Happy December Everyone!

Hope everyone has their Christmas shopping underway. How do you manage the huge task every year?

Something that may help a little when pricing...

I subscribe to a number of etsy newsletters and the latest in the sucess series has some helpful info on pricing items to gain a profit. It was originally a Twitter interview and was formatted to writting via storify.com
http://storify.com/etsy/etsysuccess-pricing-tweetchat

Etsy, not so easy

With the addition of the new ad sense and earlier relevancy setting. It seems it's been much harder on shop owners to sell their products. I've been looking through the site forums and the general oppion is to advertise off site. Which I agree, this makes all the more sense. Why advertise where you're already selling anyway. Who's going to see it, well other etsy shop owners more likely. Which is fine but it would be nice to be able to sell to a wider range of customers. As in those who don't sell on etsy and are just looking to shop local and handmade.
I've had some ideas for solutions but haven't put most of them into practice yet. So I haven't much of an idea if they'll be effective not. So here goes...

• Advertise on google - yes google. Seems expensive yes, but if you already have a blog account with them it's likely they'll send you an offer in the mail every so often. You can get $100 of free advertiseing. Which will go down twenty dollars I after a deadline I believe is a month latter if I recall correctly.
• Facebook seems like a good enough place to grab the attention of like minded people. I've found several shops and fan pages by clicking on their ads. Though mind you they have the same ad system that etsy hosts now.
• Word of mouth. Ever the old school way of getting people in the know. Friends may tell friends who love what you're selling.
• Place a local ad, might be surprised and lucky if your sales happen to increase. Plus who can resist supporting a locally own shop. Whether it be online or brick and morter. People know you need to buisniness.
• Local farmers markerts, Flea Markets and local art fairs. -All three requires prep work. But being that they are local you will have a higher chance of getting return customers. And making a few friends in the process. 
• Craft Shows - Probably requires the most work of them all. One of the reasons why I haven't tried but if you can find one that has an affordable fee and you have the inventory. Heck why not!

Hope I've given some new ideas or at least left the light on for ideas to grow. ;) Best of luck  :)

Please excuse the mess..

Updateing my blog to try to make it more user friendly  and appealing to the eye> Trying out a few different layouts and arrangments. So if you come back and it's suddenly differnet, no your not seeing things. Just me trying to get it to look right without being too buisy. Thank you for your patience.

Easing into Fall

 It's that chilly time of year again and many of us and scrambled together to put up our festive Fall decor. Personally I like to keep my decor less country looking as you often see in my part of the midwest. I really don't care for those scarecrows. Though I do love the handmade items. It's a fine line between the two sometimes.


What kind of decorations do you like to put up for the Fall season?

Herbal Tonics

Fiund this wonderful blog while searching for how to on how to make herbal tonics. Enjoy!


http://newurbanhabitat.com/2009/06/03/simple-herbal-tonics-brews-for-beginners/

Donations needed for a non for profit camp... please read the following...

Hello

I’m taking part in the 2011 Campership Challenge to raise money for The Heart Connection Children's Cancer Programs dba Children's Cancer Connection - please make a donation by visiting my FirstGiving page: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/jeanettegriebel/2011campershipchallenge?fge=ask

You can donate online with a credit card. All donations are secure and sent directly to The Heart Connection Children's Cancer Programs dba Children's Cancer Connection by FirstGiving, who will email you a printable record of your donation.

Please send my page on to anyone who might like to donate!

Jeanette

ETSY BNRs Please stop by

Hi again, seem to be posting more than ususual. Which is good since I'm tryingto help to support some etsy shops.
There are a couple of BNRs that I was invited to and would like to support. Please stop by if you can and help to support these shops.
Also my previous post of my BNR, it's still going on. So please give all of the support and encouragement you can!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4de56fdcd4c38eef707c897f/open-tasias-bns-round-1-sales-8-need-6


http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4de5a4b1e3078eef530a1a20/open-little-champs-bns-happy-june-round

Etsy OPEN BNR - SHOPPING ROUND OPEN! **Special**

Please visit my BNR.. that's etsian for buy and replace. you buy and item it gets replaced with another.
These shops really need some sales so just follow the rules and you'll have some fun!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4de402f83c496d91031aa900/open-bnr-shopping-round-open-special?index=0

Keeping Busy...

Painting some canvases for my niece to put up in her room. Hopefully I will get them done by the end of the week. At least before my indesiciveness takes over and I change my mind. Oh boy thay only means trouble. lol

Starting on making my Easter cards too and will get back to my sewing one of these days... So lots to do to keep me more than busy.

Hello again!

I recently opened an etsy shop! (see below post) Though I admit I don't have much to sell right now, I will have more in the future. Including stuffed toys, art and cards amoung other things.

Please take a look at what I have for sale at my etsy shop!

Back again

It's bneen awhile since I posted anything and I admit even that wasn't much. But my time was spent with major computer issues for several months. Also I was on a sewing spree making things for my niece. So when I get the change which well hopefully be soon I will post pictures of those. Thank you for baring with me.