Shop Feature - July 27th - The Lovely Smith

We are so excited to feature our very own The Lovely Smith and her fabulous rustic and organic jewelry.  Read the interview with Cylene and enjoy the store-wide discount - exclusive to DDH subscribers!!! 

What made you decide to start your shop?

I've always been the artsy type but it wasn't until early 2007 that I felt like I needed to get in touch with the creative side of myself again. Jewelry making was on my "bucket list" and I started out with beading. The rest, they say, is history!

What type of products do you sell?

Custom made stacking rings and earrings - in copper, brass, sterling and gold fill.

What is your favorite shop accomplishment so far?

Having my creations out there, being worn by real people, is quite the inspiration. I love hearing from happy clients that what I made for them is perfection!

What is your biggest challenge as an Etsy/online seller?

It's hard to juggle a full time job (I work in the non-profit mental health sector), running a household, raising a toddler and being pregnant. I would love to build a bigger online presence since there are so many jewelry sellers out there, but just cannot find the time!

What is the top selling item in your shop?

My stacking rings have always been a great seller, but with the recent addition of more earrings designs, I find that they are creeping up in popularity!

Do you have a tip for others selling in the handmade community?

A cohesive online identity and shopfront is something that I find helps a lot when it comes to setting yourself apart from the rest of the herd. Making sure you have a great shop name, logo, and great photos is key to getting noticed! You are basically selling the IDEA of your creations to the people that find them - your descriptions and photos are your way into their hearts!

What are you currently working on/newest project?

I am so excited to be unveiling some more earring designs - I love making more angular, more linear hoops and putting my rustic & organic spin on them! I also have become a new member of the Artisans' Group, which helps handmade artists gain exposure, and hopefully one day, you'll see celebrities wearing my creations, or maybe see my rings on the pages of InStyle!

Favorite blog!

I am a huge fan of the DDH blog, but also check out ApartmentTherapy and ohdeedoe quite often. However, I find I get TOO inspired sometimes and have to step away from the computer!

Thank you so much Cylene!!!!  Use Coupon Code - DDH40 for 40% off your entire order at TheLovelySmith!  (expires July 31st, 2012)

Win it Wednesday - 27 June

Our fabulous Win it Wednesday is back and this week EclecticNesting is offering a fabulous necklace to our wonderful readers.

EclecticNesting offers vintage handmade jewelry, art supplies and more!  Be sure to check out all of the fabulous finds in her shop!

Now for the Necklace Giveaway! Coral and Turquoise Necklace with handcarved wooden bead.

How to Enter (Open to US only). Please enter each activity in a separate comment:

1. Subscribe to the Daily Dose of Handmade newsletter (mandatory)

2. Follow Daily Dose of Handmade on Twitter

3. Heart EclecticNesting on Etsy

4. Follow EclecticNesting's blog

5. Tweet about this giveaway (be sure to tag @ddofhandmade) 

6. NEW: RSVP to our first ever Tophatter Auction!!!!!!!!  

Tweet Daily for additional entries!!!

Winner will be announced next Tuesday!!!

BREAKING NEWS.... Daily Dose of Handmade Tophatter Auction Event 

29 June at 8pm PT!!! RSVP HERE

Guest Blogger - Creating a Shop Newsletter

If you have a small business (I am talking to you Etsy peeps) and are looking for ways to market your shop, have you considered creating a Newsletter for current/past customers?  I will admit, I was hesitant to do so...but I have had great success with my first three mailings!

Here are some tips for creating pertinent and successful newsletters.  I personally use MailChimp.com and it is wonderful!

1. Select a fun design that well represents your shop. I prefer something less busy that can showcase your logo or most popular designs. Try to make your newsletter unique to entice recipients to read it.

2. Be sure to add all of your important links: blog, twitter account, and shop url, and email so the customer knows how to reach you.


3. Focus on a single item or reason for sending out the newsletter...maybe you are introducing a new line or have a giveaway to announce. Give a little personal information too, help your customers connect to what you do and why you do it! The more informative your newsletter is the more subscribers you will gain and keep.

4. Be sure to give your newsletter an appropriate title.  Do not say "June Newletter", be more descriptive "Julie Ellyn Designs Giveaway Announcement." People are more apt to open the email if they know exactly what they will be looking at! The wonderful thing about MailChimp is that it gives you stats from your mailings including: # opened, clicks, new subscribers, and even unsubscribers :(

5. Now how do you get subscribers??? Pretty important part to having the newsletter in the first place. Add a subscriber button/link to your blog, post on sales groups or other blogs, offer free ad space to other shops if they add your newsletter to their blog or site.  People love free promotion and I think lots of Etsy shops are happy to share the love. (Pssst....you can get ad space on the Daily Dose of Handmade newsletter!!!)

Hope that helps!  Post any questions or suggestions below in the comments!  We LOVE comments!

Hugs,
Julie
www.JulieEllynDesigns.etsy.com

P.S. You can sign up for my newsletter on my blog www.JulieEllyndesigns.blogspot.com!