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Well, ladies and gentlemen, unless something pretty drastic happens, TMTM may be no more. I'm just not making it. My Etsy fees are SO unbelievably high, it's actually becoming difficult to pay them each month, in addition to supplies, rent, bills, etc. I tried venturing out before, but the traffic wasn't there and the $20 paid to Big Cartel every month didn't seem worth it anymore. I'm looking into different options. I REALLY don't want to give this up. I'm living my dream. My business is my life. I love my customers. I love what I do. The thought of working a 9 to 5 job kills my soul. But I am really at a loss here. Perhaps wholesale clients are the answer. But where to find them? I can try another "official" website, but have no idea how to drive traffic to it. I'm stunned and shocked and sad. Without this business....well... I just don't know.
So if anyone has any ideas, I'm open to hearing them.
Lysa
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18 comments:
Maybe just do it kinda like BPAL does, only with JUST PayPal? Like, have a normal website with descriptions, and just say, "PayPal $X to blahblah@blah" on it if someone wants to purchase.
nooOOOOOooo! Have you tried Artfire? I know a lot of Etsy sellers are moving over there. I like Hairbrush's idea as well. Don't go away - I haven't gotten everything I want yet (and if you keep making such awesome scents and lip balms - I'll never be able to get everything I want.)
I've heard Artfire is way less expensive for sellers. Please don't close! I've just discovered you & am planning my first order!
There's also ecrater which doesn't have any seller fees I was told. It's not pretty but it does do the job and then you don't have to deal with the mess of a website. You can always leave your Etsy shop up (empty of course) and just have a redirect link.
This makes me wish I hadn't nearly bought all your smells hahaha. I want to give you more money. I think etsy is a rip off if you are very sucessful and nearly everyone who did well moved to their own site. (Haus of Gloi, Shiro cosmetics ect) So I think stick it out with your own site, definitley check out artfire. More bit bloggers should blog about you, that is how I found out about your shop. I know a few shops here in Australia that would probably love to wholesale you.
Aw man, I'm sorry to hear things aren't going awesome for you! :(
One word: Artfire. I opened up shop there and after a brief period where I ran Etsy AND Artfire simultaneously (so customers could still find me easily), I was able to ditch Etsy completely for Artfire. With Artfire I pay 1 low flat monthly rate which is at least 300% lower than my Etsy bill (no exaggeration, assuming my math is right) was- no listing fees, no final value fees, just one price no matter how much I list/sell (or don't). I'd recommend you give it a whirl for a couple months and then reassess the situation. Good luck!! :)
I'm also suggesting artfire and I'll let everyone I know to shop for you whereever you go. I love your shop and if i could afford to I'd shop with you a lot more often.
Noooo! You can't go anywhere!
I *just* found you through zillah1199 and have been positively drooling over items in your shop! I'm unable to spend much, but I plan on scrimping... So I can get some of your products!
I know personally for me... I'm moving my jewelry and hair extensions to my blog site shortly, and offering them that way. I may even try Artfire (like it's been suggested) because apparently there's much less "fees" being assessed... I'm sorry, but Etsy has totally gotten way too greedy and their fees are RIDICULOUS.
Please don't go away!!
*begs!*
I hope you don't have to go considering I just discovered you not too long ago. I think you should stick to your own website or move to Artfire since I heard its cheaper to host items. Hope things turn around for you!
Although I am a new customer, I'm very sorry to hear that!
If you move to Artfire, close your doors, simply sell from your blog with a paypal button or find an alternative, I still intend to shop with you and recommend your products to my friends and family.
I know the feeling of being financially crippled and it's horrible. Of course you need to do what is right for you and Bell and our 3 puppies. As I've said before, wholesale is so important. For me, that's how I am finding I can live. I get regular orders and they are larger then retails.
As far as retail orders, my suggestion is to think beyond the internet and get your stuff reviewed by magazines, bloggers...etc. Retail orders will come from those, not just in a flood at first, but people will find you from those articles a year later.
Send your stuff to every magazine you would be proud to be in.
You can do this. And if you need to take on a PT job for a little while than so be it, but Fall and Winter is right around the corner. Summer is dead for us folk.
I meant to say Bella and YOUR puppies.
>.<
xo, Lys!
You will pull through. You are strong.
I would hate to see you close :( I'm casting another vote for ditch Etsy and go to Artfire.
I feel really bad that I've never reviewed you, I'm just so bad at talking about perfumes, even though yours are amazing and I love your lip balms!
There is a glut of B&B on the indie market at the moment because they're easier to market than make-up (I think, anyway) but it's so easy to bypass the quality stuff like yours and Becca's if you don't try it. You really need more publicity.
NOOOoooOOOOOO! I think you should definitely keep your stand alone site! Have you tried advertising on blogs and such? Try the Bloggess! She has a HUGE reader base and her prices are reasonable. Find a few popular bloggers and advertise on their blogs!
I sincerely hope you don't close shop. I love receiving my packages from you and make sure to post on my blog when I do and what I ordered, because I want others to know of your shop! I hope that whatever happens, whether it is Artfire or your own site w/ just Paypal, etc., you find a way to keep the shop going.
Oh no, this just can not happen!!! I have bought from Artfire before. I would put a link on your Etsy page and start really going to town on Facebook. I would hate to see you go!
It's all about multiple streams of income, wholesale definitively try some funky gift shops, move to artfire, getting traffic to your stand alone site is brutal unless you're an seo expert or spend lots of money with FB/Google advertising. One place I definitively think you should be sending a press kit to is Gothic Beauty Mag, you'd be pure candy for them. Another thing is hit the craft fair circuit, it kinda sucks, I personally only do them in the fall and winter anymore but that's when you make a killing at them. Or even some clubs have vendor nights, some of this is involves a lot of spear heading your demographic or determining why you don't appeal to a larger demographic but it's well worth putting the r&d in. I hope art fire works out better for you and you stay open I hate to see a fellow indie do down for the count. It get's better. Good Luck
Lysa, I might have an option for you, I tried to get a hold of you on Etsy awhile back, but I don't know if the spam bots gobbled it or if you aren't interested, or interested with changes, etc, please let me know!
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