I love your new cards, Kim! Good for you! Hugs

How are you getting traffic to your website? Is it through social media or is it seo ?

I was almost tempted to stick a few things on my ancient dormant account - you've reminded me why I left in the first place.

I've let my etsy store lapse into being a haberdashery supply shop because proper handmade just doesn't really sell. My Shopify shop however, has picked up the slack which is a huge relief!

I have an Edwick shop, but no sales. Anybody tried Google Ads ? Would it help ?

I wouldnt recommend running sales - just offer a small discount if people leave items in baskets etc and do this now and again. No need to feel pressure to offer customers that items will be posted out next day or even within 1 or 2 days - you are just making it harder for yourself and then if you do it, other sellers think they have compete and offer it just as quick etc !! I offer to have items posted out within 5 working days - if people need sooner they contact me directly and I can try accommodate. Remember to value your products and the time it takes to make - don't be chasing what you think Etsy requires from you. Etsy will push your product (if you get good reviews/people interested in etc) a lot more that most people can compared to advertising their website - there is so much more work in advertising your own website!! Yes you don't need to pay as many fees but it is worth it to get sales on etsy by far! I would recommend anyone to set up and Etsy shop and yes, website also but don't get rid of Etsy! Etsy is minmum effort to run and just don't get carried away over all these little things. If you are not getting sales on the platform - you maybe best to look at your product and also description. Sometimes certain products don't sell as there is just not a demand for. X

😂 so many funnies

Thank you for posting this. So many creators make videos that feel far too good to be true, or suggest how to take the "easiest" way to sell something and it usually makes me feel uneasy.

"Annual week of summer" 😆😆😆 My strategy is to use Etsy for those lower ticket items, but push hard to get sales of my bigger stuff elsewhere. Etsy isn't geared towards supporting sellers with expensive items (their guarantee program is a blinding example), so stuff 'em. There are some big BIG art fairs here in Australia that, while a pain in the butt for me to get to, are much better for artists. They're my goal atm. There's one in early December, and I'm trying to get enough stuff made to fill up a booth by then. We'll see how I go. 😅And then of course, my own personal website. As far as discounts, given that I have to account for Etsy's fees, I have very little incentive to create more wiggle room for 25% (or more) discounts. Especially on lower ticket items, which have a bit of a ceiling price. I'm pushing hard for people to receive discounts through my mailing list. They can get an Etsy discount as a sign-up bonus, but from there on, any discounts will be for website purchases. Stuff etsy, that's my mantra. 😅

It looks like Etsy Ads works. I had 500 % revenue increase this week. It definitely helps me pay my bills. I am going to keep it for another month.

How do you spell that word that you say at the end? Terra?? :)

😂 You are hilarious 🤣 “Jump through your own hoops!” - I love it. I guess the YT algorithm is doing something right cause you popped up on my feed about a month or so ago and I’ve been subscribed ever since. If your handmade world ever comes crashing down you could make a living doing stand up (sit down?) comedy, I bet. I’ve got a fledgling handmade business that I’m trying to breath new life into and I find your content entertaining and informative. I started on Etsy and did some local shop consignments over the holidays last year but now I am starting a GoImagine shop (I’m in the US) and getting my own website up an running too. Enjoy your week of summer 😅. I was vacationing in the Cotswolds this past June and it was NOT the weather that I expected Brrrr 🥶

I’m in Arizona/US and I’ve been seeing loads of Etsy ads on KZfaq. The ones I see have all been about real people making the items. Small business real people personally making your items. Not surprised that they’re pushing the real people thing right now.

Ooh salty and true 😂 thanks Kim 👍💕

Problem with just having a sale that isn’t a major sales event is that you’ll always have to run a sale. I have customers that will ask me when my next sale is. Then you’re always running that sale to get orders and then that becomes the new price. People know you’ll always be running that sale so there is no urgency. Then to get more sales you have to have a bigger discount. Then it’s just a downward spiral. Some of my competitors seem to always be having a 70% off sale lately. I don’t know why bother being on Etsy

Oh no! Not sales and discounts! However I think you might have a point. Sales had been lacking during the week so I ran a 20% off sale on Saturday and got four sales. Unfortunately those sales have not increased my visits and I'm back to square one. Sigh! Being a carer I really can't offer 1 day shipping but I might try it as a test.

39 seems like an arbitrary amount. Although it's about $49 USD converted. Maybe that's how they arrived at that?

Ugh Etsy is such a burnout trigger, however, it's all I can handle right now. Thanks Kim x

If you can’t afford to run sales, I’d recommend raising your price enough to keep your margins and offer a 20% sale all the time. Just to catch the people who always check the “on sale” box.

You are simply hilarious, which is such a joy to see! Thank you for the insight!

Kim I sure hope summer hangs on for ya more than one week.😁😎🌞 and "yes" try to void a Etsy burnout. They already cause to many problems. Time for lunch and a cold beverage here in Jersey. It's another hot one. 🥤

I completely relate to the "impostor syndrome"!! I'm 69 and have sold at craft fairs in the past, first started on Etsy in 2010, closed and then reopened a couple years ago. I often think "who's going to buy these" but people have! I still doubt myself, not my skills but if someone will buy from me 😏

You are an absolute delight!! During this entire video I'm thinking YES YES YES!! Ugh, this "bad advice" just makes my head spin! I've heard so much about nicheing down but also having a micro niche and it gives me a headache! Anyway, I'm am waving hello and cheers from an overly warm eastern US! And will now go make my tea ☕️ and think about embroidered tea holders 😉

You’re so awesome! Thanks girlie. Needed to hear this right now

The commercial at the end of your video was for Etsy ..pushing "handmade by real people"... 🤣

This was so helpful! Thank you! I am thinking of starting to sell my crochet bags on etsy.

August reset video did show up in my suggestion.

Might as well go with a stand alone shop and not stay on that platform

Hi Kim, I love your work and I'm sorry you are finding out the truth about America the hard way. The economy in America is horrible, regardless of what the President & Media say. Families that have an income below $100K annually, are struggling to pay basic bills. Consumer Credit Debt is at an all time high ($1.115 Trillion dollars, up $400 Billion in the last 2 years) as people are using credit cards to pay for their food, gas, and other essential bills. The truth is that the inflation rate over the last 3 years is 40%; we can't sustain that. That is why lower ticket items are selling the best, and it is likely to be that way for at least another year. What we are seeing isn't Etsy's fault - and honestly I think they are trying to find ways to lure more high ticket buyers, and even trying to attract boutique owners to come take a look at the handmade goods that they may find for their brick & mortar stores on Etsy. The average 2- income American family has a gross income of $70k on average and few have money for non-essential items beyond gift buying for someone special.

I'm a furniture refurbisher and I just made my first sell and lost $100 for offsite ads 🤦🏻‍♂️ thank you

Love your business cards, they made me Smile Thank you ❤

I think the phrase "dont put all your eggs in one basket" is more relevant than ever now for Etsy sellers. Shop owners are going to have to start diversifying over to other e-commerce platforms if Etsy keeps pulling this bull shit. 😤 etsy is only good because there is a built in audience. But if you can keep your toe-hold on Etsy and slowly start directing customers to your own store front where a) prices are cheaper b) you keep a lot more of your profit, and c) there's rarely a worry of being shut down for no reason then I dont ser why we shouldn't try. We design the product, we did the photography, we did the SEO-- just upload it to another platform. More chance of more eyes means more sales.

Those are wonderful cards, and can easily be displayed if they like, such a cute idea. Also great advice, having more than one thing going. Especially if one ends up not working out or making many sales, you can hopefully make the difference with one of the other baskets lol. Appreciate the update on the experiment as well!

I would love to see the data on how many other buyers on Etsy also have a shop on there and buy a lot of supplies or handmade materials adjacent type stuff! I know I spend a lot on fabric and what not so that makes sense!

I agree that Etsy sells low ticket items. I find that whoever buys from my Etsy shop spends far less than those who come to my website. Why? I think Etsy provides too many distractions whereas on my Website, it’s just lots and lots of my stuff 😊 and zero distractions.

Love the cards, the toadstool is so cheerful. Reminds me of a hike I did recently where we saw SO MANY mushrooms, many were bigger than my hand! 😊

That business card is super cute!

Adorable business cards. Well done. ❤

Without giving a money amount, could you instead give an estimate or ratio of how many small ticket items you have to sell to equal one large ticket item? Like 10:1 or something. I’m moving into a similar set up and I’d love to have realistic expectations. Thank you for all you do on this channel! ❤ the content!

This is the most irrelevant comment, but the ~SUNFLOWERS ON YOUR SHOULDER PADS ❤❤❤❤❤~

Etsy chucked me off their platform 2 weeks ago! They wouldn't accept my appeal. 2 years of a good business taken away. My whole business is now failing. Etsy is a disaster area. It is killing small businesses.

Those cards are adorable.

OMG! Those business cards are so cute! They are bound to make people smile. Quick Pinterest update: I started pinning daily 4 months ago this coming Friday. I am NOW seeing interaction with my pins. Just last week in fact. I was getting frustrated with pinning and no one clicking on them. But it is just what Kara Buntin says, it takes 4 months to see engagement. She knows her onions, does Kara 😄Hopefully the engagement will build now.

Thank you Kim x

I love your business cards!!

I love how chuffed you got over the business cards. I can relate 😄

Etsy seems to be an individual experience. The term "handmade" is too broad of a term to use in the context of what works or doesn't work on Etsy. If you're one of the million(s) hand making jewelry, then yeah, maybe Etsy is a tough nut to crack. For me, hand making bird and squirrel feeders, my sales are rolling along at a nice consistent pace, all year long. And now that Halloween is approaching, my wooden jack o' lanterns are starting to sell. Etsy might not be what it's been for you, in the past, but as long as it's not a money pit, I see no reason to stop selling on the platform. Since the majority of the expense comes off of sales, whatever you make is gravy. You're already making stuff for your website so it's not like you have to make extra for Etsy. Just keep your available quantities in sync as best you can. If administrative tasks like that end up zapping your time, then maybe that's not the best approach, but I think you get my point. I have 12 listings. Only 4 sell on a regular basis. 2 more for next 2-3 months (my jack o' lanterns). The only thing I do in my shop is update my shop announcement every week or so and keep my quantities above zero. 95% of my "business" time is spent making. I have a full time job so my "business" time comes out of my "spare" time. I probably only spend about 40%-50% of my spare time on my business. I get to do what I love to do and that is make. My shop basically takes care of itself. I see your Etsy experience becoming the same thing for you, Kim. Your focus is your website. Make the same items available in your Etsy shop and you're not doing any extra work. The expense of selling on Etsy is taken care of with each sale. No sales? No expense. It takes care of itself. Of course, you know your business better than I do, so take it all with a grain of salt.

Cheers Kim! 😁 Love the buisness card 👍