Fabulously Frugal Dolly

I’ve made five sales *and counting? knock wood* in under a week from posting my first item on Etsy, and I’m just giddy about it. My first customers haven’t gotten their items to leave feedback and people are buying more- it’s so very exciting that I’ve been just annoying the pants off my hubby with announcing every sale- there was one while I slept last night to a girl all the way in Australia! There’s a good number of people on Etsy having trouble getting their first sale, and to these folks I’d like to say one word- PROMOTE! Whether it’s message boards, a blog, or just shouting to passers by, promotion is a big thing in selling, and it’s not nearly as hard as one would think. Start with one thing and get that thing to be part of your daily routine, like posting to a message board, either on etsy or elsewhere if there’s a message board pertaining to your products. Make use of the ‘etsy mini’ feature, it shows off things in your shop and the code is dead-easy to cut and paste where you’d like to put it. Don’t be shy- it’s not hard to let people know you’ve got a shop with great things inside, just link to it anywhere and everywhere you think it might get clicked, keeping in mind that some places are more appropriate than others. Linking to handmade soaps from a page about your dog might be weird, but if you think the folks who look at your dog might like to see your soaps, do it.

I’ve made five sales *and counting? knock wood* in under a week from posting my first item on Etsy, and I’m just giddy about it.  My first customers haven’t gotten their items to leave feedback and people are buying more- it’s so very exciting that I’ve been just annoying the pants off my hubby with announcing every sale- there was one while I slept last night to a girl all the way in Australia!  There’s a good number of people on Etsy having trouble getting their first sale, and to these folks I’d like to say one word- PROMOTE!  Whether it’s message boards, a blog, or just shouting to passers by, promotion is a big thing in selling, and it’s not nearly as hard as one would think.  Start with one thing and get that thing to be part of your daily routine, like posting to a message board, either on etsy or elsewhere if there’s a message board pertaining to your products.  Make use of the ‘etsy mini’ feature, it shows off things in your shop and the code is dead-easy to cut and paste where you’d like to put it.  Don’t be shy- it’s not hard to let people know you’ve got a shop with great things inside, just link to it anywhere and everywhere you think it might get clicked, keeping in mind that some places are more appropriate than others.  Linking to handmade soaps from a page about your dog might be weird, but if you think the folks who look at your dog might like to see your soaps, do it.

Yes, it’s my shop, and now, you can get a fabulous extra bonus gift just for being a nifty little darling and reading this blog. Tell me you’re fabulously frugal and I’ll throw some fabulously fun stuff in with ANY order. I’ve got a section of dollar items, so my fellow bargain divas can get some sewing and crafting supplies on the cheap. I’ll keep posting fun stuff into the ‘WTF? Just a Buck!’ clearance as long as I have more stuff that I need- and I’m always finding more. All sorts of items for just one stinking dollar, like the dollar store, but much better because it’s fabulously fun treasures from my marvelous stash of oddities and whatsits. Twenty-plus years as a collector of things, ten years of dealing in vintage wares, and many many fun things for you.

I’ve recently entered into a business dealing with a cohort, who has been doing quite well selling things on Ebay.  The thought of someone else handling the less fun bits of selling online thrills me, the picture taking and describing of items takes soo much time away from finding more things to sell that it’s hard for an old-school junk dealer like me to deal with.  Important things to consider before you do like I did and find yourself a co-conspirator are how much you’d trust the person.  The couple I’m dealing with would be welcome in my home when I’m not there because I know them to be very upstanding and moral folks.  Don’t go dealing with folks who you wouldn’t trust left unnattended with your wallet, because that’s pretty much what consignment is, leaving your money in someone else’s hands.  As soon as we start listing things, I’ll post links to the bargains available, as the auctions are generally started at 99 cents it’s not hard to find a great deal with their stuff.  How can they make money by selling things starting at a buck?  Well, if enough interest is generated, the item’s price doesn’t stay at a dollar, the couple auctions I saw close that they’d started at a dollar were all well above fifty when the bell tolled that the auction was over, it’s a matter of having the right product and listing it the right way to find a buyer.  Certain items are a much harder sell right now, given the shaking economy, but if you’ve got basic needed items, people are buying them up like mad because a good deal on a needed thing frees up a little loot for some fun stuff to go with it.  For example, I’m holding onto some of my valuable collectible items until the economy is more open to pleasure spending, as if people are worried about feeding their family, they aren’t buying things for their collections.  Alternatly, they are selling things to feed their kids, so great bargains abound for those among us who have a few spare dollars to seek out collectibles and frivolous items.  Right now is a great time to make some spare cash by selling the basics around your home that aren’t needed, like clothing.  Food, shelter and clothing are basic needs, if you can fill those needs less expensively than other options, you’ll get sales.  Clothing is a natural for me, I’ve always loved clothes, some might even say I’m addicted.  Finding a niche is as hard as finding that trusted co-seller though, do some research into what’s selling and who you can have help you (if you need help at all) and think about it carefully.  You might just be the next big deal starred seller.

Yes, it’s aisle upon aisle of serums and cremes that you’ve got no clue what to do with, but look deeper- they’ve got everything.  My favorite beauty supply shop is in the Detroit area, if you’re around Cherry Hill and Inkster rd in Inkster, MI, stop in and get some goodies.

There’s a million different beauty supply shops, certain chain stores calling themselves beauty supply shops are really just make-up counters gone wild.  Find an independently owned one, they’ve got the good stuff.  Some of the best prices on specialty hosiery can be found in the beauty supply, I just recently picked up three different colors of fencenet mesh stockings, very very cybergoth, for two dollars a pair.  Other great goth finds include black lipliner, which does the finest job as a thick, heavy eyeliner, and an amazing array of nail vanishes, top quality stuff, mostly around three bucks.  There’s lso the potential for great falls and hairpieces for the crafty amongst us, instructions abound (with my own guide coming soon!).  For under twenty bucks, I can walk out of the beauty supply with several pairs of stockings, some earrings and makeup, it’s not an every week type of shopping trip though.  Your shop of choice might include a selection of clothing, lingerie and handbags, some do, they’re great places.  Another bargain is in the perfume oils and incences, generally any major fragrance is available in knock-off form, some closer than others, alongside some other scents.  I’ve not run into too many standard brands, but a few sniffs should lead you to a fresh new scent for well under ten dollars.  No one needs to know you aren’t on a first name basis at the macy’s perfume counter, if you like a perk-up during the day find a fancy little purse bottle to hide the secret source.
Jewelry can be a gamble.  Be warned, sensitive ears will not react well to the ten-for-a-dollar hoops, no matter how cute they are.  Don’t plan on the baubles lasting, if it looks fabulous for a few nights out, that’s what it’s for and that’s why it’s soo cheap.  Hair clips can vary greatly as well, though a number of the ones I’ve gotten from the beauty supply shops have been markedly nicer than those sold at mass merchadise or ‘bigbox’ stores.