Pink Peony Ribbon Wand

Freshly Made on March 31st, 2008

Best Bets Daily

The Storque linked to this article in the New York Magazine about Etsy. I was especially intrigued by the line that said, "Basically, Etsy gives you god-like powers to will awesome handmade stuff into existence." Seriously, Etsy is a great place but I have been in the dark about the god-like power thing until now. You'd think they might have mentioned this in their FAQ's. :)

100 SALES

My goal for March was to make 100 sales and today is the day! I'm thrilled. Thrilled about reaching the goal with days to spare, and thrilled about doing what I do...I feel fulfilled.

I've started preparing for my April theme at Ribbon Wands: Freshly Made. Watch for some fun dozen and half dozen packs, not to mentions some brand new hot and tasty designs.

Unique Skillset

Rhythmic Gymnasts are in high demand with Cirque De Soleil. Cool. The things you discover on google...

I'm busy working on the final Ribbon Wand packages for the March promotion at my Etsy store. So keep dropping in to see the new packages throughout the week!

Happy Easter

Lots of Ribbon Wands have been ordered for Easter and await their spots in the Easter basket. Thanks again for all the continued support of Ribbon Wands and I hope you enjoy the holiday weekend with those you love!

For all those interested in enjoying the March special of Ribbon Wand Packages...be sure to check the Etsy site for new Packages after the Easter long weekend.

Ribbon Bookmarks

FYI: Sales 82 through 99 at my Etsy Shop will include a sweet ribbon bookmark!

This is the primary way I re purpose my ribbon scraps. It's a simple satin base with either a grosgrain ribbon or patterned paper sewn on and then cut with pinking shears on either end. It makes a superb bookmark, and might even inspire you to make some more of your own!

Play is the thing

I am passionate about simple, battery free, creative, play and I'm not alone! Here are a few of my favorite online haunts that support this same principle:

• Right To Play is one amazing organization! Here's a description of what they do from their very own website: Right To Play uses specially-designed sport and play programmes to improve health, build life skills, and foster peace for children and communities affected by war, poverty, disease. Working in both the humanitarian and development contexts, Right To Play has projects in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. A truly amazing organization!
  
• Romp is a fabulous online store:ROMP’s toys don't simply look beautiful, they engage kids' (and grown-ups') natural curiosity and wonder at the world. we don’t believe in toys that tell kids how to play, instead we like to see kids be kids and learn through open-ended play. Oh, how I agree with every line!
• A fantastic article by a Vanessa Ong who is an Occupational Therapist. The article is entitled, The Importance of Play for Children.
  
• With the attention we all seem to finally be giving to our planet, there is a huge movement in the natural and organic toy market. NaturalPlay is a wonderful online store that even sorts toys from ages of birth to 88 years old. So, there's something for everyone here.
  

This is a great start! Please feel free to share any links you may have that promote self defined imaginative play and interaction.

Store Identity : Etsy 411

For anyone thinking about starting an Etsy shop, having a strong image and store identity is extremely important. Imagine your online shop as you would a bricks and mortar store, the signs outside, the way the product is displayed the colors and feeling of your shop, are all things that can and must be translated into your online identity. People need to know who you are, without this, they will not trust you enough to support your product by making a purchase.

Some people manage to be successful at Etsy by branding themselves. They are popular in a certain genre and capitalize on that reputation with their Etsy shop. Some great examples of this are Donna Downey, Emily Falconbridge and Betz White.

Most of us, though won't find a huge following of ready made customers this way. Our stores must be more product based. Here are a few key points to consider, before you even upload your first listing:

NAME:
At Etsy, the name of your shop is something to carefully consider. Your user name doesn't necessarily have to be the same as your Banner, but continuity is something that can simplify and make you more easily remembered.

BANNERS AND AVATARS:
Constant discussions take place in the forums of Etsy on this very topic. Is your avatar click worthy? Does your banner represent the spirit of your shop? Does it make you want to find out more? Personally I've had at least 7 other banners before finding my current one and I'm sure to continue tweaking, altering and trying to improve these elements of my shop. Green and growing or ripe and rotting...I'm always trying to learn and improve.

PHOTOGRAPHY:
A huge huge part of your business. In fact, some Etsians have done so well photographing their product, that the very photographs have spurned into a side business. Sunsetgirl is an amazing example of this. Her sock monkey's are truly the best in the world and her idea to start making the images of these handcrafted monkey's into greeting cards, to me is genius.

Another key element of photographing your product is to show it from as many angles as you can. The Storque at Etsy has some really great photography support that any new seller may find incredibly useful. I especially liked this article: Create a Story for your Product.

So there's some food for thought for anyone interested in improving, opening and enjoying a shop at Etsy.