They're BAAACCCKKKKKKK

Back by popular demand...my Steampunk Collage Pendants! Out of the studio and listed on etsy.

I'm trying to work on them in small batches, as we've had a very fussy little man lately. Sam's been diagnosed, at 6 weeks old, with reflux. He hasn't been sleeping well so that means very little studio time for me!

I will spend the next two weeks finishing up my spring line and getting ready for our first show. Maternity leave ends on 3/1, so I'm trying to get a jump on everything!

Monday Blues

Feeling a little blue this cold Michigan Monday...Thought i'd cheer myself up a bit by taking a look around etsy. Hope you enjoy these Etsy finds as much as I do!

http://starfishclothesgirl.etsy.com/

http://annaleahdesigns.etsy.com/

http://kathartstudio.etsy.com/

Happy Holidays to all!!!

Twas the night before christmas and all through the house...
not a creature was stirring...not even the wireless optical mouse
the shop was open once again, although not quite yet fully stocked
if it wasn't up to full by mid-January, even I would be shocked

Ok, so I'm not a poet! The thought was there.

Our big show has finished and the shop is reopened. It has been a hectic few weeks and I'm glad to have a moment or two of quiet and catch up on some much needed blog time!

Bear with me as I continue restocking the etsy shop. A very successful holiday season has left Simply Willow with little stock! I will be a busy girl, designing and creating exciting new jewelry over the coming weeks. I am also exploring other venues for selling, advertising and marketing....but I'll leave those for another time!

I wish everyone the happiest of holidays....and the brightest of New Years!

willow

OwntheHour.com

I have recently started advertising some of my pieces on a new ad site called Own the Hour. They allow etsians to purchase one hour blocks of ad space on their site for 50 cents each. (yes, that's 50 CENTS!) You add the link to one of your listings...one per hour slot and they do the rest!

The OwnTheHour FAQ section states that they advertise on Facebook, Google, Twitter and other sites .

I think this could be a great tool, as long as they are reaching our target markets.

I can neither confirm nor deny that I've had sales generated from this site at this point, I'm not even sure how to tell on etsy!

Until I have a way to gauge the effectiveness of the site, I will happily continue advertising Simply Willow earthy romance and Victorian inspired jewelry....one hour at a time.

Tweet Tweet

Being a little slow on the uptake sometimes when it comes to new technology....and most definitely regarding social marketing type of websites, i put off learning about Twitter until YESTERDAY.

Twitter is a micro-blogging site. You post little snippets about what you're up to during the day, allowing people who are "following" you to read them.

I couldn't see the point in this until yesterday, when I posted a link to a new pair of earrings I had listed on etsy....suddenly my views went up on that item. Hmm....so I posted the link for one in Twitter that I had not renewed or just listed....the views went up. Wow! Very cool! In the 20 or so hours that i have actively been "twittering", I have not had any twitter generated sales, but...I think I am finally using it properly! I have posted about our current sale - free shipping on all orders, US and International through October. I have posted links to specific pieces. I have posted treasuries that I've found and unique items from other places on etsy. I am trying to promote others, as well as myself.

I have been watching the posts, seeing what some of my favourite etsians are up to. I am really enjoying the site!

Who would have known?

Tweet...Tweet....

http://twitter.com/simplywillow

http://twitter.com/willowsbeads

Wham Bam!!!

Ok, so I was going to post pictures of a new bracelet & earring set I have for sale in my etsy shop...when...WHAM, Bam!!! It sold. I love etsy! I'm not sure if i've mentioned that before. Getting my own website in shape to open for sale was a lot of hard constant work. I had to learn a lot about web design and creation, cyber marketing and other assorted things not necessary for a construction estimator (my day job) to learn! I am quite thankful that a friend put me on to etsy. No longer do I have to struggle with web design, wondering if it will all work when I'm done.

The bracelet that I was going to post in lieu of the one that sold whambam just SOLD! How great is that? We can market our jewelry, sell it to people around the country and the world and not even be dressed for the day! There is a LOT to learn about marketing and promoting of web sites, but I'm up to the challenge, these sales have bolstered my resolve! With the information presented by other eSMArts Team members and a little experimenting, I'm sure I make all of this work! I'll post the 2 pictures anyway...since I'm going to relist them. Just when I start to get discouraged....a sale comes along!

Thank you, Etsy! Thank you eSMArts Team!

SoSo Show

I'm back from what should have been a fabulous show at the Richland Art Fair in Richland, MI! OHHHHH, the rain, the rain!!! By the time we packed up Saturday evening, we were doing it in the mud! Despite the constant rain, there was a steady flow of people, but no one was really buying. This remains one of my favourite shows! Great people, great organizers and usually...great sales!

We are supposed to be at a show this next weekend, but I am still recovering from knee surgery and we've decided to sit this one out! We're off to Grand Haven, MI for the Coast Guard Festival Art Show the first weekend in August, though! We wouldn't miss it for anything!

I've noticed that the climate of shows has changed a good deal this year. Many people are at shows for the entertainment value, rather than the art itself. They are meeting up with friends, as usual, but there is very little buying going on. I think so many people are cautious of the unknown economic situation and are hanging on to their money. Thankfully, this is not everyone...but enough that it has changed the way many of us approach shows. I have started carrying fewer of my high end signature pieces and stocking more lower priced simple pieces, a lot of pendants on chains actually. This seems to be a good strategy at this point. While sales overall were somewhat dismal, it could have been a lot worse! (at least a good cup of coffee was available!)

Exciting things going on...

I had my first sale in the etsy bead store! WOOHOOO!!!!

I'm off to a wholesale gem & bead show tomorrow. They put it on 3 times a year and it is just amazing. An entire Embassy Suites hotel is turned into a bead show, with each room being its own little shop. I walk in, sign the registration and put on my Simply Willow name tag...and the bead lust overtakes me. Stones, pearls and crystals in every colour and shape imaginable.... I leave significantly poorer, but oh so happy. I can buy enough supplies at one show to last me a year. So naturally, we go to all 3 every year LOL.

While I am shopping for new beads and stones, my head will be here at home, frantically getting ready for next weekend's art fair. This show is typically my highest one day sales show of the summer season. Fabulous people, great organisers, a beautiful venue....I'm pumped even tho I'm not even close to being ready!

Simply Willow is growing like crazy. eSMArts team has been a great help! Etsy is offering me a wonderful learning opportunity and the website is coming along.