Etsy's Featured Seller - SandraKay

If you're like me, you love to read the interviews with Etsy's featured sellers. The story doesn't end there though. How about post-interviews with those sellers to learn about their time in the spotlight? Here's an interview with the creative and talented SandraKay, featured Augsut 25, 2008.

What do you think are the reasons your shop was chosen to be featured?
I had received an email from one of the administrators, Adam. He stated in his email that he thought my shop was "fresh" and wanted to have me as a featured seller. While there are others who now sell lunch bags I was the first. I work at making each of my bags special and a little different then just a lunch bag. I work hard at providing a quality item. At the time that I was picked I was also listing or renewing 2 items a day and participating a lot in the forums. I had also just bought a light tent and all of my photos were pretty good compared to when I first started. I also had worked on making sure that my descriptions and shop policies were current.

What was your reaction to hearing that you'd been chosen?
I truly was jumping up and down. It really felt good that my hard work was noticed.

Since you couldn't run to the forums to tell us, who was the first person you told?
My husband. We have been married 20 years and I usually share with him first. Then I ran to the phone to call my sisters and mom.

How much time did you have before your feature and what did you do to prepare?
I had a week to prepare. I had the interview question to work on. I also prepared my shop by evaluating all my photo's and descriptions. I retook a few photos and had even sewn up a few more bags.

What affect did the feature have on your shop during your time? Since then?
Ah the big question. I have seen this discussed in the forums many times. Many who have not been featured feel that being picked is the magic a shop needs for success. While I did get a lot a attention while being featured. I have gone back to the same level as everyone else now that I am no longer in the spot light. The first few days of being featured I received a ton of emails. Mostly from really nice people commenting on how they liked my shop. I also received a lot of emails asking for donations to different causes. I received a few whole sale inquires, which only one became an actual sale. I had about 20 sales during my 2 1/2 days as featured seller. Things are back to normal now business as usual, slow but steady.

Anything else you'd like to share about your experience?
Being the featured seller really was exciting. I was on cloud nine for days. I felt like a celebrity with all the emails coming in, there really were a lot! It sort of was like a dream come true. I had always secretly dreamed of being the featured artist for Mary Ingelbreit's Home Companion so being the featured seller for Etsy was pretty close!




Any links you'd like to share?
My flickr account
My blog I haven't updated in awhile but it is on my list of things to do.
Best of luck to all at your turn on being the featured seller!


Congratulations to SandraKay!

Read more of my interviews with Featured Sellers here.