Etsy Wholesale Review

Remember my post about applying for Etsy Wholesale?  Well I wanted to give you a little update and review of the program now that I've been in it for almost a month.

When I was doing research about Etsy Wholesale I couldn't find much information about how it was working for people.  I found a lot of articles talking about how it functioned, and it's potential, but not a lot of reviews of actual people using it (and I don't count the ones on Etsy's own site because you have no idea if those are "real people" if you know what I mean).  On the Etsy blog for wholesale sellers, there also didn't seem to be much information about success.  It appeared people were making sales, but I really had no idea how BeBe Babies would do.  I'm hoping that this post will help others who are considering taking the leap and applying.

Let me first say that the reason I have been slow writing blog posts, and haven't been sharing much on Facebook lately, is because Etsy Wholesale has been what I consider a giant success for me.  Since starting about a month ago I have completed 4 wholesale orders.  I am averaging about one a week.  This is huge for me because as you know I have been searching high and low for wholesale accounts and have had 0 success until Etsy Wholesale.

I also mentioned that I was going to try to start doing trade shows, but due to the success I am having on Etsy, I have decided to hold off on that.  Trade shows are very expensive and a nightmare logistically for me, so I am really hoping the success I'm having on Etsy Wholesale continues.  I really believe this is the future for small businesses who are not ready to put down the money to attend a trade show.  I believe that Etsy Wholesale is a great stepping stone to a larger market.  I really think shows will be a thing of the past as more people use the convenience of online buying.  I'm happy to be a part of the movement.

A typical trade show can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 or more to attend when you calculate travel expenses, etc.  Etsy Wholesale costs $100 to join and an additional 3.5% transaction fee on the order.  The $100 is a one time charge and when you really compare the cost to doing a trade show it is more than worth the price.  In one sale I paid for the cost to join.  Also one thing I didn't know before signing up is that listing products in your Etsy Wholesale line sheet doesn't cost anything.  This makes it possible to list all of my dolls and color combinations without paying more.  You also can list things on your line sheet that are not listed in your Etsy shop, which helps to make it look fuller and more exciting.

I am anxious to see if these sales continue, decrease, or increase after the holidays.  My guess is that it will be slower after December but I really have no idea.  Brick and mortar stores need products all year round so my prediction might be completely wrong, and my wholesale business will continue to grow.  I'm also excited to see how my current wholesale orders are received by the store owners and their customers.  All of it makes me very anxious.

At the moment I'm focusing on improving the look of my wholesale shop by listing every doll option I have available, getting my sewing studio better organized for photos, and building my fabric stock.  The first snag I fell into was not having enough of the fabric on hand to fulfill the order.  For instance, one store ordered 4 Blankie BeBes in pink but I only had enough fabric here to make 2 of them.  It is a good thing that it is winter in Mexico and the fabric stores here are stocked with that type of fabric.  It will probably take me a while to know what, and how much, of each doll style I need to have on hand in order to offer them at wholesale.

Now I have Blankie BeBes in this pink color.

Another problem I'm encountering is having enough time to do everything and complete these orders.  I am completing the orders in a timely manner, but am finding that means I am not working on anything for my retail shop, not writing blog posts, not working on videos, not doing contests, not working on holiday series, not resting, etc.  Obviously I don't see this as a major problem as it means I am making money and growing my business, but I won't be able to sustain it long without help.  Which means I will be taking the plunge into hiring sewing help very soon or going part-time at my day job.  This makes me very very anxious but that's a whole 'nother blog post.

This is definitely a learning process for me, but it's an exciting one I hope to share with you all as you work to grow your businesses as well.  Look for updates as I continue on this journey and feel free to comment or email me with questions.

The Key to Owning Your Own Business is Perseverance

Well I finally got some good news...but it didn't start out that way...

As you know I'm gearing up to enter the trade show market.  Recently I became aware of Etsy's new Wholesale platform.  I had been researching it for a while but didn't know, or find anyone, who had any experience with it.  Also I must admit I was afraid to take the plunge and apply.  I was afraid of the possible rejection.  But, because I am going to try to enter the wholesale market again, I just decided to do it last week.

Well low-and-behold a couple days after I applied I received the dreaded rejection email.  I was rejected because in the application process you have to list your current wholesale accounts.  I didn't list anything because I don't actually have any wholesale accounts at the moment.  I had some in the past, but when I moved to Mexico I had to put them on hold until I could get production set up here.  I have written to those stores to try to re-establish our partnership but found that three of them closed and the four others haven't responded to my emails.

When I received the rejection I was really upset for two reasons.  1.  How does Etsy expect people to obtain experience if they don't give them a chance to connect with buyers? and 2.  My paranoid side was certain that "experience" was just a front, and that they were really rejecting me for some other reason.  Some of you might not know but dolls are not exactly seen as hip and cool.

Here's my advice when you are rejected and you start to feel the hair on your back stand on end,   think about it for a day.  Talk to your friends and family for advice.  I was immediately in a bad mood after receiving the rejection and proceeded to tell everyone in ear-shot.  More than one person told me to see if I could write back and explain the situation: that I have experience, but nothing currently, because I moved to Mexico.

The next day when I was clear headed and calm I did exactly that.  I responded to the rejection email explaining my situation.  I went back and found all my contacts for my old wholesale accounts and included them in the email.  At first I heard nothing and assumed it was a lost cause but then...then...yesterday, I received an email, and it said "we have reviewed this additional information and would like to welcome you to Etsy wholesale!"

Well as I'm sure you can tell I was over the moon excited!  I have since set up my wholesale account on Etsy and am working on a to-do list of things to improve the overall look of my shop.

First order of business is to get a new photography set up.  Currently I am taking photos in my closet and some days they come out ok and others they come out dark no matter what I do.  Second order of business is to create a better working environment.  My work room is bare bones as I haven't done much decorating since I moved to Mexico.  Etsy wholesale requires you to post photos of your work space and really I'm not ready to share the ugly space I work in.  This weekend I'm hoping to remedy that with a new table for photography as well as some shelves, curtains, and art to make the space more visually appealing.  

Stay tuned as I will be sharing my experience on Etsy wholesale with you.  I have no idea at this point if I am going to even receive any business but I sure hope so.  If you are interested in wholesale for your business, but don't know much about it, check out this article as well as this guide on the Etsy blog.