You Can't Sell What You Don't Have Listed

I have heard people a number of times in the etsy forums, joking about not being able to sell things that you don't have listed. I'm usually pretty good with getting things into my etsy shop soon after making them....until recently. It seems this new blog, that I really am enjoying, takes up a bit more time each day than I had anticipated. In the evening when I would normally be listing or renewing things in my shop, I am busily ticka-ticka-ticking away on my little computer...putting all of these wonderful words of wisdom on my blog.

I've noticed that I'm having a hard time finding balance between tending my FourDogDay shop and tending the blog....and the blog seems to be winning....and that is not allowed. What will I do when I reoopen MyOtherShop in a few weeks? Hmmmmmmm.

My etsy business, FourDogDay has to come first. My shop has brought me so much joy and has filled such a void for me. I love creating and I love owning my own business. It gives me purpose.

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago my husband found these cute little bowls at a resale shop that would make perfect Fun and Fancy pieces for my shop. I've blogged about them before. Well, I had also stopped at an estate sale and had found a couple of wonderful plates. I was excited and made a Fun and Fancy with one of the little bowls and with one of the plates and set them aside to dry. Well that was 2 weeks ago and it doesn't take that long for the glue to dry!

This morning I was blessed with a snow day and didn't have to go in to work. I made my to-do list and the first thing on it was to photograph and list those two pieces. I got the house cleaned and took the photos. The ones for the little bowl were not great, but I thought I would just get the two things listed and then redo the photos tomorrow.

I got them both listed and started experimenting with some decoupage and went back to my shop a couple hours later to find that the little bowl Fun and Fancy was sold! Holy cow...that was a nice surprise. I never expected that. I have sold a number of them, but never that fast. I did that little etsy happy dance and shared the good news with Irv.

I posted in the forums about what happened and did some laughing when I found out that I am not the only person that makes things and doesn't list them. It seems to be a common malady. I kept working on my other stuff and went back to etsy and NO WAY....the other one sold too! This one however sold because someone heard me talking about the first one in the forums and went to see what I was talking about. She fell in love with the other one and bought it.

First, I am going to hit the resale shops tomorrow to buy supplies to make more Fun and Fancy pieces. When I make them, I will allow them the proper drying time and then I will list them, because you can't sell what you don't have listed!