Treasury Sunday - April 7th

Every other Sunday I like to give thanks to the curators on Etsy who create fabulous collections called treasuries.  These collections help shops like mine to gain exposure for their product. In yesterday's post, I wrote about the effect a treasury featured on the front page can have on your product. Please take some time to shop these stores and to support small business!

'Summer finds' by pteradaktell

Geometric Wood necklace &quo... Todojewerly $24	Stable table, iPad stand or ... EJbutik $42	Waldorf baby doll Lea in pi... LaFiabaRussa $90	Nursery Art- Spring Decor, P... BreeMadden $30
Dreamcicle Nebula 8x10"... Estrelles $30	Strawberries & Creme 12 oz. ... DLitesbyDorene $17.25	Moth origami lampshade gold ... nellianna $69	Green leaf earrings - leaf e... GentleDecision... $14
2013 Desk Calendar- 5x7 Loos... kellynphotogra... $15	Chartreuse Lime Green Spring... Thebracelettre... $24	Small Granny Bloom Throw Pil... AllThingsGrann... $15	secret PAL - salmon shorts, ... thesecretPal $195
Yellow flower Teething toy w... MiracleFromThr... $18	Cropped orange Wrap Shrug - ... Malam $75	Hand knit shawl scarf gradie... katerynaG $90	Printable Cat Card. Digital ... antuanetto $3

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

'Fresh for April ' by SymbolicImports

Blue Lace Agate Tusk Beads Q... gypsybeadpeddl... $8.46	As Seen At GBK Oscars Celebr... TrinketsNWhatn... $35	Tealight Fresh Linen Scent L... TheDeevaShop $18.95	White and Gray Salt and Pepp... CreativeEndeav... $45
Bead Scoops - 3 Piece Set ElementBeads $1.5	Silver Leaf Earrings linkeldesigns $5	Grey Anklet Gray glass drop ... TurtleXIII $25	Unicorn Brooch Pin Gothic Ca... PennyandPaper $14
SALE Skrdlovice Jaroslav Ber... CzechGlassColl... $100	Triangle Necklace, Geometric... HausofAriella $32	Unique necklace of plastic a... RainbowEcology $35	Bridal Clutch Cotton Embroid... Oyeta $26
Vintage Blue Hard Case Forec... HillysVintageN... $20	White Sea Urchin Stick Earri... TheBeetleWing $15	Spring Rain 12 oz. candle, c... DLitesbyDorene $15.79	Clearance Sale - Holes Cuff ... VeronicaRussek... $44

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

'Let The Sunshine In.' by CRParrott

Sugar Scrub Cubes - Orange S... SymbolicImport... $11	ORIGINAL Modern Folk Art Pai... kellbellestudi... $85	ON SALE- Free Shipping- Hand... aynikki $40	Stacked Necklace, Geometric ... KapKaDesign $32
Orange Blossom votives, set ... DLitesbyDorene $10.99	Red Orange Flower Hair Pin -... embellishingyo... $6	Rag basket - OOAK orange and... MammaEarthCrea... $33	Juicy carnelian and silver e... HelgaVonF $10
Alfie - Little orange leanin... HamlinDesign $420	Lemon Iced Tea Photography P... CrystalGaylePh... $44	Wire Wrapped Button Ring Tan... TrinketsNWhatn... $25	Abstract Photography Fine Ar... CrystalGaylePh... $24
Photo Notecard - Apricots - ... BobbisMixedMed... $4	Tiny Painting, African stork... Jillsgallery $12	Handspun Art Yarn, 55 yards,... TheSavvyStitch $38	Orange Glitter Ball // Citru... LovePeaceSpark... $145

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

'Handmade' by Danfe

Felted fish purse cosmetic G... galafilc $65	Wool Cowl NeckWarmer Scarf N... bayahta $32	OOAK Art Doll -art object- ... molMolly $99	Etched Copper - rustic earr... SunflowerBijou $45
Lily of the Valley votives DLitesbyDorene $10.99	Light Teal Blue Small Skull ... Deadbydawn2007 $10.99	Monkey Farts Soy Candle, Blu... GreenRitual $15.95	On Sale Soy Tart Melts // WI... soyNsuds $2.75
Pink Bubblegum Baby Dress AtticsTreasure... $45	Women's Crochet Barefoot... lanacooper $15	Crochet hat linen natural crochethat2012 $23.99	hand crochet lace sweater/ja... Tat2Tina $400
Towering Tiramisu Jumbo Gour... tookies $32	AKJ3-17, 10pcs, 20x4mm, a sq... jewelrykorea $2.4	Cupcake topper - mini SAGE ... PirateDessert $12	Edible Pansies- Pink, Purple... SugarRobot $8.95

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

'Simply Wonderful' by PearlesPainting

a spaceship for louis - 8x8&... prismes $75	Loopy Gothic Custom Art Doll... loopyboopy $500	Hippie Perfume Fragrance Oil... crownofrue $10	Polaroid Ceramic Coaster - A... justnoey $8
Sale 10% Off - Hand Knit Hat... pixiebell $36	Cup Cozy - Knitted and light... madeinlowell $14	stacking rings set - sterlin... preciousjd $72	Goodbye - Art Print LilyMoon $18
Coconut Green Tea 12 oz. can... DLitesbyDorene $17.49	Indistinguishable From Magic... aldojeffrey $45	The Belle Epoch Apricot Dres... necessityisthe... $65	Hungry Policemen- 5x7 Metall... kristimcmurry $12
Tuxeco Cat Ring- Hand painte... ShebboDesign $35	White Hobo Handbag, Large Sh... BeauMiracleFor... $30	Bitty Bunny Felted Wool Plus... MillieFern $19	20...Heart Dome Glass tiles.... CandytilesStud... $7

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

I'm so excited! This gorgeous treasury made the Etsy front page!

'Summer finds' by pteradaktell

Geometric Wood necklace &quo... Todojewerly $24	Stable table, iPad stand or ... EJbutik $42	Waldorf baby doll Lea in pi... LaFiabaRussa $90	Nursery Art- Spring Decor, P... BreeMadden $30
Dreamcicle Nebula 8x10"... Estrelles $30	Strawberries & Creme 12 oz. ... DLitesbyDorene $17.25	Moth origami lampshade gold ... nellianna $69	Green leaf earrings - leaf e... GentleDecision... $14
2013 Desk Calendar- 5x7 Loos... kellynphotogra... $15	Chartreuse Lime Green Spring... Thebracelettre... $24	Small Granny Bloom Throw Pil... AllThingsGrann... $15	secret PAL - salmon shorts, ... thesecretPal $195
Yellow flower Teething toy w... MiracleFromThr... $18	Cropped orange Wrap Shrug - ... Malam $75	Hand knit shawl scarf gradie... katerynaG $90	Printable Cat Card. Digital ... antuanetto $3

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

For those of you not familiar, when Etsy posts a grouping of "Hand Picked Items", the grouping (also known as a treasury) has been created by another member who usually sells on Etsy. When these treasuries are featured on the Etsy front page, the product and shops included get additional exposure that is so important for independent shops like mine!

Please take a look at this gorgeous collection and shop Etsy today!

April Showers!

April showers bring.....beautiful fragrances on sale for you!

This month, I have two scents to share with you as the fragrance of the month: Orchid Rain and Spring Rain!

Orchid Rain 12 oz candle

Orchid Rain was a best seller from my Garden Collection in 2012. Orchid Rain is a beautiful combination of floral and fresh outdoors. Modern and spa-like, top notes include fresh orchids, peony, water lily, with middle and final notes of watercress, aloe vera, and bamboo. Open your mind and soul to complete harmony! 

Spring Rain tea lights

Spring Rain is an outdoors fragrance from my Music Collection. Spring Rain is a lightly floral fragrance with just a hint of spice - altogether relaxing and spa like!

As fragrance of the month, both Orchid Rain and Spring Rain are 10% off. For more products and selections, please see the Fragrance of the Month section of my Etsy shop!

Etsy shop review - Serenity Lane Designs, March 31st

For today's shop review,I'm pleased to introduce to you Diane of Serenity Lane Designs. Please take some time to get to know this wonderful designer!

My name is Diane, and I live in upstate NY.  Serenity Lane Designs was "born" officially in July of 2011, but I've had the idea for years.  I finally just decided to jump in and give it a try.  I love to be creative - it's been years since I bought a store bought card -- I make all my own, well except for the 100 I send out at Christmas.  I haven't found the time to make all of those each year. 

Baby Card Green Onsie

I love rubber stamps, ink and paper.  I love to try new designs and new things.  I joke that if it doesn't move, i'll try to stamp it, or cover it in paper.  

Decorative Clothespins

Serenity Lane Designs, and the pink gerbera daisy has a special meaning for me - you can read about it on my about page on Esy - http://www.etsy.com/shop/serenitylane/about/ .  My shop has a large variety of items.

Hand-stamped tea lights

The item(s) I'm most proud of are my coasters and trivets.  On a whim I responded to a casting call for ABC's The Chew.  They were looking for crafters - so, what the heck.  I was shocked when the producer called and asked me to be on the show!  It was my coasters and trivets they were interested in. This is one of the sets they loved: 

Fleur de Lis rustic coasters

I appeared on the show in May of 2012.  You can read a blog post about the experience, check out some photos, and video here: http://serenitylanedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/05/take-risk.html

Zebra and Giraffe rustic coasters

Currently I am only selling on Etsy. Outside of Etsy, I have a part-time job, and am so lucky to work from home.  I love to read, travel, and watch movies -- but most of all I love crafting, for my Etsy shop, or for shows, or custom orders.  I love what I do!

Sticky Note Holder, Mini-Clipboard

Serenity Lane Designs can also be found:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SerLaneDesblog: http://serenitylanedesigns.blogspot.com/pinterest: http://pinterest.com/serlanedes/

shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/serenitylane
FB: https://www.facebook.com/SerLaneDes

Developing a Line Sheet

You're ready to enter the wholesale market. You've categorized your products and developed an inventory system. Now it's time to develop your line sheet.

What's that? A line sheet is a one or two page document which conveys information about your company, your products, as well as your payment, delivery and return policies.

Following are the key items you'll need to include:

1. Your contact information - As with your stationery and all your marketing materials, include your contact information, especially email address and telephone number.  This is not the place for your Facebook or Twitter addresses! They goal is to make it simple for the buyer to contact you, not for them to be impressed with each and every one of your social media efforts. If you are working with a sales representative, consider replacing your contact information with theirs.  Your rep will thank you for this simple gesture!
2. Basic information on your products - Wholesale pricing, colors, and sizes available are key elements here. If you have developed your inventory and have a unique identifier for each item, include it here.
3. Minimum quantities - What is your minimum order? Make it realistic yet encourage your buyer. Remember, the goal in wholesale selling is to sell a larger quantity of items - in doing so, you can lower your supply costs and increase economies of scale and time! For example, I have a minimum order of $100, which is fairly easy to achieve.  Using easy numbers, selling a case (12) of candles for $10 each is $120.  the quantity makes sense and it achieves the minimum order I require.
4. General information about your product - What are your materials? Do you have a unique assembly method? Are your supplies eco-friendly? This is the spot to turn your features into benefits.
5. Payment terms - Here's an area you may need to beef up your accounting terminology. Are your terms net 30 (payment due 30 days after receipt of product), upon delivery, or up front? I offer a combination - I just don't have time to do a credit analysis, so first time orders require a credit card payment, and following orders are net 30. 
6. Turn around time - How long can the buyer expect between date of order and date of receipt of product? If your turn around time is four weeks or more, you really need to be thinking in advance regarding the seasonality of your product. If you're able to have product inventory on hand, consider a two week or less turn around time.
7. Shipment - Answer questions such as who pays? Which carrier do you use? Think creatively as to whether you can offer a discount on shipping for larger orders.
8. Damages and returns - This was the hardest part for me. If you're going to play with the big guys, you need to be prepared to offer refunds and returns like the big guys. Know what your competition is doing, even if you're reaching for the stars. But make sure your return or refund is something you're willing or able to lose. You may be able to write in a restocking fee here, but always be prepared to accommodate a 100% refund!

As I've mentioned before, I use Stitchlabs for my inventory management system. One of the reasons I chose it was because it could take the information I developed on each product family, the inventory and stock photos and create a .pdf file for me. While I'm not endorsing nor encouraging use of this product, I do recommend you research whether the inventory system you're considering can do this for you as well.

So those are your key elements. If you foresee selling wholesale in your future, I highly recommend you begin working on these elements now! In future posts, we'll discuss how to take this technical information and turn it into a marketing piece.

As always, I welcome your feedback and questions.  Until then, happy sales!

Dorene