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September 22, 2009 | By Kristin Walters

Here in the marketing department at handmadenews.org, we’re all about helping YOU find new and successful ways to market your handmade shop. There is one group of sellers on Etsy that does the same, but with a different twist – the S.N.E.A.K. (Sneakers Notorious on Etsy for Attacking with Kindness) team.

What makes this team unique is that they seek out sellers with zero (or few) sales, and then organize a “sneak attack.” Members of the team – and anyone else who wants to participate – go www.handmademovement.com at scheduled times throughout the week to find out which seller is being highlighted. Then, they visit that shop to view, make purchases, and promote.

Do these sneak attacks really work, you might ask? The team reports that in the past year there have been 147 sneak attacks on a total of 241 shops, resulting in 2768 sales. How’s that for results in one year?

Though a sneak attack isn’t a long-term marketing solution, it is very valuable in that it lifts the spirits of the sellers and can give them the boost they need to forge ahead in their shop. These previously “unknown” sellers are also meeting a supportive team of people who can help them with advice and tips as they go further in their handmade career. In my opinion, that has the potential to be worth more than any sales they may get that day.

One marketing tip I can’t stress enough is to join a team (on Etsy) or guild (on Artfire). I’ve personally found it to be a great way to get honest, one-on-one advice and feedback from other sellers. I’ve learned more in a shorter amount of time from my fellow teammates on Etsy than I have reading tutorials and tips online – plus, I’ve been able to ask them questions when needed. It’s also been an excellent treasure trove of marketing tips, mentoring opportunities, and even the occasional sale.

Artisan Michael Phipps started these sneak attacks just about a year ago, and the S.N.E.A.K. team was soon to follow. On Thursday, September 24, they are throwing a big party full of giveaways to celebrate. To learn more, and to enter, visit them at handmademovement.com. The “big celebration” may be this week – but the sneaking up on sellers will continue long after. Make sure you visit handmademovement.com to see how you can support them in the future!

For years I have been using USPS’s priority boxes to ship all my orders. The best part is the Post Office supplies you FREE BOXES! Yes, free! There are a multitude of sizes, with flat-rate being the most popular (flat rate is the same price regardless of weight). If you process the postage order online with the click-and-ship option, you save $. Plus the buyer has an opportunity to track their item online. It’s win-win-win. I <3 free!

USPS Priority boxes

How cute are these??? I need them! From SoapyChica in the UK. Click pics for her website.

Sellers- your packaging is important! Buyers love getting little present-like packages, so show these in your listings! Use one of the picture slots to include a shot of how cute your packaging is. Especially now the holiday gift buying season is upon us, many shoppers (me included) are suckers for super cute packaging. This may give you the edge over your competition for the “gift for mom” spot (or any other).

MYBEADSCLUB.COM is doing a great contest, which gives winners a chance to have their design published!

Prize
WIN a FULL years membership to My Beads Club (worth $100) PLUS the chance of your design featured in a NEW book to be published this Autumn.

Theme
We are looking for a “Vintage Style” Jewelery item from the eras 1920  to 1980 . ie Necklace, bracelets earrings, brooch etc.

Entrants
Please supply step by step instructions with materials needed and tools and a clear photo of the finished piece in an electronic format. (ie one that can be emailed). The winner and the top 30 designs will be featured in a new book called “Simply Vintage” to be published this Autumn.

Rules:
Closing date is Oct 31st.
Designs must be your own work. No more than 5 entries per person.

All designs to be emailed to sales@mybeadsclub.com by midnight Oct 31st .

If you are one of the lucky winners you will be asked to give your permission to the publisher to include your design in the book.

All designs published in the “Simply Vintage ” book will be accredited to the designer by name and their own copyright.

Photos need to be in jpeg format and instructions in a word document.

Winners to be announced by 7th Nov 2009 and contacted via email, the publishers decision is final.

All 30 successful entries will receive a complimentary electronic version of the ” Simply Vintage” book.

So contest or not, if you haven’t already checked out “My Beads Club” it is SUPER awesome so check it out here!

Glade has a really cool contest going on for visual artists/designers. They are looking for designs for their new tin candles. The winner gets their design mass produced around the country and $10,000! I can’t wait to buy some of these, the submitted designs so far as super cute.

http://glade.com/tinsContest/design/

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PRWeb.com

To help members prepare for the busy holiday shopping season, ArtFire has launched their Global Product Editor for sellers. This simple-to-use tool allows ArtFire.com artisans to quickly make mass changes to their inventory to run sales, adjust for changes in cost, and make seasonal changes. Such a useful and time efficient feature has never before been offered by a handmade venue.

With the Global Product Editor Management tool, Pro users on ArtFire will be able to easily change the price for a selection of their inventory to reflect a sale, or change their shipping costs to reflect an increase in postage expenses. They can quickly modify item titles and tags for search engine work and optimization, or move items into different studio categories for better organization. They can even use this tool to change where their items appear on the site, moving them into new gift guides, site categories, changing the primary color to allow for different results in ArtFire’s Search by Color feature, or setting different target genders and age groups.

“This tool will change the way artisans mange their inventory, making it easier for them to have complete control of their business,” said John Jacobs, CEO of ArtFire.com. “Artisans have been asking for this tool for a long time, and we were happy to be the first to give it to them.”

More about ArtFire

ArtFire is the premiere handmade marketplace on the web, and is known for its customer service and consistent innovation. ArtFire runs on a system of Community Directed Development, in which member feedback and suggestions are implemented into the direction of the site. On ArtFire, members have direct communication with developers and influence the types of projects built. This Global Product Editor was designed with member input to reduce the time required for artisans to manage their business during the upcoming holiday shopping season.

Do you sell on Etsy?

Want to know if one of your designs was featured in a treasury?

Craftopolis!

Want to know when the treasury has open spots for new submissions?

Craftopolis!

Want to know if one of your designs has been featured in a Gift Guide?

Craftopolis!

Want to see who “hearted” your shop?

Craftopolis!

This is one site you’ll fall in love with!

Innovate Every Day

You need to be able to think innovatively beyond the startup stage. Here are 3 ways to stay creative.

In the sink-or-swim environment of startups, daily innovation can weigh heavily on your mind. Here are three ways to think creatively–well past your startup stage.

Ask better questions. Write down present and future goals for your business, then simplify strategies on how to get there. “It takes effort to think clearly in terms of what’s simple, what’s practical and what works,” says Scott Jeffrey, managing partner at creative problem-solving think tank Nonbox Consulting. Jeffrey and his team asked, “Do we really need an office?” and through brainstorming created a virtual office, giving each member freedom of creative space.

Utilize every facet of your resources to reach a larger audience. A little goes a long way when your assets are constrained, explains Jon Chait, partner at VC firm Dace Ventures. Use free technologies, such as online videos, social networking and discussion forums, to get your name out when you’re in a crunch. Also, pick and choose when to splurge on a big advertisement in a media outlet.

Seek feedback. Your main goal is to benefit your customers, so go directly to the source and ask what they’re looking for. Keep your eyes and ears open with online surveys, research your competitors’ moves and successes, and put yourself in the customer’s shoes. Jeffrey says focusing on a core customer group can make you strong competition for the dominant players in that industry.

http://www.bust.com/Craftacular/BUST-Holiday-Craftacular-2009.html

Every day there is a question regarding legalities of using licensed characters or images.

Here’s the final answer…

YOU CAN’T DO IT!

Let’s briefly speak of the ethical side of things. Think about if you created a character and sold it to a person, then they turn around and put it on a tee shirt and sell it on Etsy. You’d be pretty pissed, wouldn’t you? Then why is it any different for someone using Twilight or Hello Kitty images?

Some have argued that because they are using a “big company’s” images it doesn’t *really* impact them like it would impact an indie artist. Does it really give one the right to use it? It is still profiting off someone else’s creation. It’s not the best way to go about things. Why not create a new character of your very own? There must be a million ideas floating around in any creative’s head, why not use those to your advantage? Plus, your own artwork and ideas are what set you apart from all the other sellers online.

The other side of the coin is the legal aspect.Obviously, the government is going to be the best information you are going to find out there. Don’t waste your time posting on forums “Is this legal?”…go here and read for yourself!

http://www.copyright.gov

Infringement of copyright²

(a) Anyone who violates any of the exclusive rights of the copyright owner as provided by sections 106 through 122 or of the author as provided in section 106A(a), or who imports copies or phonorecords into the United States in violation of section 602, is an infringer of the copyright or right of the author, as the case may be. For purposes of this chapter (other than section 506), any reference to copyright shall be deemed to include the rights conferred by section 106A(a). As used in this subsection, the term “anyone” includes any State, any instrumentality of a State, and any officer or employee of a State or instrumentality of a State acting in his or her official capacity. Any State, and any such instrumentality, officer, or employee, shall be subject to the provisions of this title in the same manner and to the same extent as any nongovernmental entity.

(b) The legal or beneficial owner of an exclusive right under a copyright is entitled, subject to the requirements of section 411, to institute an action for any infringement of that particular right committed while he or she is the owner of it. The court may require such owner to serve written notice of the action with a copy of the complaint upon any person shown, by the records of the Copyright Office or otherwise, to have or claim an interest in the copyright, and shall require that such notice be served upon any person whose interest is likely to be affected by a decision in the case. The court may require the joinder, and shall permit the intervention, of any person having or claiming an interest in the copyright.

Yes, those licensed images are VERY popular and sell. Yes, you could risk selling your unlicensed products using those images and hope you don’t get caught. Yes, you could and you could also get sued and be in financial ruin because of a dumb decision. Is it worth it?