I've sold online for 4 years and started a booth last year. I use a QR code sign and liftcards in the booth to direct traffic online, where customers buy way more. The booth is like an in person advertisement where people learn about my local small business... advertising that I make a good profit on.

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

Great tip! Thank you for sharing. Did you build your own online shop?

@julsknapp7192

2 жыл бұрын

@@LostFoundDecor Nope. I sell on Etsy and Ebay while building my online following. Many sales come directly from Instagram posts with messaging and venmo payment now. I think it's worth looking into a business account with shopable images.

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

@@julsknapp7192 Thank you for sharing :) And it absolutely is, that is a benefit from Shopify is that it freely integrates to a Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest shop as well.

I actually love selling on Etsy! You just factor the shipping cost into your price, that’s often why items are more expensive on Etsy, to compensate for the free shipping guarantee. And i do have items I purposely keep just under that threshold, so the customer is then encouraged to purchase another item(s) to get that free shipping. I have had zero issues with customers, and love that people buy at asking price and don’t lowball haggle with you like eBay and other platforms. Etsy honestly is my favorite site I sell on. That being said, the fees do add up but I don’t find them noticeably higher than eBay or Poshmark etc. you can also opt out of the Etsy ads and not get billed for that. Adding streams of income is key, and I’ve just this week started my first booth, and just stocked it today using some of your shelf stocking tips. :) thanks for the great content!

I sell on Etsy and offer free shipping. My items are small and shipping is usually under $5. I do want to mention that if you look on the first few pages of results each time, many of the shops are not offering free shipping...I believe they have dropped the ball on the "preferential" treatment of those who offer free shipping. I see many shops that don't offer it in the first few pages leading me to think this. So far I have had all emails answered within two days...thank goodness. I do agree that I am seeing about 10 percent as the "cost of business" I incur because of fees. I appreciate your video and will look into Shopify as a second option. Thanks so much for always putting out great content!

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your experience! If you ship items that weigh less than 1 lb, you can ship first class and that is $5 or less. But anything over 1 lb base cost of shipping jumps to around $9. Their free shipping guarantee info still says they offer preferential placement, but it could vary in significance based upon what you are selling and how much competition there is for that product. Are the people you are seeing on the first page sponsored? Sometimes it’s paid ads that get those listings there. I am for sure not anti-Etsy, it’s an awesome tool if you understand what you are getting and what limitations you may have. I’m glad it’s worked well for you-I would love to see you with your own store as well!

Starting to sell some VTG items on eBay and have been thinking about opening a booth, your videos have been so helpful! I truly don’t understand how you don’t have more subs…your expertise/advice & how you explain everything is always impeccable and easy to follow!

@LostFoundDecor

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Livia, I appreciate that so much :) I guess it’s the KZread algorithm! But I’m super excited for you and am glad I’ve been able to help!

@LiviaNich

Жыл бұрын

@@LostFoundDecor the algorithm is tough 🙁 but thank you so much! I appreciate your content☺️☺️

Thank you sooooo much. Incredibly helpful as I prepare to build an online marketplace. You managed to touch on every question I had about both platforms and now I feel confident in my decision.

@LostFoundDecor

5 ай бұрын

Great! I am so glad it was helpful :)

Just taking me more notes 🥰

@LostFoundDecor

4 ай бұрын

Great!

GM, Thank You so much for information.:))

Such great info, Melanie! I need the nudge!

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome!

Very timely! Thank you.

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome!

Thank you so much 💓 You have been such a blessing to me on my journey through the doors that God is opening for me.

Thanks for the invaluable information!!

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome!

Thank you for all the info! I completely understand the cons of Etsy! I really loved it when I started my shop on Etsy in 2010. But, wow, things have changed! The percentage that Etsy gets has increased and they now take a percentage from your shipping cost. They actually said "Raise your price" to make up for the money they are taking from the shipping. That's unfair to the shop owner AND the customers! How they put free shipping listings ahead of the rest of ours is so unfair. My shop is still up, but I really don't know for how much longer, unfortunately. I really think the small vintage and handmade shops are being drowned out by big businesses and chinese companies. Its really sad that I may have to leave Etsy, but I'm going to look into Shopify. Thanks for the tips! 😊

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

It has changed SO much. Pretty much anything and everything is on there now. I agree that it makes no sense that they take a percentage of the shipping cost 🤷🏼‍♀️ I hope you look into having your own store, especially if you can connect with your current Etsy customers and get them to join you!

@Queen365

2 жыл бұрын

@@LostFoundDecor I do plan on it! Thank you for all the info in your video! And, as you said, it IS a way to sell your items. I just personally am going to branch out a little, since it has changed so much over the years. I will definitely let my customers know if I am going elsewhere 😊

@chandaharkins4418

Жыл бұрын

That's so interesting that they take a part of the shipping, and it seems really unfair. Thanks for sharing that clearly. I had no idea.

Great information thank you!

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

You’re so welcome!

I'm a long time Etsy seller (over 3200 sales) but took a break for a while. I was getting ready to start selling again, and you brought up so many good points that I had forgotten about. I think I'll keep working on my own shop.

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

Isn’t it great to have options? That’s awesome you’ve done so well on Etsy, I imagine your own shop could be awesome too!

Thank you 😀🇬🇧

Youre a class act lady

@LostFoundDecor

3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much!

Youre a class act lady 👒

@LostFoundDecor

8 ай бұрын

thank you!

This was so helpful! You present the material so clearly and concisely and have provided valuable info! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

You’re welcome!

Thank you for this information. I need to do this but I'm always concerned about shipping costs.

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

Charge for them :) I think with small businesses, people now generally understand we can’t always ship free like the giant guys do.

This is exactly what I was looking for! How do you manage both selling in person and online? Do you have different inventory for each?

@LostFoundDecor

Жыл бұрын

Yes! I do keep different inventory stocks. If I have something in my booth, it’s not also online. But sometimes if something sits in one place for awhile, I’ll move it to the other :)

Good information. Have you ever done anything on eBay? Can you provide information on you boot camp?

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Debbie! I haven't sold on Ebay for a business, only years ago some stuff around my house, so can't speak much to it as a platform. But I would imagine some of the same ideas as Etsy apply--limited access to customers, tough to build a brand, but a great, broad audience for starting out! And you can see all about Booth Sellers Bootcamp here: www.lostandfounddecor.com/bootcamp/ Thanks!

Thanks so much for this video!! I’m currently in the opposition situation where I have a Shopify site and am debating on getting starting on Etsy. While I love my Shopify website, it is much harder to get traffic on there organically without significant ad spend. Do you have any tips for this?? Also what’s the Shopify app called for linking Shopify to Etsy? That would be super helpful!! Thanks again :)

@theresakralik1820

4 ай бұрын

Etsy has similar limitations. It is extremely difficult to drive traffic for vintage items. Ebay delivers immediate sales if the item is desirable and priced fairly.

Hi! Great info! I am just starting a vintage decor online selling business. I just secured a booth at a local antique mall but have been using FB marketplace and Instagram and FB pages and would like to start a Pinterest page so far. I haven't really gotten into shipping yet. Have one person I need to ship a painting to, but that's about it. Shipping is something I've stayed away from but I know that to grow my business I'll have to offer it. Do you have advice for having a booth and a social media presence? Do I need a shopify store, too?

@karenschmidtke8129

Жыл бұрын

Excellent questions. Looking for the same information. All of this is daunting!

How do I sell on Facebook live and use my Shopify account for shipping?

Yes Etsy can take your store off. One time they gave me a warning for an electric coffee pot they said I can’t sell them in the future. Also Etsy charges 20 cents for 3 months and if it doesn’t sell and you need to renew it then it will be 20 cents again each time. I do like Etsy and people feel special when they shop there.

I currently have a booth, and I sell a few things on Etsy. I'd love to start a shopify store and eliminate Etsy altogether. Main question i never see addressed is do I have to keep the booth and shopify separate? I'm so nervous that something will sell online and then physically in my booth before I can pull it.

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, I would keep it separate. Rotate your inventory, or purchase mainly smaller, shippable things for your online shop and try them their first :)

@bohobellevintage

2 жыл бұрын

@@LostFoundDecor Thanks so much!

@vintagedetailsbydonna3984

Жыл бұрын

I just opened a booth in May ('23) and had this happen. I ran to my booth, and the item was on hold at the front. I just told the cashiers it had sold on etsy and pulled it. The booth customer didn't even come back for it (luckily). After a month in my booth, I'm seeing that different things sell there than sell on Etsy, so I think you can divide your inventory accordingly.

Another con of Etsy is that you can't link it to your Facebook and Instagram account like you can Shopify

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

Yep!

Why not Ebay?

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

I have no personal experience selling there, so don’t feel able to speak to it :) But I would probably say similar things as with Etsy… it’s not your own platform, but belongs to EBay. Great playground to play in, but remember it’s not your own and you have to play by their rules :)

@homebodyheaven6114

2 жыл бұрын

@@LostFoundDecor I know. I had a store there for ten years. Used it to help pay off our 30 yr mortgage in ten years. But they change the rules twice a year. And it finally just wore me out with their expenses and rules.

@amysonger2703

2 жыл бұрын

I’ve only ever sold on eBay and I was wondering this same thing. Melanie, you are such a wonderful teacher! Thank you for taking the time to make these videos to help us!

Etsy’s fees are closer to 15%

@LostFoundDecor

2 жыл бұрын

Like I said… hard to peg down 😂 I’ve tried to add mine up and have gotten so many different totals

selling Ebay items on ETSY was the downfall of the platform !

So so helpful thank you!!! Do you ever link your for sale Shopify items on Instagram?

@LostFoundDecor

3 ай бұрын

Yes! My shopify store connectes to FB and IG and will auto-populate those storefronts. Makes it really easy!