First Sale: Lessons Learned

Sometimes, most times, the only way to learn is to do. That said, it's great that the first two sales from my Presque Isle Etsy store were made to my mom and my good friend Andi.

Lessons learned:

1. Followup emails are necessary. First I need to put together an email that lets customers know I got their order and will be shipping their purchase soon. Then I need an email that tells them I've shipped their purchase. I got away with not doing it this time because I speak to my mom and my friend Andi every day--they know I got the order and they know exactly when I sent it. 
2. I need a logo. I thought I could get away with not having one... until I wanted to create my hang tags to send with my beanies. Suddenly I realized how bland they were without a logo.
3. PayPal charges a fee for sales. It's a tiny percentage, but it helps to know that when you're trying to figure out what your net profit is going to be.
   
4. Invoices are the easy part. I usually hate Microsoft Word, but their templates are very helpful.
5. A Thank-You-Please-Come-Again postcard would be nice. Something to include in my shipment. Something that says thanks for buying from me. Hope you enjoy your purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about your purchase. Oh, and I do custom orders if you want matching gloves or a scarf to go with your beanie!
6. Stamps.com is essential. It's the easiest way to create and print mailing labels with postage.
7. Packaging is important. Right before I put my first beanie in the envelop made of and stuffed with recycled materials, I realized that if this package was left on a doorstop where it was raining or snowing, the beanie would be soaked right through the package. So I bought some Dupont Tyvek envelops to wrap the beanie in before I put it in the recycled package. Not the most earth-friendly, but I plan on fixing that for my next shipment.
8. I need a scale (or at least set up a chart with approximate weights for my average shipments). I used the scale in the mail room at my day-job to figure out the weight of my first package. Turns out I may not have to charge as much for shipping as I originally thought.

I'm sure I'll be learning a lot more in the months to come. But until I build up inventory, I think I'll probably be more occupied with holiday gifts for my friends and family than sales from my Etsy store.

Ravelry Rocks

One of the best web resources for fiber crafters, Ravelry.com is my favorite place for all sorts of crochet and knit information.

Sweet Eleanor Scarf

Patterns: Rather than scour dozens of sites, you can go straight to the Patterns section of Ravelry and search for what you need. The results range from brand name patterns to user created and submitted patterns.

Some are free and some will cost you, but you can sort your search by whether you want to pay for a pattern.


Yarns: Sure you can find some great new colors and textures by browsing around the listings in the Yarns section, but if you're thinking about putting down cash on a few pricey skeins, knowing how the yarn is going to perform is even more valuable.

Just click on the Comments tab at the top of a yarn's page and find out what other people think about: how the yarn washes, if it pills or splits when you work with it, and even how the quality of the brand has changed over the years.

Noro Kureyon

Also, if you're thinking about buying a yarn through the internet, getting an idea of the texture and weight from someone other that the seller is extremely helpful.

Oh, and if you just bought a bunch of yarn on sale because you simply couldn't pass up the price, just look up the yarn on Ravelry and click the Pattern Ideas tab. You'll find dozens of ways to make use of your new stash.

Forums: Ask questions and get answers on everything from patterns and techniques to trade shows and tools. The Ravelry community is really what makes this site awesome.

Groups: Looking for a little more human interaction? Ravelry is tied to fiber artists groups all over the world. From Albania to Wales, you'll find groups of crocheters, knitters, and spinners--you can even add your own.

Ravelry Wall Art

Shop: Support Ravelry by purchasing fun stuff from their Mini-Mart. Or buy yarns, patterns and anything else for fiber arts from fellow Ravelers in the Marketplace.

My Notebook: The online library that helps you keep track of your stash, tools, books, patterns you're working on and those you want to work on, and everything else.

Now all I need is a Ravelry mobile app, and rumor has it there's something in the works :)