The Benefits of Trading!

So this morning I had my first official Etsy trade! What a wonderful experience. I have a little posting in my shop announcement and had posted in some forum threads that I am a trade friendly shop so I was super excited when I was contacted. Here are some of the benefits that I found through my trade today:

*It means that people are actually visiting my shop and gave me exposure to potential customers
*It helps to increase your number of sales
*It familiarizes you with the checkout process
*It gave me something to relist
*I had a chance to treat myself to something that I might otherwise have "rationalized" myself out of
*It was a chance to practice my packaging
*I will be able to give and receive feedback

For new sellers especially I think that trades are an excellent way to practice and refine your online selling experience. It is important to know how the process works so you can assist a customer if they need it and when those orders start rolling in you will have an idea of what to do. And of course you get to choose something wonderful to enjoy as well! If anyone is interested in trading with Kawartha Beads in my Etsy, Artfire or Zibbet shops please feel free to contact me!

Get to know....the featured ad space winner!

I had such a blast with the ad space giveaway and enjoyed reading everyone's comments. I think that I might do this again later in the summer and leading up to the holiday season. I thought it would be fun to learn a little more about the first ever winner of Kawartha Beads ad space for a month so I asked her to share a little bit about herself and her blog! Be sure to stop by and check out Life in the Pitts! Thanks to Helena for sharing with us:

Hi guys! I'm Helena, from Life in the Pitts.

This past year I got engaged, got married, and moved across the country so my husband could start Dental School here in Pittsburgh. It was a big year.

It took me a while to find a job (mostly because the job market is tough. But also because I was lazy), and so I started blogging to fill my time. But then I discovered craft blogs.

And became obsessed.

My husband doesn't really approve.

Probably because I keep writing about him.

Life in the Pitts isn't really a craft blog. There are craft blog elements, and I make stuff sometimes. But really? I write about everything.

I host Giveaways, share my artwork with the world, and try to give realistic, meaningful examples of family love.

(I also have an Etsy shop, but it's kind of an afterthought)

And that's me!

Ad Space Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to the winner of ad space for a month Lanie Ree of Life in the Pitts!

comment #15 Lanie Ree said...

And I follow Blogger Chix Designs

Winner has been emailed. Thanks to all who entered!

Front Page Etsy Tags #8

***Every Friday I recap the item tags and themes that have made it to the front page of Etsy. It is important to not mis-tag your shop items but keeping track of current trends and looking at different tags can help a shop owner to get seen!***

Today is the last day to ENTER to win ad space for a month right here at Kawartha Beads!

As I write this post the front page of Etsy features a treasury entitled "Pounce the Tags". The tags chosen were: bumblebee, round, jasper, modern, landscape, barn, kitchen, blue, angora, pearls, elegance, salmon, vintage, country, shabby, cottage.

Also appearing this week:

• inspired by White Linen
• inspired by Geek Love
• Seaside Weddings
• Hint of Magenta
• golden
• Off to Sea
• bark & grass
• The Color Purple
• Waiting for Watson
• scottish red
• green
• hydrangea
• Mint Green Condition
• Mint Tea
• femininity
• Asphalt & Daffodils
• Dark Fairytale
• Throw a summer craft party
• teal & lemon yellow
• Sweet as Honey
• yellows
• cinder & fuschia
• Fancy a cuppa?
• a thicket of brambles
• turquoise & yellow
• Take me to the Circus
• So Peachy
• Old Yellow Farmhouse
• Tea and Cake Please

Have a great weekend!

Tidbits About Abalone

I just finished a fabulous necklace that includes an abalone shell pendant and I was intrigued to find out some properties surrounding it. Aside from its beautiful colours it sounds like it is something that everyone in the creative field should add to their wardrobe!

Abalone is said to provide for boundless growth in whatever you undertake, and stimulate intuition and imagination. For the business minded it is also said to enhance mental clarity and insight and assist in decision making.

Closely connected with family, in particular motherhood, abalone shells are told to be worn on the forehead of Apache girls on the morning of the initiation into womanhood.

For those who take interest in its healing properties, abalone is said to help build and protect the heart and aid in digestion.

What are some of your favourite abalone creations? Do you have another stone that is a favourite of yours?

♥Happy Father's Day♥

Happy Father's Day to all of the wonderful dads, grandpas, and papas out there! Hope you have a wonderful day! Thanks for being our teachers, advisors, instructors, mr. fix-its, and heros!

Jewellery Lovers! Win a pair of Lavender and Lace Pearl Earrings!

You may have noticed the button on my sidebar for Simply Stacie's Spring Bling jewellery event, where wonderful shops and sites have goodies up for grabs! I am thrilled to be a part of the event and have offered up a pair of my lovely Lavender and Lace Pearl Earrings for you to win! Giveaway ends July 2nd so don't miss your chance to win. Just click here to check out all the great giveaways!                                     

Have you entered to win free ad space for a month yet? Just click here. Entering is super easy!