Etsy.com

I’ve seen the site, but most of the products are overpriced for what people are willing to pay (what I’ve seen). Fact is that people today aren’t willing to pay what a persons’ time OR talent is worth. Thank Wal-Mart & the likes for that.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

First I have seen it…......... I have to look at it more in depth

-- God will match you to the size of your Destiny… http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6514763

I checked it out a little. Seems like a good place for us Lumberjocks to show what real woodworking looks like! A lot of junk on the list, some talent, mostly overpriced, painted, taiwan-influenced mdf junk.

-- Sometimes when I am building something and it is out of square, I just bend my square.

Hi Blake! I can tell you from my experience on Etsy (been a member for a little over a year now), that it’s been outstanding for me! I use it as my online store (in addition to other retailers that are selling my furniture). Etsy is a very hip, on the verge of really hitting the mainstream, site that sells mostly to folks who appreciate handmade and skew a little bit more towards modern handmade. I was one of the first to sell furniture online and had my doubts that it would sell, but it does! Most of the folks that buy my furniture are in the major markets but love handmade.

Also, you can get a lot of press from Etsy. If your item lands on the front page of etsy (choosen by other etsy members and then choosen by the Etsy staff, you can get 200+ eyeballs on your item in an hour’s time. Also, the online design blogs regularly use Etsy to find new artists.

I think the price is small to pay in order to reap the benefits that Etsy has to offer. From my point of view, it helped me tremendously get into the major online retailers and get international press.

Hope this helps!

Kiersten

-- Kiersten, Los Angeles, www.modmomfurniture.com

Oh, my etsy site is http://www.modmomfurniture.etsy.com . Check it out. Check out the features on the right side—a powerful marketing tool to track interest in your products (“heart” this store and “heart” this item).

-- Kiersten, Los Angeles, www.modmomfurniture.com

What oldskoolmodder is so true…....But I am leaning towards clients that can appreciate true talent like so many LumberJocks have. I have been on this site just under a week and have chatted with so many talented people and they have been so helpful to guide me in the right direction. I can honestly say that I have learned more in less than a week than I could have in 3 years plus by trying it on my own.
With the wealth of talent out there, the doors of opportunity are there. The right person sees your work and it is all about word of mouth. True craftsman never give up when doors are closed…they just chop it down and make something out of it…I’m sure GaryK could attest to this. Here is a guy (just to name one) that blows my mind with talent. I have learned so much from him and looking at his work.
LumberJocks is the best site to meet talented people and put your works of art on display. What better advertising… Just my opinion of course

-- God will match you to the size of your Destiny… http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6514763

Good question Blake, I’ve been wondering about it myself. And thanks to Kiersten for her experience, that’s good information.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

I do agree with what Oldskoolmodder and Rick247 are saying about appreciation (or lack of appreciation) for craftsmanship. For every person who buys one of my toy boxes for $350 and then pays $100 for shipping with no complaints, there’s a person who wants to negotiate the price down. But in terms of Etsy, if you’re strategic about who you’re marketing to (find a niche), sell something somewhat unique, and price the items based on the market, you can’t go wrong with Etsy. Most people who shop etsy already have an appreciation for what goes into handmade goods.

-- Kiersten, Los Angeles, www.modmomfurniture.com

Thanks Kiersten…..another avenue to success.
Woodworkers know exactly what it takes (time and expense) not to mention the sacrifices from family and friends to build and create a beautiful product. There will always be a buyer somewhere. Putting yourself in an environment such as LumberJocks could only bring you success…
LumberJocks feel free to jump in and help out anyone who needs to get their works of art out there.
Thanks, Rick
PS. God Bless all of you for helping me to move forward with promise of good things.

-- God will match you to the size of your Destiny… http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6514763

My wife has an etsy store. She sells custom christmas stockings, baby blankets, and a bunch of cool hand sewn stuff.

She likes it a lot.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6099472.

-- When my wife ask's what I have to show for my wood working hobby, I just show her the splinters.

Blake,

This is something that I have also been toying around with as another avenue to sell and market myself. Kiersten great to see that you have had a positive experience. I think there is always going to be the majority of people who think that handmade product is overpriced and therefore will shop elsewhere and to be honest that is not really the audience that I would want to cater to. It is the customer seeking something special and unique and knows the value of such that I want to land. Those people are out there as Kiersten and others and myself have experienced.

-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com

I’ve been thinking of opening a small Etsy store to sell a few pens and other turned items. I know there are a few pen sellers up there already – anyone from Lumberjocks? Blake, you and Kiersten have much more differentiated products than pens – the ability to market to a really wide but knowledgeable audience would just be a bonus for you.

-- Nils Davis, Menlo Park, CA

Repeat this mantra one hundred times: “Wal-Mart can’t compete with me”!

I like Wal-Mart.
It’s where I go to buy cheap household goods and study designs that I should not consider.
A place for everything and everything in its place.

Remember:
At the Beijing Wal-Mart, the little labels on the bottom of stuff says, “Made here”.

Etsy is a good start at differentiating your stuff, as long as your stuff IS different than what is found at the mass marketers.

-- Randy (P), rustic wood crafts, Morning View, Kentucky

Looking at the costs of some of the pens on there, I think some people are selling their stuff too cheap :)

Mind you they are just doing simple pen designs.