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All of these things are part of shipping and should be considered when thinking about handling fees. This is a personal decision based on what you sell and your shipping fees if you, or do not, want to add them to your shop!
In some cases when shipping is calculated it can be off by a few dollars which means the buyer may pay $10 for shipping but the postage actually costs you, the seller $12. This can add up over time but if you find this happening frequently then you likely need to review your listing weight and box size for a more accurate shipping fee calculations. If they are accurate and it still happens then this could also be a valid reason to review if a handling fee would suit your shop.
As always I hope this helps!
CBco.
]]>Once you open your Etsy shop and start selling the second-best part is getting those awesome reviews…but what do you do when they don’t come?
I’m here to tell you not to stress! I’ve noticed about 30% of my buyers will leave a review afterwards. These reviews are sincere and that’s what matters when others come to your shop to buy. My reviews jumped once I started making a point of asking for them directly using these stickers!
If you want to encourage reviews here are some ideas you can try:
Reviews take time and often people just forget, try not to take it personally. I can’t tell you how many times people have reached out to me once they get their item and are SO happy, sending me the sweetest messages, but never get around to leaving a review. And that’s okay because I know they are happy with their item and that’s what’s important.
At the end of the day just remember if you aren’t getting reviews it doesn’t mean people are unhappy – so don’t let it discourage you! But if you want more try the tips I shared above. It doesn't have to be fancy, like a sticker, so work with whatever you have with where you are at.
CBco!
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Creating cutting board décor is such a fun craft! First it looks so natural and fits right in when it’s in your kitchen, and secondly you can apply a design on either side to match your current vibe!
(I don’t use this board for food or cutting things on – just decoration.)
Depending on the type of board you get, you may or may not need to seal it first. Sealing is a MUST - otherwise your vinyl won’t stick and just stay on your transfer tape. If your board has a rough finish to it and doesn’t look a bit shiny and perfectly smooth, then you should seal it.
I used the coating linked below but you can use any type of sealer. I liked this coating because it dried FAST; after I applied a thin layer I added my vinyl 2 hours later. Once sealed you can apply your vinyl like normal. The pearl vinyl is a bit tricky to use (it’s thick and a bit stiffer) so keep that in mind when you’re picking a vinyl. I didn’t have trouble with the “October” as it was a thicker and bigger piece, but the smaller letters took a bit of time.
You could really put a lot of cute phrases on a board like this for your kitchen!
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I shared my Dishwasher Safe Mod Podge experience on Instagram (see my highlight if you want!) and y’all seriously loved it and said it was so helpful which is why I’m putting it on here too!
For some reason I was nervous to use it on a set of mugs I was making. It seemed way more intimidating because all the tutorials I found were so long!
I’ve listed my process below but a few things first:
Everything I used is linked here!
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I opened my Etsy Shop in December 2019 and listed and sold my first item in January 2020. Looking back on the year I want to share with you some things I learned.
People don’t know their address
Yes, it’s true. People either put an old address in for shipping, need to change it after ordering or mix up city’s, states etc. It’s so common my auto reply for every order requests buyers review their address and contact me if it needs to change! I had a buyer accuse me of not even sending her item because it was taking so long, only to hear back from her that the state was wrong in her address order!
Less IS best
If you’re like me you have 50 colors of vinyl, 30 colors of iron on and 600 shades of paint. The buyer wants simple and most of the time will defer to “what you think is best”. A buyer ordered something in navy but I sent her a photo and suggested a greyish blue vinyl I had instead (I just thought it would look better!)…and her reply was “I can’t tell the difference, you pick what’s best”. There was a huge difference in the photo (lol) but clearly she was cool going with whatever I thought was best.
Chose the colors you think are best for each product and add those to your listing. Add a note that they can request a custom color as more are available. This will also save you tons of time on color charts! Some buyers are picky and want to personalize everything but most will be happy with the options you think are best!
You don’t need it all
You really don’t to start a shop. You don’t need the pretty graphics, the “photo shoot pictures”, the 100 options, the perfect description, pretty packaging and promotion material. Work on your shop as you go, work with what you have. Try things, take them down, pay attention to what attracts and brings traction to your shop.
As a buyer I personally could care less about over the top packaging, I consider it a waste! If you don’t want to, or aren’t in a position to invest in printed materials then DIY on printer paper because goes in the recycle at the end of the day anyway! Be reasonable with yourself and your shop and DON’T let those things hold you back from opening your shop. I am still working on my shop and have a big to do list for it.
If you want reviews then ask for them
I noticed a huge jump in reviews once I started making a point of asking for them with every order. If you saw my other blog post called “How to get reviews on Etsy” then you’ll know what exactly I did and it’s worked! I’ve found asking for them front and center with the packaging has helped so much! I love seeing what people think of the items I make – it’s another fun part of the whole Etsy thing!
Do YOUR thing
This one is probably the most important one! It’s great that so many makers are out there for inspiration but you do have to be cautious if you decide to recreate and selling an item that was inspired by someone else.
I hope these few lessons help you out if you’re thinking of opening an Etsy shop! It’s fun and a great platform to get your products out to buyers. Remember, people exploring Etsy are already looking to buy something so get your items up and out into the world!
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