Today I’ve got a fantastic guest post for you from my friend and fellow Aussie Etsy seller Cath of My Bearded Pigeon . She has an amazing Etsy success story – hitting over 1,000 sales in her first year – but that was on her second time round! Find out the principles she followed to reach that success in today’s post… Hello everyone, and thank you for having me Jess. Those of you who visit my blog chunky chooky may be familiar with what I have to say about Etsy. I am always happy to help people with their Etsy shops as I had lots of help when I started my first shop on Etsy in March 2008. Like many of you I found the creative juices started to flow after I had a baby. I was looking for toys for my little that I liked and I couldn’t find anything that wasn’t hideously expensive and made overseas so to cut a very long story short I started sewing and one step lead to another and I opened chunkychooky on Etsy. I made these…… Sales were slow at first of course but as I researched and read and tweaked and re-took photos again and again and I spent hours in the Etsy forums watching and learning and reading everything I could get my hands on and I eventually starting to see a few sales. More importantly I learnt a lot and made a lot of mistakes… Fast forward two years and I decide to launch  My Bearded Pigeon . So it was December 2010, I had this great idea and have found a way to make it work, but this time I knew so much more, this time I was going to be far more organized and this time I knew where to focus my energy. So in the spirit of what Etsy is all about – sharing and community – I thought I would share some of what I have learnt since I started selling on Etsy. Many people who have bought from me have returned again and again and told their friends. So here is by no means a comprehensive list but a good start… DO Answer ‘convos’ politely and promptly , I think it is great to add a bit of humour be yourself … even if it is the tenth person that week asking if you would like to giveaway a cushion on their blog. You can say “No thank you” nicely. This includes being polite even when people ask you questions you have answered numerous times in your policies, listings and shop intro. For example “can I get the cushion without the insert?” I probably get asked this at least once a week despite it saying on every listing that they come without the insert. DO Say thank you when someone orders something from your shop . As soon as I get an order I respond with a thank you and let them know when I plan to post – usually within a couple of days. I respond to the email from Paypal as people new to Etsy may not check Etsy convos. I find it quite bad manners when people do not acknowledge your order. I am shocked at how often I get no response when I buy something. DO Be an active team member , I am in quite a few teams and I try to participate when I can, but of course I am not perfect and cannot participate in everything. DO Always have your shop looking tip top!  You never know when you will be featured in an Etsy finds email or on the front page or maybe even on a popular blog. So if people are coming for the first time it may be the difference of them giving you a heart and returning later or not. DO Always have high res images ready  (if you load pictures onto flickr that will help as you can download any sizes) for magazine editors or bloggers who may be interested in featuring you. DO Remember the customer is almost always usually mostly sometimes right! DO Follow Etsy’s rules. DO price accordingly.  Include Etsy fees, Paypal fees, packaging and stationary, plus the time it takes to list the item, take photos etc, package it all up, take it to the post office plus the actual making of the item, material costs, time taken to get these materials, time taken to actually make it… what are you prepared to work for? Be realistic. Don’t worry so much about what other people are selling items in your category for. What do you need to make a profit? To make it worthwhile for you? I see people selling cushions for $12 and wonder how they can be making any money at all. DO think about how to market your product . What makes it unique? Why would someone buy it? When people buy from you what are they buying? For example when someone buys a cushion from me they are buying a souvenir. They are buying the memory of a lovely holiday, the place they went on their honeymoon, the town they grew up in, the place they met their partner. They are buying something eco friendly, so I make sure I tell them this. They are buying something unique they cannot get anywhere else in the world – (I get the fabric printed myself) so I tell them that. This is fabric no one else has, you cannot buy it online – this is what I am selling (and this is why they are priced as they are) explain to them why they want to buy it and why they should buy it. DO look at your product critically . Is it original? do people get excited when they see it? Is it unique? Can you get it anywhere else? Does it appeal to a wide range of people? I am lucky that my products appeal to women and men and people also buy them for kids too – know who you are selling too and market accordingly. DO offer a discount for customers who buy several items . I have had many people buy over 5 cushions from me, in some instances 10+. Reward their loyalty with free postage and/or a % discount. You can make your own coupons on Etsy and people love a discount. DO have postage listed to lots of different places, and make sure it is accurate . Do not make money out of postage, put your prices up if you need to. There is nothing worse than receiving something that cost you $10 in postage to have it say $2.20 on the envelope. Take the items to the post office and get them weighed. Do have all your shop policies filled out . How long will you reserve items for? What about returns? what about if an item doesn’t show up? What are the postage times? DO check your convos regularly . I have heard people say “I have a life I don’t want to be chained to the computer all day.” You don’t have to be, but you do have to check your emails at least 2 times a day I think. You have to allow for time differences. I still have most of my traffic from the US so I need to be up early answering convos and emails and also checking in again at night for responses or new convos. I think it is a huge part of an online business to be able to respond to people quickly. DO take a really good look at your shop . Look at it from a customers perspective. Does it look neat and tidy with all the sections filled out and all the photos looking nice? Really, does it? Is it full of lots of items so you show up in searches a lot. Are you items in sections so people can easily find what they want? have you used every tag for every item? DO BRAND EVERYTHING : when someone buys a cushion this is what they get: There will be no confusion as it to where it came from, so people can tell their friends about you too. Put your logo on shop name on everything! DO have your shop announcement filled out:  it doesn’t have to be a huge amount of writing just a little bit about the products, same with your profile, just a little bio about yourself, why you started making what you make, what materials you use. DO have lots of detail in your listings and your item title.  Who would this be a good present for? On what occasion would you buy it for someone? How can it be used? How is it packaged – say if you are selling artwork people want to know it is going to arrive safely. How big is it? Put the size in cms and inches. It drives me mental how many people put a coin next to the item to show size? how would I know how big a coin from another country is? Are all the tags filled out – every single one? DO have a good read and think about Etsy ads and about renewing?  The thing with renewing is you need to have a bit of a budget in mind and think about when peak times are for you. I seem to get a lot of sales on Thursday and Friday night Australia times – so I renew a lot then. I seem to get less sales and traffic on the weekend so I don’t renew as much. Maybe invest in some Etsy ads? See how it works for you after a week or so… Now, for the flipside… DON’T Tell the customer that you think something is a bad idea.  For example I contacted a necklace seller, and when I asked if I could have the chain longer I was told ” the chain is long enough”. Long enough for whom I thought? I have had people suggest things to me that I think are not great ideas but I am polite and talk my way around it. DON’T Spam your customers … don’t send them loads for convos/emails one to say you received the order and have posted it is suffice. DON’T Feel like you need to have a facebook, twitter, blog, and instagram account before you can sell anything.  All of these things can be very useful but they do take a bit of time to get the hang of and can be done as you go along. DON’T Put a bad photo on Etsy, you may be tempted to quickly list something but it may be the difference between a heart and a future sale or nothing . Are you photos looking tip top – with the help of some free photo editing like snapseed? Just changing the colour contrast and brightness will make a huge difference you want your pictures to really pop off the page. I use a white background for everything and I don’t put my products in a styled way. For example having the cushions on a chair etc but others swear by this so you will have to decide what works best for you. DON’T Leave bad feedback without discussing it with the shop owner first . Be reasonable, this is someone’s business. If someone does leave you bad feedback you can use the Etsy kiss and make up feature. I have used it when someone left bad feedback because an item had not arrived – in a week from Australia to Brazil! I politely explained how huge bad feedback was for me and my business and she was happy to change it using the kiss and make up feature. DON’T COPY!!  I see people blatantly copying the work of sellers who do really well – orginal is best. Always. And people will know you have copied and think that is not very good. DON’T obsess about the number of sales.  Yes there are shops that have sold 10 000 items +++ but why worry about them? You cannot compare your shop with other shops that sell different products to yours, so don’t. Most of all have fun!  Working at home running an online business can be very difficult. Being part of a blogging community or other online groups does offer great support for you as it can feel overwhelming at times and you can feel quite isolated. Don’t stay on the computer all day, step way for large periods and stop playing with your phone – it will do you the world of good. Credit to author, original article here .

I’ve been a Glowforge owner for 4+ years and using laser cutters for 10+. These are my top 5 tips for new Glowforge users. Tip #1: Know your materials: There are tons of materials you can cut on your Glowforge, and plenty you can’t. Know your materials and if you’re not sure if something can/should be cut on a laser - just don’t cut it. You CAN cut: .125 (1/8”) Plywood : Speed: 180, Power: Full .20 (1/4”) Plywood:  Link Speed: 150, Power: Full .125 (1/8”) Acrylic:  Proofgrade settings for thin acrylic .25 (1/4”) Acrylic:  Proofgrade settings for thick acrylic .08 (1/16”) Acrylic: Speed: 200, Power: 100 . 06 Wood : Speed: 180, Power: 100 Chipboard Cardstock Paper Acrylic Felt Untanned/Veg Tanned leathers Glowforge Proofgrade Materials   You CANNOT cut: Chromium dyed leather PVC Foam HDPE Plastic-based Faux/Vegan Leather Tip #2: Masking. Lasers cut by burning away material. Because of this - burn marks are expected. Flashback, flare, back flash, etc. is the result of your laser hitting the metal crumb tray below your material and sparking. This can be a frustrating cause for excessive burn marks on your material. To prevent this, coat both sides of your material in paper-masking. The paper masking can be peeled away after cutting leaving your material smooth and unmarked. Purchase 12” Masking here Tip #3: Don’t Trust the camera . Glowforge  is one of the few laser brands that have a camera embedded in the lid. This is a huge step up from other brands which require math and guesswork to align your design. Still, the camera isn’t perfect. To make sure that you’re project will land on the material follow these guidelines: For small pieces of material 6” x 6” or smaller, align the material in the center of the bed directly under the camera. The camera is most accurate in this area. For large sheets of material 12” x 20” or similar, align material to the bottom right of the crumb tray where the metal meets the plastic. This is outside of the “laserable space” within the Glowforge  and you are most likely to have your project stay within the boundayr of your material if using this alignment. Leave yourself 1/4” or more of material around the outside of your design to account for error. Always use the “Set Focus” feature before printing. Simply click “Set Focus” on the top right of the workspace, and then select the center of your artwork as the focus point. Tip #4: Double Check your settings. Even when using Proofgrade materials, it’s important to double check your settings before hitting print. You want to ensure everything is cutting the way you intended. When you upload a design, set linework to varying colors depending on what type of cut/score you would like to use. Glowforge can recognize almost any line color, the important thing is making sure lines you intend to be CUT are a different color than lines you intend to be scored. Aside from Power and speed settings - you also want to make sure you are establishing an accurate focus height. Proofgrade materials do this automatically. Non proofgrade materials should be measured using a digital caliper. In the material height into the “use uncertified materials” dropdown at the top left of your workspace. Speed (Slower to cut through thicker or more dense materials) Power (Higher power to cut through thicker or more dense materials) Focus Height (always accurate/true to the actual measurement of the material Use a Digital Caliper  to verify the thickness of your material. Tip #5: Never leave your machine unattended.  It’s unlikely that a fire will start, but it happens. I know from experience. Stay nearby while your machine is running so that you can jump to action if needed. Credit to author, original article here .

I recently added the xTool M1 , equipped with a 10W diode laser, to my craft room. This versatile machine combines laser engraving and vinyl cutting technologies, marking xTool's inaugural foray into dual-function craft machines. Its compact design makes it an ideal choice for a home craft room, addressing the issue of laser machines being too large and costly for hobbyists like myself. With the xTool M1 , I've been able to cut and engrave items I never thought possible in my craft space. Watch my xTool M1 Review on YouTube  for more details about the machine. I've been thoroughly impressed with the machine's cutting capabilities. Crafting 3D signs and earrings from wood has become a joy. Additionally, I've utilized the engraving feature to personalize my screen printing squeegee handles and apply my logo to Yeti and Simple Modern tumblers. And this is just the beginning – the xTool M1 laser opens up a plethora of project possibilities. For a comprehensive list of materials it can handle, please refer to the this xTool page . Cutting Acrylic Sheets with the xTool M1 10W Laser I was very eager to experiment with cutting acrylic sheets using the M1 laser. While a diode laser can effectively cut some acrylics, it's important to note certain color limitations. Clear or transparent acrylic colors do not work with a diode laser, as its light passes through the material without cutting it. This limitation can also impact its effectiveness with certain opaque colors. I couldn't find an exhaustive list of compatible colors, so I decided to conduct my own tests. During these tests, I focused on adjusting three key settings: power (%), speed (mm/s), and the number of passes. After extensive trials involving 22 different colors, brands, and thicknesses, it became apparent that each combination of brand and color produced different results, potentially explaining the online confusion regarding which colors actually work. Credit to author, original article here .

Craftcrylic is the #1 online craft store serving customers nationwide. Shop high-quality acrylic and cardstock. Fast shipping, and hassle-free returns. SHIPPING & RETURNS Last Updated: July 8, 2024 Shipping Policy At Craftcrylic, we understand that timely delivery is a crucial part of your crafting experience. We strive to deliver your orders as quickly as possible while ensuring that they are carefully packaged to avoid any damage during transit. We offer FREE shipping on orders of $100 or more for orders shipping to the lower 48 states. To qualify for free shipping your order must be the free shipping amount or more before taxes and after discounts are applied. For orders under $100, we calculate shipping based on your order weight and delivery address. Our preferred shipping courier is USPS. Same day shipping is available for orders placed before 3pm (Monday-Friday). Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays are handled on the Monday or the next business day (Business days exclude Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays). Delayed or Lost Orders While our team works hard to ensure all orders go out on time, we cannot take responsibility for delays caused by the courier. USPS does not guarantee Priority Mail estimated delivery dates. We are unable to dispatch a replacement until a shipping claim has been opened and the package has been declared lost by the shipping courier. If you believe your package is lost, please e-mail info@craftcrylic.com to start the claim with the shipping courier. Make sure to include your order number in your e-mail. Orders to Canada For orders outside the U.S. shipping is calculated based on your address and order. Please note that any assessed duties or local taxes are not included in this rate and are the responsibility of the receiver. Damages, Issues and Cancellations Please inspect your order immediately. If there are ary issues or you notice any damages upon receiving the package, please contact us at: info@craftcrylic.com within 3 business days, so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right. In your e-mail, please include your name, order number, and the following pictures: Shipping Info Front/Back of package Inside of package Damaged contents If you wish to cancel your order, please e-mail us at: info@craftcrylic.com with your name and order number. Please note, not all cancelation requests can be honored, as our team works hard to ensure orders are shipped the same business day. We do charge a 3% fee for cancellations to account for the credit card processing fees as we are not refunded on these orders. If your order is already fulfilled we reserve the right to charge a 10% restocking fee. FIND YOUR NEXT COLOR! Looking for the best craft products? Shop our wide range of acrylic and cardstock. Don't forget custom laser cutting . Got questions? Get the answers here . SHOP ALL PRODUCTS

Craftcrylic is the #1 online craft store serving customers nationwide. Shop high-quality acrylic and cardstock. Fast shipping, and hassle-free returns. REFUND POLICY Last Updated: July 8, 2024 All sales are final. We accept returns for refund or exchange, for items damaged in transit. Refunds and Exchanges To be eligible for a refund or exchange, you must first contact us within 7 days of receiving the item(s) to alert us of the damage. Return the damaged item to us. Upon receipt of the damaged item we will ship out a replacement, if available. If a replacement is not available we will refund the full purchase price of your item. To complete your return, we require a receipt or proof of purchase (Order#). Refunds (if applicable) Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund. If you are approved, then your replacement or refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card, original method of payment, within 10 business days. Exchanges (if applicable) We only replace items if they are damaged. If you need to exchange it for the same item, contact us and return your item to us. Lost or Stolen Packages Craftcrylic is not responsible for lost or stolen packages confirmed to be delivered to the address entered for an order. Upon inquiry, Craftcrylic will confirm delivery to the address provided, date of delivery, tracking information and shipping carrier information for the customer to investigate. FIND YOUR NEXT COLOR! Looking for the best craft products? Shop our wide range of acrylic and cardstock. Don't forget custom laser cutting . Got questions? Get the answers here . SHOP ALL PRODUCTS

Craftcrylic is the #1 online craft store serving customers nationwide. Shop high-quality acrylic and cardstock. Fast shipping, and hassle-free returns. ACRYLIC BY STYLE NEED LASER CUTTING? FILTER BY Style All MATTE/GLOSS METALLIC FULL GLITTER PASTEL MARBLE BASICS FLAKES SHIMMER HAZE PEARLS CONFETTI MIRROR JELLY BUNDLES NEON GLITTERS SUBLIMATION DIODE FRIENDLY SWIRLS GLOW IN THE DARK GLITTER DUALS SORT BY BEST SELLER Quick View SILVER GLITTER DUAL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax BEST SELLER Quick View RED GLITTER DUAL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax BEST SELLER Quick View GOLD GLITTER DUAL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax BEST SELLER Quick View BLUE GLITTER DUAL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax BEST SELLER Quick View PINK GLITTER DUAL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax BEST SELLER Quick View WHITE GLITTER PEARL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax BEST SELLER Quick View PURPLE GLITTER PEARL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax BEST SELLER Quick View PINK GLITTER PEARL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View CIRCUS FLAKE (CHUNKY) Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View PURPLE SWIRL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View FAWN Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View CREAM Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View PLASTER Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View GLOW IN THE DARK GREEN Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View GLOW IN THE DARK BLUE Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View GLOW IN THE DARK YELLOW Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View GLOW IN THE DARK PINK Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View PEACOCK Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View UNICORN CONFETTI Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View DISCO CONFETTI Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View PINK GALAXY Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View BLUE GALAXY Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View ORANGE PINK FLAKE Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View SILVER TEAL FLAKE Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax LOAD MORE HOME / ACRYLIC BY STYLE / SHOP BY COLOR BEST SELLER Quick View SILVER GLITTER DUAL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax BEST SELLER Quick View RED GLITTER DUAL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax BEST SELLER Quick View GOLD GLITTER DUAL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax BEST SELLER Quick View BLUE GLITTER DUAL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax BEST SELLER Quick View PINK GLITTER DUAL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax BEST SELLER Quick View WHITE GLITTER PEARL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax BEST SELLER Quick View PURPLE GLITTER PEARL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax BEST SELLER Quick View PINK GLITTER PEARL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View CIRCUS FLAKE (CHUNKY) Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View PURPLE SWIRL Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View FAWN Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View CREAM Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View PLASTER Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View GLOW IN THE DARK GREEN Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View GLOW IN THE DARK BLUE Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View GLOW IN THE DARK YELLOW Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View GLOW IN THE DARK PINK Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View PEACOCK Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View UNICORN CONFETTI Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View DISCO CONFETTI Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View PINK GALAXY Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View BLUE GALAXY Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View ORANGE PINK FLAKE Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View SILVER TEAL FLAKE Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View DARK GREY Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View NAVY Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View RUST Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View STEEL BLUE Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View SAGE Price $1.50 Excluding Sales Tax NEW ARRIVAL Quick View GLITTER CLEAR SUBLIMATION Price $1.50 Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Excluding Sales Tax