What is involved in a small business product post? My Etsy
business is a solo act. I make, market, and sell my products from start to finish.
Besides jewelry, felting wood and wood crafts I have recently added sewing
products to my shop. Whether working with beads or fabrics the process of
turning out a product to post on a web site is rather involved. I have supplies
and tools for my profession, and like an auto mechanic I have spent thousands
of dollars to build up my supplies so I can customize my products. When you see a necklace or a Christmas
stocking more than likely a dozen different components have gone into the
design and as many tools to assembly the piece. For example, I have on hand
nearly 200 different fabrics and that is not nearly enough! Beside a rainbow of
solid colors I have a limited supply of topic fabrics—one fish, one wolf, one
coffee, one garden, two cats, etc. and invariably I don’t have the just
something a person is looking for—so out to the fabric store for just a little
more to add to my collection. And as soon as the design comes into vogue it
drops out just as quickly.
In making a product there is the initial investment, for
example staying with the Christmas stocking, there is the various fabrics,
threads (variety of colors), sewing machine, cutting board, scissors, elastic.
Then there is the time involved to design a product—probably several failed
attempts—and then the actually making of the stocking. Once the product design
is streamlined the production time can be cut to as little as ½ hour for the
actual assembly process (provided all the pieces are pre-cut and ready to go).
Once the product is finished then a pictures must be taken and some time spend to downloading and editing tocreate an
appealing presentation. The photo must then be uploaded to the site and more
time is spent describing the product in some detail. There is also the expense
of posting, advertising, and a percentage of the sales taken from the selling
of a good. Once the product sells more work is required to mail the product.
More supplies, envelopes, tape, glue, business cards, special notes and
possibly a gift wrapped package before mailing. At the end of the year—provided
there are enough sales—you have the lucky task of dealing with taxes and other
bookkeeping matters.
When you see a Christmas stocking, or pair of earrings,
or a scarf posted on Etsy or other platforms understand that behind that product there
exists tools, numerous commodities to make each product, mailing supplies, camera,
computer, photo-editing software, and the basic knowledge of how to work each
piece of equipment as well as having the skills to make each product. Know that
many hours were invested in learning, buying, sorting, assembling in preparation
for even the simplest of products and all the effort that goes into marketing
once something is made. Profits are marginal at best—some of us hobbyists are
glad just to break even. The joy is in the making, in your satisfaction for our
efforts, and the usefulness our contribution is as a whole. If we have a few
shekels left over to take the grandkids out for lunch it’s been a good day.
Thank you for supporting small businesses!
One corner of my craft room...I have since added "few" more fabric selections...
