Leatherworking team over at Etsy

[Johanna]

We're not going to have a storefront! But I can see a page on the front of the site that lets a potential customer visit the sites of leatherworkers who can make or repair what they are looking for . I want to break the long list I have into some general categories, and then John Q. Public can browse the links for leatherworkers in business who can be contacted for purses, belts, saddles, armor, fireman suspenders or what have you. Number one, it might help some of you folks get some extra business. Two, it will help your site and LW in Google's rankings. Three, it will be easy for me to point people there when they ask me who can make a belt (or something else) for them. What can I say? I can't tell them "Call Moe, Curly or Larry", and not mention Tom, Dick and Harry, or the other 500 people who could do what they want. I don't want to say, "His work is the best, he's too expensive, he's good with scrolls-lousy with snaps..." etc. I'd rather say, "Look here to get some ideas!" Then it is up to the customer to decide from his options and contact that person directly. It's up to you guys to make your site represent you and your work in a way that will attract the business you want.

And we appreciate the kind words about this site. We try hard to make it a place you will want to visit and participate in. I think of it as being like the back table in my old store, where people wandered in and out all day, drank coffee and swapped stories. We want to maintain that friendly atmosphere, where people can show off or get help, and everyone feels like they were among friends. Many of you have told us that this site feels like "home". That makes all of the work worth it to me- that you folks are getting something useful out of this site, and having a good time. If LW can help your business get more attention- that's a bonus. I hate to hear when a leatherworker has to hang up his hammer and get a day job.

Johanna

[faceOdd]

Johanna,

It does seem like such a front page would be a good idea, for all the reasons you indicated.

Don't mind me, I'm just exhibiting 'vegetarian aggression' : ) That article was funny!

~Tammy

[corter]

i've been thinking about making an etsy site, however i'm not sure how well my stuff would sell there as it tends to cost a lot more than the $5 goco cards i usually see selling. I don't think we should become a storefront as it'd just be counter productive: we all make leather goods, it'd be like car salesmen selling to each other lol. But teaming up with -or- getting a link on etsy would allow us to go over there and maybe get more exposure, sell more if you will.

granted, i havent really looked into etsy all that much, i visit poppytalk.blogspot.com daily though and they love etsy

[esantoro]

i've been thinking about making an etsy site, however i'm not sure how well my stuff would sell there as it tends to cost a lot more than the $5 goco cards i usually see selling. I don't think we should become a storefront as it'd just be counter productive: we all make leather goods, it'd be like car salesmen selling to each other lol. But teaming up with -or- getting a link on etsy would allow us to go over there and maybe get more exposure, sell more if you will.

granted, i havent really looked into etsy all that much, i visit poppytalk.blogspot.com daily though and they love etsy

I think quality leather goods have a better chance selling for what they are worth on Etsy than on Ebay. You pay your twenty cents and your listing is up for four months. When it sells, Etsy gets a commission of about four percent.

Because of the way Etsy lists your item, it pays more than it does on Ebay, to my mind, to put time into taking good pictures.

ed

[corter]

I think quality leather goods have a better chance selling for what they are worth on Etsy than on Ebay. You pay your twenty cents and your listing is up for four months. When it sells, Etsy gets a commission of about four percent.

Because of the way Etsy lists your item, it pays more than it does on Ebay, to my mind, to put time into taking good pictures.

ed

i dont sell on ebay though, you do? stuff would sell way beter on etsy, i dont think i would ever sell on ebay

[esantoro]

i dont sell on ebay though, you do? stuff would sell way beter on etsy, i dont think i would ever sell on ebay

Ebay has turned into a good advertising vehicle.

[corter]

Ebay has turned into a good advertising vehicle.

ahh. when i painted guitars in highschool i would just post pictures of them on craigslist all over the country, like bait even if i didnt have one to sell. then someone without fail would email me with "you know, i'm not interested in the one you're selling, but i really want a clapton relic, could you do that?" ad i'd do it. made me desent money as a 17 year old haha

[LemonBall]

My 2 cents...

I opened an Etsy shop last November and I've been very pleased with the results.

I had an eBay store which was not successful so I shut it down and moved to Etsy.

Etsy is dominated by thousands of people selling Jewlry,

so I believe that people selling quality handmade leather goods do stand out.

Stylistically, Etsy skews toward the urban hipster so items that appeal to this sort of person

have the best chances of selling.

Here's my shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5430058

[DaltonMasterson]

As far as selling on Ebay, I do. It is a lot like fishing. Sometimes you catch something, and sometimes you dont.

What I did start doing is adding a link to my site, which allows the people browsing to see my other work, and then hopefully order something else. I have had a lot of hits on my site, but the actual Ebay sale is a crapshoot.

DM

[Leerwerker]

Another site like Etsy is

http://www.madeitmyself.com

They are still very new and I joined them before I knew about Etsy. I am gunna stay there for a while and see what happens ...