Teach Soap

Hi everyone,

I'm not that experienced at Etsy, my store has been up almost a year and I've made sales. But it seems I am getting a lot of people asking for donations, to sell in their stores or send products to them so they can test them out and advertise for me. It just seems to happening all of a sudden and a lot. I'm wondering if it's happening to others and what others are doing when they get these requests.

Thanks

I'm getting those request too. I tell them that my donations list is already full for this year.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I'm considering selling my soap on Etsy. Is the site considered professional? I see tons of soap listed on the site and wonder if anyone is actually selling their soap. I also wonder if I should post as an individual crafter or use my company info.

cheers,
dawna

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Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring--it was peace." - Milan Kundera

Etsy is now very crowded with soap products. Too many people selling similar things and some for too little $$ if you ask me.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

i use etsy, but i don't count on it alone to make sales. i have emails from other marketing i do, and i forward clients to the etsy site so that they can conveniently purchase my soap online.

we'll see how it works, maybe i'll get more online sales when i have my OWN e-shop so far, the majority of my sales are repeat face to face clients.

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~Shell

I just got a sample request the other day in exchange for feedback on a blog. It didn't seem to be sent specifically to me, so I've been mulling it over for a few days now. Being brand new on Etsy (and to soapmaking) I'm a little afraid of negative feedback. Not that my soaps aren't good, but I am my own worst critic. Still haven't come up with a decision on how, or if, I should respond. Maybe it's just a way for someone out there to scam tons of free stuff?

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Agreed, Lisa - if they want to feature you, they'll feature you. I got a nice write-up earlier this week for nothing more than saying "Hey, pick me!"

Dawna, I'm selling on Etsy, & it's going ridiculously well. The key seems to be taking really good, eye-catching photos & tagging your items well so they come up in searches. Facebook's Fan Page app is invaluable in guiding non-Etsy folks to my store. The soap category is HUGE, so you really have to find a niche that works for you, & ignore everyone who is underpricing their items. And promote your a** off

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Please visit my Etsy shop!

I love your paintbox soap site. Very cute and lovely soaps chef!!

Well while there somehow I got to the sample shop and they have 1 box left of Valentine samples for $20.00 I think. They seem to currently be looking for Easter stuff? I don't know how this works if it is a scam or what, but a load of soapers have given samples.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SamplerVillage

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~bytheSEAsoap~ Mella bythesea, bythesea, bythebeautiful sea

海の皂

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Hey Mella,

The Sampler Village thing is a scam if I've ever seen one. I did it for 4 months, yes I'm new to this LOL!. I didn't get a single customer from it & I wasted money on product/postage. The woman from there still hounds me to participate, the last time I did was August of last year!

As for Etsy, I do agree the competition for soap is high. But if you're willing to stick it out and try different creative ways to get your store noticed it's probably worth it. Etsy buyers will tend to pay more than say other sites like Ebay etc. The fees are very low as well, so you can just leave your listings up forever for pennies.

~Michelle

I just sent of a box of samples, it's a one time deal for a few reasons.
My full time 'normal' job is keeping me very busy right now, so I have a difficult time keeping up with my small demand. My Etsy store is on vacation for now and possibly indefinite.
Every time I have gone to Sampler Village to purchase a sample basket, I'm either too early or I'm too late to puchase one of the sample baskets. The window to buy from them seems too narrow. Last time I looked a basket ran about $20 without shipping. That's fine, but I should not pay to ship samples when someone else is making money on my stuff. In all reality, most needing 'free' advertisment are new at this and probably broke from trying to start a home based business.
I did not put any of my info/logo or Etsy info on the samples because my online stuff in is on vacation right now. Doing the samples for them (or me) was waist of my time and money. But I ageed to give samples for Mothers Day and I stay true to my word. It's that dang work ethic my parents instilled in me!!

Peace~
Malia

ps
AND THIS IS MALIA WITH AN A, NOT AN E!! That's so weird

QUOTE
Peace~
Malia
ps
[ AND THIS IS MALIA WITH AN A, NOT AN E!! That's so weird !

Well,

It isn't weird at all it is very simply M E L L A

Namaste,
Mella

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~bytheSEAsoap~ Mella bythesea, bythesea, bythebeautiful sea

海の皂

No worries!! Just didn't want you to think I was copying you or something weird like! It's been my nick name for a long time.

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~bytheSEAsoap~ Mella bythesea, bythesea, bythebeautiful sea

海の皂