June Events to Plan for in Your shop

         June is upon us ...and with it Summer, Weddings, Graduations, etc.   It is important to plan for upcoming events in your shop... you want to be ready for the shoppers when they come looking for an item. Handmade is a unique gift to give  and usually one of a kind - People love unique items!

                                                             From NewCreationNZ


Here are the themes to prepare for according to the Etsy Finds.... and you will find something for everyone in the Promotional Frenzy team shops:

Our central merchandising themes this month focus on Father’s Day,  graduations, summer,    fashion,   weddings,   and a look ahead to summer festivities. This emphasizes the seasonality of the Northern Hemisphere, but it’s important to remember that winter is approaching in the Southern Hemisphere. Maintaining seasonally appropriate options year-round is good practice for boosting international and overall sales.  

 Themes to Plan for:

Weddings: Wedding season is in full swing; determine how your line of goods could expand into wedding offerings and tag accordingly (if appropriate) to show up in Etsy’s newly launched Weddings experience.

From Bijibijoux - beautiful necklace                                                         

                                          





  

 Father’s Day: To account for shipping deadlines, make sure your line of Father’s Day items take expedited and local options into account. Think in terms of classic gifts, new dads, and don’t forget about gifts for granddad. Popular gift categories include gadgets, phone cases, docking stations, sports gear and accessories, fashion accessories for men, cards, and ways to let dad sit back and relax.

                                    From SymbolicImports - a neat Mens Shaving Mug Soap!

Graduations: Mid-June wraps up the typical season for graduations, especially of the high school variety. Think in terms of keepsake gifts, personalization, milestone achievements, college preparation, and innovative ways to present monetary gifts. Don’t forget about those end-of-the-year gift ideas for teachers, too. 

 Fashion: Summer styles are the main focus. Think in terms of lightweight fabrics, sleeveless and open toe designs. Take into account swim, beachwear and accessories. Take advantage of summer dress styles fit for wedding, party, and graduation season. Tagging Tip: Try adding the term “fashion” to appropriate items to reach a broader shopping audience.

 Summer: June marks the official start to summer. Think in terms of bright summer colors, fashion, grilling, camping, picnics, markets, festivals, outdoor activities and sports, seasonal holidays and long weekends.

                                                  From Dellcovespices - Cocktail rim sugars


Gardening: Consider indoor, outdoor and urban gardens, tools, aprons and gloves, plant markers and signs, containers, vertical solutions, heirloom seeds and composting. With summer’s bounty coming into harvest, also think in terms of canning, food preservation, recipes, and culinary kits.

                                                  From KatesAcres - cute garden terrarium

Birthdays: June’s birthstone is pearl; star signs include Gemini and Cancer (May 21 — June 21: Gemini, June 22 - July 22 )

From jQjewelrydesigns   - Pearl earrings 

These are just a few of the wonderful handmade items you will find from the team for June Trends...

 This article was contributed by team member Mona   from her shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/sewinggranny .   Make sure to connect with her on  Twitter,  Pinterest, and at her blog Mona's Handcrafted Gifts & Quilts.

3 reasons to use social niche marketing

Yup, it's 2012. And by now, everyone knows that developing and maintaining a presence on the big social networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter, is an essential part of engaging with your brand's audience. But, there is also great value in networking on smaller sites that host a niche market. Here are the top three reasons why building your presence on a niche social networking site is a great idea.

Niche network  =   members share you interests
It is a target rich environment. Meaning that the connections you'll make will most likely be with people interested in your product or blog, which will instantly focus your networking efforts. For instance, if you are selling hair accessories, hang out on a hair and beauty forum. You are sure to connect with many people who love to purchase products just like yours

Smaller community size  =  greater potential for your voice to be big

As long as the site's members are active, a smaller membership size is actually better. By participating in group discussions and commenting on the activities of members, you will establish yourself as knowledgeable and engaging within the community. This will draw interest to you and your business.

Profile pages + forum signatures  =  free traffic flow

Every one of these sites is going to give you the opportunity to fill out a profile and include your website links. Just the act of doing that will probably get you some traffic. And, the more quality interaction you have within the community, the more people will visit your profile and click through to your blog or shop.

Whether you are a stay at home mom that blogs or a jewelry maker, rest assured that there is an online community out there just waiting to hear from you. Women who run creative businesses should come join the thriving web forum at The Switchboards. Artists can head over to devianart to network with their peers. Or, if you are into diy/crafts, start chatting it up with other do-it-yourself enthusiasts at curbly or the instructables forum. 

Here is a huge list of niche social networking sites to get you started. Try joining one, and spending 5 or 10 minutes a day interacting with the community. This small time investment could lead to some amazing networking opportunities.


This article was contributed by team member Evey from the upcycled home decor shop nashpop. She writes about her thrifting adventures and upcycled creations at the nashpop blog. Make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

The Winner is: Linda B of LindaB Jewelry Designs

Congratulations to the Winner of our Mother's Day Challenge ...

~

I'm one of the original  Promotional Frenzy team members, before Etsy made changes to the threads and chats, at least over a year ago. Not only am I addicted to chatting with team members, I've been able to learn a great deal about my business and share knowledge that I have in certain areas. 


It's so exciting to win the votes for the Promotional Frenzy team Mother’s Day challenge. I’m grateful to everyone who voted for my necklace. I used Facebook, Twitter, G+, and my blog to ask for votes and it worked! And, I learned how to do a lot of social media from the Promo Frenzy team. 

I’m thankful for the leaders and members of the Promotional Frenzy team for helping me to stretch my creativity, challenging me to create new designs, and for their support and promotion. It’s a terrific Etsy team to be on; one where can share your ups and downs (we have a prayer thread), and I’m addicted to checking in and chatting with these terrific people.

I’ve been designing beaded and gemstone jewelry since around 2003 and my designs have changed substantially from attaching a pendant and a few beads to a cord to wire wrapped swirls and squiggles on and around gemstone pendants. A co-worker (and a client) suggested Etsy to me.  I opened my Etsy shop in Feb 2008, but didn’t do anything with it until April 2008. I met several other helpful people online: Tim Adam of Handmadeology and CrochetGal of the EtsyTwitter Team, who also give guidance to Etsy shop owners. I have an Artfire shop www.lindab142.artfire.com and my own (neglected) website www.LinorStore.com

10 things I’d like you to know:

1. My niche area is Jewish jewelry and wire beaded kippot (headcoverings) for Jewish women. It is such a joy to create a piece for someone’s bar or bat mitzvah or wedding, a lifecycle event.
   
   

 Copper Wire Kippah   

Passover Seder Plate Earrings

2. I got my ears pierced in 2004 so I could wear my earring designs. Before that, it was easier for me to poke myself in the eyes to put in contact lenses than put on an earring post. Also, I prefer fishhook earwires.
3. I am mostly self-taught, but I did take a few classes in beadweaving (not for me), wire wrapping  (love it), and 1 session in making wire beaded kippot, and that’s what I truly love. I’m very excited to go down a new path using these techniques, by adding prom and bridal party jewelry to my shops. Also, I am creating different shapes for kippah designs – ovals, and squares and using different colors of Swarovski crystals, pearls or seed beads. Some of my designs are adapted from beading magazines and suppliers.  I’ve also purchased a few design tutorials.
4. My design elements involve movement and flow.  These are reflected in the 2 pieces that I entered into the Mother’s Day challenge:

a.       Blue Sodalite Wire Wrapped Necklace has the flow of trees grounded (wrapped) to the earth. I have a vision of customizing these necklaces for moms, daughters, and grandmas with a generational tree using the birthstone colors of each family member.  

Blue Sodalite Wire Wrapped Pendant Set  

b.     Yellow Blister Pearl and Jade Necklace - I love the color and the different sizes and shapes of the gemstones. 

Antique Pink Swarovski Crsytal Sterling Silver Necklace and Earrings Set - check out the movement added to the pendant part, a dangling pearl, and the earrings are really about movement.

5. I have a tremor that sometimes makes it difficult to add the final crimp beads to finish a piece of jewelry. Plus, my kitty assistants seem to always jump on the table to help me complete the design. In February 2012, I started having pain in my hands and thought it was carpal tunnel, but it is tennis elbow. Unfortunately, I have to give up my marathon jewelry and kippot designing weekends and pace myself.  And, I have to be online less and rest my arms and hands. 

My Orbit pearl necklace

5. I’ve written a few guides on social media: blogs, FaceBook and press releases and publicity. That reminds me, they need to be updated.  I like to write, too. 
6. I have a Web Design Certificate that I earned by going back to school full time when I was unemployed in 2001. I took 5 courses in 1 semester and attended school 5 days a week, using Fri. to catch up on all my assignments (using a MAC). 
7. My husband is very supportive of my bead and Etsy addictions. We met at the local movie theater where we worked. I was a candy girl; he was an usher.  I moved up to selling tickets in the box office, and he became a floating assistant manager at different movie theaters owned by the same chain. Our theater had a balcony, architectural column on the sides, and a ceiling filled with working twinkling stars. He proposed to me in the balcony during the movie “Cactus Flower.” 
8. When I’m not beading, I’m reading or watching TV. A few of my favorite authors are James Patterson, Stephen King, Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick, Steve Martini, and Nicholas Sparks. TV shows I watch: House, Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, Gray’s Anatomy and Hard Core Pawn. 
9. Tip: Join Etsy teams and Facebook groups to connect with like-minded people. You’ll be rewarded by giving and receiving information and making friends that you may get to meet in person while traveling. I've met several Etsy vendors at local craft shows before. 

Here's where you can find Linda B online: 
www.lindab142.etsy.com
www.lindab142.artfire.com
Web: www.LinorStore.com Blog: linorstorecom.blogspot.com
Facebook Bus: facebook.com/linorstore
Twitter: twitter.com/lindab142
Stumbleupon: stumbleupon.com/stumbler/lindab142/all
G: http://tinyurl.com/3f7ao9l Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24930325@N03/

Mother’s Day Challenge – Vote for your Favorite

Please vote for your favorite. Voting will end on Mother's Day May 13th, Midnight Eastern Time. We will give a blog feature to the winner.  The blog feature will be posted May 18th, contingent upon the winner responding with the information necessary.

To vote, click on the radio button in the left sidebar.

Mother’s Day Card	Skeleton Key	Dragonfly Brooch
Pickling Spice	Crochet Beach Rock	Pink Cocktail Sugar
Cupcake Toppers	Photo Pinback Buttons	Mom’s Day Garden Parker
Cotton Market Bag	Flower Wood Button Necklace	Wine Stopper
Wire Crochet Post Earrings	Vintage Seashell Earrings	Tote Bag
Neon Lime Green Necklace	Sparkly Rose Quartz Earrings	Red Beaded Bracelet
Ivory Pearls Bracelet	Terra Cotta Necklace	Violet Swarovski Crystal Bracelet
Blue Sodalite Wire Wrapped Necklace	Custom Body Fragrance	Blue Orchid Giclee Print
Lavender Fairy Card	Vintage Gold Brooch	Mother’s Day Banner
Lilac Gloves - Handknitted	Candle Holder – Dichronic Glass	Onesie Stickers
Custom Monogram Necklace	Yellow Blister Pearl Necklace	Infinity Scarf
Yellow Purple Turquoise Necklace	Dichronic Glass Bracelet	Teacup Giclee Print
Tangerine Coaster	Mother and Child	Fabric Flower Brooch
Flower Hair Clip - Lavender	Crochet Bowl	Turquoise Mixed Metal Earrings
Pink Scissors Chatelaine	Red Lampwork Bracelet	Pink and Pearl Bracelet