aLouCreations -- the blog --

Love is in the Air

2013-01-28T20:32:00.003-05:00

I've been hard at work these past few weeks getting together some new valentine's day cards for the shop. Right now, there is a neck-in-neck race for top-selling card between these two:

Apparently, there are some Walking Dead fans shopping! Feel free to check out the other V-Day cards here.

It's our anniversary!

2012-11-12T07:39:00.001-05:00

www.aloucreations.com

30% off sale on all items! Use the code at the bottom of the flier for your discount. Valid until 11/17/12 at midnight EST.

GO TO:

www.aloucreations.com

800 sales!

2012-11-10T15:07:00.005-05:00

I finally did it! Last night I received my 800th sale on Etsy.

I thought it might be helpful to run through some things I've found helpful on Etsy.

1. Promote!

Use a Facebook page, twitter, blog, etc. to promote online, but always make sure to carry some of your product around with you. If you make jewelry, wear it! If you make art prints, decorate your house with them! If, like me, you make greeting cards, give them out at holidays and birthdays.

2. Branding!

It's important to have a good idea of who your target market is, and create branding that will most appeal to that group. My logo is simple, bright, and playful. That's exactly what my cards are like. I put it on the back of all of my cards with my url underneath it, even on wholesale orders. This way customers across the country buying my cards in store can see more styles online. Your brand should be recognizable and specific to you & your product.

3. Photos!

Photos are your product's first impression. Make sure they are crisp and clear, give a good indication of your colors, size, etc. They should be bright, but not blindingly so, and clearly display your product in the best possible way. There are tons of different "right" ways to take photos. I never like the stark white background (washes out my product) so I opted for a neutral toned wood board as my backdrop.

4. Titles, Tags, Descriptions, oh my!

SEO is your friend. Incorporate the same words and phrases in your titles, tags and descriptions. Remember that the closer to the beginning a word is, the more important it ranks with search engines. Keep checking up on these, updating for holidays or seasons. Keeping it fresh helps!

5. Product

Spend a good portion of your day creating new items, every.single.day. Each time you list something new, it opens another door for customers to find you. Never let your inventory get stale. Also, don't be afraid to look at existing product and tweak it. I'm constantly revamping old product to make it look better!

6. Customer Service

I have 800 sales and not a single negative feedback. Don't let customers push you around, but make sure you always look at any issue from their perspective. If you go over and above to accommodate a customer's needs, they'll remember you and love you forever. Trust me!

7. Community

I've been trying really hard to be an active member of Etsy. That means participating in forums, helping with critiques, and featuring other Etsy sellers on my blog. Every once in a while I pick one artist I just love, and go all out for them. I'll do a feature on my blog, share their Facebook page, rave about them to my friends; write about them in the forums, etc.

8. Shipping

I go to the post office nearly every week day. I've developed strong relationships with all of the USPS employees in my town, and they're always willing to help me out when I need it. As a result, if I ever get into a snafu they go above and beyond trying to find a good solution for my problem. Also, take a good look at your shipping packaging. I used to ship in paper envelopes, but I heard back from one of my customers that their USPS deliver guy bent the heck out of her card. Since then I've changed my envelopes to pretty crisp white rigid ones.

9. Listen & Learn

Ask for help in the forums whenever you're unsure about something, and take everyone's advice into consideration. Other people can see things about your shop that you can't. Value their opinion.

10. Take a vacation!

If there is ever a moment where this stops being fun, take a break. Otherwise your sullied mood will effect your entire business. Don't be afraid to put your shop on vacation for a day or two while you get your head together. Earlier this year I went away for a whole week because I had lost some creative mojo. When I came back, I added 30 new cards and my sales/views improved drastically.

Everyone else should leave their ideas below. Keep working & keep it fun!

Bold Funky Jewelry -- A Spanish Flare

2012-11-09T12:43:00.000-05:00

Just discovered my new favorite jewelry shop on Etsy: DeliriumAccesories. Beautiful unique pieces that have great style, bright colors, and a true Spanish flare. Check out a few of my favorites below, or click on the shop name above to see everything they have in stock.

Happy Hanukkah!

2012-11-07T00:03:00.001-05:00

Some new holiday cards in stock. Hanukkah is just around the corner, only a little over a month away. Check out the new designs to celebrate the holidays with your Jewish friends.

I'll wait until at lease Mid-November to post the Christmas cards (I promise!) But Hanukkah is at the beginning of December this year. Happy Holidays all!

Home Decor -- Bright Frames & Bold Accents

2012-10-31T12:00:00.000-04:00

My new favorite Etsy shop? Monarch Design Loft. I love their home decor accessories, especially the brightly colored ornate frames. They are playful and yet traditional! And they don't even need artwork! Check out a few of the items below, or click on Monarch Design Loft to see all of their items.

11x14 Large Pink Frame Ornate Shabby Chic Nursery Decor Wall Letters

Very Ornate Frame Set of 3 Pink White Grey Shabby Chic

Vintage Retro Painted Owls Wall Hangings

All Hallow's Eve

2012-10-29T13:00:00.000-04:00

Here are some of my new Halloween Cards. Spooky, right? All of these can be found here.

Black Kitty Cat

Pumpkin Advocate

Dapper Skeleton

Spooky Spider

Witches Ball Invite

Witch against a full moon

You Suck!

Cute Witch on a pumpkin

Bite me!

I've been away....

2012-10-29T03:48:00.004-04:00

I've been away for a while, and for that, I am sorry. But I sure have been keeping busy. I've added over 100 listings to my shop, retaken all of my photos, redone all of my descriptions and am nearly at 800 sales. But enough about me, how are you doing?

I'll be sure to be featuring other things soon, so check back in.

Some things about Easter just don't make sense...

2012-03-23T16:22:00.001-04:00

A little confused about the importance of Easter, or the traditions surrounding its celebration? Fear not! The Easter Equation card will surely explain away any questions you have.

Say �Happy Easter� with a dash of inappropriate humor.

Interior reads: �Happy Easter�

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Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

I'm in this kind of a mood...

2012-03-22T21:10:00.001-04:00

Go Back to the Carnival You Came From! (seriously, you look like a carnie)

Interior is blank.

Need to be brutally honest in a different way? See the rest of my UnGreeting cards here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/aloucreations?section_id=7957340

I've been printing cards in home for 2 years now. I print the card on high quality matte photo paper. The paper is slightly textur...

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

Bicycles! Who doesn't love bikes?

2012-03-22T18:01:00.001-04:00

Simple and sweet card to let someone know that you are thinking of them fondly...

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Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

Sometimes you should just say no.

2012-03-22T15:27:00.001-04:00

Sometimes, the shortest words are the hardest ones to say.

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

Get well soon (or die trying)

2012-03-22T12:02:00.001-04:00

This could go one of two ways for you. Either get well soon, or die trying!

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

My favorite thank you cards!

2012-03-21T21:17:00.001-04:00

This simple and modern design is the perfect way to say "thank you." The cards feature a cute black and white bird cage design, printed on linen paper. These cards are 4X6 inches and come with a matching envelope.

This set contains 10 cards.

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Need to say "Thank You" in a d...

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

Congratulations on the Birth Your Little Monster!

2012-03-21T18:20:00.001-04:00

Yeah! You finally popped one out! Just remember that no one else thinks your kid is as cute as you do & keep 'em on a leash! You don't want that little monster running wild!

Interior reads: "Congratulations on the Birth of Your Little Monster"

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Need to say "Congratulatio...

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

Mix Tapes are a lost art form.

2012-03-21T15:42:00.001-04:00

Some people are so awesome that they rock. Show your appreciation for that awesomeness with this equally awesome vintage mix tape greeting card!

Interior is BLANK.

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Need to say "Thank You" in a different way? See the rest of my Thank You cards here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/aloucreations?sec...

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

More #Wedding invitations!

2012-03-21T12:33:00.001-04:00

Love is Friendship set on Fire. Simple and elegant folded wedding invitations feature a beautiful quote on the front of the card and details pertaining to the ceremony on the interior.

The crisp black font is set against the linen-white paper of the cards.

This listing is for 100 personalized wedding invitations, (measuring as 5X7 folding cards), with envelopes.

The high-quality...

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

You Park Like A Jerk -- Bad Parking Tag / Card (set of 10) - $4.50

2012-03-20T18:05:00.001-04:00

These awesome litle cards are a perfect way to let someone know that they park like a jerk. The cards are business card size and are double-sided. They are great to stick under a windshield wiper and can be read from both inside & outside of the car!

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Want to see some more miscellaneous products? Check 'em out h...

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

DO NOT OPEN (Dead Inside) -- You Failed the Zombie Apocalypse Birthday Greeting Card - $3.75

2012-03-20T15:36:00.001-04:00

DO NOT OPEN this card. DEAD INSIDE! What? You opened it? REALLY? You failed the zombie apocalypse.

Interior reads: "Good thing this was just a drill. Otherwise you would be dead. HAPPY BIRTHDAY"

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Need to say "Happy Birthday" in a different way? See the rest of my Birthday greeting...

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

Congratulations on the Birth Your Little Monster -- Birth Congratulations Greeting Card - $3.75

2012-03-20T12:03:00.001-04:00

New braille cards!

2012-03-19T20:10:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite George Costanza lines from Seinfeld. Zinga!

Interior is BLANK.

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

I wanted to get you a COOL gift for mother's day. (too bad I'm broke)

2012-03-19T18:10:00.001-04:00

Happy Mother's day to all of those Motorcycle Mammas out there. Too bad you're too broke to get your mom something REALLY cool for mother's day. You'll just have to get her this awesome card instead.

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

Love is Friendship set on Fire

2012-03-18T20:12:00.001-04:00

I miss you (to a dear friend)

2012-03-18T18:09:00.001-04:00

Simple and sweet card to let someone know that you are thinking of them fondly...

The card features a funky baby blue typewriter.

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!

If I'm being completely honest....this is how I feel.

2012-03-18T16:19:00.001-04:00

Bite me. Seriously...

Great snarky card for any vampire fan.

Interior is BLANK.

Click Here to Visit My Etsy Shop!