Do you sell the totes/purses that you make?

I've been making medium-sized tote bags and trying my best to sell them. They are well-made,quilted, and attractive colors. Everyone that sees them says[ATTACH=CONFIG]50621they are "beautiful", yet I have not sold any of them. My hairdresser has them in her shop too, but none has sold there either. I would like to know if any of you have tote or purse patterns that you are selling "like hotcakes? I don't want to get rich selling my things, but would like to be able to "support" the habit that I really enjoy doing. I will try to post pics of the most recent totes that I have now.


Ok, I give up! Grrr this the only one that I can get onto here. Here is my Etsy page: http://www.etsy.com/shop/PAQuilting?..._shop_redirect.

I think your totes are lovely and your price is reasonable. I have heard that it's very hard to sell on etsy since there are so many listings on there. Have you thought about trying a craft show this Christmas season instead? I've done those before at local churches and done well with my greeting cards and decor items.

Susan

Your totes are just made beautifully. I have no idea why they wouldn't sell.

I sell on Etsy also. I've only sold 5 items and have been on there since March. I have several people "favorite" my items but never buy. (Of course, I do that with other sellers items also!). Do you check your daily stats to see the traffic to your shop? I average 10 to 25 visitors a day. One day I had 81 but I think that my listings were put in a random feature by Etsy. There are thousands of sellers on Etsy so it is difficult to make sales. I do make a concerted effort when I am looking for a specific item to buy, I always check Etsy first. I like to support the individual artist before I go to the mass producers. But not everybody thinks like that.

im going to try a craft fair this fall, just to see if it is worth my while. Good luck and yes your items are very nice!

Beautiful totes - love your fabric choices; however, I would leave the bow off completely. I think that makes it a bit too 'fussy' and people may think it would catch on things . . . JMHO. Otherwise - GREAT going.

With Etsy, I think its all about promotion, and making sure people know that you have things for sale. There are so many sellers that it can be hard for a consumer, especially one who is uneducated about the way Etsy works, to find what they are looking for.
I do love the colors of your bags, but wouldn't get one personally. I am as clumsy as they come and can just see that pretty bow getting caught all over :)

They are so darling, can't figure why no sales! Except I assume the competition on Etsy is fierce, some people offer their stuff so cheap, it isn't fair to the seller who is selling items priced to cover the costs of the quality materials plus labor.

I agree with what Jean said. I think the purses are really cute also. They are tastefully done. Honetly, I don't know how Vera does it.

I think they are cute and I agree Etsy is hard since it got so popular. I will have to agree on the bow. It seems like a little girls purse, which wouldn't be bad if you advertised it as that.

I do sell my tote bags. It started off by me making myself a purse (with a bow!!) and then somebody wanted one of those. Then I made myself a bow tucks bag and about sixty people wanted one of those! I could make those in my sleep. The first one I made myself took about six hours, I can do one start to finish in under two hours now.

I have seen people selling this same tote on Etsy and they are priced at $40-$45....I sell mine for $65 and they tell me I need to charge more! Mind you, mine have fake suede for the bottoms, theirs are all cotton. I don't know if they are actually selling theirs on Etsy, but I know, I sew mine as they are ordered, with colors chosen by the buyer (I pick the fabric out).

I have now designed a pattern myself and yesterday I got two orders on that one without even trying! I was just carrying it around. People have stopped me in stores to ask about them....I really need to get business cards made.

As far as your bow goes, I like it....some may not, as shown here.

G-morning Karen . . try this on for size -- and change your price up to about 32.95 or higher -- whatever your comfortable with


these are your keywords ---
Tote Medium Floral Quilted Orange Yellow Bow Tote Bag Medium Padded .

change them to --

handbag - purse - tote bag - quilting - summertime fun - birthday -
wedding - bridesmaid - gift - event - flowers - orange yellow - orange poppy
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this is your title -- Quilted Floral Tote Bag Medium


change it to -- POPPY flowers - floral handbag purse totebag Sophisticated and Chic

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for your description --- maybe try this ----------- HOWEVER -- measure the drop of the shoulder strap -- to be sure -- the 12 inches I listed is just a guest on my part

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Pretty and Sophistication
will be the chat of your Summertime luncheon
showing off your chicness with a double knotted Bow

The beautiful poppy print is 100% quilters quality cotton fabric.

approx measurement -- 16"w x 12" h with a roomy 4.5" gusseted bottom
The shoulder straps are padded and measure about
1 5/8" wide -- with a 12" drop

this handbag has 2 layers of interfacing
giving plenty of body - allowing it to stand upright;
along with a gusseted bottom.
The matching bow is sewn into the seams for durability.

The inner lining is quilted and has 4 roomy pockets,
including a slim pen/pencil pocket.
also included is a matching Decorative button with loop closure.

Spot cleaning recommended, hand washing and air dry if necessary.

Handcrafted by Karen
Custom orders are welcome


as with all of my handcrafted items - made in a smoke-free studio.

---------------------------------------------------------------

I hope something like that helps . .

also -- from now and until -- about -- mid September sales will be very slow -- so don't be discouraged
you can also add little things to your listings -- such as -- Credit or business card holders to match the handbags

just a thought :)

Diane, if I ever need it, can I hire you to write my life story? BRILLIANT.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sew Perfect

I agree with what Jean said. I think the purses are really cute also. They are tastefully done. Honetly, I don't know how Vera does it.

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I like the bags. So cute. I like the bow too. Nice touch.

I don't sell my bags, I've only made 3 ... one for me and two were gifts. Thinking about making another, it also will be a gift. I don't know about selling them. Have you tried Ebay? You can set a price there too. When I buy fabric, it's always a set price.

I have made a few for friends..fabric of their choice and asked for a small fee for time so only like $10...but it wasnt for me to make big bucks just a bit

Thank you Sandy:
however . . I'm looking for someone to write mine . . LOL*~ . . well, actually it's the lives around me .. if I ever wrote a book...
peeps would not believe any word of it . . with just peeps on my road -- it would be at least 2 or 3 chapters . . L*~

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sandy Navas

Diane, if I ever need it, can I hire you to write my life story? BRILLIANT.

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Very pretty, have you tried to sell on Face Book? A friend from church does very well on her Face Book. Good luck keep at it
they will sell, then you won't have time to do anything but totes.

Ahhhh, you girls are all so kind! Thank you all for the compliments. When I see my bags I see every flaw that I know/think is there, but everyone else thinks they are great-which is what counts.

Diane/CountryHut- - Wow!! Thank You!!! You are good girl! Tomorrow I plan on updating my Etsy account with your suggestions. How do you come up with that?

Update: The girl that cuts my hair called and said that there is a lady in town that has opened a new shop that has gardening pretties and home decor stuff. She wants me to see her about putting table runners and such in her shop. I did a drive by this morning on my way home from work and it looks like really nice things in her windows. I'm kinda excited-going to see her tomorrow too. Also found a pattern that is a smaller bag, with snap closed top, not the small magnetic snap, but where the entire top of the bag snaps open and closed. Called Snap Happier. Looks like it should be inexpensive to make and also fast and simple. Which should result in a less expensive bag which will hopefully appeal to more folks.

Again, I appreciate all of the compliments and suggestions-which I will be looking into each and everyone of them.

I believe that pattern is the one that you put the tape measure in and it snaps shut. I have made one for a raffle for Relay for Life. Be very careful when working w/the tape measure because you can easily cut your fingers!! The way it works is very ingenious!

When you make it, buy the tape measure at Harbor Freight...you can pick them up for a lot less there. Also, instead of spending two hours trying to take the case off the tape, just pull the tape all the way out and then cut it!!! Don't ask me how I know.....