To Etsy, Or Not To Etsy

[kerravonsen]

Every now and then, I wonder if I should make myself an Etsy store. Usually when people ask me if I do commissions, after reveals have happened on a fan fest. One of the things I ponder when that happens, is shop names. I've gone through a few (I have a list) that turn out to be (a) not available, (b) too similar to something else, even if it is

Comments

[vilakins]

Mythicalinks?

I keep thinking about selling knitted items on Etsy but the freight's a problem as always. I suppose I could offer free freight and price accordingly. There's also the local TradeMe which I should give a go, but they take a commission. I'm not keen on funding that utter bastard Gareth Morgan whose son runs it.

I did set up an Etsy shop a while back but never listed anything. I think I called it Nico Crafts or something like that, but admittedly I never researched the name. Maybe I should think of something snappier.

[kerravonsen]

I suppose I could offer free freight and price accordingly.

You mean add the freight cost to the item cost? Would that work if the postage was different to different countries? Or would you add the potentially most expensive postage cost to the price, so as to cover it for everyone?
I think it's also possible to limit where one will post to. Certainly, there are Etsy shops I can't buy from because they only post to the continental US.

but they take a commission

So does Etsy, but it's something like 3.5% I think.

I'm not keen on funding that utter bastard Gareth Morgan whose son runs it.

Then don't. Don't feel like you should give TradeMe a go if you loathe the people associated with it.

[vilakins]

I've come across free freight items on Etsy, and I do find that attractive, living so far away yet paying the same as anyone else. I could offer discounts for anyone in NZ and Australia - freight to anywhere else is much the same. I think given my location it would make buying more attractive to people elsewhere. I'm not sure how easy that is to set up to be automatic.

TradeMe's commission is twice that. Decision made about them!

Another thing I've considered is using my graphic art designs on Zazzle as it's fairly easy - they do all the work - and I don't have to post anything.

[kerravonsen]

Another thing I've considered is using my graphic art designs on Zazzle as it's fairly easy - they do all the work - and I don't have to post anything.

Now that's a good idea. I've used Zazzle myself for a few designs, not really to make money, but to simply make custom t-shirts for myself. So my storefront is totally crappy because I haven't done anything with it, but that wouldn't be the case with you.

[vilakins]

Nice!

Can you use KatsKorner or a variation on that for your Etsy shop?

[kerravonsen]

Can you use KatsKorner or a variation on that for your Etsy shop?

Well, there are very few (three) Etsy shops with "KatsKorner" in their names... but I'd rather choose something else. Maybe I could change my Zazzle name instead?

(later)
I've changed the Zazzle name, and while I was doing that, I uploaded a banner, so thanks for prompting me to do that!

[vilakins]

I'll have to think up a decent name for my Etsy shop, and if I succeed, will use that for Zazzle too.

Does Zazzle just sell in one's own country? That cuts potential customers down a lot.

[kerravonsen]

Does Zazzle just sell in one's own country? That cuts potential customers down a lot.

I have no idea, I never checked since I was only interested whether they sold in Australia.