Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

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Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals

Okay...I don`t know how much I should say; I don`t know how honest you really want feedback to be. Let me qualify this by saying that this specifically is my industry. Iow, my business is helping people like you become successful at launching and running sewn product lines.

I have seen people use Etsy effectively (based on their goals). That said, I think it`s a hard row to hoe and definitely my second to last choice for entrepreneurs (only ebay is worse imo). I haven`t written about Etsy specifically because I think it`s more for hobbyists but I have written about ebay and there are tips that cross over. Read How eBay can kill you and How eBay can kill you pt.2 on my site.

What are your goals? I think the "one bag a day" is a stop gap measure. Assuming you were to make that goal, would that satisfy you? Does that represent your ultimate goal? If not, I think you should consider other options. For example, is Etsy, as an entity unto itself, something you want to have singly associated with your brand? Iow, are you satisfied with a product identity or brand that cannot stand without it? If you are, work on your landing page. When one lands, all they see is text. You have to scroll down to see product. When people are shopping for personal goods (as opposed to things like services or software), they don`t want to read a book. They want to see the goods; it`s a visual thing. Compare your landing page to the pages of those who are selling consistently.

Then there`s the matter of product quality. Again, I work in sewn products, specifically in product development and production. Your bags are obviously constructed with a great deal of integrity. The stitching is even and straight, grommets are applied correctly etc. However, they still have the patina of hobby sewing. I think you could adopt some production quality standards (good ones, not junky sewing) to improve the look and performance of your bags. For example, I don`t think you`re using enough fusing; the bags sag. Another tell tale sign are the bag straps, they`re wilting. With rare exception and depending on styling, straps should always be top stitched 1/8 from each edge. Another matter is sourcing hardware. It seems that your hardware is the sort of items one would find at retail stores. You might want to consider sourcing professional grade products. If you`re not certain where to locate these sorts of products, maybe you should develop relationships with people who are at or above the level you would like to be. While the Etsy network is friendly and extensive, you won`t find producers of national or boutique brands there. That`s not their community.

The sum is, who is your customer? Is it someone like you? Personally, I have always felt designers should go after a customer who is at least one level above them. Iow, don`t produce items that are within your discretionary spending budget but a level or two above that. If that is what you want to do, you have to know that customer. Do they shop on Etsy? I don`t think they`re bargain shopping or shopping there as a matter of course; only as a matter of coincidence. What are the quality and styling options they are accustomed to?

Something else...frankly, you strike me as someone who loves to sew and would like to make a living at it. Altho it can be sometimes frustrating and challenging, you enjoy construction, the process is your relative strength. Maybe I`m full of crap and I would see that because that`s the way I am but still, I would suggest you think about that for a bit. Are you a designer or are you in love with the idea of being a designer? Are you a product developer? It`s not exactly the same as being a designer and can certainly be more profitable. Fwiw, I trained as a designer, I can do everything they do but that`s not what makes me happiest; I like greater challenges. There are other options in the sewing business. It`s not a situation of having to sew and sell your own stuff to make a nice living in the business.

In any event, your products show demonstrable integrity and I wish you well in whatever direction you decide to go.



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~Nurture people, not products~
http://www.fashion-incubator.com

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Nicole Annette