Thursday, January 22, 2015

New Year New Beginnings

Whether you are an avid resolution setter, or a firm believer that New Year's resolutions are a waste of time, I think we can all agree that there is something inherently fresh and new about the first month of the year. Something that urges us to look forward, not backward and forge ahead into what we hope to be a bright new beginning, no matter what we have left behind.

It is also a perfect time to take a fresh look at your shop. Take your heart out of the equation, put on your business hat, and look at it from a completely impersonal viewpoint. What do you see?  What would you feel about this shop if  you had stumbled on it during a search? Is it inviting? Is your bio and shop policies up to date? Are your shop sections still relevant? Are your featured items really the first ones you want potential customers to see? Look at every aspect with an impartial eye. Perhaps you need to re-take some photos or update your banner. What is working and what is not? Evaluate your sales data from last year. What was your best seller? What was your worst? You may decide to add or remove some inventory completely. What needs to change to accomplish your goals for 2015?

These can be daunting questions and it is easy to get our hearts in the way of a good business decision. And this is a business. Even if you think of your Etsy shop as more of a hobby than anything, it is still a business. It requires record keeping, inventory control, shipping and receiving, customer service......It is a business. You are the heart and soul of your business but you must also be the head and brain that leads your endeavor to success in the coming year. This may mean making some hard decisions and tough choices or it may mean you are exactly where you want to be. Whatever you find, it will have been worth your effort and will map your course for 2015.

Much  success to us all!!