Start-of-year panic

As the title suggests, this time of year is the worst for any anxious business owner (such as myself!)

There's all these messages of hope and looking ahead and "Wow! You have this amazing blank canvas of 2014!"

As grumpy cat would say ... "No."

For someone who lives and makes their money by a system of profit and loss, there is really no alternative than to begin the year in RED.

Like, really red.

There's estimated taxes that come due on the 15, Etsy bills, holiday bills ...

And your profit starts off (as it has to) with a big fat ZERO.

As my poor husband is aware, this panic happens for me every year.

No matter how well I did mere weeks ago in 2013, this new year is an untested, uncharted new territory.

.......

Side notes:

1.) I considered making it my resolution to start blogging regularly again, but I'm a realist about this and will most likely keep it pretty sporadic.

2.) I finally got AMAZING pink boots that I love. There's a new post right there!

3.) HAPPY NEW YEAR!! :) 

Etsy seller advice: Opening a shop

My very first sale - Feb. 28, 2008

When thinking about starting your own Etsy shop, there is a fairly large learning curve.

Etsy has lots of resources, mainly the SELLERS HANDBOOK. (http://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2013/the-seller-handbook-archive/)

This pretty spells out everything you need to know. 

But just following the steps will rarely lead to anything long-lasting and rewarding.

The main point about an Etsy shop is that YOU are making everything. You are shipping it, you are photographing it, you are writing about it.

SO -- DO WHAT YOU LOVE. 

If there is something that you love to make, make it. 

If you love dogs, make dog treats.

If you love jane austen novels, make wall hangings with quotes.

If you decide to open a shop with an idea of "Oh yeah, this will definitely make money", and that is your only driving force, then it probably won't.

Having a passion for what you sell will come through in your shop, and buyers will respond.

Once you get past this main hurdle and have the WHAT of your shop all settled, there are few additional details to consider.

Here are my top three "elements of your shop" to consider. 

PHOTOS: Show, don't tell. 

Good, eye-catching photos are what drive buyers to click. They aren't going to read a long description to get the details of an item, they will quickly look at photos and decide if they are interested. 

If the photo passes the test, then they will read on and possibly get to the sale. 

SHIPPING/PACKAGING: Make it special. 

The relationship between the Etsy buyer and seller is a special one. It's not a factory  or shipping warehouse worker packing their purchase ... it is the person who made it .. just for them.

Try to show a bit more personal care when packing your items. This doesn't have to be over the top.

I generally wrap items in bubble wrap, tissue paper, and then tie up with ribbons -- business card tucked in the ribbon.

I know my sister (who has a vintage shop) includes a vintage scarf freebie in each order (because she has a bagillion of them!) 

I once got a package with a piece of candy in it. That made my day!!

It's all about making your customer feel special and making them want to buy from you again in the future.

SEO and TAGGING: Be seen.

Etsy has changed so much over the years when it comes to "being seen." 

Used to be, the most recent listings automatically showed up first in search. 

This was cool because you could simply "renew" your listings to get them to the top of the pack.

NOW ... it's all about relevancy. 

I really don't like it because I have to have ugly listing titles now .. packed with key words to be seen.

Here's a pretty good article about Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Etsy shops:

http://outright.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-seo-for-your-etsy-shop/

I hope this helps if you are thinking about opening a shop, or are just starting out!

Questions?? I'd love to answer in the comments!!! 

- Emily

Advice for Etsy sellers

The Sale.

Photo by Etsy seller SeasAndPeas

When you first open your Etsy shop, it's such a novelty.

Getting a sale is the stuff of magic!

You jump up and down and scream in a really high pitch. 

Before, when maybe it was a fun way to make some extra cash, not getting a sale in a day was no big deal. In fact, it was expected. 

But after a while, that magic wears off, and like an addict, you get to where you depend on that "Etsy Transaction" e-mail.  And you need MORE and MORE sales to make you happy!

And now that your life and your livelihood are both wrapped up in that delicate little spot on the internet, you may start to freak out when you don't get that fix one day, or one week!

I used to be that way.

I was that girl.

In some ways I still am, but I am getting better.

You have to look at the big picture. 

Minor, daily victories are great, but the larger success of your business relies on your ability to see beyond every single sale.

You have to constantly innovate ways to make your product better, your customer service better, your time management better.

Taking some time to step back and improve the overall function of your shop will lead to more sales in the long-run.

...

Any questions from Etsy sellers about running their shop?

The goose and the golden egg.

I don't know if I've written about this in the past, so if this is a repeat, feel free to click away.

What does my business name mean? Where did it come from?

I've been asked these questions a few times, but not as many as you might think with such a weird business name!

Here's the big secret: It randomly popped into my head. Not even kidding.

BUT, it turns out there is a deeper meaning.

I now sometimes even claim I had thought about this and planned the whole thing out :)

I like to say my business name, Whichgoose, harkens back to the Aesop fable about "The Goose that Laid the Golden Eggs."

You know the story:

One day a farmer sees that his goose has laid a solid gold egg. He is so excited. The next day it lays another ... then another ... pretty soon the guy is rich.
He decides he wants all the eggs right now and cuts open the goose. Alas, there are no golden eggs inside and he can have no more because he killed the goose. Sucker.

So what does that have to do with my shop???

I think that in life, we tend to value the "eggs" in life (the material possessions that are fleeting) over the "goose" (or the means to get the eggs that come only with patience).

I think that finding out "which goose" is the most important to you is the struggle of finding true happiness.

For me, it's my creative energy and an outlet that allows me to make a living doing what I love!

If I start to value to money or the rewards of a popular business over the creative force that started it all, only ruin can come.

Hope this wasn't too "out there" -- just rambling :)

Goals for 2013

(Photo by Girlhula via Flickr).

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

It's a bit of bad time of year for me, what with taxes and a whole year of being responsible for my income spreading out before me.

BUT, I try to remain positive and concentrate on the whole "fresh start" mentality.

Here is my shortlist of goals for Whichgoose in 2013.

1.) Blog more (obviously!)

2.) Be on top of social networking in general.

3.) Get a real photo studio set up with back drop (no more white sheet on door.)

4.) Set aside at least a few hours per week to DO NOTHING.

5.) Spend less.

6.) Save more.

7.) Be grateful everyday.

8.) Get some awesome photos.

9.) Keep innovating.

I wish I could think of one more for an even "10" but I can't!

xo -Emily 

"Under Pressure"

I wear this shirt even when it's dirty, I love it so. ETSY SHIRT.

And really, what other job is there where I would want to wear a shirt about it?

=======

The actual blog post is below ... I felt the need to have a photo though :)

========

Tax Day is looming. I finished my actual TAXES back in January. But now, as a self-employed crafter ... April 15 means ESTIMATED TAXES! Boo.

Did you know I have to pay money on sales I "plan on making" this year! Isn't that crazy. SO... the good progress I though I'd been making isn't really that great once I take this chunk out of my checkbook.

Not that I'm complaining! It's just another one of those "things" that make being your own boss not as all-the-time fun as you'd think it would be.

It's all those annoying money things that I wish I had someone to take care of ... like a boss ... but who didn't tell me what to do. Anyone want to be my free accountant?

Sigh.

Here's a list of some of the negatives of doing Etsy full-time.

--- When people ask what you do, you have to go into a 5-minute explanation including "No, 'Etsy' like 'Betsy.'

--- The end of the work day is only when you go to bed. (not including working on the laptop while under the covers.)

--- Some days I forget to brush my teeth in the morning (don't tell my mom.)

--- I have to pay $250 a month for health insurance.

Okay, well, this list was a lot harder to write than a thought it would be.

I guess the positives FAR outweigh any little annoyances and money woes I am experiencing.

The main thing is to keep FOCUSED. EYES ON THE PRIZE baby. :)

========

p.s. Rich and I have started watching the HBO series "Deadwood." Has anyone seen it?? Only seen the first two episodes so far, but it's pretty good!!