Christmas in July - BBA Team Challenge - July 2014

 Ho! Ho! Ho!

Merry Christmas (in July)!

 

Each month the Blogging Business Artisans Team poses a challenge to its members.  And this month the challenge came from – moi!   And so, without further ado, here’s the challenge:

 

For the past two years, a bigger than expected Etsy holiday rush has caught me off guard and scrambling to keep up. So this year, I challenge myself and my BBA Teammates to start preparing earlier! Share a new item you plan to make for the holidays, a holiday promotion you are considering (or insights from a CIJ promo you've tried in the past), product packaging or gift wrapping ideas, shipping shortcuts, organizational tricks for managing the holiday rush -- OR just make a present for yourself or a friend that would also be a great holiday gift idea.

The official Christmas in July (CIJ) promotion period on Etsy (July 10-20, 2014) is nearly over.  And although sales have been quite brisk this month in my little shop, Pasque Flower Creations, only ONE customer used the Coupon Code CIJ20PCT to get 20% off the order as part of that CIJ promo.

Perhaps I had some spillover from the broader Etsy CIJ campaign, but my own CIJ marketing efforts were clearly a near fail: D-.

Now comes the prolonged season of preparation for the holidays – beginning with back-to-school promotions, Fall craft fairs, and Halloween, followed by Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday – and then the ultramarathon mad dash through December to Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.  Whew!!  I’m getting tired just thinking about it!!

So – what am I going to do this holiday season to avoid the frantic rush and frazzled nerves of the past two holiday seasons on Etsy?

Well, for starters, I’m adopting Etsy’s 12-Step Program  (no, not THAT kind of 12-step program), published by Katy Svehaug in the Etsy Seller Handbook on July 17, 2014.  It’s called 12 Ways to Get a Jumpstart on the Holidays.  Here’s the link.     It’s full of helpful advice and links to other Etsy blog posts.

Just like those other 12-Step programs, the Jumpstart asks Etsy sellers to take it one day at a time.

Day 1:    Establish your expectations for the season.  Set SMART goals.

Day 2:    Brighten your branding.

Day 3:    Check the trend forecasts.

Day 4:    Develop a marketing plan. 

Day 5:    Make things personal.

Day 6:    Add more listings.

Day 7:    Appeal to practical needs. 

Day 8:    Set a scene. 

Day 9:    Tighten up your tags.

Day 10: Stock your shipping station.

Day 11: Sign up for a craft fair.

Day 12: Pitch your potential.  (Maybe it’s time to work on that Media Kit?)

To keep this post from becoming unreadably long and rambling, I’ll focus on my Day 1 Goals, but I encourage you to read the entire Etsy Seller Handbook post and “walk the walk”  through all 12 steps.

The Day 1 goals must be SMART – that’s an acronym for:

                Specific

                Measurable

                Attainable

                Relevant

                Time-Bound

Here are my 2014 Holiday Season SMART Goals:

1.      SALES: I will hit 1,000 Etsy sales by December 31, 2014.

2.      EFFORT:  I will sew at least 20 hours per week from Aug. 15 – Nov. 15.

3.      LISTINGS: I will have 150 listings in my Pasque Flower Creations Etsy shop by November 15, 2014.

4.      LIMIT SOCIAL MEDIA:  I will limit social media and team time to no more than 60 minutes per day from August 15 – December 20, 2014, to allow more time to MAKE and MARKET – and maybe even get some SLEEP!

5.      MARKETING: I will post at least 3 times per week on my shop Facebook page from August 15 – November 15, and I will offer a special coupon code from Black Friday through Cyber Monday for those who read my Facebook posts.

6.      OFFER NEW PRODUCTS: I will monetize my scraps by developing new products including at least:

8 doll quilts

12 zipper pouches (some personalized)

3 twined rag rugs

12 eyeglass cases (some personalized)

50 greeting cards made using fabric scraps (sneak peek below – scroll down)--and

4 calling birds, 3 French hens, 2 turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. (Only kidding on that one – just trying to get into the holiday spirit!)

7.      REPLENISH MY STOCK OF IMPULSE BUY ITEMS FOR FALL CRAFT FAIRS:  I will participate in 3 Fall craft fairs, wear my “Ask Me About My Etsy Shop Button” at all 3 shows, and be well-stocked with kid-friendly, inexpensive impulse buy items and stocking stuffers at all 3 shows.

8.      EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE:  Shipments will be prompt, prettily-packaged, and promote my brand.

 

Did you catch the sequence?  The first letter of the goals = SELL MORE!

Here’s the sneak peek of my new greeting cards I promised. 

 

The words on the cards are made from fabric scraps fused to cardstock.  I learned the fusing technique in a tutorial by Lisa and Sarah posted on A Spoonful of Sugar Designs blog. 

I’ll test market them at the craft fairs this Fall.  Goodness knows I have enough scraps to make hundreds, if need be! 

I’m also making progress on using scraps to make twined rag rugs.  Here is my practice rug - a WIP:

And here is a closeup:

The technique is a little like braiding sideways.  The warp is completely encircled by two strips of 2-inch (5 cm) fabric, so the rug will be fairly thick and durable.  The strips are hand folded to resemble single-fold bias tape, but the strips are torn on the straight of grain.  Granddaughter Erin and I had a "let 'er rip" get-together to create the balls of strips you see in the photo of the loom.  (I may use my little bias tape maker gadget for my next rug.  I think it would save time in the long run, and it would contain any ravel-y edges from the start.)

So - -I am PSYCHED to get a jumpstart on the holidays!  Are you ready to join me in this excellent adventure?

TTFN
LeAnn