Promote your Handcraft Shop - An Advertising Bargain

Image by Isolino via FlickrMy ArtFire Studio, HollysDollies, is featured in "Shop of the Week" at christieCottage blog for the week of August 14-21.

The Sales Fairy has already visited! Through the link to my shop, someone visited the link to my blog and purchased an item.

ChristieCottage is a fantastic blog host, the owner really knows how to promote her site and other crafters products. She works hard at getting the word out there, as well as The Lord's Word.

I highly recommend that you advertise as Shop of the Week at ChristieCottage. It truly is worth the small investment. Advertising dollars well spent!

Make it a productive week. Create your to do list and give it to God. He'll take it from there.

Double the Price Double the Fun!

I cringe at the thought of having two shops open (plus one other which is free so it won't count in the stress factor). One fear is can I produce enough to supply both shops? I think I can I think I can.

Another fear is the fees. Can I afford the fees? Not so sure on that one, but I have to try.
I've made some really good friends on each.
Dear Lord knows I have enough supplies to make a fantastic start on getting items listed (note - need to get snaps and velcro and sewing machine needles, and lace to finish those need to be finished things!).
And the third problem I need to make a decision on. To have each shop focus on something in particular. I am leaning heavily toward yes since a terrible fiasco over the weekend convinced me that certain items will simply have to go in the other shop. 
Now off to work on some long over-due seasonal dresses for my bunny doll. I need to make another doll before I make the clothes. First up will be Halloween, the Thanksgiving/Autumn, then Christmas/Winter - I'd love to knit her up a wee hat and scarf!

Making some changes in shoppe...

And I need your help!!!
I need to make some serious changes on my Etsy Shoppe. The name is Sweetwater Creations, which will work well with the handcrafted items. The banner needs to be updated. This was for my horses and the horses just weren't selling on Etsy..

So, any ideas? I can take a couple of my doll photos and make a collage type banner. Anyway, that is one of the projects for the day. Then I want to work a little bit on two other blogs and promotion, then get busy crafting!

OK, I went ahead and made a new banner for the Shoppe. It is so hard to focus on one particular type of item, I love to do it all! My love right now is all things dollies. Handmade dolls, doll clothes, collectible dolls. There we go. FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS!!!! Here's the shoppe:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetwatercreations 
Let me know what you all think about the new banner. I think it fits in with the items listed so much better than a horse, but it doesn't blend well with my doll site. No biggie, they don't have to LOOK related.

Hugs,
Holly

Online Craft Mall is a Go!

Image via Wikipedia

It's official!

     I have decided to create an online craft mall! The startup of any business or venture is usually a lot of hard work with little result. I love a challenge, so this is perfect! I have registered my chosen domain name and have the hosting all setup. 
     While shopping for templates and graphics, I saw some really nice sets, but they were a bit pricey for me right now. Then I realized I could, with some effort, create my own web set. Is it worth saving $30-50? I could use that dough for advertising the site and gaining traffic. Creating my own set will take quite a chunk of my time, but we can call it sweat equity!
    The plan is to gather the images I want to use for the site and make a rough penand paper sketch of the layout design. I was going to tell the site name, butI think it should wait for the debut! Then I need to decide on ad/listing rates. Being as this is new with little to no traffic, the rates are going to be exremely low. Still researching the beginning rates.
     Going to work on a traditional Raggedy pair today. The sewing machine is getting dusty!
Be well, go out and make it a good day for yourself.