Boy, oh, boy it has been a crazy busy week. Between craft fairs, shows, and custom orders, time has just been shooting by! however, it is once again Friday, and that means time for me to introduce you to a fabulous Etsy seller you may or may not have discovered yet. I’m excited to showcase a vintage seller this time around, and a pretty great example of a vintage shop at that. So without further ado…
Can you sum yourself up in 3 sentences? Give it a go!
Our little Etsy shop is called Wurde Sein [German for “To Be”]. We are long-time friends with a common interest in our love for vintage items of all shapes, sizes, colour and age. Working from home is a desire for both of us doing what we enjoy most, collecting and selling unique antique and vintage items.
Tell us about what you sell on Etsy:
We sell a wide variety of vintage and antique items such as kitchenware; housewares, furniture; and collectables. Here are some examples:
Kitchen items such as unique dishes from the 60’s and 70’s; chip n’ dip set; retro egg cups and coffee pots; salt and pepper shakers / spice shakers, such as:
We also sell a selection of vintage furniture such as a shelving unit; rustic-vintage folding “theatre” type chairs; old milking stools and ottomans:
We also carry a variety of vintage home décor items that can be incorporated with one’s modern style such as: lamps / lights; clock(s); vase(s); candle holders; etc. Here’s an example of one our favourite finds:
Last but not least, we offer collectables, such as bottles; vintage bells; other glassware, cigarette maker; etc. here’s one example, a glass table-top lighter that we have up for sale at the shop:
What is your favorite thing about collecting?
With respect to favourite thing about collecting, it’s literally the thrill of seeking and finding something unique. We love old items, we love anything antique and rustic, and every time we’re out looking for new inventory, it feels like Christmas when we find those “perfect” items!
Where do you find your inspiration?
Our inspiration comes from all different directions. Peers who enjoyed collecting and decorating their homes with that certain “rustic” theme was always a huge inspiration; following fellow bloggers and store owners with the same interests, etc. Wherever we can sniff it out we’ll be there! ;-)
Do you have any selling tips or tricks for other Etsy sellers?
We are still “wet behind the ears” when it comes to being shop owners and selling on Etsy; however, we feel fortunate that our efforts have been paying off fairly smoothly. The tips that we offer are everything we are incorporating daily into our routines with respect to making our business grow to be a successful one:
1. Take advantage of all the pictures slots Etsy offers and use up all five spaces; when people are looking at your items, they can’t hold them and feel them, therefore, they need to get a really good look at every angle possible.
2. Use all 13 tags up with descriptive words for your item, this assists buyers finding your item through searching key words;
3. Fix your titles and descriptions to be accurate, descriptive, and spelling-mistake free!
4. Join teams – get to know other sellers and buyers out there and promote your items on the team discussions everyday;
5. Be prompt with answering emails and inquiries;
6. Try your best to please the buyer without selling yourself short – offer combined shipping and special discounts for certain circumstances;
7. Find bloggers to help you out! ;-) Offer contest give-aways to help buyers find your shop;
8. Have clear photos, they do not have to be professional; however, a little time and effort can go a long way;
9. Stay consistent with photos to have as much of a professional look as possible;
10. Promote promote promote!
a. Use teams to promote your items;
b. Favourite other shops and their items to help a little traffic come your way;
c. Add people to your circle so they may add you if your shop interests them;
d. Create Treasuries to get your name out there (we have yet to master this!);
11. Stop checking your store every 2 minutes, this will drive you mad! – Checking it a few times a day is one thing; a few times every 5 minutes is another, this may discourage you if you don’t see activity happening every time you refresh the page; and
12. Last but not least, don’t give up, patience and persistence will go a long way.
**** A Huge THANK YOU to WurdeSein for their awesome interview responses and for sharing their wonderful vintage shop with us! ****
