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Etsy Potters

Gather here to obtain help or information on the in's and out's of selling on etsy.com

Members: 90
Latest Activity: Mar 16, 2019

Discussion Forum

Generating traffic on Etsy

Started by Leslie Nieves. Last reply by Pat Jun 10, 2016. 12 Replies

In July I set up an Etsy store for Tamarack Stoneware and have now had it stocked and the information fully developed for a few months. What I'm finding is that unless you add new listings every few…Continue

Post Your Etsy Store (and other links) Here, So We Can Follow You

Started by Victoria Cochran. Last reply by Pat Jun 4, 2016. 22 Replies

Vika on EtsyVika on Rebel Mouse Sign up for news...upper right side of page: "Alerts"…Continue

Favorite Clay

Started by Yelena Kukharets. Last reply by Donna Kat Jul 11, 2015. 1 Reply

Whats everyone's favorite clay to work with?If you're doing slip casting, whats your favorite slip?I'm just curious and like to try out different clays.Continue

ICE (in case of emergency) process for Etsy shops

Started by Leslie Nieves Feb 24, 2014. 0 Replies

Here is a starting point for generating your own emergency process.ICE (In Case of Emergency) Procedures for an Etsy Shop Create a list of URLs for Etsy shops and PayPal account. Provide the User…Continue

Tags: management, process, emergency, ICE

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Comment by Victoria Cochran on April 30, 2012 at 6:40pm

Within the contiguous states, pick the furthers from you, quote for that and refund if it's less. For all others, ask buyers to convo you for a quote. OR... see sellers with items similar to yours and use their tiers or method.

Comment by Pat Cooper on April 30, 2012 at 3:16pm

Can anybody tell me how I can figure a shipping price for an item when I don't know the destination?  All the shipping calculators I've found want to know a destination.

Comment by Sharon Ivy on March 12, 2012 at 6:02pm
Comment by Sharon Ivy on February 10, 2012 at 6:10am

Kathy, ditto what Sharon H and Victoria said. You certainly must be ever active on Etsy, but it pays off with sales. Post pieces in various price points.  Although I sell mostly smaller pieces, such as mugs and smaller lidded jars, I've often had customers buying large casseroles or bowls throw in a smaller piece with their order. 

I do have a blog just because I enjoy posting to it, but I've not added a shopping cart to it, nor even a gallery of my work, but I do have an Etsy app that scrolls my Etsy listings and takes people directly to my Etsy shop.

I get lots of response from Facebook. Not many customers from MY friends, but lots from friends of my friends. My new favorite venue is Pinterest. Along with posting pieces made by other artists, I throw in some of my own pieces, taken directly from my Etsy shop so when someone clicks on it, it takes them to my shop.

Etsy does take up a LOT of time with taking photos, cleaning them up, listing, renewing, participating in forums and teams, responding to customers and potential customers, and packing/shipping, but you eventually get into a sort of rhythm. Besides, it's always exciting to check your email and see those Etsy Transactions!

Comment by Victoria Cochran on February 9, 2012 at 9:09am

Thank you, Sharon H!

I regularly post our Treasuries to Twitter (usually more than once/different time slots & days), my FB business & personal pages, and to Google+, sometimes Tumbler, too. And, of course, I favorite them, click around to see what else the Treasury artists are up to and send favs off to friends & the sites I already listed.

Comment by Kathy Ransom on February 9, 2012 at 8:10am

Thank you both Sharons!  I have friended a lot of potters on fb and find it leads to more and some very interesting, cool work.  I'm trying to link social media together to cut down on the amount of time I spend on the computer as that cuts down on the time I get to spend in clay.  I think it's essential to have a web presence though and the first question I get these days is do I have a website? I've talked to people who suggest an Etsy page to direct people to rather than to sell directly from.

Comment by Sharon Hutson on February 9, 2012 at 7:43am

Kathy, one of the main things you need to remember about Etsy is that you can't just put stuff in your shop and sit back. It doesn't sell itself in this highly competitive venue, and Etsy doesn't sell your work for you either.  You have to list frequently (or renew/relist) and you need to promote yourself and others through a variety of methods.  Joining teams, like EC6 and the Etsy Mud Team, can be very helpful.  Another place I find a good group of sharing potters is on Facebook.  Most potters will accept friend requests which exposes you to work form potters around the world. Naturally they aren't going to be buying your work, but they are sources of support and inspiration. There are also groups on FB which are supportive: the clay and glaze sharing group, pottery heads, clay office, to name a few.

Comment by Sharon Hutson on February 9, 2012 at 7:37am

thanks for including me in your treasury, Victoria. I pinned a couple of your pieces on Pinterest, one on my hearts and Valentines board, and one to my Pottery for daily living board. Amazing pieces. I favorited many of the pieces you selected. thanks so much for putting it together for us.

Comment by Sharon Ivy on February 9, 2012 at 7:14am
Great Treasury, Victoria! Kathy, I'm relatively new to Etsy, but will be happy to share what I've learned. Hard to do while at work, but I'll post something when I am home. The group here has been most helpful and kind. you will learn a lot from them.
Comment by Kathy Ransom on February 9, 2012 at 6:25am

I haven't used Etsy yet but have been considering it for quite a while.  I joined this group hoping for some feedback on it. Any pros and cons that you are willing to share?

 

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Purchase Glazes Cone 6 by Michael Bailey, The Potters Book of Glaze Recipes by Emmanuel Cooper, or Making Marks by Robin Hopper, all available at amazon.comMastering Cone 6 Glazes by John Hesselberth & Ron Roy is now out of print.

Harbor Freight is a great place to find unbeatable prices for better HVLP spray guns with stainless steel parts and serviceable economy models, as well as detail guns, all tested by our members for spraying glazes, as well as compressors to power the guns. As yet no one has tested and commented on the remarkably inexpensive air brushes at harbor freight.

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If you just want to spout off, it is best accomplished as a blog posting. If you want to get more guidance and ideas from other members, ask a question as a new discussion topic. In the upper right corner of the lists for both types of posting, you will find an "+Add " button. Clicking it will open an editor where you create your posting. 4/16/2014

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