{"id":341,"date":"2020-08-10T11:14:47","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T10:14:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/limit\/?p=341"},"modified":"2020-08-10T11:18:33","modified_gmt":"2020-08-10T10:18:33","slug":"thinking-of-starting-an-etsy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/limit\/2020\/08\/10\/thinking-of-starting-an-etsy\/","title":{"rendered":"Thinking of starting an Etsy?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Student Gemma shares her advice and top tips<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

For many, lockdown has brought out an innate creativity and desire to try new things. As Covid-19 has postponed my industry placements, this new found time provided me with the unexpected opportunity to explore my entrepreneurial side. Combining ceramic skills learnt through my textiles degree with a love of accessories, I decided to launch \u2018Gemma Fay Design\u2019, creating statement polymer clay accessories. The excitement of having a new focus during these uncertain times threw me into creating bold and colourful collections to sell on Etsy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the past few weeks I have learnt so much about not only the processes and techniques involved in making the accessories; but also useful tips and tricks relating to marketing and specifically running a business on Etsy. Although in its infancy, I am optimistic about the future of \u2018Gemma Fay Design.\u2019 If, like me you have considered starting an Etsy, here are some things to consider, and tips and tricks I hope you might find helpful:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) Product<\/strong>
It sounds obvious, but creating something you are passionate about will ultimately determine the effort and time you put into your business. Make sure your products are something you yourself would wear\/use. Create prototypes that you\/your friends and family can test to assess the results. I\u2019d recommend focusing on a small product range to begin with, paying special attention to the materials you use, as this really impacts the quality and finish of your product. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) Back to basics<\/strong>
For me, drawing jewellery prototypes, exploring colour variations and different textures before I began making each collection was crucial in promoting an outcome I was happy with. Even if it\u2019s just a quick sketch, this is really useful to help form a cohesive collection. A bonus of this is that sharing the creative process with your social media following gathers more recognition, as followers feel they are part of the process!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Design process drawing (Gemma Fay Design)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3) Research<\/strong>
One thing I hadn\u2019t really considered was the amount of products already on
Etsy! It\u2019s a wonderful platform to use for handmade products; however you need to find a niche in order to make your product stand out from the crowd. What makes it unique – is it the colour? Is it the shape? Is it your materials? I\u2019d also suggest identifying a target group, and looking at what products appeal to this market. You can do this by looking at the products people are favouriting on Etsy, are they similar to your products? Asking questions regarding your products using polls on Instagram is a great way to gather immediate feedback to help you create a product that will sell well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n