small business articles

hi everyone! i've been on vacation for 2 weeks and while i had lots of fun, i missed the blog world and the etsy world! to kick-start my return and to help my readers, i've compiled a list of my favorite articles on small businesses.

10 home office time savers
8 useful tips to become successful with twitter
huge list of ways to promote
4 ways to make your products more niche
common SEO mistakes
125 tips for building an irresistable brand

and, of course, the etsy seller handbook

more coming soon! comment-i'd love to hear your feedback!

-gracie

summer rambles

hi everyone! i want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for not having many posts this may. i've had such a busy may and this summer will most likely be busy as well for me. hopefully, it will be filled with fun things to do for all of you, too! so, here is a sweet little post filled with what inspires me and what i've learned this may. enjoy!

what i've learned this may
- working hard really does pay off
- it's important to do things you enjoy
- family is wonderful

inspiration

 She Believed She Could...So She Did Handbuilt Clouds Mug by StarLightClay

 Custom Metal Silver Aluminum And Copper Ring by MetalAdornments

Just Breathe-Mango 12 X 18 Decor Print by TheWallaroo

Ok Monday, Let's do this. 8x10 Print by pixelcloud

how to : editing your facebook page's URL

okay, so recently i had some trouble. my facebook page's URL was yucky. and i mean YUCK-Y! it wasn't only ugly though...it was kinda a bother. whenever someone needed a link to my facebook page, i'd have to run off and find what the link was. the link was something like www.facebook.com/124873948729/pages/#/graciesdesigns.


YUCK, big time! this is just kinda a downer, not to mention it looks very unprofessional! to get rid of this, you have to:

• go to www.facebook.com/username/
• click on the page you want to change
•  in the little box that appears type what you want to go on the end. for example, if you want it to be www.facebook.com/awesomestore then you'd put awesomestore in the box!

it's a super easy solution to an annoying little problem. so, to sum it up,

before: www.facebook.com/124873948729/pages/#/graciesdesigns

after: www.facebook.com/graciesdesigns

HOORAY!

happy may!

happy may everyone! this may, I will be doing the following
- putting together my anthropologie-inspired room. i've found some great tutorials and saved a bunch of money on making things. i'll give you a guide when i'm finished.
- start designing my fall collection. newsletter followers will most likely get a sneak-preview, and you can find the subscription box in the right-hand column.
- taking a good look at my marketing plan and finally figure out why my sales are slow instead of complaining about it
- keep in touch with my friends and family
- gather up goodies for summer....see the following examples below.

all links are clickable. enjoy!
- gracie

what everyone needs to know about earrings

i searched my soul for these basic facts that will build your knowledge of earrings!

-they go through the lobe of your ears or clip on to them
-there are a trillion different kinds: hoops, studs, dangles, crocheted, clip-ons, etc, etc
-though noticeably smaller, they are just as important as a key piece like a necklace
-they draw attention to your face
-they can make your ear swell up if the metal is cheap so be careful as to what kind you choose
-they are never too cheap or expensive- prices range HUMONGOUSLY
-small diamond or pearl studs will never go out of style
-no, they don't always have to match your necklace/bracelet/anklet/ring/toe ring/whatever!
-though not neccessary, piercing ears is common and there are many more choices for pierced ears
-picking too-tiny ones might make your ears look....well...large
-but picking too big ones will make your ears look tiny and stretch out your piercing
-i personally believe there is no such thing as an ugly pair of earrings; but there are ones that are interesting to say the least and ones i would never, ever like to wear.
-there is seriously a pair out there for you-you just might not know it!
-earrings rock!

the color guide: coral

i have no clue why, but i felt like making a collection of nice coral-colored items. odd, huh? so, here we go!


Vintage Garden Bobby Pins Set of 3 - free shipping by lizhutnick




Hand printed simple canvas tote- Bright Coral by marielou




Nautical Nadine (Free Matching Earrings) by RachelleD



Coral Pink Flower on Brown Headband - Designer Headband Handcrafted with Fabric by fabflowerheadbands



White Coral - Throw Pillow Cover 18" x 18" - Deep Orange linen fabric with white coral embroidery by Kainkain




Coral Lotus... Large Favorite Mug... In Stock by yogagoat



Coral Floral Ballet Slipper Baby Booties by TillyWhistle



12 pcs Flowers with Coral Organza Fabric by nezoshop




Coral Dress - silk and bamboo by econica




Coral Drops - 8x8 Fine Art Photography Print by urbandesign

hope you enjoyed! i know just looking for these coral beauties made my day a little brighter.

-gracie

easter cuties

these are some of the many little easter things i found on etsy. i'm sure the bunny would approve(:


Cast Iron Bunny Bank - Baby Pink by beautifuldetailswed




The Mini PINK Bunny Bun - Tiny Plush friend by arixystix




Easter Bunny Candy Tin, set of 6 by susiedees




Blue Easter Bunny Card by winifredStudios



Fake Sugar Candy EASTER BUNNY for your Faux Cupcakes by TheCopperDragon2004

easter baby chicks(Set of 4) by sabahnur



Floral, woven Easter basket made especially for our bears and bunnies with a yellow egg by hortenseandeloise

 and, my personal favorite:



MADE TO ORDER Rainbow Chicken Egg by starless

 keep your eye out for post-easter sales...you never know!
have a happy easter!

-gracie

i wanna hear from you!

hi everyone! i recently read a kick-butt blog post about de-lurking, and i figured i'd add a little note into this post about it! so, lurkers are those people who read the blog but don't post. but i say, why would you not? don't you want me to hear feedback so i can meet your needs as a reader? don't you want to share your brilliant (or crazy) ideas? so leave comments! email me! write on my facebook wall! the point is....I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! you guys are the best! i love all of my fellow etsians and i want your feedback, critique, etc.

so, here is how you can contact me!
at my EMAIL
convo me on ETSY
leave a COMMENT with your EMAIL
TWEET at me
write on my FACEBOOK page's wall
find me lurking in a CHAT ROOM on ETSY
comment on my THREAD on ETSY TEAMS

if i'm missing something, let me know!

my point? you guys are the reason i do what i do, so let me hear your thoughts!

-gracie

why i love etsy

okay, so before reading this, i'll give you a little background info. my name is gracie beal and i'm a earring designer. i'm selling at 3 boutiques, on my website, and on etsy! so, i don't really know what people think of etsy, but i do know what i think of it. i was skeptical when i first heard about it because it seemed so great. i googled it....some people think it's a scam. NO WAY JOSE! i love etsy dearly! think of it as your own personal shopping center....where everything is either handmade or vintage. i just love the feel of etsy. you can find the most beautiful stuff here and be sure no one else has it because it's handmade/vintage! you also get to support small businesses. you can even set your search to specify local businesses...how cool is that? supporting local businesses while getting a totally unique product for a good price. and this is why i love etsy. since i'm a seller, i experience things buyers don't usually get to. for example, i deal alot with other sellers when we all share tips or chat in the forums and just have a good time! oh, another one of my favorite things? customer service. you're dealing with an individual, not a computer! hooray! etsy is seriously awesome. all of the little pictures you see over there on my side bar in the inspiration slideshow are from etsy. if you like what, check it out! and let me just say-if you're skeptical, give it a go! it's free to become a member and only costs 20 cents to list an item. i love etsy
*this is in no way a promotional for etsy, just me speaking my feelings!*

april artist

first off, can i just say that i'm really, REALLY happy to have this month's artist on my blog? if you take a peek at my inspiration slideshow on the right-hand bar, many of my items were hers. like i had to cut back to give others a chance to be in that little photo montage. i totally don't remember how i found her shop, but i do know that i love everything in it. EVERYTHING! which is almost impossible...i'm quite a picky girl!(: so, here's the one, the only, barberryandlace ...

1.)Tell us a little bit about yourself! (name, location,pets, family, etc.)My name is Leigh and I live in Loveland, Colorado. I live with my boyfriend, Mike (who also works from home), our pup Sadie and our two kitties, Molly and Bert. Needless to say, our two bedroom condo is quite busy!

2.)How did you become to be an artist?
I've always loved to create things. I made greeting cards for a while and loved doing it. I kind of fell into jewelry and it's such a great fit for me! I love seeing things come together and ordering supplies that I think will make a great piece. It's all very exciting!

3.)What inspires you?
Lots of things. I really love vintage things, pastels, the "shabby chic" look... I like that my studio has a window so I can see nature. I love watching the seasons change.

4.)What is your creative proccess like?Usually I'll find something that I absolutely love and try to make it into something someone else might love. I just love the creating process... finding things that inspire great pieces.

5.)What do you do in your free time?(besides creating)
Free time... what's that? :) I have a part time job as a waitress/bartender that takes up my weekends. I usually work about 25 hours in those three days to afford myself the time to create and sell jewelry the rest of the week. I'm also getting geared up for my first craft fair in May, so getting my booth design put together and making the jewelry for that is also very time consuming... but I love it.

6.)What would give as advice to someone just starting out on Etsy?
Don't give up and MARKET. I was fortunate to have built my blog up before I started my shop, so I already had free ears to listen. I think my biggest success has come from word of mouth... friends blogging about the shop and sponsoring giveaways. I always remind myself: you have to spend money to make money and marketing is the best money spent.

7.)How do you promote your work?
My blog, others' blogs, giveaways, email marketing, handing out business cards like it's nobody's business, twitter, etc. Social media networks are AMAZING... as is word of mouth.

8.)In ten years, where would you like to be?
Goodness... that's tough. I can tell you that THIS year, I'd like to move my shop into another location. Possibly a store front, or maybe just my garage. I just need to have room to expand!

9.)What handmade possesion is closest to your heart?
My grandma made me a cookbook of all our old Amish family recipes and I think it's awesome. I'm not a great cook, but having it all in one place and made by my grandma is really special to me.

10.)What would you like to see more of on Etsy? Less of?
Oh my gosh... I'm obsessed with the little knit animal hats for babies. I think they're DARLING! Less of? Can I say jewelry? I'd like to corner that market! ;)

visit her on facebook here and on etsy here .

can i just say that when i linked to her etsy i spent like 20 minutes looking at her site when i was supposed to only test the link for correct-ed-ness? yeah....i've got the b.a.l. fever!

March Artist!

hey everyone! sorry it's a wee bit late, but here's your march artist of the month-musettemade! (but you can call her shannon:) ) i stumbled upon this awesome, kick-butt artist back in my other post, it's almost spring!: what you need to know about earrings this time of year . she was the awesome lady who designed those gorgeous leaf earrings under organic. i looked at her shop and realized that this artist was someone with real talent, so, take it away, shannon!

1.)Tell us a little bit about yourself! (name, location,pets, family, etc.)

- My name is Shannon Conlin and I live in Charlotte, NC with my boyfriend Joe and our cat Bosco. We live in a great neighborhood with lots of restaurants, shops, and bars all within walking distance.

2.)How did you become to be an artist?
- I have always been an artist. I grew up drawing and painting and when it was time to go to college I decided to go to the Savannah College of Art and Design. My first love has always been painting!

3.)What inspires you?
- I am really inspired by other artists who are out there doing what they do best - being creative! I also love, love, love beads - the shapes and colors always leave me with new ideas. Going to the bead store can be really dangerous for me! I also like to pull pictures out of magazines for inspiration.
4.)What is your creative proccess like?
- I have a bunch of bulletin boards hanging in my studio with baggies of beads pinned to them. I find it helps me to be able to see them all - I can pull colors to mix and match easier than if they are all in boxes. Then I just kind of put things together to see if they work!
5.)What do you do in your free time?(besides creating)

- I love to hang out with friends, cook, and generally relax! I also am addicted to Netflix instant - Joe and I like to cook dinner together and watch movies or a new TV series.

6.)What would give as advice to someone just starting out on Etsy?- I would say do your research! Look around on Etsy at others in your category who are selling well. Find some shops you admire who have great photos and interesting items. How does your shop measure up? Also, I do the best when I am listing new items and making my shop look fresh.
7.)How do you promote your work?

- I love my Facebook fanpage! It is a lot of fun to link to new items and see the responses you get from people. I also give out a lot of cards and my friends, family, and return customers are really great for word of mouth!
8.)In ten years, where would you like to be?
- I would love to still be making jewelry! I would also like to have another shop for my paintings at some point. I guess overall I just want to be happy and healthy and doing something creative!
9.)What handmade possesion is closest to your heart?
- There are so many! I have lots of artistic friends and I try to surround myself with their work - pottery, paintings, collages, needlework - to name a few. But my favorites are the handmade cards my boyfriend makes me for my birthday!
10.)What would you like to see more of on Etsy? Less of?
- I would like to see more truly handmade goods on Etsy and less resellers! I hate the thought of someone buying something they think is handmade but ends up to be cheap and factory produced!

thank you so much for being on my blog shannon!(: you can find her lovelies here on etsy and here on facebook !

think you have what it takes?
email me here if you'd like to be featured!

selling to stores-what you need to know

so i recently got a question about how i approached the ever-scary task of selling to stores. warning: this WILL be a little scary and intimidating. but the results are well worth the risk and effort.
first off, i'm not going to lie. i'm currently selling to three boutiques, so don't by any means think i'm some kind of expert. i'm far from it. also, i haven't talked with a corporate company yet-therefore i have no clue what you should do about that. what i do know are a few little tips that might increase your chances of selling to local boutiques.

-be well-groomed and well-mannered when you present yourself to the head of the company, manager, etc.
-i have found more success in calling ahead; this usually gives me the owner's personal email or phone number
-call/email the owner and try to set up an appointment with them. this way you won't catch them off guard. i've found it helpful to provide a little portfolio of pictures over email so they have an idea of what products you have
-do your research; only cater to the store if it carries things that are truly your style/kind of item
-if you set up an appointment with an owner, be on time at the very least. seems obvious but goes a long way
-don't have too high expectations-you're not going to get $200 straight up for a pair of plastic earrings
-stores typically buy for around half of the price they're planning to sell for; price items accordingly
-i can't stress enough the importance of having a set price. it's fine to negotiate for a few dollars, but never come in without a price and expect to sell your item-how will they know to price it right if you don't?
-don't get discouraged if they say no. hey, their loss!

those are just a few of my basics-feel free to email me with any more questions you may have and i'll try my hardest to answer them!

-gracie

it's almost spring: what you need to know about earrings this time of year

as spring starts to be felt all around the world, new spring trends are popping up like moles in a whack-a-mole game! my favorite trends occur in jewelry (duh!) so i gathered a nice little collection of spring 2011 jewelry trends for you! p.s.-I included pictures...hold the applause, please(:

1.) nautical
don't think that because this trend has to do with sailors and boats that it's only a summer trend- those hardworking sailors work away at their jobs in the winter! (but this trend wasn't popular back then)



Nautical Earrings by BrittanyChavers



BrittanyChavers does a great job of mixing fun and class in these great earrings!

2.) flowers
spring blooms, right? yes, it does. with floral jewelry trends!

Cream Passion Dangle earrings Sweet and Romantic by beadpod8

this is one of my favorite spring 2011 jewelry trends just because can be worn by anyone with any outfit! my favorite look to wear floral earrings with is a romantic, flowy look.

3.) bright, neon Colors
though a little bold, this trend is super fun and playful!



Neon Nebula Earrings/ SS2010 HOLIDAY SALE by conquerjewellery



conquerjewellery's creation is a really fun look and brightens up any outfit you can imagine!

4.) earthy/organic
pieces like these are really gorgeous because they take something very common and familiar to us and make them into a piece of art.



leafy - silver and gold leaf teardrop earrings by musettemade



i truly love these earrings...the mixed metals work so naturally in this piece.

so there you have it! a nice little guidebook to spring jewelry trends 2011, pulled together by yours truly!

spring is acoming!

okay, spring is finally on its way, and i'm starting to feel it in the weather down here in dallas! so as my business advances and the winter season comes to a halt, here is my top 20 list:

1.)water (bottled in an eco-friendly bottle!)
2.)sandals
3.)bright colors
4.)flowers
5.)bold prints
6.)vintage-y romantic styles
7.)this bathing suit(or any other cute 1950's swimsuit!)
8.)walking dogs in the perfect weather
9.)sleeping
10.)starbucks' iced passion tea lemonade, sweetened
11.)swimming (hot tub does count!)
12.)bows/ruffles/lace
13.)fresh fruit
14.)spending time with family
15.)re-decorating
16.)to-do lists;i would be beyond lost without them
17.)tropic places
18.)a great pair of jeans-my favorites are bootcut and skinny-but-not-too-skinny
19.)sunglasses
20.)corny jokes (gotta love 'em!)

so there you have it-my personal list of 20 things that i've gotta have for spring. enjoy! comment with your own list-i want to hear your spring essentials!

xoxo-
gracie

february artist of the month

february's artist is etsys new and upcoming WickedWonderlands. i got an interview with here and here's what she has to say:
1.)Tell us a little bit about yourself! (name, location,pets, family, etc.)
I’m Louise from Glasgow in Scotland. I am currently working as a retail manager for a new lingerie company in the UK which caters to my whimsical, romantic side perfectly. I live with my great boyfriend and pygmy hedgehog Eddie Spaghetti who will be celebrating his first birthday this month on Valentines Day.

2.)How did you become to be an artist?
I have always been interested in art and the creative process but I guess I lost that after high school. 2 years ago at Christmas I was given a beautiful button bracelet that I adored and was devastated when it broke. The boutique was unable to source a new one for me and I began to pick it apart looking for parts online to fix it. I took some classes at college in jewellery making and this grew legs and became something that has now become a big part of my life. I started selling at the end of October 2010 just to test the water and now plan to make it a part time and hopefully full time income over the years.

3.)What inspires you?
Inspiration comes from many sources and I guess I am a magpie when it comes to shiny, pretty things! I plan to make one piece and think of something else I like and something else and before I know it I have lost the plot completely. I have started to keep a journal and a sketch pad and this is helping to channel me into a more focused frame of mind in order to get my collection complete. I do love altered art pieces as I like to use a lot of images in my items.

4.)What is your creative proccess like?
My little office has been set up now, it’s like a harry potter cupboard under the stairs but it shabby, chic and perfect. I usually have specific ideas in my head about what I want to achieve but this can change as I go along. My mood generally dictates the direction of my work and I like to think of each piece as telling a little story...so I usually have a few lines in my head or a poem to help me along the way.

5.)What do you do in your free time?(besides creating)
I love world cinema, exploring new places, reading and swimming.

6.)What would give as advice to someone just starting out on Etsy?
Use the forums to your advantage. You can find lots of kindred spirits and valuable advice. Use the critique forum for honest feedback on your store and read every email that etsy has to offer on marketing strategies as they have some great advice. Doing your homework will get all your hard work shown to a wider audience, oh and always remember to cost your work correctly, never undersell yourself or your designs:)

7.)How do you promote your work?
Right now I am actively promoting through twitter and this is proving useful for hits and views. It is a new process for me so its still in the early stages of whether it will be effective in more sales. I am staying a bit under the radar at the minute while I work on a full collection and await my new logo then after that it is promote, promote promote!

8.)In ten years, where would you like to be?
I would like to be living the dream....working at what I love in the design industry....preferably from a little farmhouse in Tuscany sipping a nice glass of chianti as I work. Necessary in the design process of course!

9.)What handmade possesion is closest to your heart?
I’m not really sure if it counts but I have this beautiful old and each page has scraps in it that my mum has been collecting since she was small. I love looking through these beautiful vintage images and I blame this on my love of using altered art in my creations

10.)What would you like to see more of on Etsy? Less of?
I would like etsy to feature more new sellers. I feel that generally when I click into the homepage you see a lot of people who have already found their market and some get featured quite frequently. Come on etsy, we have so many wonderful designers out there, lets celebrate that.

check her stuff out HERE

here's a sneak preview: