Caronavirus and Crafters

The caronavirus has impacted me as a crafter.  The dilemna is whether to register for craft shows that will be held during the rest of the year,  I will not be selling at Spring shows.  But more importantly, what about shows in the Fall and the holiday season when we crafters, like brick-and-mortar retailers, make most of our annual sales?   What are other crafters doing during this time of public health crisis? 

I have decided to devote more time to my online sales where the public, and potential customers are sheltering in place and social distancing is not a factor. Of course, the risk is that everything will be back to normal by the Fall and I have not registered for my usual craft shows.

Catonsville Arts & Crafts Festival, 2019

This year's Catonsville Arts and Crafts Festival, on Sept 8, was held at a new location-- the Catonsville Community College.The parking lot where the festival was held provided overhead protection from the weather,  which was great.  The campus provided more, closer, and easier parking which the customers liked.  There seemed to be more people who came to shop and my sales for the day were better than the last couple of years.  With the new location, the sponsors were able to schedule a rain date for the following Sunday in case of really bad inclement weather.  A rain date is not possible for the long time Frederick Rd location because it is actually a state highway which cannot be closed down to traffic for 2 dates.
The only downside for the day, was the loss of the Catonsville street and community ambience-- particularly the restaurants along Frederick Rd which have participated in the festival for years.  The festival might have also lost a turnout of neighbors.

Free Shipping

Good news!! 

Enjoy free shipping on my two Etsy websites:

www.eldersburgembroidery.etsy.com and www.sparetimebyyvette.etsy.com. 

Crafter vs Retailer

As 2019 approached, I contemplated business goals for my two Etsy websites.  I even contemplated  getting out of e-commerce due to slow sales.  Then, I changed my mindset. 

I am a crafter at heart.  The two Etsy sites are another avenue for selling my creations; but I am learning to think like a retailer, not a crafter when it comes to selling on Etsy.  Thinking like a retailer, I now plan ahead- creating inventory for holidays well in advance and featuring inventory at least a month ahead of the holiday much like brick-and-mortar stores.  This gives shoppers time to browse my sites and allows time for shipment of purchases in time for arrival before the holiday. As a result, sales are beginning to increase.

Perhaps the most significant change has been how I list inventory available for sale.  Before, thinking like a crafter, I would list a single quantity of an item for sale when I actually had two or three of that item on hand.  When the one item sold, I listed another for sale- one at a time.  Now I list my actual inventory on hand for sale.  Shoppers now purchase two, three or more of the same item.  That of course has meant larger sales.   The number of special orders for quantities has also increased.

I still devote time and care creating each quality item for sale on my sites which has led to repeat customers.  With the improvement in sales, I'm beginning to feel better about e-commerce.

Embroidered Golf Towels with Grommet

I'm always experimenting with something new to improve products and sales on my websites.  My embroidered hand towels with golf designs now have a grommet so that golfers can hang the towel from their golf bag

 
     

Coupons and Discounts to Increase Online Sales

Sales on my two Etsy sites have increased each year; but progress has been slow.  This year, my goal is to not only increase the number of sales, but also to increase the number of repeat customers.  So, I'm offering a discount targeted to browsers who leave items in their shopping carts and a different discount to people who browse the sites and favor items.  In both cases, browsers visit the sites but do not purchase.  I am still offering a "thank you" discount to people who do shop in an effort to develop repeat customers. In the meantime, I'm closely monitoring statistics to track the number of sales and use of discount offers.

Custom Order Machine Embroidery

I do a fair amount of custom embroidery work- not monogramming- but embroidery designs that have special meaning for customers or the people who will receive their personalized gift.  It was scary at first; but I quickly developed a process to deliver completed projects that meet customer expectations.  Here's my process.

I do prep work before accepting a custom order.   First is to understand what the customer wants.   Then, find an appropriate machine embroidery design.  Sometimes, it may be necessary to research the subject-- what is it, what does it look like, etc.  At this point, I decide if I can produce what the customer wants.  If I find an appropriate design, then my creativity comes into play-- determining thread colors for authenticity, recommending thread colors and placement of names or text, and necessary computer work.  It may be necessary to speak with the customer, provide photos of available designs for customer selection, or provide photo of the computer set-up work.  I usually summarize everything for customer agreement.  Then all agreed upon specifications are included on the order form for payment.  After prepayment, I begin stitching and provide a photo of the finished project to the customer before shipment or delivery.  Roughly a quarter of my embroidery sales have been custom orders of 1-48 pieces each.  So far, I've had good results with this process.  

Lace Jewelry

Since I began creating machine embroidery items, I've always wanted to try making lace jewelry.  I finally took the time in January to experiment.  So far, I've completed seven pieces which are being promoted primarily as wedding, evening or special occasion jewelry.  Items may be custom ordered in other colors, with or without beads.  Visit my Etsy site-  www.sparetimebyyvette.etsy.com.

       

It's a New Year

It's been a long while since my last post.  The holiday craft shows are over.  I've recovered, been replenishing inventory, making a new product line, and been busy with a major project. In this new year, my resolution is to keep in touch more often.

So, the major project.  I have two Etsy sites.  The first site has just under 150 sales. The second site which is 1 1/2 years newer has just over 300 sales.   So what's the problem.  I realized that there's a significant difference in the quality of the photography on the two sites.  I'm reading that good photos attract customers that lead to sales.  So, I've been busy re-photographing almost all items on the first site.  It's time consuming; but, I'm about 70% done.  I'll let you know if sales improve.

Catonsville Arts & Crafts Festival

The annual Catonsville Arts & Crafts Festival will be held Sunday, September 10th on Frederick Rd. in Catonsville, MD.  10:00am- 5:00pm.  There are always more than 100 vendors selling a wide variety of handmade items, plus food, children's activities, and entertainment.

Come out.  Spend a leisurely day.  I will have 2 vendor spaces.  Watch the sidebar for more details as they become available.

Pine'eer Arts & Crafts Festival

I will be selling at the Pine'eer Arts & Crafts Festival in Ocean Pines again this year.  If you are in the Ocean City area, visit the festival and my booths 61 & 62.  See craft show details on the side bar.

Embroidered Kitchen Towels

I'm trying something new!  Machine embroidered kitchen towels.  I displayed the first ones at the  Reisterstown Art Fest last month.  They all sold; so I made more.  They are now available for sale on my Etsy embroidery site- www.eldersburgembroidery.etsy.com.  More designs to come.

Bloomin Arts Fest

We have had a very rainy spring this year, including the two weeks before the outdoor Bloomin Arts Fest in Reisterstown.   Thankfully, the sponsors were able to move the Fest inside at the last minute and notified us on Thursday.  The down side was that our vendor space(s) were downsized; so we had to downsize our displays.  The bright side was that the Fest would be inside with the prospect of having a good show after all.

At the end of the day, the Fest was a success.  Miraculously, the weather cleared up and we had no rain that day.  It was cooler than previous years; but; we still had a nice crowd of shoppers.  I give kudos to the sponsors who did their part to save the day.

Craft Shows

We are beginning to set our vendor schedule for 2017

The 11th Annual Blooming Arts Fest in Reisterstown, MD on May 13 has moved to Franklin Elementary School. Vendor spaces have not been assigned yet .

The 44th Annual Catonsville Arts and Crafts Show in Catonsville, MD will be September 10.  Find us at our usual vendor spaces- numbers 84 and 85.

Watch the updated side bar for more details about shows.

New! Embroidered Towels in Colors

 

                  

    

EldersburgEmbroidery now offers embroidered towels on black, orange, purple, and ecru (light beige) towels with fringe.  Other colors can be provided; but towels will be hemmed instead of fringed. Request custom orders at www.eldersburgembroidery.etsy.com.

Listen to Your Customers

Listen up if you sell at craft shows/festivals, etc.

Last fall, I was selling at a craft show.  I noticed that sales have been declining at that show in recent years.  A customer provided the answer.  She suggested that I unclutter the entrance to my booth so that people can see in and access my booth better.

I realized that I have been adding new product lines to the same 10' x 10' selling space over the years. After the customer's suggestion, I invested in a second space and second canopy, and redesigned the 2 side-by-side spaces.  Sales doubled and tripled at shows all this year-- more than enough to pay for the additional investment.

It pays, literally, to listen to your customers and take their suggestions seriously.

Jewelry Class

Jewelry Class

In May, I tried something completely new.  The jewelry instructor at a senior center asked me to teach a class on making wire loops. It was scary since I’ve never taught a class.  My approach was to share what I know from more than 20 years of making jewelry plus 5 years of assisting customers in a jewelry supply store.

I developed a class plan:  the basics of wire and working with wire, the basic tools and how to use them, demonstration of the basic loops with time for students to make each type with my individual help.  At the end, I shared a range of my finished jewelry made with loops and loop connections to demonstrate how their design concepts could be broadened from just bead stringing.  The 2 hours went quickly and I accomplished everything on my agenda.  To my surprise, the class was a success according to the instructor and the students.  Sorry, I have no photos.

Reisterstown Bloomin Art Fest

After days of continuous rain in the area; the weather cleared up for the show.  The sun even made an appearance.

The outdoor show was small; but good- only 40 vendors, including food vendors. Nicely organized. A variety of entertainment on stage throughout.

I had a new experience.  I registered for the show just before the closing deadline.  Rather than reject my application, sponsors asked me not to bring my handmade jewelry because they already had enough jewelry vendors; but please bring all of my other handmade items.  I was told after the show that no other vendor had items like mine which probably explained why I had such a good day.  It was the day before Mothers Day; so, a lot of my sales were intended for gifts.

I can appreciate that the sponsors wanted a variety of items for sale.  I would do this show again.

Reisterstown Bloomin' ArtFest

Spare Time Creations and Eldersburgembroidery will be vending at the Reisterstown Bloomin' ArtFest in Reisterstown, MD for the first time.  The craft event will be held outdoors at the Franklin Middle School.  I'm looking forward to the show.  Stop by if you are in the area.

Since the holidays, I've been working on a new project.

There is a new product line on my EldersburgEmbroidery.Etsy.com online store.  I’ve been selling jewelry pouches at local craft shows for a number of years; so, I decided to offer them to my online customers as well. The pouches can be used to secure jewelry during travel or for safe storage any time.  They are also good for organizing and storing other small items. 

The new pouches have been improved.  First, there is a small eyelet to present a more professional clean opening for the drawstring cord casing.   I learned that 1 or 2 additional reinforcing layers are needed to properly attach the eyelet depending upon the thickness of the outer decorative fabric.  Second, the addition of cord stops ensure that the drawstring cords remain closed while the pouch is in use.  Cord stops are available in many colors from wholesalers online- not the fabric stores which typically offer only black, white and clear.  Being able to match cord stop color to fabric color is great.  

Next step will be to offer pouches with machine embroidery.