picking your brain...

Re: picking your brain...

• lovethebeach16 member

  December 2010

  If you have the extra time to create things for other people than I say go for it. I think its neat and if I had any spare time, I'd think about opening up an paper store on Etsy because everyone raved about my invites and I had fun designing them. 

  I think the hard part in getting started is people are more hesitant to order if you don't already have a reputation as a good seller. I think thats why Etsy has that undiscovered section for people who either just made a sale or people who are new sellers. Another part that might be difficult is setting it up to receive payments through Paypal. I've read that they tend to make you jump through some hoops before they'll approve you as not just a person receiving money.
  

  Another thing to think about, I don't know whether those Etsy sellers have to register within their states as companies or not. It may vary from state to state, but I'd assume if you are selling something you'd be liable to collect sales tax and then pay a portion of that sales tax back to the state. Or it may be like an independent contractor type thing, you'd only need to report information if you made over $600 in a calendar year. 
  

  
  Married / The Cookaholic Wife
  

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• jedaniel

  December 2010

  I have never done anything like that, but I have a cousin who makes baby decor. She has a facebook and an esty for her stuff. And I think she does pretty good. Everytime she creates something new she post it on her business FB wall and ofcourse it has her etsy name on it. I would do it, what can it hurt!

  Baby Jaxon born 8/18/2012 @ 9:53am, 7lb 2oz!! At 37 weeks 5 days due to Pre-E via C-section.

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• emilyann21

  December 2010

  I say go for it! Getting started will be the hardest but if you put the time/advertisement into it then it'll help. I would definitely do what jedaniel said too about using FB as a way of advertising too. Just link everything to your etsy shop and that way TONS more can see. 

  Let us know if you open it up so we can go look around!! GL!! 

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• mushE member

  

  December 2010

  I've also heard that it's really hard to get started, and you have to really be willing to and have the time to market yourself heavily.  You can see how that happens, that listings get buried quickly.  I hate how sellers tag unrelated things so that the search function isn't great, but it happens all the time. 

  No real guidance other than to think about the time aspect.
  

  

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• Northstar1808 member

  December 2010

  I think you should go for it. It'll be a little extra cash in your pocket and you will have the support of us which will help spread the word a little bit. A girl on my local board has an etsy page and everyone always goes to her if/when they need something. So you should do the same with your local board.

  

  For Sale

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• moleson99 member

  

  December 2010

  I also say do it.  I don't know personally about any of it.  But I'm sure just like any "business" it's hard to get started. 

   While you are building your reputation, could you also post/sell in other places?  Like craigslist or something like that?

  

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• tbearsangel

  December 2010

  Thanks for all the thoughts so far girls. I have been thinking about it for a while, but one thing that is holding me back is the lack of internet access at home. I have pretty much determined that I am going to have to have that before I can get too far into it. living in the boonies doesn't leave too many options for that, so I know that's the first step. I am not sure about marketing myself or selling on other places, except I have a feeling I will get some orders for things like the vinyl decals from friends coming in pretty soon.

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