A Customer Service Reminder...

Good morning everyone! Gahhh! I'm sorry I just disappeared yesterday! I needed a little me time! I spent the day with my father and had a wonderful time! I spent virtually no time on the computer and lo and behold 5 sales! I was also able to create some new pieces while the kids spent time with grandpa!

A Bit Chatty Necklace by MCW 14.00

Have you ever called a customer service number only to be put on hold for what seemed like DAYS? It's quite annoying isn't it? Think of our convo system as our little customer service number! We need to respond in a timely manner. I KNOW that it's hard to respond rapidly, heck some days I don't even get on the computer until really late at night, but it's our job. Maybe put in your announcement how long it takes for you to reply to convos and if they have not heard from you to try messaging you again. If you will not be answering all day, go ahead and put that up there. When i'm gone for the day, I mention that. When I am keeping business hours, I mention that. When I am on vacation, I mention that. Keep your customers informed. I like to also mention my AOL instant messenger name and I keep that updated when I go out for the day too. I will also be adding on my email address today too since i've heard sometimes convos don't get to where they are going. It's good to keep everyone informed! I can't stand walking into a store and the only clerk working is in the backroom chatting away on the phone. It's not fun to have to wait, but if there were a sign that said 5 minutes, then I would understand! Let's try and run our businesses more efficiently! Have a great weekend everyone!

It's Here! It's Here!!!

Economy Booth Banner by MonsterPromos

Today I am taking a break from my normal posting schedule, due to the excitement of my new banner arriving. My husband ordered me a shop banner for Craft shows from the wonderful and awesome MonsterPromos on Etsy! It's absolutely fabulous and since it arrived quite delayed, it was no longer a Christmas Present, but an awesome YAY you're FABULOUS present! So I figured today would be a great day to acknowledge all the AWESOME customer service I have received from fabulous people on Etsy! This could be an amazingly long post, so I have to try and keep it short! I know I myself did not purchase from MonsterPromos this time around (I have purchased from them before though), but my husband raved about how great she was. The mail took a turn for the worst and she was ready to ship out a new banner!! My husband waited on the old one and it did show up. Great contact all the way through! Which is more than he had to say about a lot of other Etsy Shops that he bought my presents from. Too bad, he also had other great experiences too.
My next rave is for SewInLove. My husband purchased a money apron from her that I had in my faves and it's GLORIOUS! The workmanship is totally making me think she is UNDERCHARGING! hahaha!! It's made so well, very sturdy and lots of pockets for holding STUFF! I can also use it for Garage Sales! I'm taking it to have my shop name embroidered on it too! Very prompt shipping here too!

A+ work goes to JennGee, who made an AWESOME and super sturdy Coffee Corset! My husband bought this one too. It's thick and really does keep your hands from getting too warm!! I've even loosened it a bit to slide over my Venti Passion Tea from Starbucks, because it's too cold for my hands in the winter! haha! I've coveted one of these for so long, but of course never got around to buying myself one!

Windy1824, must be an angel among Etsy Sellers! She is one I have had to deal with on my own and it's been awesome! I had her make up my business cards and stickers and fell in love with the customer service. Even when she's busy with other orders, she keeps me in the loop. When I ran out, I emailed her and she had a listing up for me in no-time! I ran out again and this time I added in some earring cards and bag tags and she did them up so fast!!!! She also ships ASAP.

More fabulous, beautiful and great work awards go to MousseAuChocolat. I got some awesome knit goodies from her and they are funky beyond all reason! I looove them! I wear them every time I go out in my casual wear and I get compliments all the time! Fabulous!! I could go on and on, but I better wait for another day, otherwise this will be the worlds longest post and these sellers won't get the spotlight they deserve if there are too many to wade through!

Are You Getting Repeat Business? AND I'm a Featured Artist!

Bacon Necklace by MichellesCharmWorld 13.00

Don't you just loooove when your customers gush about your goodies and then COME BACK for more?? How about when they send their friends back? Be sure you are getting your customers back in the door with a few little tips from moi!

1. Business cards. USE THEM! You would be surprised at the amount of packages I get with no business cards! I buy a lot (shop-a-holic) and that means I am getting 3 or 4 packages a day in the mail, I can't remember where everything is coming from!


2. Turn your business card around, see that blank spot on the back? It's begging to be used! write a discount on it, free shipping, free earrings, 5 dollars off! Something!! Remember to keep track of your discounts! Remember my post on this?


3. Send an extra card AND discount and write: FOR A FRIEND! And let them know that if a friend (different address and username) THEY also get something free!


4. Labels or Stickers. Put them on all of your packaged goodies, baggies, tissue paper, whatever you use! Make sure they see your shop name enough to remember it!

5. Shop stamp! Stamp your packages with something that has your logo on it. I've gotten 1 order (only 1, but heck it's 1 more that I wouldn't have!) from a post office employee! She knew I came in every day and knew there had to be something good in the envelopes and she said she loved my pieces I wore to the post office, so she wrote down the shop from the stamp, shopped and bought! STAMP the inside of your boxes too! I've had one sale from someone that bought something that had bought something from me and re-used the box! (Confusing I know).

6. Have a newsletter that people can sign up for and be sure to not spam them, have it come out once a month! Put pics of some of your hot items, a discount coupon and your shop news! Some highlights and what you are working on next. Offer EXCLUSIVE pieces to these people!


7. In one of your reply emails updating on their shipping let them know about your newsletter and offer a sign up sheet for them to sign up and get exclusive customer discounts!


8. EXCELLENT customer service. Acknowledge their order,let them know when you plan on shipping it out and try and leave feedback in a timely manner. Remember my post on this?


Wafer Cookie Earrings by MichellesCharmWorld on Lollishops 6.00

Don't forget to check out the Lollishops Blog this weekend! I'm the featured seller! I will let you know tomorrow in a teeny tiny post if I finally got any sales in my Candy Colored Lollishop Paradise. Remember, I have one heck of a rockin' goodie bag for anyone that purchases from my Lollishop today! Remember ALL my prices on Lollishops have shipping included in them, NO extra charges here!!

Fun Mail

Buttons and Cabochons!

I had a fabulous mail day! I love getting good mail and figured I would share it with you!! I got some Awesome Awesome Etsy stuff! Candy, Cookie and Bow Cabochons from XtraStuff and some super cute buttons from PracticalRabbit. My fave is the FREE HUGS one. Read about the Free Hugs Campaign Here. I figure i'm going to try out wearing it while I do my errands and such and see if anyone notices it!

These little pretties also arrived from LayerCakeShop. I can't wait to work with them!! Shopping on Etsy is always a lot of fun, and I usually never buy the same supply from the same shop more than once. I like to spread it all around, but I have to say I came across some AWESOME customer service lately and I know of one shop where I will be back!! Please remember how important customer service is in the competitive market of online shopping. If you missed it, check out my post about it here.

Shop Vacation?

Vintage Green Train Case from JessJamesJake 38.00
We all need time away, but let's not forget to convey that message to our customers! Todays posting is going to be short and sweet since i'm on vacation for the holiday! Sometimes, we won't have the time to answer convos in a timely manner or ship out same day when we have family over for the holidays. Let's be sure to let our customers know with an announcement in our shops! I will not be returning until very late monday night and have let my customers know that. I will still ship that night all the pacakges that were purchased up to that date, but it's still a few days away and I felt the need to let them know that. I will still be answering questions, but not until the evenings when i'm back in my room. I let them know that too. I usually answer convos within 20 minutes during the day and within 5 hours during that overnight, so I wanted to be sure to let them know I was on vacation.



Remember to treat your customers just as we want those big box stores to treat us :)

Customer Service Is Key

Pretty Bow Bracelets by MichellesCharmWorld

Hello Shop owners and shoppers! Tis the season for Christmas shopping and it has definately begun. It's time to start thinking about our business practices and how we are treating our customers.

Emotions. Keep in mind that while what you write may sound fine in our heads often times can seem rude or patronizing in an email. Internet selling is so difficult because we really don't know the feelings and emotions behind words. I have recently heard back from sellers from different sites that customizing an item to my likes was NOT WORTH THEIR TIME. Yes, said just like that. Maybe they did not intend it to seem so harsh, but it really did stun me for a second. Another message said that the answer to my question was in their profile section and had I taken the time to look there, I would have found it. Very Very odd practices in business.

Questions. Please take the time to answer all your messages, even if they are not something you want to deal with at the moment. I have 4 conversations to sellers out there at the moment and not one of them has replied. I have definately removed items from my favorites and will not be buying from them at this time if ever. Sometimes it's just a quick question about an item, that could be answered in no time. It's too bad really, because you don't know what you could be missing out on by neglecting a response.

Trades. We don't all trade and we may not trade all the time. Heck, I limit my trades to one a month, so that I don't lose out too much on any money. When someone messages you a trade request, get back to them. Even if it's just to say no. I'm so bad about these because I feel so guilty saying no, but I know I have to respond. Guess what? 8 times out of 10, those people have still bought the items they wanted to trade for!! Yay!

Customer Contact. When you sell something to someone, don't forget to thank them for their order! I have been getting really bad at this lately because I get so busy and keep putting it off, then I forget who I messaged and whom I didn't! I am trying to get back on track!!

Feedback. Try and leave feedback in a timely manner. It's pretty hard to get them all in order, but maybe schedule a time or day to catch up on them. I'm sticking with wednesdays! It seems to be the day when i've calmed down from the hectic weekend. As a Buyer please remember to contact sellers FIRST if you have a problem with the item before leaving negative or neutral feedback. It's so easy to fix most problems and many of us are so willing to work with you!

Bows and Pearls Earrings by MichellesCharmWorld