Crafty D.I.Y

Spring has most definitely sprung, and what better way to celebrate then decorating your house and perhaps even your yard with these giant paper flowers.....

Image Source

Pop over to the '100 Layer Cake' for this 'spring lovin' tutorial!

:: I Heart Etsy :: Notes :: Part 2

Did you miss Part 1 of the :: I Heart Etsy :: Information Session SNAPSHOT notes? Don't fret, you can catch up over here then pop back for Part 2. In this installment we will be briefly covering pricing, shipping/postage, product titles, product descriptions and tagging. Don't forget that we will be running the :: I Heart Etsy :: Information Session again next year so for the full low down stay tuned for the announcement of our 2012 sessions.

Image Courtesy of Wicked Child Designs

Pricing
Your time is valuable and you should reflect this in the price of your items. You might like to read over this useful Etsy article when contemplating the price of your items. For a more in depth look at pricing, stay tuned for details of our October 22 Information Session - Pricing, Wholesaling & Consignment!

Shipping/Postage

• Make your postage as cheap as you can.
• Postage will be cheaper if you keep your packages under 20mm in thickness.
• Take time packaging your items - we all love receiving a nicely wrapped parcel from the postman.
• Add something small in with your items as a 'thank-you'.
• Buy all your postage needs - envelopes/padded bags etc. in bulk to save $$ - they are cheaper by the 100.
• If selling regularly, register at your local post office/business centre for a Business Post account - this will reduce the cost of shipping both locally and overseas.
• A useful link - Shipping How-To.

Product Titles
Titles should be descriptive instead of whimsical.

• Ensure you mirror your description details in your tags.
• Say what the item is first ie: earrings, then colour and materials.
• Keep any whimsical product names to the end e.g. Blue Moon.
• Use both Australian and US spellings - depending on your biggest customer base.

Product Descriptions
Remember to answer all the questions your buyers might have in the description field of your listing.

• Make your descriptions quirky and interesting.
• Put all your descriptions in a word document for easy editing and uploading.
• Ensure you describe colours and sizes accurately.
• When pitching to the US market put your sizes in inches as well as centimetres.
• If selling clothing/shoes then add a conversion link to your descriptions to make it easy for your customer: something like this.
• Your descriptions should be personable, articulate and free from spelling and grammar issues.

Tags
Get specific! Colour, texture, style and size are as important as the type of item it is.

• Use the one tag line to enter multiple words.
• Ensure you are as descriptive as you can be with your colours.
• If you belong to a street team then add their name to your tags.
• Add your location ie. Brisbane Australia.
• Some useful tips for tagging.

Stay tuned for Part 3 of the :: I Heart Etsy :: Information Session SNAPSHOT notes. In Part 3 we will be covering the ins & outs of getting your shop noticed: listing/relisting, Etsy Communities, telling the world and staying active.

Click here for more info on BrisStyle's upcoming Information Sessions!

WIN: A Double Pass to 'The Unexpected Variety Show'

Laughter is the best medicine, it's infectious, easy to do anytime of the day and most importantly it's free! If you're suffering from the winter blues and are in need of a good ol' laugh read on as we may have just what you are looking for.

The lovely and rather humorous Jenny from "The Unexpected Variety Show" is giving one lucky BrisStyle blog/facebook follower the chance to win a double pass to her comedy show this Friday night at the Brisbane Powerhouse.  To win, all you need to do is tell us why you need a good ol' laugh. The winner will be selected at random on Wednesday night so be sure to leave your contact email with your comment.

Brisbane Powerhouse - Visy Theatre

119 Lamington Street, New Farm

Friday, September 9

8.00pm

Price: Full $20, Concession $15

The show is a fusion of stand-up, character and musical comedy, with storytelling, in a theatrical piece which has received rave reviews at the recent Cabaret Fringe Festival in Adelaide.

"Audiences were treated to a clever, funny and moving show...Wynter's energy and passion were captivating...her honest and clever delivery moved the audience from laughter to tears. If you get a chance to see "The Unexpected Variety Show" you have to do it. You'll laugh and you'll be inspired."
GlamAdelaide

For more details visit:

Comic Mummy Website

Jenny's Website

Twitter

Facebook

YouTube

materialistic @ Reverse Garbage

Are you a lover of all things sustainable, re-used and up-cycled? Then you just may be interested in this fabulous exhibition opening at Reverse Garbage called "materialistic".

"materialistic" is a sustainable art/craft exhibition being held in Reverse Garbage's new gallery space, "Reverse Emporium".  The focus of the exhibiton is on textiles and how people can RE-USE discarded textiles to create interesting and beautiful objects! Are you intrigued? We are.

The exhibition will feature cushions, jewellery, soft toys, clothing, fascinators, bags, artworks and chandeliers/mobiles.

Below are some of the amazing pieces that will be on show.....

Little Owls by Karen Drimer

Printed Images on Fabric/Timber by Belinda James

Coin Purses by Keiko Kato

Zipper and Vintage Button Jewellery by Morgan Kennedy from Under the Stairs Studio

Crochet Copper Wire Jewellery by Rebekah Evans

There will be an array of fabulous upcycled handcrafted objects on display and for sale. Exhibition nights at Reverse Garbage are always a lot of fun, so grab some friends and make a night of it, there will be live entertainment, a bar and late night shopping in the warehouse if inspiration strikes!

"materialistic"

Opening Night: Saturday, September 10

Time: 6.00pm - 9.00pm

Where: 20 Burke Street, Woolloongabba  QLD  4102

For more details or to RSVP visit the Reverse Garbage website!

Reverse Emporium's last opening night!

Let's Go Shopping

Hey there Spring.  You've popped the sun out finally.  No more hot water bottles on the bed or tinned soup for dinner.  Nice.

Have a look at these gorgeous, bright BrisStyle goodies available now on Etsy.  They'll surely knock your cardigan off.

Multicolour polkadot kanzashi flower brooch

LaLa Textiles

Beautiful photographic postcards

Easy Peasy Organic

Sew sweet trifold greeting card

Quill and Ink Handmade

Fat little bird sterling silver necklace

Orange Sherbet

Flower photography set of 4 photo prints

Hey Harriet

To take part in our weekly Let's Go Shopping meme, post your Etsy finds on your blog then pop back here and add the blog post link below. Don't forget to link back to this post so everyone can check out all the fabulous Etsy finds. Anyone can play along so come join in the fun!

Crafty D.I.Y

Are you after a little crafty project to get your idle hands moving this weekend? Well, we spotted a super dreamy Doily Lamp tutorial over on the DOS Family blog that will keep you busy for a few hours. A very pretty addition to any room in the house don't you think?

We think this Doily Lamp would be super sweet made with multi-coloured doilies too! For the full instructions on how to make your very own Doily Lamp pop over to the DOS Family blog and get creating.

Happy Weekend Crafty Peeps!

:: I Heart Etsy :: Notes :: Part 1

The :: I Heart Etsy :: Information Session in August definitely provided plenty of 'food for thought' for all who attended! So much so that we will be delivering a SNAPSHOT of the notes from the day in three lovely parts.  We will be running the :: I Heart Etsy :: session again next year so for the full experience stay tuned for the announcement of our scheduled 2012 Information Sessions.

Image courtesy of Wicked Child Designs

Today we will be sharing a snapshot of the notes on how to make your Etsy shop shine. Before we get started with all the good stuff we would once again like to thank our panelists from the day for sharing their time and knowledge :: Rachael from Penelope and Pip, Rebecca from edward & lilly, Nicole from Hot Toffee, Jess from Epheriell and Bespoke Zine, Melanie from Kimono Reincarnate, Sophie from Strat Designs, Emma from Red Revival and last but not least El from Rock n' Wrap.

Making Your Shop Shine

:: Stand out from the crowd with unique twists on popular items, fabulous photos, a great shop assortment, and lots of items for your buyers to choose from ::

Shop Name

Having a memorable name is one of the more important things you can do to brand your shop and encourage sales. Your name should be easy to pronounce, easy to spell and should reflect your style or what your shop is all about.

 

 

Shop Banner

Choose something that looks professional and sets the mood for your entire shop! Make it interesting so shoppers are tempted to keep on scrolling down. Hot link for banners!

Avatar

Share a sneak-peek into your personality with a well-lit, well-cropped 75 x 75 pixel photo of you or your most interesting item.

 

 

Shop Policies and Profile

Policies define the rules for your shop and can answer buyer's questions.  Your profile page 'personalises' you. Etsy shoppers love that they buy directly from the artist, so tell them about yourself and your craft to get them interested in your work. Check out this link for some great ideas on crafting a profile page.

 

 

Products

Etsy shoppers connect with items that tell a good story, have a unique point of view, and are quirky, uncommon and beautifully made (or for vintage and supply sellers, thoughtfully curated).

• Make original products that stand out.
• Do your research to make sure your original product isn't already being made by somebody else.
• Take a popular trend and put your own twist on it so it's unique and totally yours!

Photos

Get out your digital camera and start taking photos - hundreds of photos! Photography is the most important aspect of selling online and the most important aspect of your shop.

• Photograph like you have no description/write like you have no photos'.
• It's your images that grab people first.
• Your lead photograph needs to be just a little bit of a tease.
• Keep backgrounds simple - not too busy.
• Keep the look of your photographs consistent.
• Use natural light.
• No flashes.
• Photograph the same time and place each time.
• Photograph in batches - multiple products at the same time.

Useful Links 

• Beginner's Guide to Starting an Etsy Shop
• Shop Makeover

Tune in next week for all the goss on pricing, shipping/postage, product titles, product descriptions and tagging! For a full list of upcoming BrisStyle Information Sessions click here!