Getting Started on Etsy

I initially started Selling Vintage on Etsy back in May after being laid off from my sales position at a local Los Angeles magazine, (yes, I'm one of those statistics which fits in well with checking cliche after cliche off my list of things to be, do, feel), and so to supplement my income I started Selling Vintage. First I took a booth at a local antique mall and then eventually I took to the internet. When this comes up in conversation with other lovers of vintage the response I often hear is one of 'I thought of doing that, is it easy?' or 'how do you get started?' - but it took the question coming to me as a blog comment from Linda over at A La Carte to get me to write a response to this question often posed.


Usually my response is 'it's easy, just go to Etsy and follow the directions'. And well, that is basically what you need to do to get started. You can register for an Etsy account here. But before you do learn from my mistake and think about what you want to call your shop, your username will ultimately become your shop name. I ultimately wound up starting a brand new account after having already gone through the motions of posting items to the incorrectly named account.

Once you get your account set up you can login to Etsy and start selling - seriously, it's that easy! It may take some trial and error but eventually you'll get used to the layout and can easily share your pretty vintage goods with the world.

When you login to your account look to the top of the screen where you'll see a shopping cart and to the right, about center page, you'll see YOUR ETSY, click on this to get to your account and start selling. Then you'll see a navbar on the left hand side, you'll just have to play around with these different features as you go along but they're all pretty self-explanatory. The one you need to be concerned with initially is ADD NEW ITEM. Go through the motions and list your item for only $.20!

When listing:

Be sure to describe the item as best you can and use words you think people may search for when they are looking for something similar to what you are selling.

Take full advantage of the key word section, you'll click down to Vintage first and then narrow it further and further. Use words that describe the style, the color, the designer or similar designers, what the item is, where it's made - anything that you were not able to mention in your text.

I cannot stress this enough - TAKE GOOD PICTURES. I bought two large pieces of foam board from my local art store to use as a backdrop and I always go outside to take my photos since my house is lit for mood not photography.

You can add up to five pictures, if you can use them all. Get creative and have fun! And always be sure to photograph the label or logo if there is one.

Shipping is trial and error and sometimes you lose a little money on shipping. I always try to be fair but list my shipping a little high so that I am covered and able to ship Priority Mail with Tracking. Tracking is important and so is packaging, be careful, buy bubble wrap and pack your items well. I recently, so far only once, shipped something and had it chip in the process. That made me feel real bad and the biggest bummer was I was so sure I had done a stellar job packing that one - not the case.

Another note on shipping, make a trip to the post office and take advantage of the FREE Priority Mail boxes. I don't usually send items flat rate which is what these boxes are intended for, instead I wrap them in brown bag paper from Office Depot. The rate is usually cheaper than flat rate, I only use flat rate when something is really heavy. If you don't feel like visiting the post office initially you can order your FREE Priority Mail boxes on their website.


Marketing is a whole other beast but start following the official Etsy Blog, Storque for ideas and tips. And I'll write something on that... next time someone asks!

Thanks for the question Linda, I hope this is enough to get you started and wish you the best of luck. Let me know if there's something I didn't cover that you may be wondering - that goes for everyone.

Happy Selling Vintage!

Gone. Gone. Gone!

Lately my booth at the Antique Station has been the cause of a small percent of my routine anxiety. Contributing to this in a major way is the very first piece of furniture I loaded into the booth, a mid-century style veneer desk purchased from my holy grail of a thrift store. Initially this desk looked like a steal at $25, it still does, but as we hauled in collections that spanned decades the booth filled past capacity and the desk quickly became a space hogging burden.



Considering the Antique Station is conveniently close to Chapman University I've been telling myself for months to be patient, to wait for the school year. My patience started to run its course back in July when I grabbed the red pen and slashed the price, and still I waited.



So last week when I was in New York my buddy from the station who sympathizes with my urgency for the banishment of this desk phoned me up, he had good news - trumpets played and angels sang, and the person next me maybe considered me an escapee from Bellevue. It was a glorious moment!

TGIF

Happy Friday Ya'll! I hope whatever you're busy doing this weekend is as delightful as these Red Velvet Cupcakes Miss Meli Homemaker here is busy cookin' up.

Tomorrow's the big day - family reunion! I am utterly impressed with the ease in which the whole thing came together and even more so with the level of expertise my aunt brought to the table. I guess that's what happens after three kids and all their parties. I have a lot to learn but definitely contributed my share to the party and will have pictures of the cool flower arrangements made from thrift store "vases" to share with you tomorrow, not to mention these cupcakes so long as I can keep sticky fingers across the table from snatching them up when I'm not looking.

Here's to great weekend for everyone. Cheers!

A few of my favorite BLUE things

Is it August already? Wow. I do this every month, have for the past five years but really, we're already a full week into the month? The family reunion I've been hard at work on is only a day away (more of that to come this Saturday), I'm still reeling from the trip to northern California, and heading out for a cross-country road trip in only a week!

Finally there are so many photos of favorite road trip buys that I've decided to break them into color categories and spread the love out for a couple of days.

I thought I might just let the pictures speak for themselves but I can't help but rave about how in love I am with these nesting serving platters made in France by Carvelle. They're called Sizzling Servers and have the cutest little picture of the Eiffel Tower in the logo on the bottom of the plate making these my favorite newest find. Unfortunately I didn't have the insight to photograph the bottom but I will.


It seems so obvious now that these are a pair of egg cups, the cutest pair of egg cups I must add. But it wasn't so obvious to me in Solvang when I knew I was buying them but was clueless as to what it was I had decided to buy. I promptly figured that out with the help of the sweet older lady I got to chatting up.


These here salt & pepper shakers come courtesy of Sandy and are believed to be Fiesta however if they are I can't find evidence of this design anywhere online. Do you know?


Just a cute large Made in Japan Mikasa platter.


Suddenly I have three egg baskets! Where this obsession came from I have no idea but I definitely look out for them these days. And this one... it's a little bit of adorable don't you think?


Part of a Lazy Susan that will make great hors d'oeuvres plates. Still though I can't help but be a little sad I was unable to dredge up all three.


I don't think you can tell from this picture but these four bowls managed to make it all the way to the Goodwill without a ding which is an amazing feat considering I'm terrified to even pull them apart without breaking them. And yeah, managing to chip one in moving has opened my eyes to the need of bubble wrap. Not sure who made these but they definitely have that 50's flare I love!


What do you think thus far? And... thanks for looking!

Etsy Selling Bloggers

As of late I've been helping to plan a family reunion for close to one-hundred guests. Some of the many things this has had me doing is scouring Etsy for a guest book and thrift stores for basically anything that can be used as centerpieces - success on both accounts.

A favorite thing about shopping on Etsy is the level of service. It has been an amazing experience in working both with buyers and sellers. And I highly recommend working with Julia over at Red Otter on any guest book needs you may have.



But I digress, that's not what this blog entry is about.

In my searching naturally I am pulled off in unintended directions and to my satisfaction I have discovered some inspirational Etsy selling bloggers.

She Can't Decide was featured in an Etsy Finds email - congratulations to her! Coming across this blog was like learning of a long-lost sister, let's see..."I am girl who can never decide." - dang why didn't I think of that. I wonder if she has a birthday in October too?!

And then there's the quirky blog of Sweet Love Vintage. This girl is just adorable with her writing, really you can't help but love Sweet Love Vintage.

Well, what are you waiting for check these ladies out. You can thank me later.