Marketing Bust

Ok, the Crafster "special" was a bust - not a single sale and the clicks were not that good considering the cost (25% off from the usual $24). It was an experiment - and it didn't go. Local sales are doing well and if anything increasing. I'm keeping busy so maybe its a good thing. I'm doing better with word of mouth than I am anything else. It's really cheap too!
My husband was busy with a new marketing try-out using Project Wonderful and putting in a few select ads. This is an interesting concept and has a lot of Etsy members doing it. It is a lot cheaper than the Crafster ad.
Meanwhile I've been busy doing a special "dog" tote with an embroidered dog on the side. It's completed, but I don't have pictures of it yet. It should be up by this weekend. We've been busy trying to get a "store" up using ZenCart. Lots to learn here , and we've been trying out different things on our local server as a test case. One of these days we will go live on that. New and bigger pictures! We have been thinking of various methods of increasing hits on the web site; not sure what the best thing is yet. More internet searches to see what is out there.

First Accessory

I'm into first this weekend. I just put out an eyeglass case which matches the tote and handbag that I just made. I'm still in the process of designing my "animal" bag. So many design choices. I'm looking to do some embroidery on that one.


Its a really miserable day here and the leaves are really starting to come down. I usually take pictures both in a lightbox and outside. In the beginning I tried some different scenes, but I'm not sure it really worked out that well. Still experimenting with different things. I'm still not entirely happy with the pictures. I've had help with all of the pictures. I guess you can't trust the help. Of course the kids and husband are not getting paid for the duty. You get what you pay for. Thought it would nice to take some pictures without a bag in the picture. That way you can see what is on the other side of the bag!


the OTHER side of the BAG ......................................

Something New

I intend to post this weekend my first accessory. I also finished my latest tote. I'm working on a new one for animal lovers. That one may go to a local retail shop.
I bit the bullet last night and signed-up for a 5 day add with crafster.org. We'll see what that brings in. I'm trying to decide whether to just abandon the internet sales or not. I've done well with word of mouth and I never have a business card when I need one. Back to Walmart last night to buy some more. The Etsy sales have not been staggering. Infact after over a month I'm still at zero and the views have been going down. Based on the local response I don't think its the product but the ability to get internet sales. My husband and son has been driving all of the web site stuff, but they keep saying that they have a lot to learn. I knwo they have been using google analytics to track things. Anyway we will see if the ad does anything.
No matter what happens at the etsy shop, the web site is here to stay. We have a lot of good ideas but need more time (lots more time!) to implement them. I do have a running link with fabrics on-line that I would like to expand. If you have some good links let me know and I'll include them

Oh well, I tried something new a few days ago - and it didn't work.
I found a neat site, crafster.org and posted a few pictures there. I was hoping to to get some feedback and comments. I got it and I didn't like it. I was put in limbo (at least it wasn't hell) because I violated the rules. I simply followed what I saw in a lot of posts and put up what I was doing and followed it with the blog link. Wrong move. I can't do that.
Oh well, it didn't work out.

A matched set

My other job (the one that pays the bills) has kept really busy this week.
I have not been as productive as I've wanted to be.

I really love this new fabric and I'm in the process of creating a matched set.

The handbag is made but I'm working on a matching tote.
I've been thinking about some additional accessories for it, but that will take some additional thinking.

I think I will have to wait for the weekend for that.

Sewing machine and embroidering

The capabilities of my new sewing machine is awesome. This will allow all kinds of new opportunities. I made a special pumpkin tote which I did with the new machine.
I recently completed a back with the Notre Dame name on it which also was done with the new machine,
As you can see in the pictures, I can now add the Ladybag name to all of my handbags.
I'm not sure how this is all going to work out. Just the local orders are starting to keep me really busy. I would love to hear from anyone about some of my latest designs. If you've bought one of my bags I would like to hear about how they are working out.
Well, I better get back to work now.

Links to My Etsy Store

Still trying to get my Etsy store to get noticed. Here is a gadget I found which works here.

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade myLadyBags.etsy.com