directly from the field
TV: i don't watch TV
Music: (at the moment but it changes regularly)Metric, Bloc Party, Imogen heap, Emily Haines (Metric signer), The killers

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, an instrument, etc.

I'm actually taking silverwork classes and i enjoy it very much! I would also love to learn screenprinting soon, it may be a summer project... I'm always experimenting new stuff so who know what's next. :)

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

First: take good pictures! Your pictures are your products! You don't have to be a clever photographer to be able to get nice shots. If necessary, you can edit and crop them to show the best of your products. I know many people uses twitter and loves it but i don't... yet. Give your customers great service with a smile even if they can't see it! Friendly and quick communication is also important but most of all: LOVE WHAT YOU DO!!

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

Naming only 3 is difficult because there are so many but here they are:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/aprilkawaoka
http://www.etsy.com/shop/valhallabrooklyn - still dreaming about owning one of her wonderful handbags!!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SharonMontrose

-By December 31, 2010 I hope my number of sold items is ...

I don't really set myself any number of sales goal but i would be thrilled to hit 1000 sales by the end of the year!!


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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#100 unofficial etsy featured seller - BowWowzerZ

#100 unofficial etsy featured seller - BowWowzerZ
Date joined etsy -9/11/07
Sales to date - 627-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Tina Hallada, I live in Fargo, ND (yes, like the movie Fargo) with my partner Brent, 3 cats (Charlie, Emma, and Bosco) and 2 black Labrador Retrievers (Cinder and Shyla). My favorite ice cream is anything chocolate and I have a coffee addiction. I am a huge animal lover and volunteer for 4 Luv of Dog Rescue, the largest unpaid volunteer rescue in North Dakota, where I serve as Vice President and Foster Home Coordinator. Shyla is our foster dog and has been with us for almost 3 years.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

My days really vary, but this is probably a typical day. First things first…coffee, then I will check email and convo’s to catch up from the night before. Then as any Labrador owner understands, a dog park trip is in order, regardless of the weather (yes even 20 below, the colder it is the more they love it.) If I want to get anything productive done during the day, they need to be exercised, a good Lab is a tired Lab. So, we will spend an hour or so at the park (this is about the only down time I have during the day, so I try to enjoy it). In between throwing the ball, I will check rescue emails (thank you Blackberry). When I get home, it’s time to start working on orders. Usually around 2pm or so, I will take another break for a coffee run and check rescue emails again. Then, I will be back on emails/convo’s to customers. I try to have all my outgoing orders complete by 4pm, so that I can get them packaged up and on the way to the post office. However, I am a bit obsessed with orders going out as soon as possible, so it’s not abnormal for me to be heading to the post office around 9pm before the last plane leaves town. Plus, it gives me another excuse to get a coffee. At night, I am up late, really late (okay probably too much coffee), so I finish up rescue emails, emails/convo’s from customers again and try to get a head start on the next day with customer orders if there are any still to complete.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

I really don’t think I was creative growing up. I spent a lot of time with stray/lost animals following me home and attempting to convince mom to let me keep them. I was not creative enough for mom to say “yes”, but was creative enough to find their owners or if we knew that they were truly stray, a new owner.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

When I first came to Etsy I was already selling locally, I hit the local craft shows sponsored by our state to promote North Dakota made goods. I was also wholesaling through some select pet boutiques and my own website. I came to Etsy originally as a customer, I just loved all the creative things that were sold there. It took about a month for me to decide to open a store. There were some very successful sellers of collars established already but I thought I would throw my hat into the ring.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy? It was a long time, months. I started my shop and then didn’t list anything for a long time and didn’t list much at first. So, it took a long time for the first sale, and my sales were very slow for the longest time. If I did 5 sales a month I was happy. I didn’t promote much but just let my shop run itself.

Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands

Does coffee count as a food? I love anything Italian, warm dinner rolls with butter, lefsa (a Norwegian flatbread), summer squash, and apples with peanut butter.

My favorite tv shows are: The Office, Dexter, Entourage, Seinfeld, and The Amazing Race.

Top favorite bands…I love most anything 80’s. AC/DC, Men at Work, Billy Idol, U2, Pet Shop Boys.

Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, an instrument, etc.

I really would like to try pottery again. I attempted in 6th grade to make a sculpture of my cat, Snowball, it wasn’t good, maybe even borderline frightening to look at. Snowball has now passed away, but his old sculpture could use a proper replacement (that I wouldn’t need to hide when small children visit) and I do remember that pottery was fun.

What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Probably to do everything different than what I did. Etsy is fast moving, most sellers can’t just list and then forget about their shop. I would imagine that most successful sellers treat this as a business and that means you spend more time in your shop than what you would even want to admit. 12-14 hour days (if not more sometimes), I think, are pretty typical or perhaps I have really poor time management. So, it’s important to do what you enjoy. When you work for yourself, not only are you the creator, but you are also the accountant, the marketer, the photographer, the packager, the supply buyer, the customer service person, etc. There’s a lot to do and all of those positions are very important to be successful. You have to understand that going in, and figure out what you expect from your shop. If it is a hobby and fun, that is one thing, hanging out in the forums, maybe tweeting on occasion is all you need to do. If you want to make a living then a more targeted approach is necessary.

3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

I love DimmalimmHome Beautiful items! Just beyond amazing!
Caseymcardle Her photographs bring me back to the time we spent in Oz and is almost like a mini vacation looking at them! Just beautiful!
And although I have yet to buy from her, ToScarboroughFair has the craziest, coolest hats for cats. They make me laugh endlessly.

By December 31, 2010 I hope my number of sold items is...

I would be beyond thrilled with 1500 sales, but I am thankful for every one.


--
Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#99 unofficial etsy featured seller - thegildedbee

#99 unofficial etsy featured seller - thegildedbee
Date joined etsy -7/18/08
Sales to date - 1078-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Sasha North, I live and work in Harlan, IA with 3 cats and 2 collies.
I’m 21, I graduated having completed all grades, K-12, as a homeschooler.
My Mum, Sherri, and I opened “The Gilded Bee” about a year and a half ago.
I make and photograph the stuff for the shop, and she helps in the shipping dept.
I adore ice cream/frozen desserts. I like most anything with chocolate.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

In the morning:
I fill orders and answer e-mails, eat hot cereal, pet my kitties, and make things.
In the afternoon:
I make even more stuff, generate a small mountain of paper bits, eat popcorn, take photographs.
In the evening:
Do any housework that needs to be done (the boring stuff, like scrubbing things :D), Walk the collies,
Blog something (iamthebee.blogspot) with pictures, preferably large pictures and lots of them, list on etsy (this can happen any-time ;)), and think about more things to make.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

Yes, very. ;)
Drawing, Painting, paper crafting, jewelry design, printing, baking, sewing, needlecrafts, clay, photography---about anything I could get my hands on/in.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

My distaste for regular 9-5 jobs, a dreadful first “regular” job, and my desire to control my working hours, environment, and to create all of the time (for me it’s not a hobby, it’s an obsessive passion ;))

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

Two or three months---a while. About the time the sales started to pick up, was about the time I started adding a lot more items.

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

Foods:
1. Chocolate
2. Soup
3. Popcorn
4. Granola
5. Summer and early autumn fruits

Television:
I watch more movies than series programs…
1. The Suite Life, the suite life on deck
2. Masterpiece Theatre
3. Sonny with a chance
4. old movies, black and white
5. Disney, pixar, Walden, and BBC films

Bands:
Hmmm… I listen mostly to artists… and adore classical and celtic music
1. Juan Diego Florez
2. Secret Garden
3. Wynton Marsallis
4. the three tenors
5. the Mash up CD’s, Mel Puller’s CD

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, an instrument, etc.

I’ve been a hobby junkie through out my childhood and teen years, so I have tried most of those things on that list… except soapmaking… that would be really cool. I’d love to learn how to cast things in resin,
Shibori, cake decorating… there are so many things to discover, experience and create, I could write a loooong list in this category.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Networking sites are helpful for having more people “meet” you and see your work.
Listing often, taking the best possible photographs, I enjoyed meeting a lot of other artists through their shops, the forum, trades, blogs etc., I have asked a lot of questions from other bloggers and etsians who do what they do really well, and that has helped me to learn a lot of things.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

Just three? ;)
I’m a fiend for a lot etsy shops.
Caramelos, Olive Manna, and Mary not Martha

-By December 31, 2010 I hope my number of sold items is ______.

A zillion! Hahahaha ;)
5,000 would be nice (shoot for the moon :D).
--
Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#98 unofficial etsy featured seller - 11karri

#98 unofficial etsy featured seller - 11karri
Date joined etsy -2/27/07
Sales to date - 578-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Julie Ann, but I do my Etsy business under the names 10karri, 11karri, and 12karri. Karri is a childhood friend. We have three Esty shops:

"10karri FRESH TWIST ON CLASSICS" http://10karri.etsy.com
All Mid Century, Atomic and Country Household, China, Studio and Office items. And our Original items.

"11karri FORMAL TO GRUNGE" http://11karri.etsy.com
Vintage Clothing, Jewelry, Accessories for Men, Women, and Children. And our Original items.

"12karri ELEGANT JUNK SHOP" http://12karri.etsy.com
Supplies, Rusty Stuff, Bones, Toys, Broken Jewelry, Ephemera, and Destash. And our Original items.

I live in Lincoln, Nebraska with a my husband, Arlander and daughter Elise and our cat Key or here ke ke. I am not big on ice cream, but on rare occasion I'd say sugar free, fat free chocolate is my favorite.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

All three of us have serious on going health issues, so we work as a family unit. It’s not your ability or disability but how you chose to live your life and we love life. Etsy is great because we can work when we feel good. We start our morning helping each other dress and other activities of daily living. Then when our daughter goes off to school if we can my husband and I like to sit on our sofa watch old movies, and work on our crafts or clean and prepare vintage goods to sell. The rest of the day is filled with doctor’s appointments and therapies. We sell and craft found objects with found objects we have collected over the years, so although it is fun to go out and find the prize at a thrift store or yard sale we don‘t have to and this helps us sell desirable items at a cheaper price.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

I spend mind boggling hours playing dress up and going through our old farm buildings, sheds, to find to find wonderful rusty items. I have always done jewelry, fixing or creating.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

I had met a lovely lady on eBay who I became great friends with. She sells on Etsy and asked me to try it out. I immediately fell in love with the artsy folk and better listing fees and a friendlier more honest way of doing business.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

I only put a few things on Etsy at first, but they sold fairly fast within days after I listed them. I always take the time to research going prices on the Internet, and loved to look on Etsy to see what people had interest in.

-Top 5 favorite foods, TV shows, and bands?

Any Soul food especially black eyed peas, ham hocks, and scratch biscuits. I like old movies especially really bad old syfy movies.

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, an instrument, etc.

You can’t help but be inspired by Etsy, I found that assemblage sculpture and jewelry are my favorites and my husband like to work with wood rocks and paint.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Concentrate on your shop, develop your shop policies and work on providing accurate, informative personalized descriptions and images that will sell and develop your brand. Etsy has some wonderful groups to join, just find one that is your cup of tea and build your networking and support. Develop your Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, blog, accounts, and I occasionally buy advertising on Etsy. Try to stay positive, and treat everyone in the same kind and respectful way. Try new things, develop your own style and what works for you, what gets you the most views, hearts and sales.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?
MaisyBrownReproRetro.etsy.com, Gayeabandon.etsy.com, MaisyBrown.etsy.com

-By December 31, 2010 I hope my number of sold items is greater than the number of items we have bought or acquired.
--
Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#97 unofficial etsy featured seller - kissonthelips

#97 unofficial etsy featured seller - kissonthelips
Date joined etsy -10/27/09
Sales to date - 580
-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Isabella and I live in Fenton, MO with my lovely Husband. (I better keep it sweet in case he reads this! ;) Just kidding!) We love children but unfortunately we cannot have any :( Instead any free time I have I spend at the Children’s Hospital! I bring over various supplies for jewelry making and craft projects for the kids. They even set up my own “class”! :) It’s a lot of fun and I wouldn’t trade up anything for it! :)

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

Let’s see I wake up about 6am answer convo’s make my hubby some breakfast :) and I’m out the door for work by 7am. After 5pm I stop by the post office and drop off any orders, get home and me and my hubby make dinner together! Last night was homemade pizza! Yum! :) After dinner I package orders, curl up into a ball and watch my TV shows :) Right now I’m into Nip/Tuck and Gossip Girl! About twice a week I’ll visit the Children’s Hospital to see “my kids.” :)

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

Growing up I lovedddd to draw and make pottery! I ran a lemonade stand and saved and saved every summer until I had enough to buy a pottery wheel! It was so much! :) After I made 500 pots and vases I decided to try making jewelry myself. Wasn’t too great but loved doing it! I continued drawing and still do today once in awhile and love doing portraits! :)

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

I’ve been a shopper here on etsy for a longgg time and I had connections with a few suppliers and thought why not get started on doing something my own! :)

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

It took about two months until I had my first sale on Etsy! :)

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

Noodles with marinara sauce! Homemade pizza with a touch of love from my hubby! Huge fan of seafood and burgers!
Favorite singers and bands are Michael Buble, Cold Play, Goo Goo Dolls, and Chase Coy.
Favorite TV shows are Nip/Tuck, Gosspil Girls, Desperate House Wives, Family Guy, The Simpsons :)

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, an instrument, etc.

I would love to get into soap making and sewing! I sewed my hubby a sweater last Christmas and he loves it! :) Even though it ended up having three sleeves! Kidding! ;) I would also love to get back into the piano. I played a few years when I was younger :)

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Setup a blog, respond quickly AND friendly to convo’s, and be patience! :)

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Retsina,
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MADART,
http://www.etsy.com/shop/glyntpottery

-By December 31, 2010 I hope my number of sold items is 1,000.
--
Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#96 unofficial etsy featured seller - beepart

#96 unofficial etsy featured seller - beepart
Date joined etsy -5/2/09
Sales to date - 337
-Give us some basic info about you

my name is neil jeffery and i live in london, canada (quite a bit smaller than the big london) with my wife sonja, daughter jada and our little dog pablo and cat steve. like a typical canadian i like to watch and play hockey. i'm also into eating cupcakes.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

a typical day for me starts with getting my daughter off to school.i check emails and etsy stuff while drinking coffee. then i take the dog for a walk.
my working day is usally divided between illustration work and my etsy stuff so i basically just work on whatever is the priority at the moment. i like to get my etsy orders shipped the same or next day so quite often i will finish them up in the evening to get them ready for the post the next day.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

i always had a real compulsion to draw. i would design cars and buildings, superheroes...whatever interests i had at the time i would just funnel them into drawing. i liked to build stuff as well but was always a bit angry that my brother could make better lego spaceships than i could.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

it was about 3 weeks after i had my shop up and running. at the time i sold strictly resin on wood art pieces and had not yet started offering vinyl wall art. i sold 3 pieces to same person- that was an exciting day for me!

Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

food-i'll mention cupcakes again, i also fancy myself a bit of a veggie burger connoisseur, sushi, beer
tv shows- hockey night in canada
bands- lately i've been listening to some tegan & sara, hawksley workman, metric...and every now and then i get to hear some justin beiber
-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing?

curling, flying an airplane, surfing, driving an army tank or race car are all things i would like to try.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

marketing for me is a necessary evil...i'd rather spend my time making stuff rather than tweeting about it and i'm sure most people feel the same.
i do suggest just getting yourself out there as much as possible, use twitter, facebook, any kind of free craft websites, start a blog, network with other crafters, chat up the etsy forums.
and relisting your items works too but it's important to be strategic about it, think about what time it is in key markets before relisting.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

i'd be in trouble if i didn't say my wife's etsy shop:
http://hotacrossbuns.etsy.com
she and her friend play roller derby and they have a lot of fun creating underpants with sayings on them ,'ass-o-grams' if you will.

my friend jennifer squires is a fantastic photographer and she really helped me with some great tips when starting my shop (and was one of my first customers too)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jennifersquires

there are so many fantastic shops out there, i'm choosing this shop because i love the flat, colourful rendeings:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Hellomarine

One year from now, I hope my number of sold items is 1200.

--
Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#95 unofficial etsy featured seller - hierapparel

#95 unofficial etsy featured seller - hierapparel
Date joined etsy -6/16/07
Sales to date - 920
-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Laura Good. I live Chicago with my boyfriend and our four cats. Other than sewing, I love cooking, learning about food/natural medicine, cycling and practicing yoga. I recently started volunteering at a community garden in my neighborhood and I'm having a great time digging in the dirt, learning about farming and making new friends.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

I always start with breakfast and coffee and then get started on correspondence. Some days I make a trip to a fabric store or post office or stay in the whole day working on orders or new designs. I take breaks for lunch, afternoon tea, kitty petting and to enjoy the courtyard when the weather is nice. I usually stop working around 8pm, make dinner and enjoy the evening with my boyfriend. Sunday is my day off and I do anything, but work.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

I have always enjoyed creative activities. My mother taught me to sew when I was little and that is the extent of my sewing education. I enjoyed art class and drawing, but my main focus growing up was ballet. I studied ballet seriously during my teenage years with the intention of pursuing a career in dance. That desire faded after high school and I became interested in making films and sewing.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

I was searching for a way to make a living off my creativity, specifically clothing design and Etsy seemed like a perfect launching point. The shop setup is very user friendly, it's inexpensive and there's lots of room to be experimental. Not to mention what an amazing global community it provides.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

20 days

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

cherries, dark chocolate, raw almonds, spinach and eggs
I don't watch much tv.
Thee More Shallows, Cat Power, Animal Collective, The Books, Grizzly Bear

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, an instrument, etc.

I would love to learn how to make cold pressed soaps. I have some ideas about scent combinations that I don't see others making. I'm also interested in learning more about hand dyeing fabrics and maybe some day shoe making.
-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

I always fall behind on my advertising/promotion goals, because there just isn't enough time in a day, but these are things I try to do.
-Favorite other sellers work that you like. This creates a connection between you and many others. If I like someone's work, I look at their favorites and always find something new.
-Renew a couple listings a day or every other day. This keeps your items from being buried deep within the thousands of listings.
-Start a facebook fan page and/or blog and keep it active.
-Purchase a spot in an Etsy showcase.
-Make sure your images are clean and interesting without being too busy. Good photos are essential when the customer can't physically interact with the item.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

Yasha Butler, Laura Lombardi Jewelry, Nadinoo

-By December 31, 2010 I hope my number of sold items is ______.

1500

--
Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#94 unofficial etsy featured seller - PomLove

#94 unofficial etsy featured seller - PomLove
Date joined etsy -2/11/09
Sales to date - 2030
Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

my name is kirsten hadley and i live in oregon. i have a silly husband and 3 little sprouts (kids). my kids are still very young (2, 5 + 7), that coupled with the fact that i have a full time business means a little less than zero free time. but i love what i do and my family is just the coolest, so i'm good!

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

i'm a night owl, so my day starts a little later- around 11am. my guy is a stay at home dad, so he gets the kids up and ready to go while i snooze! i'm not a very scheduled person, but my day goes something like this:

wake up.
coffee.
snuggle the littles.
shower, dress, food.
work, emails, work, emails....
intermittently play with littles.
work.
intermittently kiss my guy and remind him that he's saved the day, again.
work.
make my daily mad dash to the post office.
dinner, play, clean up, tuck in littles.
work until about 2 am.
sleeeeep....

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

as a kid i was always into drawing/painting/making huge messes. my mom and grandmother are both artists, so it was inevitable. my favorite form of expression was singing, unfortunately after hearing myself on my little sony recorder, i realized that was not an option. crushed, i picked up some charcoal sticks and drew my voice instead.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

about 3 years ago i threw my (then) 5 year old a birthday party. i had remembered making poms in elementary school (we called them fluff 'ems) and thought they would be a cool alternative to balloons. so i made some and all of the parents kind of went nuts for them. i decided to add them to my shop (ekohdesign). i didn't think anything would come of it, but in about a week i had over 10 orders placed. after a month or so i opened up PomLove and the rest is history. my first sales for PomLove were immediate. quite strange. my first shop was open for a month before i had any takers.


-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

favorite foods? oh, man. there are so many. okay.

1. sushi
2. chocolate
3. pizza
4. green olives (yeah, i know)
5. i love a good steak!

t.v. shows:

1. buffy the vampire slayer
2. bones
3. project runway
4. supernatural
5. arrested development

music:

1. kings of leon (pre sell-out)
2. the white stripes
3. regina spektor
4. kate nash
5. velvet underground

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, an instrument, etc.

someday i want my own screen printing business. i'd love to own a turn of the century printing press. i'd also love to make my own inks.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

first of all, no matter how many sales you make, remember that your creations are special, because you took the time to make that idea happen.

1. try to provide something to the masses that is creative, practical and is set apart from other sellers with similar items.

2. take great photos. it's the first thing customers see and it's the most important element. use natural light and no flash. macro settings are a must, we need to see what your item looks like up close before we will even click on the listing!

3. renew!! renew!! renew!! several times a day if your little heart desires!

4. facebook, twitter, blog... get your name out there. go to moo.com and get some rockin' business cards made!

5. heart others. etsy is a community. some of the most fun i've had on etsy is just looking around at all of the amazing finds. see a shop you like? heart it! if you believe in karma, maybe you'll get a heart, too.... and maybe that heart will lead to a sale!

my favorite etsy shops this week:

paulova.etsy.com
margamarina.etsy.com
islanewyork.etsy.com

-By December 31, 2010 I hope my number of sold items is...

in one year i hope that my sales reflect how hard i've worked and the amount of pride and fun i exude every time i think about where i started and where i am now. life is very unexpected!

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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#93 unofficial etsy featured seller - preciouspastimes

#93 unofficial etsy featured seller - preciouspastimes
Date joined etsy -12/28/08
Sales to date - 573
Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Jennifer Lynn Loper, and I’m the proud owner of the Precious Past Times Antiques and Design Studio, aka Precious Pastimes on Etsy. As an artist, antiques dealer, and life long antiquarian, salvaging and reworking reclaimed materials is a labor of love for me.

I’m a single mom with three kids (currently) - one fantastic son and two adorable Toy Pomeranians. My shop helps support all of the innocent little animals that I’ve rescued, so that number can change at any time.

I’ve just recently moved to Astoria, OR, also known as the little San Francisco of the Pacific NW. I’m surrounded by history and natural beauty - this has been a long-term dream come true for me. I’m now on the hunt for the perfect Victorian house to purchase and lovingly restore. I’m passionate about preserving our treasured past, and have dedicated my life to achieving that goal.

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

Being self-employed, every day is busy and challenging, and I’m extremely grateful. I work alone, so in order to keep up with everything I work every day, but what is it they say . . . when you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.

A typical day consists of a combination of any of the following (plus more):

answering e-mails and convos, sending thank you’s to customers who have placed orders, processing custom orders, reading Etsy’s daily updates, networking online, reorganizing and relisting items in my shop, designing and creating new pieces, setting up props and photographing, editing and uploading photos, creating and writing new listings, carding finished jewelry, getting orders packaged up and mailed out, taking inventory, ordering and organizing new supplies, searching for new wholesale sources, doing product research, working in my garage cutting typewriter keys and getting other salvaged elements cleaned up and ready to be made into jewelry, appointments with local dealers and customers, and going out antiquing for more vintage goodies to use in my creations.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

All of the women in my family (and the men) are very creative, so it’s in my blood. I was also raised in a very old fashioned home, so everything was lovingly handmade all around me, and I’m glad to say it still is to this day. I’ve done everything over the years including beading, crocheting, knitting, embroidery, Quilting, sewing, scrapbooking, stamping, drawing, playing the piano, singing . . . I really can’t imagine living any other way. I earned my degree in interior design, but am now focusing on antiques, jewelry design, and historic preservation.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

I’ve been selling antiques and collectibles online for years, but I was searching for a better site to promote my handmade items. I kept hearing about Etsy, so I decided to give it a try, and I’m so thankful that I did. I recommend it to every artist that I meet.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

In my first Etsy shop it took 4 days. In my second Etsy shop it took 3 days. In my third Etsy shop it took 15 days. The excitement of selling something that I’ve created never ends for me, and working for myself is its own reward.

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

I don’t watch a lot of tv but when I do, I enjoy PBS, The History Channel, Discovery, A&E, and the Weather Channel. I love English mysteries, historic documentaries, nature programs, and the Antiques Roadshow.

I cook at home –some of my favorites include seafood, fish, chicken, homemade soups, salads, casseroles and quiche. I love fresh fruits and veggies, nuts, cheeses, red wine, and (of course)dark chocolate. My favorite ice cream is Pistachio Nut.

Classical music is always on in my house and car – it helps keep me relaxed, focused, and productive. I’m a proud supporter of www.KUSC.org/classical.

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, an instrument, etc.

I still want to learn how to do stained glass and make my own candles. I’m also constantly striving to improve my cooking skills.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

List every day to keep your shop current and easy to find in the searches.

Take really great photos and write very thorough descriptions.

Answer convos quickly and always ship promptly – A+ customer service is a must!

Make every customer feel special – that’s the difference with buying handmade.

Give hearts, pass along tips, refer other sellers, and it will all come back to you.

The more places you can get your name out there, the better for SEO.

Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

I do most of my shopping on Etsy, and I have over 50 pages of favorite sellers, so it’s impossible to choose just 3, but in the interest of time
Lunagirl,
VintageScraps,
Poppycottage.

-By December 31, 2010 I hope my number of sold items is ______.

For this particular shop, my goal is to reach 2,000 sales by the end of 2010, which I believe is very realistic.


--
Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)

#92 unofficial etsy featured seller - humblebea

#92 unofficial etsy featured seller - humblebea
Date joined etsy - 4/21/07
Sales to date - 1571
Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Natalie and I live near Grand Rapids in Comstock Park, Michigan. My husband Gary is also my best friend and he recently opened an Etsy shop where he sells fabric. We have a sixteen-year old daughter named Mackenzie and a fourteen-year-old son named Noah. Both of our kids are very creative. Mackenzie is obsessed with fashion and baking and Noah loves to create movies and play the guitar. We also have a pair of shih tzu dogs, Gracie and Oliver. They are our babies!

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

I am a stay-at-home-Mom and Etsy has become my full-time 'job'. By seven a.m. on a weekday morning it's just me and the dogs. I create best early in the morning and usually begin as soon as I have thrown in a load of laundry and peeked at my Etsy shop. Sometimes I work with clay and sometimes I sew, it depends on my mood. I like to listen to books on tape while I work, thanks to my friend Angela of raggedyowl.etsy.com. After a couple of hours I will take a break to answer convos, list, check treasuries, pack orders if necessary, and run out to the mailbox. I create shipping and custom labels on the computer so I no longer have to go to the post office. This is a HUGE timesaver. Afternoons are for taking and cropping pictures.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

I really don't remember being super-creative as a kid. My mom, twolefthands, was always making something and being creative seemed to be her thing. She has always been great at everything that she tries. I remember her telling me that if something was worth doing, it was worth doing right. After I got married, I taught myself to sew and caught the creative bug. As babies, my kids had new clothes nearly everyday, not because they needed them, but because I could not be stopped! Through the years, I have learned to enjoy many types of crafting and have always had a project to work on.
-What made you want to start selling on etsy?

I saw an article in the local newspaper about Etsy and after checking it out, I knew that I had found my place. My Mom and I had tried some craft shows, but we never really fit in. She joined soon after I did. Etsy has been so wonderful for both of us because our creations can been seen all over the world and we are not limited to our hometown. I opened my first Etsy shop, missbeahaven, to sell my papier mache figurines. Shortly after that, I opened humblebea to sell children's clothing, something I really missed doing. I soon added a variety of items to my humblebea shop, such as my latest obsession, my polymer clay figurines. Over time, I combined shops to create one large gift shop. What I like about my shop now is that I am not limited to what I make and sell.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

I have my first Etsy sale ten days after I joined. I was thrilled! I sold to a young man who was buying a gift for his sister. I still remember his name!

-Top 5 favorite foods:

Mackenzie's home-baked cookies
Baskin-Robbins Rocky Road Ice Cream
Steak Kebabs grilled by Gary
My Mom's Beef Parmesan
English Breakfast Tea, and lots of it!

t.v. shows:
Survivor
Desperate Housewives
The Office
Jeopardy
Martha Stewart

bands:
Noah's bedroom guitar performances
Celine Dion
The Bare Naked Ladies
Matchbox 20
Train


-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing?

Honestly, if I want to try it, I just do. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

I am a treasury girl and have been since I joined Etsy but treasuries are not for everybody. There are many ways to promote your Etsy shop, but I think it's best to choose one or two and do them well. Etsy offers critiques for newbies in the virtual labs. Check them out, they can be very helpful. Also, be a great business person. Sell quality work, answer convos promptly, ship quickly and it will all pay off.

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

twolefthands.etsy.com my Mom's shop for handmade fairies and gifts
humbleboy.etsy.com my husband's fabric shop
makingstuffwithlove.etsy.com Alice makes needle-felted animals and created darling little replicas of Gracie and Ollie.

-One year from now, I hope my number of sold items is 2000.

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Have a successful etsy shop and want to be a featured seller? Contact me at phletcher@gmail.com
As always, thanks for reading :)