Etsy Shopping: The Golden Rule

Lately, thank goodness, I have been making some sales in my Etsy shop.  Where I normally depend on wholesale and consignment “brick and mortar” shops to keep Little Eye Designs afloat, this year is showing me already that there might be an internet market for these little bottle cap things!

It’s all fine and good to reap the benefits of a put-together shop and a network of customers who appreciate quality work.  But I realized this week that in order to truly be a part of the community and keep Etsy (and my business) strong, I’ve got to shop there, too!  It’s a good thing I’ve been looking for some summer essentials this week.  Please ogle all the goodies I got:

Pinecone and Chickadee - Click Image for Website

Ladies’ Wolf Tee, $28 from Pinecone and Chickadee.  A lightweight, airy tee with a suspiciously poet-y design is perfect for throwing on over a bathing suit after an impulsive river swim in the summer.  I spotted this at their table at The BIG THAW and couldn’t get it out of my mind.  Coupled with the fact that I just found a metallic, leopard print gold and black mini skirt at Find (the perfect match) this just had to be mine.

SJohnsonPhotos on Etsy

“Searching the Dial” set of 3 Postcards from Shaun Johnson, $5.  Don’t forget to write!  I don’t know where I’m going on vacation this summer but wherever it is I think jotting down some notes to friends on the backs of these is just about right.

Bread and Butter Vintage: More than just the basics.

Vintage Italian Sunglasses, $28, at Bread and Butter Vintage.  O.K., don’t get me wrong, everyone knows I’m a cheap lady who scoffs at ‘marked up’ items at Goodwill ($7.99 for a dress??!  Only if it’s Pucci!) but these glasses are so unique, so perfect, so interesting, so… mine.  I bought them a couple days ago which unfortunately means you can’t have them.  But you CAN have any number of things sold at Bread and Butter Vintage’s Etsy shop, which is awesome, and the photography is magnificent.  Besides, summer ladies can never have too many tortoiseshell glasses.

So basically.  Next time you think to yourself “I need to get some sunglasses” or “a lightweight t-shirt” or “postcards” or really any luxury (or even essential) item turn your computer’s internet browser towards Etsy rather than jumping in the car and heading for Target.  I mean, we all love target and you can’t beat clearance underwear for $1.25 but I’m really thinking now (with the boost in sales and the happy feeling I get when the mailman comes) that giving back is a huge element in being a part of it all.

Holiday Shopping on Etsy

Ahh, the long weekend.

Over the long weekend, I got involved in some “BNR”s on Etsy.  For those who don’t know the wonder of BNRs, here’s a little tutorial:

A ‘curator’ selects a BNR ‘Treasury’ which is a collection of images (listings) from different sellers on Etsy.  The listed sellers are then notified that they are part of a BNR and these sellers should then spread the word in various forums, blogs, on their Facebook page, etc.  BNR stands for “Buy and Replace” which means different sellers can purchase items from those listed in the treasury in order to take that previous seller’s spot.  The idea is hopefully someone will want your item and will want to buy out your spot!

I’m not totally sold on how viable a business model this is, but the exposure it creates and the networks it builds are invaluable.  In a BNR you end up watching a little obsessively, hoping your item will sell so you can buy another.  😉  So you end up ‘chatting’ with the other people in the BNR for quite some time.  I made a few internet-friends this weekend!

The other plus is that it enables my spending bug which, if all works out accordingly to plan, will break even if others replace my listing in the BNR.

~

 

Creatures of Habit Zine collection $3 from EastoftheSun on Etsy

 

Peppermint Pine Moose Sachet $5.95 from WSDreams on Etsy

I ended up purchasing a couple items, one from East of the Sun (Anna Simmons) and one from Winter Solstice Dreams.  One ended up in my car to freshen out all the bad smells (where do they come from, anyways?) and the other was gifted as coloring books for my super awesome niece!  While I was puttering around on Etsy, I found some other wish list items.  P.S.  Hands off my WSDreams lavender eye pillow for future purchase!

 

Vintage Holt Howard Cat S+P Shakers from twolittleowls on Etsy. Xmas present for my mother was a hit!

 

WANT WANT WANT Jewelry Organizer by BluebirdHeaven on Etsy.

NEED NEED NEED Figural Wood Hat Rack from Eden Cove Treasures on Etsy

Vendor Spotlight: Find

Beautiful Logo, Beautiful Vintage

If you haven’t been to Arabica in the last year you are going to be SO PSYCHED to discover that its exposed-brick interior and warm lighting now house Find, a clothing exchange shop new to Free St. where you don’t have to wait 6 weeks to get dollars for your gently used collars (and shoes, and pants, and oh heck, you know).  And because I’m such a huge fan of instant gratification, you can imagine my delight when I learned that Laura had moved in and would give 30% of appx. value to you in cash or, get ready for this shoppers, 50% of appx. value in store credit!  Wowowow.

Costume Idea: Brightly Colored Photographer Lady

Find’s been on the brain lately because with Halloween coming up I’m planning a little costume reconnaissance before the weekend comes.  A lot of girls use Halloween as an excuse to show some skin one day before November but me?  It’s my excuse to buy some new clothes.  Besides – how different is a costume from an outfit?  Last week when I was getting ready for Tara and Brian’s wedding J. goes “You’re wearing that, it looks like a Halloween costume!”  Yes, oh yes, that’s because I planned it that way!

Find is also great because it supports local artists – lots of jewelry can be found there from Rusty Petals, to Kate Sullivan-Jones to… Little Eye Designs!  Aww yeah.

Visit find online here or at 16 Free St. 7 days a week.  If you’re looking to get rid of threads, check their website at the bottom to see if they’re buying before you lug 10 boxes all the way downtown.  🙂