Auto Listing Renewal
This new feature allows you to set your individual listings to renew automatically at the end of the 4 month listing period (the 20c listing fee is taken at the time of renewal).
click on the image to enlarge it
This is a great idea if you have many hundreds of listings and you are sure that you want them all to renew continuously.
Personally, I won’t be using this feature because I prefer to review each listing upon expiry to ensure that it is worth renewing.
I find that I never sell every single print in any book that I list – there are always the really popular items that get snapped up within a few weeks of listing and the less popular ones that may not sell at all.
My Strategy
Step 1
I identify popular prints that are selling successfully for other sellers and I research the source books.
Step 2
I use addall.com and ebay.com to locate cheap copies of the source books.
Step 3
I list all of the prints from each source book over a 3 or 4 day period – so, for example if I have 20 prints from a particular book I list 5 per day for 4 days.
Because new listings are featured in the news feeds of Etsy members who have favourited my shop this brings a flow of traffic to my shop and often leads to fast sales of recently listed items.
Step 4
Once I have sold several prints from a particular book and am convinced of the viability of the niche I go back to addall and ebay to source a second copy so that I can renew sold out listings as soon as they sell.
This strategy results in a constant flow of traffic as I am renewing successful listings on a daily basis.
RINSE & REPEAT
Step 5
At the end of the initial 4 month listing period I review each listing (Etsy emails me to remind me when a listing is due to expire) and only renew prints that have sold at least once.
Prints that haven’t sold in 4 months are likely to remain unsold – these can be put together with other unsold prints and listed as a bundle for a ‘no brainer’ price at a later date or can be used as free gifts and slipped in with buyer’s orders to build customer loyalty.
Calculated Shipping
Etsy announced the launch of calculated shipping to US sellers on March 30th
I do get a lot of questions from new sellers who are confused about how to quote shipping rates so I am sure this new feature will be welcomed!
You can read all about it by clicking > HERE
As it is only being made available to sellers in the US I won’t be able to provide you with my thoughts and impressions based on using the feature but I welcome any feedback from my US based subscribers.
STOP PRESS!
Today I made my 500th Etsy sale and I would like to celebrate this milestone in my own personal Etsy selling journey by encouraging you on yours!
To this end I am offering a $5 discount off each of my 3 best selling products –
To get $5 off Prints Make Profits – the video course that teaches the product sourcing secrets that I use in my own Etsy business simply click the link to visit the sales page and add the coupon code 500special at checkout
To get $5 off Your Etsy Profit Machine! – the course that will take you from Etsy novice to Etsy expert simply click the link to visit the sales page and add the coupon code 500special2 at checkout
To get $5 off Your Etsy List Builder – the course that teaches you how to build and market to your very own Etsy buyers list simply click the link to visit the sales page and add the coupon code 500special3 at checkout
And, yes you can take advantage of all 3 discounts and save a total of $15 but please don’t sit on this as all of the codes will expire at midnight on Sunday 19th April
Talk soon!
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I purchased a couple of your programs for starting an etsy store.
My question is, since you do nothing to the change the prints, how do you get past the etsy requirement that the items sold cannot just be resales. They say there must be some input or change made by the etsy seller.
Chad Dickerson (etsy CEO) laid out what it means to be “hand made” on etsy in a video https://www.etsy.com/townhall/2013/10/01?ref=guidelines
It seems to me that If I spend all my time creating a site, that I’ll be kicked off for not selling hand made items.
Etsy items must be either handmade, vintage or craft supplies.
I am selling vintage items (20 plus years old) so the handmade rule doesn’t apply – https://www.etsy.com/help/article/147
Stuart
Thank you for clearing that up. The etsy video that I referenced does not make it clear.
With that out of the way … I’m on my way 😉
You are doing a great service to many of us who want to start a new business.
Thanks
Stuart,
Since you’re selling items for which the shipping cost should (I would think) fall in a fairly predictable and narrow range, why not build the cost into your price and offer free shipping? I know that for other items, “free shipping” seems to boost sales, even though, of course, shipping is never really free.
I have tested free shipping in my Etsy shop – you can read about my conclusions here:- https://stuart-turnbull.com/tutorials-2/your-etsy-profit-machine/
Hi Stuart:Love your site. I was wondering though that you have not commented on the current scam of hijacking links. The forum is all abuzz with it. it seems that when an Etsy shop name is googled it leads to an unrelated site. This is directing traffic away from the intended shop to an entirely different website such as phone cases. A rather disturbing trend I would say. I wonder if it is affecting ebay as well. I have just switched from ebay to Etsy and my shop is coming up fine but who knows for how long. What are your thoughts on this? Cheers, Betty
I have read about this scam, Betty but it isn’t something I am worried about. There will always be scammers out there looking to make a fast buck or cause disruption by hacking sites. I am sure that Etsy will do whatever is necessary to protect our shops (and their own business).
There isn’t really anything we as shop owners can do but my guess is that this issue has probably only affected a tiny fraction of all Etsy shops and isn’t something we should be losing sleep over.
Hi Stuart,
Just have a question about your procedures you mentioned. You mentioned you research other sellers to see what prints they have that are hot sellers, then locate the source books and buy and list the same prints. My question is, how do you price yours compared to the seller’s prints you have researched? Do you price your prints for the same price, or cheaper than the sellers prints that you have researched, ( to me undercutting them on the price would be rather dirty), so how do you price yours compared to theirs?
Thanks in advance.
Johnna
Thanks for your question, Johnna!
When working out pricing I start with my cost per item – I divide the total cost of the book including the shipping to my address by the number of saleable prints. I then add in the cost of the rigid mailer, cellophane bag and Etsy/PayPal fees, finally I add on my profit margin (the amount of profit I am happy with taking into account the time I spend listing and fulfilling each order)
I then need to make sure this figure is a competitive price – it doesn’t need to be cheaper than the competition but it mustn’t be considerably more either.
In my experience shoppers will look for images that attract them so it is vital to get your images right – if they see something they like that is offered by a seller they feel they can trust (good reviews, strong guarantee etc.) they will buy even if there are cheaper alternatives.
Focus on doing a great job not on being the cheapest provider and you’ll be successful (and make a decent profit too!)
Congratulations on your 500th sale, Stuart! That is a milestone.
Just curious – Do you list the same prints on both eBay and Etsy to increase your customer base for each item and pull the listing on the other site once it sells on one?
I ran a test last year with around 80 prints listed simultaneously on eBay and Etsy for 3 months. Etsy won hands down and I’ve been listing only on Etsy since!
Interesting. Glad you are having such success on Etsy!
I understand about not wanting to use the auto-renewal. I am only doing it for a few products I offer that are top sellers for me. Like you, I rather go over the listing, and see if it is worth to renewal or not.
Shipping on Etsy has always been a headache. Doesn’t matter what they do, it still comes out wrong. I know what I sell weighs so for me I can use a set amount for shipping. To be able to quote shipping prices would be great for those with products that are heavy. The only problem I have is overseas due to how light what I sell is.
But as usual Etsy doesn’t give you the best articles etc on how to use something.
I got to beta test their new admin and love it! But boy oh boy did others burn up the forum about how much they disliked it!
Congrats on your 500th sale!!!
Hi Stuart;
First off Congratulations on reaching the 500th mile stone. I be happy to did 100, but it will come. I understand where Etsy is coming off with auto renewal, to make it easier for shop owners, But your point you need to evaluate your inventory to make sure you’re putting out dead items. Very good point! I will be looking into that shipping calculator for shipping, but I’m sure it does factor in your other cost.
Wish I could take you up on your offer but I already purchase all of your ebooks (They are great), but thanks any way. I do have a favor to ask if you get a chance could you look at my store and critique it. Here is the URL http://etsy.me/1clo1fi I also only have one follower and wondering what I’m doing wrong.
Well my friend wishing the best and another 500 sales by year end.
Best Wishes
Reg Boczko
California USA
http://etsy.me/1clo1fi
I’m delighted to critique your Etsy shop, Reg! – I’ll email you with my thoughts.
Congratulations and well done on your 500th etsy sale Stuart, great results!
I noticed from an etsy newsletter they go public on the stock market today – quite a few developments now and head, all for the better 🙂
Have a great day,
David
Well, since I am already the proud owner of all 3 of the above referenced resources, I will simply give you a HIGH FIVE and congratulate you on your 500th sale!