Team Member Interview: sarahndipities

Sarah Anderson of Sarahndipities on Etsy

Name: Sarah Anderson
Location: Mount Pleasant, UT
Etsy Shop: sarahndipities
Website: www.sarahndipities.etsy.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sarahndipities/
Blog: http://sarahndipities.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sarahndipities1

Rachelle: Tell me a little about yourself.
Sarah: I'm a stay-at-home mom of five children, and I'm married to a wonderful school teacher husband. We live in the small town of Mount Pleasant, in a 114-year-old Victorian farmhouse, and I love it here!

Right now I'm the Primary Chorister in my Ward....I love it! I've been the chorister several times during my adult life...and I used to be an alto...but after singing Primary songs every week, my voice has changed!

I have my degree in Graphic Design and Illustration from what is now Utah Valley University (back then it was still UVSC). It's been a great degree to fall back on...and has helped out a ton with PTA projects and parade float designs. Seriously.

Rachelle: How would you describe your work/shop? Who should definitely stop by?
Sarah: I make lots of fun crocheted items like hats, scarves, and shawls. I like to make things that people will actually use and wear. I also love to sew and embroider, and make and sell small toys and ornaments using felt and floss. I've recently started crocheting toys for my own children and may give that a go at some point, too!!

Sarah's favorite item from Sarahndipities

Rachelle: What brought you to Etsy?
Sarah: One of my husband's colleagues asked if I ever sold my creations...She mentioned Etsy to him as a great place to sell things online. About a year later, after we moved to Mount Pleasant, I decided that I didn't have anything to lose...The only person who was missing out on an opportunity was me...so I stopped worrying about what people would think, and I started my business!


Rachelle: What keeps you motivated?
Sarah: I have craft ADHD. I can't stick to making one single kind of thing for too long or I go nuts! I think that changing things up often really helps me to stay motivated with the business side of things! Plus, I never run out of things to do. Boredom just doesn't happen here.


Rachelle: Any tips for other sellers or things you wish you had known when starting?
Sarah: Be patient and be consistent. Things don't happen overnight, and they definitely don't happen without consistency and effort! Don't get discouraged and don't give up! Sometimes things don't go your way...just hang in there. And be nice to others. Even when you don't feel like it.

My favorites from sarahndipities on Etsy

Rachelle: What are your three favorite Etsy shops?
Sarah: One of my favorites is ArtisanMaskers - sort of shameless self-promotion here. The shop is technically run by my sister! She and my other sister, a sister-in-law, a cousin, and a couple of friends make and sell papier mache masks there! It's a really fun (and different) outlet for my creativity...and I recently began creating digital collage prints to sell in the shop as well!

I also love EmmaLamb
- Vintage and retro inspired crochet items with lovely colors!

And I also really enjoy TwoEms
- Fantastic collage paintings with wonderful colors!

Rachelle: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Sarah: Oh, man. In ten years I'll have a 20-year old, an 18-year old, a 15-year old, a 13-year old, and a 10-year old. I suddenly feel old myself! I hope to have a happy family and comfortable home life. I hope to be continuing to have fun and having creative outlets. And to still be sane. That would be good.

How to Manage an Effective FACEBOOK Page

As I’m sure you’ve noticed, just about every business has a Facebook Page.  Businesses don’t have a page just because it’s the popular thing to do; it’s a way of getting into the world of your potential customers.  A Facebook Page centralizes quick links to your main website and contact info, it showcases desired photos, and can even connect customers who can share personal stories of success with your product.  Best of all – it’s free!
All you need is a little bit of time to set up the page and then spend a few minutes a few times a week to check how things are going.

Facebook Page Set-Up

If you want a Facebook Page, but don’t have one yet, here is a great link specifically for Etsy Sellers.  Be sure to set up your “MyEtsy” section.  Here’s what mine looks like:

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The MyEtsy application shows your banner with your shop items.  If they click on an item, it will take them directly to the item’s listing in your shop at Etsy.  Also, if a page visitor clicks on “Share,” then their Facebook post will include a link to the same item’s listing at Etsy.  Handy, don’t you think?
When you have at least 25 fans, you can get a shortened link address.  This makes it much easier to share your site address.  When logged into Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/username.  Select the Page that you are giving a username.  If you click “Check Availability,” it will automatically assume you want it if it’s available, so be sure to pick something you like and can easily remember.

Regular Check-Ups

Now you’ve got a page. 
Here are some tips of what to post and how to encourage visits and comments on your page.

• Post Lots of Links
• Etsy Treasuries (featuring you, one’s you like, some you’ve made, etc.)
• Blog posts (if you keep a blog, this is a great way to announce that you’ve posted something new!)
• Blog features (include links when other blogs are featuring your shop)
• New Items in your shop
• New shops (promote friends, family and fellow-sellers!) – tag their Facebook Page in your post by using the “@” symbol just before their page name

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• Showcase “1000 Words” (Photos) – Pictures are a great way to get people to look!  For most people, it seems to be easier to process photos than reading words.
• New items
• New logos
• Current Items (sometimes posting a photo of an item that’s been sitting in the shop can give it new activity.  Better yet, post a new photo of the same item)
• Plans – sometimes you can spark interest by sharing a photo (just give them a hint, not the whole plan!) of something you’ve got in the works

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• Be a Person, Be Personable
• Respond to comments left on your page in a timely manner. 
• To quickly check if anyone has made a comment, click on “Notifications” in the menu on the right side of the page. 
• If there is anything new, there will be a number (how many notifications you have waiting) that will be floating at the end of the word “Notifications”
• Be friendly
• The Etsy world gives us a unique opportunity to give personalized customer service even to people across the world
• Show that you care about them as a person as well as a potential customer
• Share Success
• Ask select customers if they wouldn’t mind taking a photo of the item they purchased from you and linking it to your page.
• They can also share by uploading a photo to your page

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Those are the three main things that I do to keep my page engaging.  I’d love to get more ideas!  If you do something on your Facebook Page that works, please leave a comment and share with our readers!

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www.annavirginiafashion.com

www.facebook.com/annavirginia

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