The Chix – An Introduction

Opening an internet shop was a difficult thing for me to do. I came up with some pretty good excuses not to open a shop. One of the most powerful excuses was that my shop would fail because I was just one person and no one would ever find me. 

Freshwater Pearl Grape Cluster Pendant
by Tilley Jewels

I didn't know anyone with an internet shop and I was confident that it was impossible to become friends with other shop owners and artisans I met over the internet. I was WRONG!

This is the story of The Chix. The Chix is a very small group of shop owners who have become friends. We listen to each other and we support each other. I bet that only 4 of the 10 know where the name came from. 

Back in January 2010 I met Artisan Originals and Fruits Of the Bloom on twitter. We started hanging out together with a small group of artisans. To make references easier we started referring to ourselves as the Chix. I don’t remember who used the term first, but I decided to open a twitter account using Chix in the handle. 

Stunning Rose Gold Fill Sculpted Swarovski Heart
by Gems, Crystals and Wire

We don’t use twitter as much as we use Facebook these days. Some of the original Chix don’t use Facebook but we found new Chix on Facebook. We decided to keep the group as small as possible so that we can remain close.

The Chix have a few things in common. We all have shops on ArtFire and Facebook pages. We realized that each one of us deals with serious health issues, either our own or a family members.

Wire Wrapped Crystal Pendant Necklace
by DreamBelle Designs

And the best part of all --- I think The Chix are some of the best people I know.

I will be featuring each one of the Chix on my blog in the next few months so that you can meet them and get to know them better.
I am working on a widget to add to my blog with links to The Chix shops on ArtFire.

The Chix:  (these links take you to our Facebook Fan Pages.  Stop by and “Like” us.)
DreamBelle Designs
EyeCandy Chainmaille
Fruits of the Bloom
GemsCrystalsAndWire
Jewelry by Cheryls Purple Cow
Karen Snyder's O. Sebastian
Simply Catherine Heartmade Crafts
Tilleyjewels
Valorie Clifton's Artisan Originals Click here to read more!

The Chix Are On ArtFire Collection/Grand Opening Sale

I curated a collection on ArtFire featuring selections from the “Chix” to coincide with our Grand Opening Sale on ArtFire. **


The Chix shops are:
Artisan Originals
Fruits Of the Bloom
Jewelry by Cheryls Purple Cow
Cheryls Extra Beads

 **  I just forgot to hit the "Publish" button.
Click here to read more!

I Talk About Recycling But…

I try to be conscientious about recycling and reusing anything I can.  It is good for our Earth.  And it saves me money too.  Awareness and Money, my 2 favorite subjects.

Even though I try, every once in a while I realize that I have a DUH! moment.  I was packaging orders for mailing and intended to re-use some bubble envelopes that I received my orders in.  I couldn’t re-use them because the hand-written addresses covered most of the face of the envelope.  On others the mailing labels used were larger than the ones I intended to use.  When I tried to take them off, the face of the envelope came with them.

I have always attached my labels to the outside using the adhesive.  So much for thinking I was helping by re-using envelopes.  Mine can’t be re-used either.

Only one envelope could be re-used.  This one was addressed using a label that had not been attached using its own adhesive.  It was taped around the border.  All I had to do was cut around the edge of the “label” and I had a blank envelope. 

From now on, I will be saving money and being environmentally conscious.  I will print both the mailing and return address on a sheet of printing paper and attach it to the envelope using tape.  Now my envelopes can be re-used too.

This was so obvious that I couldn’t see it.  I would love to hear any little tricks that you employ to be frugal and environmentally conscientious. 

I thank Artisan Originals and Fruits of the Bloom for the use of their pictures.  Please visit their shops using the links I have provided. Click here to read more!

Tutorial: How to Prepare Your Item For Treasuries

Treasuries are a huge promotional tool for Etsians.  There are some shops whose items are featured all the time.  Some shops never have items in a Treasury.  If you are part of the second group, do you know why?  And do you want to know how to become a member of the first group?

Up In the Clouds Earrings By Baily Belle Creations

This series of articles started as a tutorial type blog post but there is just too much information fo a blog post.  Each post in the series will discuss tips that will raise the odds of your item being included in a Treasury.  Most of these tips will also help you make sales because buyers are looking at the same things that a Treasury curator looks at.  I will be using "Awareness" as my theme for examples, but you can substitute any theme that your items fit in and follow the tips using that theme.


Tags Part 1
I make at least 2 Awareness Treasuries a week.  That is over 100 Treasuries a year.  I average about 10 a month.  That means that I need 160 items each month for my Treasuries.  I know there are many Awareness items out there but I don't have time to look through over 5,600,000 items on Etsy to find your item.  So how do I narrow the search to a more acceptable number? TAGS!

One of the most important tips is tagging your items well.  When I narrow the search with the tag "Awareness" will your item be included?  If not, you will probably never be in an Awareness Treasury.  That tag is the most important tag for the Awareness Ribbon items.  That is the tag buyers use when looking for something to purchase and when someone, like me, is looking for items to fill a Treasury. The tag "Ribbon" can encompass items that have nothing to do with Awareness.  So it is not an effective search tag for these purposes.

Purple Pow Wow Bow by Fruit of the Bloom

You need to identify the most important tag that specifically fits your item.  I am not talking about "jewelry" or "bracelet".  Those tags are a given.  All bracelets fit in those tags.  Is there a special category or use that describes your item.  How can it be used as a general tag?

Cobalt and Copper Necklace and Earrings by Artisan Originals

Is your item tagged using the most applicable tags?  There are around 5,500 items tagged with "Awareness".  Sometimes I am looking for a more specific theme.  Under the category Awareness the themes are generally cause or color oriented.  You need to have some of those tags as well.  What are the themes that could apply to your item?  You need to identify them and make sure that you tag for them.

When you tag your items remember to use tags that potential buyers and Treasury curators will be using when they search for your item.  Use a good mix of general and specific tags.

The next topic I will address within the subject of tags is "Colors". Click here to read more!

I have a Delimna - Please Comment

If you read this  blog post I need your help.  I am almost ready to announce a Blog Giveaway Contest.  I am pairing with FruitsotheBloom to give you a great giveaway but I can't decide on which piece to offer.

I will be choosing at least 2 pieces of jewelry from the Awareness Section of my shop. There are 26 different items to choose from. 




 
Please visit the Awareness Jewelry section of my shop and tell me which two Awareness Items you would like to win.  Please leave you choices in the comment section.  I am offering 5 entries in the giveaway to the first six people who leave their vote in the comments of this post.. Click here to read more!