JULY: The ZMACS Etsy/CraftSeller Promo Swap #5

Launch gallery slideshow

Group:	Zines, mail art & other cool stuff
Swap Coordinator:	TangleCrafts (contact)
Swap categories:	Crafts Promotional Handmade
Number of people in swap:	3
Location:	International
Type:	Type 3: Package or craft
Last day to signup/drop:	June 22, 2014
Date items must be sent by:	July 14, 2014
Number of swap partners:	2
Description:
(image above shows a stampified notebook plus 5 promo packs of upcycled postage stamp button badge with business card, by @TangleCrafts ) The ZMACS Etsy/CraftSeller Promo Swap #5 Do you sell your crafty creations at fairs, markets and/or through Etsy (or other online) store? This swap is designed to spread the news of your creative genius a little further afield! You will send each of your partners 5 mini promo packs which they will then share with their own customers. You will also send a slightly larger gift that is representative of your wares for each partner to keep, as a thank you for passing on your samples. Each promo pack should include: a business card a small promotional sample which gives an idea of the kind of thing you sell Promo samples should be something that is easy for you to make multiples of but is still a good representation of your merchandise. They should also be small/lightweight so that your partner does not have to increase their shipping costs to mail them on, eg mini-zine, postcard, greeting card, bookmark, stickers, button, badge, cellphone charm, mailing labels etc. Please make sure your business card will not be separated from its promo item: seal in a cello bag, use card as hang tag for a charm, staple card to your item, etc. You don't want the eventual recipient to be wondering who made your awesome creation, you want them to know who you are so they can come & buy more! The extra gift for your partner should be something from your store that usually retails at $5 or more (this can be one item or several combined). * The idea is that you will give away the promos you receive in this swap FREE to anyone who buys something from your own craft stall, Etsy store, or posts to your blog giveaway (or however you prefer to arrange it) etc. It's a fun way to give your own customers a little extra something with their purchase at the same time as helping to promote a fellow ZMACS crafter. :) Swap requirements You must have completed 30 Type 3 swaps to join this swap. You must have no late swaps on your dashboard. Please link to your online store in your profile. Your store must sell handmade items rather than supplies (a mixture is okay). Each promo pack comprises 5 business cards attached to 5 small promo items. In addition to the 5 promo packs, send one larger item (available in your store for a minimum of $5) as a gift to each partner. Send on time! As always Late swaps & low ratings will all be checked before assigning partners. Contact me if you think there might be a problem. This is a time-intensive swap, so please be aware of that before signing up. This swap is not profile specific, so you can start putting promo packs together before partners are assigned.

Discussion

BetsyPreston 04/18/2014 #

Background for my question: Until now, I have only been a buyer on Etsy. But I have been making stuff that I hope to sell. This may be just the boost I need to move to the next step of posting them online for sale and getting business cards.That does mean that I have no actual customers. Yet.

Qqqquuuueeessstion: Would it be okay for me to pass along the promo kits to POTENTIAL customers instead of actual Etsy customers? Friends and penpals etc whom I think might be interested?

TangleCrafts 04/18/2014 #

That is fine by me. The main things are:

that the items you are selling are available at the time the promos are swapped (ie your storefront will be set up by the time partners are assigned and not still an idea you're working towards )
the promo packs you receive in the swap are forwarded on to potential buyers

So long as you do have a sales outlet yourself, I think it's fine to pass on the promo packs to other interested parties. Or you could save them to send to your very first Etsy customers - I don't think it really matters if it's another month or two before they move on, so long as they don't sit gathering dust for years!

BetsyPreston 05/18/2014 #

haha! I hit my max number of swaps so I have to clear a coupla out before I can sign up. But tonight I DID take pictures of the Etsy items I'm hoping to sell. I can spend the time waiting to make room for this swap actually getting myself out on Etsy and ordering some Vistaprint business cards. I started some "sample" items, but I'm not happy with the way that is going, so that's another hurdle to cross...

BetsyPreston 05/24/2014 #

I OPENED MY STORE! AND I ORDERED BUSINESS CARDS! THREE SALES SO FAR! WOOT!!! I also have an idea for some more products, which led to a much better idea for a promotional item. I am rolling and ready to sign up for this swap!

Also, THANKS for the idea to post my etsy store on my profile. Duh, but I never thought of that.

TangleCrafts 05/26/2014 #

Awesome - congrats on taking the plunge! I've just favourited your shop but well done on getting sales already; it can often take a while for the first sales to trickle in, so you're off to a great start! :) Hope we are partnered so I get to see your promos. :)

BetsyPreston 06/ 1/2014 #

I made my partner gift, and my 10 promotional items. The business card for my shop is deliberately vague, since I don't know what products I'll be adding over time. I think now I need to make some kind of flier or zine explaining what I do have for now.

I had three sales the weekend that I opened my shop, but none in the week since. My announcement in the Facebook Midori-style notebooks groups definitely drove that traffic. Now I need to think about other marketing ideas!

papermoon 06/ 3/2014 #

I love this! I'll have to see what kind of time I have over this month and whether or not I can whip up some promo packs. :)

TangleCrafts 06/ 4/2014 #

Hope you can join us! :)

BetsyPreston 06/ 8/2014 #

I hope you join us, too!

TangleCrafts 06/ 9/2014 #

P.S. @papermoon I just checked out your Etsy store - cool stuff! :)

papermoon 06/11/2014 #

@tanglecrafts Thank you! I wrote up a plan of the things I COULD do for this swap, so all I need to do is find a weekend I can set aside, and then I'll join :)

TangleCrafts 06/25/2014 #

Sorry for delay in signing partners - I've been away from home & it just slipped my mind!

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JULY: The ZMACS Etsy/CraftSeller Promo Swap #5

Launch gallery slideshow

The ZMACS Etsy/CraftSeller Promo Swap #5

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This is a time-intensive swap, so please be aware of that before signing up. This swap is not profile specific, so you can start putting promo packs together before partners are assigned.

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