TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 15 Etsy Local & Selling Offline

Welcome to our Etsy Newbie Bootcamp! If you want to take part in Bootcamp and get one-on-one mentoring, or answers to any of your questions, please drop us a line at TorontoEtsyST@gmail.com.  

If you want to open an Etsy shop, just follow this link!



 
Then, be sure to check out:

TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 1 How to Open an Etsy Shop
TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 2 Branding & Shop Banners
TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 3 Shop Profiles Bios and Photos
TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 4 Make Listings Tempting
TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 5 About Pages
TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 6 Shop Policies
TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 7 Communication
TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 8 Shipping and Packaging
TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 9 Social Media
TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 10 The Dark Art of Pricing
TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 11 Shop Stats
TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 12 Holiday Prep in Bite-Sized Pieces
TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 13 Getting Press
TEST Etsy Newbie Bootcamp: Class 14 Sales and Coupon Codes

Put yourself & your events on the map with Etsy Local and
get Toronto Skyline License Plate Art from Route401
for the Toronto lover in your life

This Etsy Newbie Bootcamp Class is something for new and experienced Etsy sellers alike - because it's just been introduced!  Etsy Local is a new tool to let Etsy sellers promote their craft fairs, markets, pop-up shops, open houses and special time-limited events where people can buy their wares - just in time for the holiday craft show season. It connects local buyers and sellers and gives Etsy fans a chance to interact directly with their local artists, artisans and vintage purveyors. When you visit Etsy Local the first thing you see is a call for buyers to shop Etsy offline, and find out where and when their local sellers will be holding events. Users can set their location (it defaults to wherever your location is set ....which, by the way, it really should be as an Etsy seller!) and it allows user to select a time range: 'This Year', 'This Month' or 'This Week'. Below that is a 'Create an Event' button to allow event organizers or Etsy sellers to add a new craft show or market (if it isn't already listed). Etsy sellers need only to 'Join' any already listed event.

Below this is a list of shows, with titles, places, dates and links to participating shops (but only if members report themselves!) and pins on a map. As you can see, buyers can easily move through the map choosing sales in their neighbourhoods. You can click on the blue title of any show to learn more, see hours, read a description, read a blurb from every participating Etsy seller, find the show website and even automatically add the event to their Google calendar.

Adding an event: Nuts and Bolts

Everyone loves maps. Get a Central America Map Bracelet
from DandyTigerDesigns

Visit http://www.etsy.com/local and press the blue 'Create Event' button. Follow the prompts to: enter the name of your event; add a description (what type of event? what will be available? is there a theme? food? other pertinent details); and venue.

The venue is powered by FourSquare. Start typing the name of the place and options will appear. If your venue is in the database, just select it; otherwise,  learn how to add your venue to foursquare.

Follow the prompts to enter start and end dates, hours and event webpage (if there is one).

If you are selling at the event be sure to tick the I will be selling at this event checkbox! If not, you can still add the event (but untick the box). You can also leave a note to buyers about what you will be selling at the event or any other important information.

When you’ve completed the form, click Submit to add your event to the Etsy Local calendar.

Your event will be given a unique webpage URL, like this page for the Toronto Etsy Street Team 1st Annual Christmas Marketplace,  which you can share on all your social media.

Joining an event: Nuts and Bolts

If you wish to add your shop to those listed for an event which has already been entered, all you have to do is find the event and click the Join Event button. You can search events in time and space, using the map to find a pin on the event's location, and/or by selecting the appropriate time range. You can also go directly to the URL which may be linked from your fellow sellers' shops or the event organizers' Etsy profiles.

The details of the event will already have been entered, but you can still leave a note to buyers about what you will be selling at the event or any other important information.

Events you're attending are displayed on your shop’s homepage within the Shop Info box. This option can be turned on and off from your shop's Info & Appearance page. Anyone who follows the links to your upcoming markets will see all of your events and be able to visit the Etsy Local for each one.

Translating Those In-Person Events into Future On-line Sales

Pamper your customers like you would your feline overload favorite cat with this
Reclaimed Wine Crate Pet Bed from DomaineDeDoggie

Check out this Etsy Blog article about how to turn all your events of this busy holiday craft show season and throughout the year into follow-up sales in your shop! Like selling on-line, selling in person involves catching the buyer's eye and expressing yourself and your brand. Advice includes setting up a fabulous booth; you can find inspiration by searching for 'craft show' on sites like flickr or pinterest. Be sure to make a mock-up of your space ahead of time. If you don't have an appropriate table, mark out your area on the floor with masking tape and set up your display to make sure the viewer can see everything you'll have on offer. Use social media - both to promote your own shows, but to engage buyers and encourage them to tag their own photos of your display (with your shop name clearly displayed of course!) Business cards are great, but the digital equivalent can travel further. Note that using while 'Vacation Mode' can simplify any inventory concerns, it can also lower sales, so you'll want to avoid it unless it's really necessary. Get feedback - comments from buyers and visitors can be seen as free market research, worth noting. Consider things which will get buyers (or those almost-buyers) into your Etsy shop including promotional material (like business cards or postcards) and possible special coupon codes (see Class 14 Sales and Coupon Codes). Use what you learn from sales and comments to feature your most popular items, and use their descriptions to optimize your tags, titles, and listing descriptions. Last but not least: take the opportunity to meet and learn from your fellow sellers!

Sometimes shows can be very successful, and sometimes even well-attended shows do not lead to sales that day but you may still capture the imagination of future buyers and make that connection which keeps them coming back to your Etsy shop!



Remember: If you already have a shop, or you open one today, please let us know how to find it! We will be featuring some of our favorite newbie items right here. 

 The Toronto Etsy Street Team loves Newbie shops! You can find some of our favorite listings from talented Newbie sellers, including those featured in this class in our new TEST ♥ Newbies section. Be sure to stop by often to see what's new in this evolving, curated treasury of amazing Newbie finds!