Lollishops? Etsy? Ebay? What Have I Learned?

I was thinking this past week about the year almost behind us and the decisions I've made for Glass Bead Treasures and what, if any, changes I would make for the new year ahead. I've learned a lot, made some mistakes, and made a few decisions.

I've learned (the hard way) to be very exacting when listing something...hurrying with a description will incur mistakes. I've learned that Priority mail is just too expensive for little things like I have. I offer free shipping on everything (which I appreciate when purchasing from others), but Priority is just too much money. First class gets things where they need to go in a timely manner--and I always put a tracking # with each package. No one can then say their package never arrived.

I put several things on Ebay this past year, and other than one really good sale did very poorly and wasted my money. Oh, I can't stand wasting money!! Anyway, with Ebay a person just "never knows" . It is a well-known place, and many go there every week, including myself, to see what is there. But over all I think I will place very few auctions there this coming year.

Opening a shop on Etsy was a very wise move. I started placing things there early in the summer. I had hesitated for a while because, well, to be honest there were things featured on the front page at times that I thought were quite inappropriate. I didn't like and still don't like that aspect about Etsy, but the more I got to know the site the less I felt it would impact my shop or anyone I sent there. I love the fact that it accepts the selling of vintage items (yes, a replacement for Ebay). It is quite reasonably priced as long as I resist the temptation to spend more than is necessary on relisting and showcases. I figured out the importance of doing "treasuries" (which are great fun), connecting with people in the forums, "hearting" people, etc. I learned what showcases are worthwhile and what showcases are definitely NOT worth the money through trial and error (and losing some money). I've met some fabulous people there and will stay there.

Lollishops is just over one year old, and it has been fun being a part of something new. It has had some bumps and many changes and adjustments over the past year. There were times I considered dropping off the bandwagon but, understanding Sadie's vision and seeing its potential, was determined to stick it. I'm so glad I have! At first I didn't like the change a few months ago to being basically a referral site, but now I love it. It offers exposure to a targeted crowd while simply referring any serious purchasers to my Etsy shop. This was a wise move on Sadie's part which I'm very satisfied with. Oh, and the price is exceptional. You just can't beat the monthly price for the exposure ratio. I love that there are regular advertising opportunities in well-known publications and other interesting exposure chances, like Silver Bella press kits, which I've taken advantage and could never afford on my own. It is nice that the front page always shows what I have newly listed and a featured item from my shop from time to time. I have actually sold things as a result of being on Lollishops' front page! Lollishops also allows the selling of vintage goodies which is an added plus. I think for me Lollishops has been well worth it, and I'll happily continue on this coming year.

I know my shop and ideas and budget are different from others, but I thought I'd share the wisdom gained from the past year. I hope this is a help to others who may be trying to make decisions for the upcoming year.

Tatting--An Estate Sale Find

As promised, I'm showing you some of my estate sale finds. In two boxes I paid very little for, I received some beautiful, long pieces of tatting. Apparently the lady who had died did a great deal of tatting, and her children did not want it. Pretty tatted doilies or the gentle tatted edge of a handkerchief can certainly be lovely. I'm not sure how old this work is nor what this lady had intended all of her work to go toward--perhaps the edges of pillows or table runners or cuffs. These are just two examples of the colors and detail of what I found--there are several others that I haven't taken pictures of. These just happen to be what I'm selling on Ebay this weekend. I'm not really into tatting--especially this wide. I suppose if they do not sell, I could find some pillows or table runners of my own to stitch these on. I have never done tatting but having done several types of needlework in the past, I can really appreciate all the work that must have gone into these. Any needle work takes time and patience, and I respect the lady who did all of this. Handwork can be exquisite--tiny works of art--and she has my highest regard. I truly hope it can be used, enjoyed, and appreciated by someone or by many.

Is Feedback Important?

I'm really a statistics junkie. Though I thought my "stats" class in college was sort of a drag, I'm very dedicated to checking my on-line statistics every day on Google Analytics, checking my Ebay comments, checking any Etsy comments, checking my e-mails, reading blog comments (I don't miss any comments--they all get read) and seeing if there are any more followers, etc. Each follower is very important to my on my blog--I'm extremely thankful, not to mention honored, for each and every one of you who care at all about what I have to say. Every heart is appreciated on Etsy. Every comment on Ebay sales is read. When I sell something on Ebay or Etsy or Lollishops, getting a response...a communication of any sort by the purchaser...is very important. I can learn a lot from feedback. Does anyone else crave feedback? I feel that if someone DOESN'T respond, that they didn't like what I sent or there's a problem, and they don't want to tell me. I'm really trying to make sure that I communicate with buyers and sellers of items on line, particularly those "little shops" out there where people take the effort and time to create what they sell. Perhaps feedback fills in the gap that is missing in on-line sales--of not physically going into a shop, seeing the shop owner, and communicating with him/her through body language or verbally about the shop and the items in it. To all who have commented on the things I have sold them--THANK YOU! I appreciate the time you take to do so. I'd also like to encourage those who don't give feedback to little shop owners like myself, to do so. The little bit of time you take to give feedback is more important that you think--and appreciated.