Holiday Success Boot Camp Catch-Up Week 2 & Week 3

I'm here, I'm here. I feel like I am always playing catch-up lately. I planned on participating in the Holiday Success Boot Camp weekly but well my best intentions feel through. I still am totally interested in improving and love learning about selling on etsy so instead of giving up since I am behind... I am gonna catch-up. I notice that not all the tasks are things I need to do or apply to me, and some I am happy to see I have already implemented so hopefully catching up will not be that hard.

Some of the assignments have to do with marketing and planning - so for now I will just say if I was able to complete the task, not so much go over all I did on it.

Week 2

*Read article - completed

*Make list of most popular items - completed

*Brainstorm new products that you will be offering this season- LOL... I am ALWAYS brainstorming this one, and since I am an admitted craft addict- sometimes even if I don't already make it, I think "Oh I could do this....". I have however made a short list of items I am going to get started on for this holiday season that will be new to my shop. So - completed

*Find boot camp buddy... hmmm anyone need a boot camp buddy? Still looking. Sent an invite to someone I found in forum so might have one- always happy to have more than one if someone is still looking or deciding to join late =)

*Post in week 2 forum thread - complete

Week 3

*Read article - completed

*Consider ways items can be personalized - thinking

*Fill in the Blank : get something done you have been putting off. I actually DID do this today... I made some iPhone/phone covers over 3 months ago one day when I was in a small project, which equals instant gratification, mood. I got almost all of them listed today. I still want to continue to list, for I have so many completed items already that I could list 5 a day a month straight and not be caught up... but am determined to try. Thing is I also continue to make new stuff! - completed

*Six Secrets Success Exercise- Wow, this article is just what I needed- really, I went to read it just so I could write my "completed" but this hit home. EXACTLY- I am going to be just who I am, and continue to surround myself with GOOD PEOPLE and trust my gut more. This article is worth the 5 minutes to read if no matter if you are doing the boot camp or not Six Success Secrets With The When I Grow Up Coach - completed

*Check in with buddy- working on that (read week 2 buddy assignment)

*Get Head Start on Your Holiday Stock - I actually dug out some patterns week (ok honestly I am moving and going through paperwork and found them and then put them aside to start making for the holidays- lol). I am going to be working on projects this weekend. - Started

*Post in week 3 forum thread - completed

I am going to do the rest of my catching in the morning. Going to wrap this up and spend a bit expanding on a few of these- like personalization ideas and narrowing down exactly what I want to make for the holidays- first to sell online and second to sell locally (then to make as gifts).

Above is a peek of one of the iPhone Cozies I listed today... listing is HERE

Love that is says "PASSION" -amen to that... exactly what hit home in the "Secrets" post... PASSION is key to success.. PASSION for what you do, PASSION for being of service to others, PASSION for life!

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Week 1 Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp

I am excited to be participating in the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp. Each week there will be tasks (aka homework) to complete to get the participant's etsy shops ready for the holidays. I am planning on posting here on my blog each week- telling about my completed assignments and also hoping others will join in and we can encourage each other along.
This is week one (which started on Thursday and new weeks will start on Thursday) and the first thing to do is that the pledge- so here is mine~

I, __Meredith "craftyGAgal" Crosby __, pledge to participate in the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp to the best of my abilities. I vow to check in every week, do my homework and support my fellow Holiday Boot Campers. I will read the weekly newsletters and blog posts, check in on the weekly forum thread, read the weekly blog post, check off the checklists and salute the mascot. I promise to share what I've learned with those who need it, support my fellow Etsy indiepreneurs and, most of all, have a positive and persistent attitude. I understand that together we can spread theword about our handmade and vintage goods, making this holiday season a more unique and meaningful one to gift givers and give-ees everywhere!

Next I was to vote for a mascot for the boot camp out of these choices here. I voted for the camo monkey since it is crochet- which I love to do and the boot camp is kinda like a military thing and I thought the camo fit!

I am proud to say that the next task I had already implemented a while ago and it really is a valuable tool- Google Analytics. Even if you are not participating in the boot camp I highly recommend setting up your google analytics to track your etsy shop. You can see where your visitors are coming from, how long they are staying, what are most popular pages, which promotions or marketing techniques you are using are working and which are not and much more. I LOVE google analytics.

Lastly, besides posting in forum and encouraging others, is to come up with a "Holiday Mission Statement". In the assignment is says this Holiday Mission Statement is defined as:
"Why are you working your butt off this season? What is your motivation?"

My Holiday Mission Statement is as follows

"To use my hands and heart to make and sell handmade items at affordable prices to make people smile. I plan to work hard to not only sell to financially help my family but to also bring joy to others when they receive a handmade items made by me- either from someone else or as a special gift of love to them self. I also will continue to craft because it is the best means of dealing with my chronic pain, it is an outlet for my emotion, it keeps my mind busy and makes me feel useful. I will look for opportunities to "give back" and preform acts of kindness this holiday season."

I know maybe this is not exactly what they had in mind- think it was supposed to be more business oriented but that is a Holiday Mission Statement I feel good about. Yes making money is nice; in fact at this time financially in my family with my husband being in the struggling construction industry, it is more than nice, it is a necessity; but I never craft with the thought of making money- I do craft with the thought of making someone smile or feel loved. This I am perfectly ok with. I also am a firm believer in being kind and thoughtful pays off- in more ways then one.

I would love to know of any other etsians joining in the Etsy Success Holiday Boot Camp! Please be sure to leave a comment if you are and if you are blogging about it so I can support you!

I am off now to comment on the forum- the last actual task.
SMILE!

Speaking of boot-camp and the camo monkey- here is a camo baby hat I make that I think is so cute, I have everyone from hunters to military families love and purchase this hat

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