Last Minute PR for the Holidays

You’ve worked hard to build your inventory over the last few months and now that the holidays are fast approaching, you need to bring your PR A-game.  If you are scrambling for opportunities to get in front of customers, don’t worry. It’s not too late. Here are 3 last minute PR hacks to help you connect with potential buyers and break through the noise of holiday promotions on a slim budget.

 

Collaborate with other small businesses.

Lots of businesses are looking to expand their reach during the holidays. Teaming up with your fellow Etsy community and other small businesses to host giveaways allows you to offer a bigger value than you could on your own. Maybe you can only offer $25 in goods from your Etsy shop for a giveaway, but if 5 Etsy shops team up to each offer something for a $25 value then the shops can promote a giveaway worth $125 to their customers. When each shop shares the promotion with their followers on social media, their followers will see your items included in the giveaway and then check out your shop. Their followers potentially become your followers and eventually customers.

 

Donate your items to marketing events.

Donating your items for swag bags and raffles at local events and fundraisers exposes your products to high-income earners and generates goodwill for your brand. In-Kindness matches businesses with established charity silent auctions that raise money for various nonprofits. They send you a list of charities where you can choose to donate and arrange all the logistics such as delivery of the item and proper attribution of your business in event materials.   

The EtsyNY team also collected donations for their swag bags at this year’s Handmade Holiday Cavalcade, an event featured in Time Out New York as one of The best holiday markets NYC has to offer and attracts 20,000 visitors. That’s a large population of shoppers who support small business.

 

Get into a gift guide.

While it may be late to pitch to national publishers, there’s still time to pitch your items to local bloggers and reporters for inclusion in a holiday gift guide. Connect with journalists and bloggers on Help A Reporter Out(HARO) to gain valuable media coverage for free! Source requests for product inclusions are usually listed under the Lifestyle section. Junior Baby Hatter landed a tv segment on Baby Must Haves on a local Fox News station by answering an urgent inquiry on HARO.

The EtsyNY team also features members in video gift guides for major holidays including Mother’s Day, wedding season, and Christmas. Check out EtsyNY Team Gift Ideas videos on their Youtube channel.

Some brands even highlight other small businesses with their own holiday gift guides. Instagram is a great place to discover opportunities to apply to gift guides and giveaways. Junior Baby Hatter is hosting their first Black Friday Shopping Guide to support other small businesses and to raise money for Covenant House, a non-profit they support throughout the year with a portion of their sales. Apply for inclusion in this year’s gift guide here.

Markisha Velazquez is the designer and owner of Junior Baby Hatter, based in Weehawken, NJ. When she’s not making dapper caps for babies and toddlers she commutes to New York with her family and blogs about her adventures in the city.

Inspired by Travel (Etsy shops features!)

This past month I sent out a call for travel inspired creations among our Etsy NY team members.  I was fascinated by how differently we translated our inspirations, and awed by the variety of talent in the group!

Some designers learned and collected materials as they went from country to country.  And by far the best example is by Saskia from SdVDesigns.

“I have traveled extensively across Asia and beyond where I have sought out local markets and craftspeople. New journeys with exciting new artisans and vendors opened my eyes to metals and glass from West Africa, lapis and pendants from Afghanistan, wood from the Philippines and Bali, and stunning Thai silver. I collect materials that inspire me from across the globe and tie them together with my own style that integrates old and new world sensibilities. Each finished piece tells the story of its origins and makes a bold statement for the wearer. ”
— Saskia de Vries

Meanwhile something that never occurred to me (but makes so much sense!) was to create conveniences for these trips. Ilaria from Body Stuff and Susan from Naturally Susan’s both had their take on handmade products that would pamper and revitalize the tired travelers.

“I have always travelled. A lot, and everywhere, for fun, work, or to visit family. Every single time I was putting together my beauty-case I’d get frustrated at the amount of tiny bottles, jars, sprays, and nonsense I thought I had to carry with me. As soon as I started my skincare line, with the aim to simplify the beauty routine, I knew I had to create a multipurpose product. Thus enters TONE N CLEAN, my traveling best friend (I even take it backpacking!). Tones, firms the skin, gives me a glow, moisturizes, and I use it instead of soap to cleanse. ”
— Ilaria Tarozzi
“Naturally Susan’s products are travel-friendly, eco-friendly, and cruelty-free. Susan started making skin care products for herself because she wanted chemical-free and fragrance-free beauty care suitable for her sensitive skin. And, drawing from her extensive travels, Susan designed her products to be effective since travel and travel environs can be drying for your skin. And to help minimize your travel bags and carbon footprints, Susan’s products are versatile so they can be used for all-over-body, and long lasting so they’ll last your travels. Naturally Susan’s product are handmade by Susan in NYC.”
— Susan Ng

And then there are the sellers and artists that materialized the sensations of adventure and beauty in their travels into drawings and home decor.

Life is Balance

“When I travel to scuba dive, I take both underwater photos as well as scenic photos of my travels. From the underwater photos I create artwork that rings a bit of the underwater world into my shop. Here are some examples of scarves, throw pillows and wall art inspired by my tropical travels.”
— Sheryl Checkman
“Rarely do I get to see the true fall foliage. It definitely gets me in the mood to start designing and making seasonal aprons and napkins. Thanksgiving and Christmas, a time when friends and families come together to celebrate at the table. ”
— Tracey Toole
“My favorite thing about traveling outside of the U.S., especially to a country where I am not familiar with the language, is the newness of everything. I consider a trip abroad to be a cleansing of the senses. When I see, smell, hear, and taste new things I am taken away from what I know and this has often led to fresh ideas once I return home. After a trip to Paris, one of my first greeting card ideas gave birth to Adele (on the Paris Rain card). I received such a strong response to her image I went on to create more artworks and build a story around her.”
— Nancy Sampson
“I lived in Tasmania for 3,5 yrs, and inspired by my time there I created a series of Tasmania inspired birthday cards.”
— Malou Zuidema

But perhaps what struck a chord with me most was the hometown nostalgia inspired creations.  I moved from Taiwan to the U.S. so long ago that I forget that I'm already a constant traveller.  When traveling and new adventures become the everyday norm, then a taste of home is what I often crave the most.  So I was very touched by these members that created products that honor their homes and heritage.

Spice Tree Organics

“Our 100% organic Middle Eastern Shawerma blend was inspired by the Middle East’s favorite street food- Shawerma! Shawerma stores are found on streets throughout Egypt and are the sandwiches are so much tastier than what you get here in the states. We spent months perfecting our blend- it has 11 different spices that combine for highly flavorful, aromatic flavor bomb - so that everyone could replicate that Middle Eastern deliciousness at home.”
— Doaa E.
“The search for inspiration has taken me to some far-flung places in the world. I have climbed mountains to find ancient petroglyphs on maraes in Tahiti, learned kanji calligraphy in a third-grade classroom in Japan, and met a sculptor who can drive his wooden Ferrari through Venetian canals! Learning about the art of many cultures inspires me to create using almost anything. This particular piece is inspired by my Italian heritage, and is a tribute to the amazing country of Italy.”
— Nicoletta S.
“From my travels back to my native island, Corsica, I gathered this hay corn and made a casting of it. Those earrings are a tribute to the hay corn’s beautiful shape and texture inside out. ”
— Sandrine B.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope this gives you a greater appreciation of our members, and how their creations came to be.  And if ever inspiration is just not coming to you, get up and travel!

'My eyes are looking down the road, soon my heart will follow, and if my body does not go, those parts of me will die forever.' - Eugenia Y. (Moobury)

Post by Eugenia || moobury.com || moobury.etsy.com|| Follow @Moobury on instagram and facebook! 

Join the herd! Check out our fashion earmuffs!

Eating Good at Chelsea Market, While Shopping at the 2016 Holiday Handmade Cavalcade

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One of the best things about the Holiday Handmade Cavalcade is its location, in Chelsea Market. Chelsea Market is chock full of good things to eat and I’m going to share some of my favorites!

If you love coffee like I do, you will appreciate the smoothness of a 9th Street Espresso cappuccino. Named after its original site in the East Village, this location is sort of in the middle of Chelsea market.

The Cavalcade is just across from Amy’s Bread, where in addition to loaves, slices of cake, cupcakes and other delicious baked goods, you can get freshly made sandwiches. Amy’s also has, in my opinion, some of the best lemonade around!

When you’re craving Thai, I recommend Chelsea Thai Wholesale. Here, you can buy authentic Thai grocery ingredients as well as a comprehensive selection of prepared-to-order food. Here’s my Pad See Ew with tender rice noodles and chicken.

Another fantastic choice – and super cheap – is Los Tacos No. 1. Just look for the line (don’t worry, it moves very quickly!) by the tea and spice place. I love the molcajte mortar and pestles that hold the serve-yourself salsas and lime wedges.

It’s pretty common to see people feasting on whole lobsters from The Lobster Place. I asked a couple if they would mind my taking a picture because, really, what more is there to say!

Inside Buon Italia, there is a vast selection of hard-to-find authentic Italian ingredients to make your own meals.  Outside, there are prepared foods to eat on-site.

Dickson’s Farmstand creates sandwiches and hotdogs from their house-made charcuterie. Take home a freshly made rotisserie chicken and sides for an easy dinner.

Indie Fresh features a health-conscious, organic lineup of soups, salads, mains, and juices along with many vegan options.

It’s important to stay well-fed while shopping the Holiday handmade Cavalcade! These are just a few of the many lunch options at Chelsea Market to help you shop happy. And don’t forget the free brownie samples at Fat Witch Bakery

See you at the Cavalcade!

Lu

Lu, of LuCrafts, is a part-time crafter who lives in Manhattan where she loves using paper to create beautiful objects for everyday use. Her cat Cookie helps by being cute and not judging the state of her workroom, aka living room!

Fall Craftstravaganza by Fair Lady Markets This Coming Saturday, October 29th!

2016 Fall Craftstravaganza

October 29, 11:00am-5:30pm

West 17th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues

Fair Lady Markets presents the Fall Craftstravaganza, an outdoor free handmade craft fair featuring over 30 local, indie artists and crafters, food, animal adoption van, and more

Shop for jewelry, clothing and accessories for kids and adults, bath and body, gifts, art, ceramics, pet products, home decor and more!  EtsyNY Team Members: Wallcojr, RebelIdeal, *Paper*Crane*Heart*, JantarHandcraftedJewelry, Citybitz, LavazzonGallery, Astridland, Angie Colombo Jewelry, and A Life Full of Charms.

Nosh on goodies from Daly Pie ($5 off first 40 whole pies bought or ordered), Empanada Sonata, and The Awkward Scone.

Adopt or just cuddle a critter on Animal Care Centers of NYC's animal adoption van, talk to a real urban wildlife rehabber, and learn everyday Mindfulness techniques.

All to benefit the NYC Museum School and all free at the one-day-only Fall Craftstravaganza!

Next Team Workshop on November 2nd - "Planning Your Etsy Shop Video"

Our next team workshop is scheduled for Wednesday November 2, 6:30 - 8:30pm and is open to the public. 

The key to launching a successful Etsy shop video is to plan before you start to shoot.  In this workshop, you'll learn the following:

  • How to write a video outline and script
  • Planning work scenes vs. talking scenes
  • How to record voiceovers
  • Tips on how to shoot with your iPhone
  • Recommended tripods to use
  • Shooting with natural light
  • Basic editing in iMovie

Another workshop will be held in January/February 2017 on how to shoot your shop video...stay tuned!

Host:  Rekha Krishnamurthi (Etsy Shop:  DivineNYCo) designer of home accents, hand-dyed textiles, unique prints & craft kits will share with you her tips and strategies on how to launch a successful Etsy shop video

Location: Pearl Studio, 500 8th Avenue (between 35th and 36th St.), Rm:  405

Tickets: Members: $5,  Non-Members:  $10

Amberlee Isabella Home + Macy's!

This past weekend I had the amazing opportunity to host a two-day trunk show at Macy's on 34th street Herald Square in New York City to sell products from my Etsy store, Amberlee Isabella Home. Since 2012, I have sold bright, charming art, home decor and stationery. My products aim to empower women to be the best version of themselves by encouraging, supporting and reminding us not to take life too seriously. 

I've received a lot of questions about this opportunity from other sellers so I wanted to use this space to share my experience and offer some insight into the process. 

A few weeks ago, I was approached by Esty Wholesale and Macy's about an order for the holiday season in the existing Etsy shop-in-shop there. The space was established in January 2016 and the Etsy vendors inside rotate approximately every 2 months. 

How did Macy's pick you for wholesale and trunk show opportunities?

Macy's found my products through the help of the Etsy Wholesale team. Etsy Wholesale searched shops for items that were unique and could be personalized. I was informed those were two important factors of the selection process. 

What did you do at the Macy's trunk show?

I spoke to customers about my products and process. I also explained a lot about Etsy and handmade retail. Less than 1/4 of the shoppers I spoke to were familiar with Etsy. This was an eye-opening experience and not one I anticipated. A lot of the time spent at Macy's was educating international consumers about Etsy as a place to buy handmade and vintage goods from independent makers. 

One of the things I enjoyed most about the show was offering customized prints in person for the first time. I had my laptop and portable printer to design artwork directly alongside customers. It was rewarding to help them bring their ideas to life in real time. 

How many people were chosen for the Macy's trunk show?

A total of five Etsy sellers from across the US were selected to host trunk shows at five different Macy's stores this past weekend. I was the only trunk show vendor this weekend in New York City. 

How much did Macy's order?

The wholesale order and trunk show request were large for my small business. It was as much of a logistical and planning puzzle as it was a strain on my time from a design and production standpoint. While having a full-time job and teaching put a lot of pressure on my time, my family helped support me through the process. I could not have done it without my patient and committed boyfriend, and his valuable SUV which is a blessing here in New York City.

What did you learn from working with Macy's?

You never know who is looking at your shop or what opportunity is just an email away. That's why it's always important for your shop and social media to be up to date, accurate, and professional.

What's your advice for someone who thinks their products are a good fit for Macy's?

Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, big or small, that's a good fit for your business. Smaller experiences play an important role in laying a foundation of knowledge for a bigger opportunity. I had invaluable experience as a smaller wholesale vendor by working with amazing retailers such as Story in Chelsea. That primed me to seize this opportunity. 

What are your next steps after the Macy's trunk show?

Starting this week, you will be able to shop Amberlee Isabella Home products at Macy's in Herald Square! I look forward to developing a strong relationship with the entire Macy's and Etsy Wholesale team and working to grow the Etsy shop-in-shop in Herald Square.

If you have any questions or are curious about anything, feel free to comment below and I will respond. Thank you!

~Amberlee