As of three weeks ago, I became the proprietor of an Etsy.com shop named Nostalgicats. I have no particular affection for the name but I was stumped to come up with something on short notice.
My first items up were a set of demitasse spoons and a set of Royal Albert china. I've added a couple of items most days and right now have 15 listings. At first, I didn't think I'd sell anything or that anyone would even see my shop. There are so many listings on Etsy, far more than I can comprehend and I am not willing to spend more money to get my pictures farther up the queue.
I did a lot of Ebay several years ago. Ebay has become more confusing with their charges and listing options. I like the simplicity and appearance of Etsy shops but there are some items that don't belong there and will have to back to Ebay. The best part of all this is that I am inspired to go through drawers and cupboards and haul things out, then make choices. I put things in piles: Keep, Sell, Donate, Trash. Undecided items go back into Keep pile for now.
The downside is that I am cluttering by having stacks of stuff that needs to be photoed and listed, then put away until sold. Packing materials and supplies need to be stored where they are accessible. This okay with me though. I find myself organizing my house around my activities so I use the space, instead of feeling guilty about dirt and clutter piling up in rooms that are intended for traditional purposes.
The danger of Etsy and Ebay though is seeing things that I have to have. I have fallen several times already and racked up a few disappointments so that I am far more careful. It's also fanned the fires of my desire to craft things, particularly involving fabric and embellishments. I already have a huge basket of knitted and crocheted items that no one particularly wants and no, they would never sell on Etsy.
One thing I have learned is research, research, research before listing. (Probably should do that before buying but that's all about the impulse.) I have found several things are actually worth more than I would have thought due to names on the labels. At first, I would look up items like silverplate flatware and find it was worth far less than I hoped, so I was starting to get lax. Then I looked up a label on some cloth napkins my husband bought at a garage sale and found out they were the product of well-known designers (not well-known to me, obviously.) That added a few bucks to the asking price - not enough to make me rich.
Volume is the answer though. I'm not going to sell one or two items and go on a cruise for a year. Lots of little stuff, mostly under $20, will add up. It adds up, or I'm hoping it will begin to add up.
Are there any other Etsy or Ebay fans? Do you sell on either one? If you buy, are you disappointed at times? Share your experiences, please!
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