Archive for March, 2012

DECIDING ON A SHOP NAME
You’re not just picking a username here, you’re creating a brand. You need to think long and hard about the name you’re about to type into that box, because there’s no going back.

Some things to consider:
Does the name infringe on copyright? This is a no brainer. Don’t copy someone else’s name. You might think you’ll get away with it, but you won’t. Simples. You don’t need that hassle as a start up, just do your research from the beginning. And it leads me onto my second point…

Is the name already taken? When a prospective customer types your brand name into Google, do you want them to get confused between two brands and possibly end up at the wrong place? Nope! The more unique your name is, the more likely it is that your brand will stand out. I’m not talking something completely obscure just for the sake of it, but try to be creative here. Plus, if you use something totally unique it will be a breeeeeze when you sign up for social networks and selling venues… your chosen username will always be available! Never become “ShopName2” because “ShopName” is already taken. You will always be second best.

What are the connotations of my name? Just to be on the safe side, Google your name! Make sure you’re not choosing a name that is offensive, racist, sexist or has any other negative connotations. You don’t want to end up like Joey from Friends…

DECIDING WHAT TO SELL
I’m a huge advocate for only selling a product that I truly believe in and would wear and use myself. I’ve never been a great sales person through all the years I worked in retail, so just absolutely being in love with the product makes selling it a breeze. And I don’t have sleepless nights…

Be prepared. Don’t start selling until you have at least 8 items to list. Ideally you want to fill a whole page in your shop, which is 24 listings. You want to offer options for your buyers and an empty shop is really disappointing for shoppers! You need to look like you’re serious about this.

BUY FROM OTHER SHOPS
As soon as you have registered on Etsy, start buying from other shops if possible. You NEED to build up your feedback. Buyers need to see that there is a good person behind the shop name and of course everyone has to start somewhere, but you can at least have positive feedback as buyer. It all counts towards your feedback score. As long as you order and pay instantly, don’t cancel your order or mess the seller around, good feedback is almost guaranteed here and will create you a much needed 100% positive.

Printed Kraft Paper Bags | Dayzee Love Designs

You can buy so many items on Etsy that you should be able to find something you need if you’re on a really tight budget. Buy supplies, buy birthday and Christmas gifts, items for your home, clothing, accessories, notebooks…. and it’s really great to support the handmade market. You’ll find things you usually buy from high street stores and they will be so much more beautiful if bought from Etsy.

Buying from other sellers is also great market research. You can find out how a seller packages an item, how they deal with customers, what postage method they use… etc.

If you have any questions or feel like I have missed anything on this subject, please feel free to ask them in the comments. If I’m planning to cover your subject in a later post, I will let you know :)
In the next installment we will talk about filling out the information on your shop – Profile, Policies, Title & Announcement.

See previous installments, here:

An Etsy Tale: Introduction

x xx

So… so far I am really failing shamefully at doing an outfit post.
I lack confidence – big style! I really take great encouragement from blogs like One Sheepish Girl who did a ‘Blogging For Confidence’ series, which you can read here, but sometimes no matter how much you can manage to talk yourself up, it’s hard actually putting yourself so far out of your comfort zone.

Blogging For Confidence by One Sheepish Girl

I love clothing and style and I really love just getting dressed. I love accidentally creating a great outfit while trying on my hundreds of clothes. Posting my daily outfits seems like such a great feature for my blog because it would fit so well with who I am… and I also think it would be a really good way of learning to feel better about, and eventually loving, myself.

I’ve gone as far as asking my boyfriend to take photos for me, I’ve put on an outfit I love and I’ve had my camera right there in my bag while we were outside on the quiet streets around my house, but I always find an excuse.

SO. The other morning I tried taking some photos of myself in the privacy of my own home. I was home alone and I just made myself do it. I love my outfit, which I will explain more about later, but the pictures were dreadful because there are no great backgrounds in my house and the lighting is terrible and I’ve totally cheated but cutting off my face in editing… but at least I’ve made a start! This is a huge step for me, so please, bear with me. I’ll get better, I promise <3

Moustache Earrings | onetenzeroseven
Glasses | Specsavers
Make Up – sugarbomb Face Powder | Benefit

A lot of people compliment me on my glasses. At the front they feature quite a chunky, rectangle frame. I do love the way they look, but the quality is dreadful! They have become so loose that if I accidentally knock them or even just bend my head… they fall off. Which can be so embarrassing, especially when you’re talking to a really good looking and well presented male model at a photo shoot and you drop something, bend down and your glasses fall off! D’OH.

Dress | Dorothy Perkins
Cardigan | Mango
Lace Vest | Vintage (Given to me by my Mum)
Socks | Unknown (Gift)
Belt | Kookai

Ugh. I cringe so hard thinking about sitting there and taking a photo of myself with the self timer on my camera. But I really love this outfit. I got dressed completely differently this day, I did my hair first with a wooden headband that you can’t see in the picture and then I put on the tights and socks to match in brown. Then I pulled a dress out of my wardrobe that I thought would look cute with the socks. I wouldn’t normally match a black dress with brown tights, but I think it totally works here. I also hadn’t worn this belt for about 4 years, but I’ve fallen in love with it again!

So there you have it. My first outfit post that I hope to some day look back on and laugh at how silly I felt.
Maybe now the elusive first post is done, I won’t feel so silly taking good photos outside in the natural light. Hopefully.

x xx