Etsy founder Kalin
Grab this. On newstands only. It’s not yet online but well worth your reading!
The mercurial founder of Etsy. Brilliant, and looks like someone's kid brother, no?
Key points for me:
*In 2010, Etsy shops sold M$314 in merchandise.
*400,000 accounts on Etsy (not broken down between various selling and buying accounts).
*Fewer than 1000 sellers on Etsy make $30,000 or more.
*When Etsy expanded internationally, complaints about low-cost knock-offs increased.
*A top seller who at one point sold $96,000 one year went “back to the craft show circuit”.
*Etsy is great to get your business off the ground.
We all have different reasons and goals for our businesses and shops. We all have different family and work and life constraints. But I know we all want to do what we love and make money doing it.
…. After reading this insightful, though not entirely or thoroughly specific with its data, it just reinforces what I’ve advised you in my many previous posts:
*Sell your clutches off-line at craftshows, in-home hostess parties of your own, school functions, church fundraisers, arts festivals, local shop, and bridal boutiques.
*Be original and never copy. Have a distinct style that is yours.
*Do not compete on price since you are selling a handmade good that is truly one-of-a-kind. Do not under-value and under-price the worth of your goods ie. don’t give it away!
*Increase your chances of making a sale by taking advantage of the consumer behavior of “taste uncertainty” and band together with other clutch sellers.
Grab this issue. Oh, if you’re in it and have a small business, you should subscribe to this magazine too! (No, I don’t get paid to say that. Wish I did…) 🙂
3 Comments »
Leave your thoughts ... please :)
About
I am the #1 US seller of purse frames and I’ve been incorporated since 2001. This blog is mainly aimed at my audience of clutch handbag makers. I have a very small niche that is comprised of 99.9% women. I am loyal and promote handbag makers who are loyal to me by using my fine purse frames. When they are successful, then I am successful.
The two businesses that I own are:
*purse supplies, Gutermann glue, and DIY clutch kits at whilebabynaps.etsy.com, whilebabynaps.com
*up-cycled purse supplies PurseFramesOutlet.etsy.com
To find clutches made using my fine metal purse frames, LOOK to see “Trademarks of WhileBabyNaps.com and H&D LLC” and you’ll know the clutches are made using the finest metal purse frames that are tested for lead and that have a protective coating to lengthen the life of the clutch. You can go to any of the sellers on the Sellers page.
****NOTE: If you want someone to make a clutch for you, please contact any of my sellers and inquire. They will gladly make custom orders!****
Interested in reaching my audience? Advertise. Contact me here.
Thank you for stopping by for a look.
Warmly,
Thy Khuong
-
My Etsy shop
#1 US Seller of Purse Frames
My Main shop
Wholesale purse frames for clutches
Grab My Blog Button
<a href="http://www.whilebabynaps.etsy.com" target="_self"><img src="https://clutchme.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/etsy-shop-button.jpg" alt="WhileBabyNaps" width="150" height="150" /></a>As Seen…
Your Ad here
Clutch-Me.Com 
[…] >>>Read this: https://clutchme.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/etsy-founder-kalin/ […]
I originally went with Etsy because I wanted to avoid the physical labor of the craft fairs. But, competing with 400,000 folks is hard to do. You have done more exposure for my business with your blog and Facebook accounts than Etsy ever did for me. Jan
Thanks Jan. I think I recognized that marketing is the toughest part so that’s why I have used social media to help promote my handbag makers — and not to promote just my shop. I really do think that if you are successful, then I will be. In regards to the 400,000, keep in mind that that’s not the total number of sellers — just accounts. Some people have several accounts on Etsy and not all are active either. That high number is for all who open an account, which only requires an email address. The better number to keep in mind is the $314 million in sales in 2010. That means there are LOTS of people out willing and wanting to buy handmade goods!!!