Considering.

[velvetpage]

I've been pointed by several people, most recently toad_hall, to www.etsy.com as a way to sell my crochet work. It has some advantages. I can set the price to retail because there's no middle person. I can reach a wider market. They seem to be fairly unique - I didn't see anything on the site that looked like the same pattern (as I'd expect, since it's an original pattern.) Listing doesn't cost much - twenty cents per item, but I can do prototype items and list available sizes so I wouldn't actually pay twenty cents for every hat I listed.

Downsides include an absolutely massive site - about 12 000 listings in children's clothing, the oldest of which go back to May and June. I scrolled through about six pages before I got back to the stuff posted on Wednesday. While this indicates that people do shop there - otherwise why would so many sellers list there? - it also indicates an awful lot of competition. There's one lady who appears to specialize in hats almost identical to my little ear flap hat - only hers are lined with fleece and edged with fun fur. I may keep that one against a future baby shower. It's a pity everyone I know is having boys! (I should look into a pattern for a boat hat that would work for a boy. After all, boys need protection from the sun, too.)

I'll need my own paypal account. Elizabeth's cabbage patch kid served as a model today, but I need to develop my photography skills. Here's my first really good picture:



So, what do you guys think? Is this worth pursuing?

Comments

[beetiger.livejournal.com]

I know a lot of folks who use etsy with a lot of success. It's mostly a place people shop "in-community", ie crafters shop from each other. and most people direct people to the shop with informal advertising on the outside. There aren't that many people who just browse etsy as far I know. But it's a very low-cost way to do a storefront for one of a kind items, and some people do really well there.

You might also want to consider Hyena Cart, which I think is $7.50 a month with no listing charges, and is a parent-focused site. I've just joined a congo (group shop) there.

[velvetpage.livejournal.com]

Seven-fifty a month would mean I'd need to sell at least two hats per month to make back my cost - but there weren't a lot of crocheted hats on that site, so it might work. Would I need to use organic cotton or wool in order to qualify over there?

[beetiger.livejournal.com]

I don't think so. I think you just have to make the finished items yourself. Organic's a feature there, certainly, but I'm pretty sure not a requirement.