It’s funny. Friends say they want to help me by asking me to make them something custom. They don’t realize that I’m actually the one helping them because if I charge appropriately, they can’t afford it.
Yes! Totally agree! I’ve never liked the term “handmade”, I always use “handcrafted” for my products. I’m glad you touched on the trend of some small business owners to over share about their personal circumstances. One thing that makes me personally cringe, is to label a business as “woman owned” - that’s half the population of the world.
"Oh, isn't that cute! You put little labels on your bibs with your (business) name on them!" Yes, well-meaning- friend, it's an Actual Business. I file a tax return and everything.
I picked up on “authentic”. I’ve been in classes that said when I get a sale on Etsy I need to respond with a couple of paragraphs telling the buyers how much the purchase means to me & my business & provided us with a copy of text to use yeah happy dance. I get that, but not for me! I greet every buyer with my sincere authentic short thank you & respond to any questions. If I get one of those long messages when I purchase online, I don’t read it. Just seems phony & overkill for me. Don’t have time for that. Just want my purchase & good customer service. Don’t yell at me for my opinion 😊😊.
Nah man no judgement from me! I find it pleasant when I get a package I ordered and there's a small "thank you for your business" note in nice paper that's hand-signed. I enjoy being thanked and the personal & human touch there. But more than that would definite overkill - if I got a big paragraph going on about how much it meant to them, I'd feel uncomfortable, like they're either not doing okay and I feel a little concerned and like this is *too* personal lol, or maybe they're fine and they're trying to make it seem like they aren't so I'll feel compelled to buy more from them out of sympathy.
The feeling of people wanting to "help" or that you need their business is exactly why I've never shared my Etsy shop with my personal social media or really anyone. I don't need fake sympathy buys. "Made with love" has always annoyed me as well, lol. Don't try to emotionally munipulate me to purchase.
You are spot on about people not believing that things are “hand crafted”. I’m skeptical myself I’ll admit 🙋 especially since the on-slot of disposable commerce … and the pool of people who will genuinely support handcrafted or artisan items is not big enough to support this explosion of “home made” items (at least that’s my theory). The folks who are committed to shopping small are usually the same folks who purposefully do not overspend, especially on unnecessary items. When they do buy for example, they will buy one bowl (a beautifully handcrafted bowl) but they’re gonna make that bowl last for 30 years so they’re not running out again next month to buy another bowl (unless they break it 🙄). Some makers understand that and build their businesses accordingly to account for the unique purchasing patterns of their customers but yeah, it’s tricky to position a business where we make non-necessary items, especially ones that people feel they can make themselves. Like you and others have said, it’s all about finding that niche, defining your customers and selling your “specialness” to them not the entire world. OH, and the “Cupcake Boss” w/ the whisk 😂🤣 - so funny. Thanks again for the helpful info.
I so appreciate how blunt you are... But I am a little old lady, bahahaha. No I don't use that! The word "Artisan" is such a better term than handmade, which is so 90's... The name Carol DuVall comes to mind who was a lovely person, but that time is OVER peeps. Most of your customers don't even know who she is....Geez, I'm old! Told ya. Have a groovy day.
In your opinion, is a website that has a review page considered to appear more official and professional than one without? Some very successful businesses do not have one, and they are probably thinking it beneath them to have one. I know of one specifically with clothes in the hundreds to thousands $$$ each, no review page.
I don’t think they think it’s beneath them, they probably don’t want to deal with it. I don’t have reviews on my website because i don’t want to have to deal with people who don’t read descriptions, it’s bad enough on Etsy. But reviews are a trust signal to customers and search engines, so you probably should have one.
@@KaraBuntin Thanks, I meant to ask if your site has them; I too feel like NOT having them for the same reason, but I also understand about the trust thing. The search engine aspect of it is news to me. You probably had already covered this in one of your posts, so I appreciate your reply. Been going back and forth on this forever, dang it. ETA, the disrespect given to hand makers is real, and not just online. When I had my tailoring biz on a major street here in town, in a strip mall retail space with big shop windows and all, people said stuff like "How come it's so much, it's just homemade?" ALL THE TIME. This despite the fact that my "home" was 4 miles away, and this was a REAL business. My thought on this is that if they can see the maker, or are able to identify one maker behind the product they don't take it seriously. They equate "made by this person" with "homemade". They feel a "real" biz has to involve a factory, sometimes far away, that they can't see into, or see the employees, or the inner workings of.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
It’s funny. Friends say they want to help me by asking me to make them something custom. They don’t realize that I’m actually the one helping them because if I charge appropriately, they can’t afford it.
Yes I've found that too, we need to toughen up and just say well it will cost this amount or just say your too busy for custom orders, that works too
Yes! Totally agree! I’ve never liked the term “handmade”, I always use “handcrafted” for my products.
I’m glad you touched on the trend of some small business owners to over share about their personal circumstances. One thing that makes me personally cringe, is to label a business as “woman owned” - that’s half the population of the world.
"Oh, isn't that cute! You put little labels on your bibs with your (business) name on them!" Yes, well-meaning- friend, it's an Actual Business. I file a tax return and everything.
Yeah, I'm definitely not making this stuff up! We all come across it in one form or another.
I picked up on “authentic”. I’ve been in classes that said when I get a sale on Etsy I need to respond with a couple of paragraphs telling the buyers how much the purchase means to me & my business & provided us with a copy of text to use yeah happy dance. I get that, but not for me! I greet every buyer with my sincere authentic short thank you & respond to any questions. If I get one of those long messages when I purchase online, I don’t read it. Just seems phony & overkill for me. Don’t have time for that. Just want my purchase & good customer service. Don’t yell at me for my opinion 😊😊.
Oh good lord, the happy dance novel is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen.
It is!! 😂
Nah man no judgement from me! I find it pleasant when I get a package I ordered and there's a small "thank you for your business" note in nice paper that's hand-signed. I enjoy being thanked and the personal & human touch there.
But more than that would definite overkill - if I got a big paragraph going on about how much it meant to them, I'd feel uncomfortable, like they're either not doing okay and I feel a little concerned and like this is *too* personal lol, or maybe they're fine and they're trying to make it seem like they aren't so I'll feel compelled to buy more from them out of sympathy.
You made me laugh out loud when you said the word “whisk” 😂
The cupcake ladies on commercials wield their whisks like a weapon.
The feeling of people wanting to "help" or that you need their business is exactly why I've never shared my Etsy shop with my personal social media or really anyone. I don't need fake sympathy buys. "Made with love" has always annoyed me as well, lol. Don't try to emotionally munipulate me to purchase.
I really connect with your way of thinking! It's like light bulb moment after light bulb moment watching your vids!
I'm so glad!
I agree; people do like the personal communication they can have with small businesses selling online.
You are spot on about people not believing that things are “hand crafted”. I’m skeptical myself I’ll admit 🙋 especially since the on-slot of disposable commerce … and the pool of people who will genuinely support handcrafted or artisan items is not big enough to support this explosion of “home made” items (at least that’s my theory). The folks who are committed to shopping small are usually the same folks who purposefully do not overspend, especially on unnecessary items. When they do buy for example, they will buy one bowl (a beautifully handcrafted bowl) but they’re gonna make that bowl last for 30 years so they’re not running out again next month to buy another bowl (unless they break it 🙄). Some makers understand that and build their businesses accordingly to account for the unique purchasing patterns of their customers but yeah, it’s tricky to position a business where we make non-necessary items, especially ones that people feel they can make themselves. Like you and others have said, it’s all about finding that niche, defining your customers and selling your “specialness” to them not the entire world. OH, and the “Cupcake Boss” w/ the whisk 😂🤣 - so funny. Thanks again for the helpful info.
Just discovered you.
Brilliant 🔥
I really did "laugh out loud" when you said people wanted natural make up like the Kardashians 🤣
I think I probably spit my drink out the first time I heard someone say that, and he was being sincere about it, too.
@@KaraBuntinTutorials oh it's too funny, you have to wonder about some folk these days.
Thank you for this. It's given me a lot to think about. :)
You're so welcome!
I so appreciate how blunt you are... But I am a little old lady, bahahaha. No I don't use that! The word "Artisan" is such a better term than handmade, which is so 90's... The name Carol DuVall comes to mind who was a lovely person, but that time is OVER peeps. Most of your customers don't even know who she is....Geez, I'm old! Told ya. Have a groovy day.
"Groovy" made me laugh! You said so much in that one word!
I'm a little old lady in spirit even if I'm not quite there yet in age (depending on who you ask.)
OMG I totally forgot about her until you just mentioned her 🤣
In your opinion, is a website that has a review page considered to appear more official and professional than one without?
Some very successful businesses do not have one, and they are probably thinking it beneath them to have one. I know of one specifically with clothes in the hundreds to thousands $$$ each, no review page.
I don’t think they think it’s beneath them, they probably don’t want to deal with it. I don’t have reviews on my website because i don’t want to have to deal with people who don’t read descriptions, it’s bad enough on Etsy. But reviews are a trust signal to customers and search engines, so you probably should have one.
@@KaraBuntin Thanks, I meant to ask if your site has them; I too feel like NOT having them for the same reason, but I also understand about the trust thing. The search engine aspect of it is news to me. You probably had already covered this in one of your posts, so I appreciate your reply. Been going back and forth on this forever, dang it.
ETA, the disrespect given to hand makers is real, and not just online. When I had my tailoring biz on a major street here in town, in a strip mall retail space with big shop windows and all, people said stuff like "How come it's so much, it's just homemade?" ALL THE TIME. This despite the fact that my "home" was 4 miles away, and this was a REAL business. My thought on this is that if they can see the maker, or are able to identify one maker behind the product they don't take it seriously. They equate "made by this person" with "homemade". They feel a "real" biz has to involve a factory, sometimes far away, that they can't see into, or see the employees, or the inner workings of.
Whisk😂😂😂
🩵🩶🤍