Etsy, Etsy, Etsy.

Etsy has taken over my life! Anyone who has seriously attempted selling on Etsy will know exactly what I mean.

I have a “day job,” but it seems as though every spare minute for the last five months has been spent making jewelry, photographing jewelry, posting new products, marketing, reading Etsy forum threads, re-taking photos, re-working my shop, re-re-taking my photos, etc. etc. etc.

And I’m loving it!

So, what exactly is Etsy, you ask? To quote Etsywiki.com, “Etsy.com is an online marketplace for artists and crafters to sell their works. Officially, it is "Your place to buy and sell all things handmade." Etsy is a venue, not a retailer; it is collection of independent shops, each run by a different artisan. “

What does “Etsy” mean? Good question – if anyone ever finds out, please let me know.

As stated above, Etsy is an online marketplace. On Etsy, one should only find handmade, vintage, or supply items for sale. (Commercial resellers sneak in, a lot, but that is another post.) Each person sets up and maintains his or her own shop on Etsy. It’s sort of like a craft or trade show, only it is online, covers the globe, and is always open.

My shop is www.Sandrandan.etsy.com. Funny name, I know. I first set up an Etsy account back in 2007 to buy some items, and then didn’t realize that this would be my shop name when I decided to start selling in January 2009. That’s okay though, Dan and I are partners, so this name is appropriate.

I sell jewelry here, and Dan sells clay creatures, and very cute ones at that. Anyone meeting my somewhat burly, bearded, Harley-riding husband for the first time would never guess that he could easily be crowned “The King of Cute.” (OK, he’s going to kill me for that. lol)

This blog will mostly be about my experiences on Etsy, although other ramblings will probably creep in here and there. I especially want to highlight some of the amazing artists that sell on Etsy.

If you’ve never been to Etsy.com, I encourage you to do so. Your bank balance will never be the same.