Dachshund King by Poor Dog Farm

Gosh it’s fun, this handmade community we participate in.  So much support out there, so many people ready and willing to share tips and information (including the wonderful folks right here on Handmade Spark)!  It’s amazing really, that people are so happy to help each other out; heart-warming how much we all want to see each other succeed.

But sometimes, just sometimes, does it all feel a little overwhelming?  Market your business, but don’t be a spammer; let people get to know you, but not too well.  Tweet this, blog that, check your titles, check you pictures, check your tags, check your descriptions, have you googled yourself?  By the way, people want free shipping, people want real models, people want it cheaper, but not too cheap.  And for the last time – take better photos.

So many forums and blogs and tips and articles…

Information overload, anyone?

Information Overload by Kooby (and yes Kooby, sometimes my brain also feels like this picture looks!)

But then I pour myself a glass of wine make myself a cup of tea, take a deep breath, and realize that all this information comes from a love of handmade and a desire to help the craft world grow, and that’s kind of cool, right?

And I also think about those Etsy sellers who barely blog, who rarely tweet and who don’t do Flickr.  Heck, they may not even belong to an Etsy Team!  And yet they have triple figure sales (yes, I am thinking of you Bejewelled Bespoke!).  We all know these sellers right?  They don’t follow the marketing tips and how-tos, and yet they get exposure, they get sales.

You know what these sellers all have in common?  A really great product. Maybe it’s unique – tapping in to a niche market, or maybe it’s just an exceptionally well-made example within it’s category.  Either way, no matter how they market it (or don’t market it, as the case may be), they have a great product and it sells.

When we’re in a sales slump, of course it’s important to think about how we’re presenting our product (photography, shop layout, branding) and whether people can find it (tags, descriptions, exposure on blogs, twitter and other forums), but don’t forget to ask those scary questions that sometimes we like to avoid.  You know the ones about whether we’re actually selling the right product?  About the quality and range of what we’re offering?

And yes, we’re here because we love making stuff, and we want to make stuff that we love.  So I’m not talking about throwing out all your lovingly created collage cards and buying a sewing machine.  What I am  talking about is having a good, hard look at your product range and asking some basic questions about what you sell:

- Am I comfortable with the range of products I’m offering?  What about when considering size and/or price points?

- Am I happy with the quality of what I make?  If not, how can I fix this? (Do a course maybe, or find a better supplier?)

- Are there any gaps in my product range I could fill?

- Are there some designs that need tweaking, or even a total revamp?

- Is there something completely new I want to pursue?

During busy times, we’re often consumed with producing the things we already make.  A low (or no!) sales period could be a perfect opportunity to gain experience in new crafts and/or to design and try out new products.  By the way, the Etsy forums can be a great place to get input and feedback if you are thinking of launching a new product range – search for ‘new products’ and you’ll see a lot of sellers seek out advice and critiques from other sellers.  Twitter and Facebook can be useful in this way too, and these allow you to ask your customers directly what they think of your new product.

So, when times are slow, don’t be afraid to put your products in the room of mirrors.  Use the time to try out new ideas, and seek feedback on what you make and sell.

Because sometimes we all need to remember, the product really is king.

Wool felt crown by dream child studio