Listing Tools

 So as you know if you have been following my blog (sorry for the delay between posts bad sprained wrist kept me from doing much of anything for about a month) I am now selling vintage as well as handcrafts online.  I am utilizing Etsy, Poshmark, Ebay, Bonanza, Mecari, and have just opened a Shopify store.

To make it easier I have started using List Perfectly to help in cross posting my listings to the different platforms.  I love this program.  I create all my listings in List Perfectly then list them to the platforms I want to list them to with the exception of Bonanza.  Bonanza is not yet supported my List Perfectly, but there are several other platforms that are like Depop and Facebook Marketplace and Instagram among others.  I think there are a total of 10 they support.  I do have a referral link for List Perfectly.  They have three levels to chose from with more bells and whistles the higher the level.  If you use my referral I get a few pennies, and you get 30% off your first months fees.  List perfectly is a month to month platform so you can cancel at any time.  Use my referral link  listperfectly  or use the code thesassycrafter at check out.

I tried Worthpoint, but after paying for a subscription and using it about 3 months they stopped letting me see any of the items I was looking for, and started trying to get me to sign up for an additional subscription to the site.  They have a subscription that shows values of items sold, as well as a different subscription that allows you to look up marks on items in order to identify them.  Both are over $200 a year, so not worth it in my opinion.  Especially when they push you to sign up for both even if you only want one.  

I am trying Photo Room, both through the app and on the desktop.  So far it is working okay.  I need to play around with it a little more before I can make a recommendation.

For shipping I am using Pirate Ship.  LOVE this program.  Nice discounts, integrates nicely with Etsy,  customer service is great.  I have the free version right now, but if things pick up the way I hope I will be doing the paid version at some point.  I will keep you posted.

I am still researching thermal printers.  Have it down to about 3 or 4 brands.  Still going over the pros and cons of these, so will have to get back to you on that as well.

I am getting bubble wrap, tissue paper, boxes, and tape off Amazon right now.  I am researching other vendors to see if I can get better deals for small quantities and may have it narrowed down soon.  Again, I will let you know.

Bonanza integrates with Ebay nicely.  I am using the free version, and have had a couple of sales on there already.  Basically you set it up so your fixed priced items on Ebay are automatically pulled into your storefront on Bonanza.  I then go in to the seller dashboard and edit items, jus to make sure everything is listed for sale.  Sometimes you have to tweak a few things before hitting the list button.  I also like to go in at least once a week and upload my listings to google.  Bonanza is great about letting you know if something doesn't get listed to google and why, so you can go in and fix the  problem.

More updates coming.  In the meantime here is a cute picture for your enjoyment.

PIVOTING

 Time to Pivot

So I am deciding where to host a website, or if I want to stay with Etsy, Ebay, of Bonanza.  While I am deciding, I will be using the blog as my website.  I plan to list items I have for sale with a link to the platform on which they are available.  I will also be doing fewer in person shows this year as opposed to what I was doing in the past.  My goal is to move most of my sales online, do a few in person events just to keep a finger on the pulse of what is selling or not selling, so I can remain relevant with my merchandise.  I promise to do much better with my blogging as opposed to what I was doing in the past.  This is my year to pivot and actually be able to act upon what needs to be done.  Hope you want to come along with  me on this ride.

Faux Fern

Busy Season

So this is the busy season for me.  I have several Craft Shows coming up between now and December 14th.  So I will be MIA for a while.  I am currently working on replacing stock from a very successful farmers market last weekend.  This is a free market hosted once a month by the local Tractor Supply Store.  I almost didn't go, but decided I could use the fresh air.  I only took a small amount of stock, but what I did take was flying off the tables.  Luckily I had more at home for the next show coming up this weekend in Farmersville, but I still want to replace some of the toys.  Luckily they are are quickly made, unlike a blanket or garment which can take a few days or even weeks to create. 

I did find a new pattern for a small dragon.  Years ago, when my youngest niece and nephew were little I made 2 large dragons for them as Christmas presents and they were a big hit.  They also took a couple of weeks to make, because there were a few errors in the written pattern that I had to figure out (2 single chains in each of 6 sc chains around does not equal 15 no matter what math you use).  These take only an hour or so to make and use up very little yarn (just under a 388 yards).  If I can remember to do so, I will take a picture of some of the toys I make this weekend at the show, and post it, along with the links where you can find the patterns.

So, back to work for me.  Will try to catch up even if its just to say a quick hi/bye next week sometime.

First Fall Craft Show of the Season

So the first craft show of the fall season has come and gone.  Not the best, but not the worst show I have ever done.  I actually did better than expected.  As always my jellyfish, and seahorse plushies were among my best sellers.  The mini pumpkins (these were a first time making them craft for me) flew off the shelf.  Had requests for other veggies and fruits, so those will be on my to do list for the next show coming up in October.  Sold several of the do-rag headbands I make and sell  (the pattern is available here).  I will definitely be making more of those. 

Lots of compliments on the few hats and scarfs I took.  I did not expect to sell any of these and took them only to get the responses as to what people thought of them.  I did get a couple of baby blanket orders so those need to be completed in the next week or so. 

And just for those who say they can't do a craft show because they don't have room in their vehicle for tables, displays, canopies, and finished crafts, I have a small 4-door Hyundai Elantra.  granted my back seats do lay down (either right, or left, or both at the same time as needed),  but the pictures below are of my packed car, and my booth set up on the day of the sale.  So don't say never.  Just practice loading your car,  and if you can get the plastic crates that Walmart and Target sell this time of year for back to school/college,  pack your merchandise in them, and use the empty crates to display merchandise on or in. 

                                            booth after set up

                                          view of back seat of car

                                          view from front of packed car

                                          view from back of packed car.

So even if you have a small vehicle you can still do craft shows.   The things I took were 5 small 20 inch x 40 inch folding tables (they fold in half, and the legs extend), a 10 x 10 canopy, a 6 foot ladder shelf (purchased at Tuesday Mornings and painted with a coral color stain), a folding metal table type shelf (purchased at Tuesday Mornings)  a banner (purchased from vista print, and framed in a cheap plastic poster frame purchased at Jo Ann's, and embellished with patterned duct tape from Dollar Tree), 12 crates of product, 1 crate of bags, tape, tissue paper, price stickers,) A small ice chest with water and snacks, a folding wood laundry rack (purchased at an antique show years ago), 8 mannequin heads (I look for them at yard sales and swap meets because they are cheaper there than buying new),  and some cheap 48 inch curtain rods and large 3 - 4 inch S-hooks (I got the curtain rods at Walmart, but you can probably get them cheaper at thrift shops and the S-hooks I got at Home Depot),  and a folding plant stand the kind that folds out with 2 stands on each end that stand from 8 - 12 inches tall with one in the center that stands about 18 inches to 24 inches tall (for a total of 5)  (I set my mannequin heads on these with one sitting on the table just in front of the plant stand.) And a garment rack that is quick and easy to put together (also purchased at Walmart)

There are some good you tube videos on setting up spaces and thinking outside the box as far as displays go.

I hope to check in later this week or next to give you a preview of some of the items I am making for the next show.

Its Been a While

Lots of things going on lately.  I do have some updates which I will list below.  I am getting ready for a busy craft show season.  I have 8 shows between now and mid December.  I am also getting into the design end of things, which if things go the way I hope, means I can ease up on the number of craft/vintage sales I do each year. 

I am working on a hat and scarf set pattern.  I hope to have it finished and beta tested sometime in the next two or three weeks.  With a publication date set sometime before Christmas.  My goal is to get at least 4 new patterns written, tested, and published on either Ravelry, Etsy, or Craftsy before July 2019. 

I have already etched out at least 8 different designs I want to work on.  Just have to figure out the right pattern stitches to use.

My current pattern is a cow I named Sticks and Stones  I have it listed on Ravelry  Etsy and Craftsy

Now on to updates.  So my digital scale battery is dead, and I keep forgetting to buy a new one, so no weight loss updates today.  But I have met and exceeded my miles walked goal by more than 16 miles (I will keep walking each week though, as I find I feel much better when I walk than I do when I don't)  I have only887034 steps left to take.  I am actually trying to increase the number of steps I take each day.  If I can up the amount by a 200 or so I am sure I will meet my goal steps wise by the end of December. 

Thats it for now.  I will do my best to post more frequently in the future.

Work in Progress

I am in the process of getting the kinks worked out of a new pattern.  It is for a hooded cowl.  Here is a picture of the finished product 

Writing the patterns can be problematic for me because I learned to crochet by watching my Granny Blanch, actually reading patterns didn't come until almost 40 years later.  My Granny tended to call the stitches the short stitch, the tall stitch, etc.  She could look at a pattern, and recreate it.  Not sure if she ever learned to read a pattern, but boy did she make some pretty things in her life.

Anyway as soon as I get the kinks worked out the pattern will be listed on etsy.  Finished products will be available on both etsy and bonanza as I get time to make them. 

New Blog, New Start

After a three year hiatus from blogging for my online craft business I decided to scrap the old blog and start new.  Especially since I have decided to take the business in a new direction.  I will still me concentrating on finished crocheted items, but I plan to add my own patterns, as well as other finished craft items, and vintage craft supplies and patterns to my shops.  Yes shops.  I have one on etsy :  EcoDeco and one on Bonanza:  The Sassy Crafter.

After a great deal of crunching numbers, and taking a couple of years off after my Mothers death to lung cancer, I am ready to jump back into the business of crafting with both feet.  I have started slow, with just a few things listed on both sites at this time.  That will change as the days go by.  I hope to have two, fully stocked shops by the end of July.

Along with restarting my business.  I am restarting myself.  I started a diet last year in July when I topped the scale at 247 pounds.  Way too much weight for a 5 foot small boned woman to carry.  I have lost down to 213 pounds just by making better choices in what I eat and walking at least half to one mile daily.  My goal is to be down to 110 - 120 by the end of 2018.

I will be adding bells and whistles to this blog as I go along,  For now its just a bare bones, plain jane undertaking.