Etsy Showcase, September 8, 2011

I finally found openings to showcase a few of my designs on Etsy. Wow, one showcase each for bracelets and necklaces. What excitement. I started a few weeks out planning and placing the different accessories in the right place based upon how many admirers I had on each individual piece. What anticipation, and when the day arrived I thought that this might be my day. Sales, sales and more sales! WRONG! No sales, not one; funny....I have been featured in three Treasury Lists in as many days of which I am grateful, and various "favorites" by fellow artists in the Etsy community. I was recently invited for membership in a group of talented gem artists as well. Ashar Gems has been in existence on Etsy for one year. After assessing and reassessing, re-tagging, price changes, reasonable shipping changes, attractive banners, Photoshop assistance, profile changes and Google Analytics up the gazoo, I have eight sales to show for it. I guess it takes some mystical unseen force to understand the patterns of buyers and sellers, marketing and sales. The only thing to do now is decide whether or not the price I have paid for materials, work time, patience, disappointment etc., is worth it in the world of custom-made jewelry. Thank God I have no husband or children or we would be begging bread by the roadside. So the decision has been made. If things do not turn around I will close the shop on Etsy by January 1, 2012. No magic here, just facing the facts!