Online Seller Experience, Small Business Success Stories
… I would advise new sellers to list 30 different items as quickly as possible, then review them each month. Chop out the weakest 10 and replace them with something new. Soon you will have top 10 sellers that can give you an income.
… Since my product is a personalized product, communication with the customer is constant from the moment they make the purchase and throughout the entire production process. In many of my products, they send me photos, in other texts, names, or numbers, so it is essential to understand each other so that the product is the desired one.
… We watched a few Etsy marketing/strategy classes on Facebook to really help set our listings up properly, that was probably the most helpful thing we did. Plus good photos! One lesson I learned the hard way not responding to negative feedback publicly because then the buyer can’t ever change their rating.
… We sell art & fashion accessories, Self-designed furniture, paintings and eco-friendly ideas that help the environment. We always start with an idea, that thrills ourselves, that we love or like ourselves, and design, paint or build it until it fits into our ideal. Therefore everything has our own stamp on it, a bit individual and as we believe, sticking out of the mass.
… I consider myself a printmaker, although it’s not my main job – I still work full time, so printing takes place on whatever evenings or weekends I can spare. It might sound like a lot of work, but I love having a more creative outlet. I find printing very mindful and meditative.
… I think about my customers when creating. I think about them when listening to music, especially vinyl records. They like the things I like, I think. I was born in 67 and grew up with punk, disco, new wave, Americana, space-age, new romantics, house music, and the start of hip hop. I imagine my creations are influenced by this and attract a similar following.
… You need to have a pretty clear picture of what your business’s brand, personality, and offers will be. A few years ago I sat down and defined who Two Little Possums were, and what values and personality the business would have. Think about who you’re targeting, and how you’ll connect with them.
… I use brass based metal that is plated with either rhodium, rose gold, or gold finish. I also use Swarovski crystals and pearls and mainly work with cubic zirconia crystals. I make a simple line of jewelry, a lot of which can be used for other events after the wedding.
… My best selling products are the vegan leather tote bags in all their sizes-small, medium, and extra-large as well as the different color and material combo zippered clutch bags. I do get a lot of custom orders as well since I love teamwork together with my customers combining my experience and their vision and wishes to create a unique piece based on their preferences and personal style.
… My customers have always been my biggest inspiration. And in the case of wedding decals, It was totally led by my first request from a wedding planner to make simple, yet modern serif font table numbers. They are my most popular offering. Someone will come to me with an idea, and I enjoy turning that idea into a decal.