bjdonabudget

In thinking about my etsy shop, I’ve been trying to figure out the good angle for moving my products. Find a niche is a good way to establish ones self in the vintage realm, so let’s see how it goes online. There’s always going to be doll stuff in my shop, because I’ll never run out of excess doll stuff, and being as I’ve always been a big fan of cheap thrills, I’ve made a “WtF? Just a Buck!” sale bin where I’m going to offer up some bargains and fun little things for a dollar. On the forums it’s been suggested that I try opening a dollar store called that, because it’d be so very cool to go shopping at the WtF? Just-a-Buck store. I’d even have two’fers, I want a dog named Two’fer. It always sounds like the Mr. Alan’s shoes ad in my head, 29 or 2 for 50 said in the most ghettotastic of deep-voiced announcer voices you’ll ever hear.

Thus far, my WtF sale has been very well recieved, and I’m very proud. It’s not making loads of money, but I’m making a modest profit on things so I’m doing well with it. As long as it’s bringing in more money than it costs, I’m doing good, and so far I’m doing great. I keep my shipping costs down by reusing packing suuplies when I can, just got a good coupon for a office supply and got twenty bubble mailers for two dollars out of pocket, so that’s not a concern really. The listing fees and transaction chareges are quite modest, not much out of my pocket, so I can’t complain. Overall, it’s a good hobby thus far.

I’m also celebrating selling my first few articles to an online writing buyer, I’ve not made a boatload of cash, but I did get paid for what I know, and I know lots of odd little things so it’s a good thing I found that place. Thus far I’ve written a bit about my darling little iguana baby Bob and the care and feeding of her species, a bit about etsy and a piece about picking out nice oranges. It’s not hard to write a good piece for me, I’ve been writing for pay for years now, just now it finally has MY name on it. Ahh, finally being an honest writer is much nicer than being a ghost writer of academic works and ’study aides’ as I used to call them, papers really, but if I claimed it was a study guide I could pretend it wasn’t plagerism. Once it left my hands, it was no longer my concern, which is why I sign over the rights to most of my work, it gets me a few more cents and if I need something like it in the future, I’ll just write another one, no big thing.

I need to adjust my swapbot profile to reflect my new obsession- my needle felting kit came yesterday- minus one important piece thanks to a postal machine chewing my package- but I made do without the foam workpad- I used a towel and made some of the most fun to do little felt pieces- pieces to what I’m not sure yet- the little bear I did came out just so sweet and vintage looking, reminds me of the bears in the Sears Wishbooks from the 60’s, kinda cute but a little menacing too.

Green Mountain: Wee Woolies is an awesome seller- she’s even sending another work pad to replace the one the postal system ate! The fiber assortment in the needle felting kit was just amazing, great colors, and a good mix of them. I’m thrilled with my purchase, and will no doubt be hitting the shop up for more wool. I just want to poke the fluff into cute little things forever- forget shopping or cleaning, that can wait, I’ve got fibers aching to become things just sitting right there- I’m so deeply in love with needle felting.

If you’ve not seen, needle felting involves taking a puff of wool and stabbing it repeatedly with a barbed needle made just for this purpose and working the wool into a felted, matted snarl of cuteness. I even felting some yarn designs into a piece I’d felted into a coin shape- I think it’ll make a neat-o-keen pendant for someone, made two of the bases thus far, need to do more decorative work to make them really awesome. But, to my dismay, chores come first- there’s stuff to do that doesn’t involve repeated stabbing wool, and I have to do those things first- then I get my pokey treats.

So I just bought myself a needle felting kit off etsy- links and info to follow when it comes (so I can be certain the seller is awesome)- and I’m rather excited about learning a new craft. After looking at the kit for a few days, I decided I really do deserve a treat, after all, my shop sold twenty things thus far. So now I can start thinking of all the cute little things I can make by poking at a wad of wool with the very sharp needles- yes, there’s seriously a craft that makes cute little things by stabbing wool and I’m not doing it yet- but give me a few days!

I also made a new rule for my shop- for every twenty items I sell, I can get a treat. That way, I actually put money towards real-world type stuff first, but in selling my collected treasures and things I’ve put hours of love and attention into making I don’t lose out on my need to hoard things. I admit it, I’ve got issues with stuff and the need to have stuff and to get that stuff as close to free as I can, but it’s okay, I’m sending out more than I’m bringing in- finally! So, that deserves my wooly fun treat.

It’s been one full month since I’ve posted my first item, and in that time, I’ve rocked the place. Twenty sales- according to etsy stats which count each item as a sale in multiple item sale. I’ve learned about promoting and tracking and tagging, and shared my learnings with a few people. I have yet to buy myself a treat for it, but soon, things will be comfortable enough that I can. Not to imply that I’m broke, but my thriftiness prevents me from spending much when there’s any sort of economic uncertainty. Yes, I’m one of THOSE people, the horrible ones who screw up the whole economy by being scared that if I have a little fun, the whole house will come crashing down upon my head, and not only will I need to fix that, I’ll hurt myself and medical bills to go with it. Yes, I’m crazy, but you should know that by now. Who wouldn’t be a bit nutty when it’s this much fun? Ah well, back to work, it’s time to pimp the buttons

The Heartomatic is and absolutely awesome tool for stalking your etsy shop, and who’s hearting your stuff. I check my shop throughout the day, just for kicks. Rather than going item-by-item, the Heartomatic will show you everything in your shop laid out in a chart, showing hearts, views, views per heart and new hearts today. You can see who loves your shop, just like on etsy, but you can also track your hits like no where else- it even has an ‘update’ button on the view count page. I like to monitor my promotion attempts that way, after I post an ad, I can see how many more people looked at my items. It’s not an exact science, there’s no way to tell where the traffic comes from, but for quick-moving things like Twitter it can tell you if people are looking after you post. From my Twitter I know an item will get at least five looks in the next ten minutes, when it’s slow. Granted, I’m not sure if any of my sales came through twitter, though a couple of the items I was ‘test marketing’ there to try out Twitter as a business tool did sell, but it could be a coincidence.

A good product at a fair price sells itself, always has, always will, the people just need to see it. If you take my view of marketing, you’re just introducing people to the item, they’ll decide for themselves if they want it. Having a friendly attitude can’t just be a put-on though. I’ve always looked at business relationships as a special sort of friendship, if I can befriend a potential customer by giving them honest and helpful input, I do. If I don’t have much nice to say, I don’t say much at all, unless I’m cracking jokes. Humor is a good opener as well, a laugh can open all sorts of doors. Hone your wits and have fun. A laid back and generally amicable shopkeeper is bound to make a few friends who’ll stop by the shop periodically just to say hello and find that thing they can’t live without. This isn’t a button-down corporate type scene, it’s okay to be yourself and show off your quirks. It not only applies to online selling, but real-world retail situations as well, I’ve always had great customer service skills because I can put myself in the customer’s shoes. How would I like a person to help me? I like dealing with friendly, non-pushy sales people, so that’s how I sell.

As you know by now, I’ve become obsessed with Etsy. I’ve got a number of items in my shop modeled by a Blythe doll, who I haven’t played with nearly as much as some of the other dolls, who is going to get a make-over soon due to her duties as Knot By 9 spokesdoll. Being as the URL and name of this blog are set, I can’t adjust to reflect some coming changes, but be warned, there’s non-BJD dolls to be discussed and I’m not sorry about it all.

Perhaps we should start with a name. Or a hair style. Or thoughts on make-up. Let’s call it what it is, this is a full-doll overhaul. I’ve always thought of her as a shy little artsy thing that lives on fancy coffee drinks and vintage everything, like many of the girls I knew (and dressed) in college. Suzie? Sounds nice, but I’ll keep thinking. Post away if you’ve got an idea- maybe it’ll become a contest.

Want to see what I’ve Etsied today? Adding doll clothes, vintage clothes for Blythe mostly, for the next few years… seriously, I ain’t about to run out anytime soon, so don’t worry about my dolls will wear, they’ve got plenty.

I made my first sale today, it’s terribly exciting, still a bit giddy about it. So to celebrate, any purchases made today, tomorrow, or until I get tired of it will get EXTRA surprise treats. I love etsy that much. I just posted a very nice vest for MSD size dolls, in my shop. It was fun to make, and it looks pretty on, but it’s just not Loolu’s taste. Funny, she loves the off-white slipdress I made her, but doesn’t like the vest or shawl I made to go with it. Rather like a vintage film star, lounging about in a slip like that, if only I had other shoes for her. Combat boots don’t look right with the dainty slip dress. After the holiday, I’ll have a bit of gift money though, and I’ll get her some nice ones. I’ve been talking to someone about a pair of pink mary janes with kitty faces on the toes, maybe that’s how I’ll splurge on me for Christmas.

Since I’ve posted those first handful of items, I’ve been amazed by how many views they’ve gotten, it’s exciting to see that folks are curious about the things I’ve got for sale, what a rush!  No sales as of yet, but it’s only a matter of time until the right person sees just the right thing and I start getting feedback showing that I’m a decent seller.  My hubby laughed his tail off at how many times I’ve checked my shop since I posted the first item, it’s like a new addiction seeing how many looks each thing has gotten.  I’m going to try posting some lower-cost items today to see if they’ll be an easier sell from a new vendor.  It makes sense that people are hesitant to deal with a new seller, I know I’ve debated a purchase given that the seller is lacking in background info, if only there were a way to combine all the forum feedback threads on the trade/sale websites I’ve wandered into… Until the day when everyone has a ‘permanant record’ online, I guess I’ll just keep on being me and know it’ll work out just fine, just like it always does.

I’ve just opened my shop on etsy , the perfect venue for a crafter who loves vintage to offer up their wares.  Knot By 9 is going to be stocked with handmade dolly wear, vintage treasures and all the things I love to make.  Right now, as a special thanks to my blog readers for their support, I’d like to offer an extra-special surprise gift with any purchase just by mentioning that you’re a reader of BJD on a Budget , or my other bargain-centric blog, Fabulously Frugal .
Coming soon: vintage delights from my personal jewelry collection, toys, handmade hats and scarves and much much more….

This offer is open to the first THREE buyers who mention that they’ve seen either blog, at my discretion and until I decide otherwise.  Prize has no cash value, and is not redeemable for cash.