The Etsy Project Lives!

As you may have guessed by now (especially if you see my Facebook updates), I'm continuing my listing streak with The Etsy 365 Project in some form or another.

I don't know if I have another 365 days in me, but maybe I can break it down into more manageable, bite-size pieces. Maybe 90-day increments? That will get me through the lean winter months and just before yard sale season hits.

REFLECTIONS ON THE ETSY 365 PROJECT (2013)

Some days were harder than others. There were plenty of times the hours would get away from me and it would be 11:30pm with no listing. 

On those days, I KNOW if there had not been a public announcement (and expectation!) of a listing I would NOT have posted anything. "Oh, I'll just do it tomorrow". And you know how that goes.

So having that commitment be a public thing was definitely important.

Summer vacation was an especially difficult time. We were gone for almost a week junking in Bouckville, with an unprecedented week at the beach both before and after with only a pitstop home in between. I needed to have almost 3 weeks of listings ready to go every day. That was hard.

The holidays were also difficult, mainly because I was trying to list my Christmas items into my Christmas shop, and those listings wouldn't count as part of my Etsy 365 Project. Add in all the other holiday stuff, and that was really tough too. 

My first listing of The Etsy 365 Project (2013); sold three months later.

NEW RULES

Any listing in either shop counts toward the compilation. So I can list Christmas into my Christmas shop during December and not have to scrounge around for something else to list in my regular shop. If I make it to December, because…

This challenge is for 90 days. I will probably reup after that 90 days expires, and then maybe I'll take the summer off. We'll see how it goes.

My first listing of the Christmas Countdown Challenge 2013; as yet unsold.

STATS

I actually listed 505 new items during my 2013 challenges (365 in my regular shop + 140 in my Christmas shop), plus relisted many items (those figures are not available from Etsy).

How did that translate sales-wise? Here are the stats. My genius boy helped me with the percentages (click on image to enlarge) but this is by no means scientifically accurate -- some variables are missing. But it gives you an idea of how it worked for me if you're thinking of giving it a try.Comparing the numbers from 2012 and from 2013 in my Vintage Junk shop, the views increased by 88%, the favorites increased by 300%, and, most importantly, the sales increased by 66%!

In a little over four months, my new Vintage Christmas shop had 40% of the views my three year old Vintage Junk shop had in all of 2012, 110% of the number of favorites, and 52% of the sales!

I'm not really sure what it all means. All I know is I sold more this year than I did last year. A lot more.

So I'm going to keep going.

TIPS AND TRICKS

If you're thinking of giving a project like this a try, here are some tips that worked for me.

Make it public. Knowing I HAD to list -- since I was both posting it weekly on my blog and daily on Facebook -- made it happen. 

Picture this. I took as many photos of as many items on nice bright days as I could. Then I could edit them late at night or whenever, and always had some on my computer for that last minute listing.

Copy and paste. I didn't have many similar items, but if you do, it is easier to make one listing and then copy it and change it accordingly. I still have boxes of sewing patterns I hope to be able to use this technique on.

Stock up. If you find yourself with the time to do more than one listing a day, continue to make those additional listings and save them as drafts. You will be so grateful on those days when it's 11:30pm and you haven't listed yet. Or the kids are sick. Or you're sick. Or you have a work deadline. Or when all of those things happen at once!

So who's with me this year? Anne of Kitschy Vintage is doing it! Who else has made the commitment? 

Comments

[Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces]

It was fun seeing how it turned out for you, Gina! It was a big commitment, but it sure paid off!

[barbara]

Oh, there is no WAY I am signing on to this but I so admire your dedication. (You still have patterns to list? There's a shock!) Congratulations on sticking to it and for all those sales!

[KerryCan]

I love the idea and it obviously paid off for you! If I hadn't just set a different blogging challenge, I'd join you. I do know that I've been listing a lot more lately and am seeing definite increases in views and sales. Good luck to you!

[Annette]

Wow, I am impressed!! And so happy that it was worth the effort. So nice of you to give those tips. I have decided that I am not selling on Etsy for now but will keep those tips in mind for the future. Since the Christmas shop did so well maybe you could consider a Vintage Holiday shop and it could go on all year for various holidays. Happy selling in 2014!!

[Melissa]

I'm going to join you too! Got an unplanned day off of work today due to the cold weather, so I'm going to take a bunch of photos to get me started!

[Dawn]

I did! I couldn't remember where I saw the it originally and I came across your blog tonight! I have decided to do 7 items every week in 2014 starting today. I hope to have the success you have seen too. Great idea.