Do you sell the totes/purses that you make?

[PAQuilter]

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.

[slamb13]

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

[grannyann]

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

[Auntpiggylpn]

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!

[Sandy Navas]

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.

[nyscpa2be]

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

[Jean Sewing Machine]

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.

[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.

[Hulamoon]

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.

[bubba]

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.