I have an etsy store. I don't know what fit of genius made me sign up for it, but it has been almost two years and I still haven't done anything with it other than make a logo. Go me for making a logo, but not nearly enough done. My intent was to make little things to sell, so I could happily knit without it needing to be a sock pattern or a sweater.
Of course, I don't have the foggiest idea about selling my hand knits. I have tried in the past (and have tried selling jewelry and handmade candy) with mixed success. I'm hoping that selling on Etsy is better than selling at a place like a church bazaar (random example, because I haven't tried selling at a church bazaar, but I have friends who have) because the buying population is more educated about the products.
For people who are already selling on Etsy, is that true? Do you find that you have better sales or better customer interactions because you are dealing with other knitters, jewelers, craftspeople, etc. who know what goes into the products?
Heck, what things do you know you could make but are either too boring or not boring enough to make? Things you would rather buy than make yourself. My brain pictures placemats when I write this, because after making a set of 4 cross-stitched placemats I'm not sure I could make myself do that again.
Of course, I have ideas for things to sell, but it is hard to know what kind of audience really uses Etsy. My previous selling experiences have mostly involved complaints about materials used - mostly people who don't want to buy wool for any number of reasons (scratchy... umm, feel the malabrigo; hard to care for, etc.).
Maybe I will sell fantastical things. More likely I will sell little dog and cat toys, hand woven scarves, pillows and other little things. More research is needed.
