Your Etsy crystal shop should make a ton of sales during the holiday season, between October and December. But did you know that you should start preparing for the holiday rush as early as August?
Once October rolls around, it’s time to take action on your holiday plan.
Here are some specific steps that Etsy crystal sellers can take to increase their visibility and sales over the holidays! Even if you’re not on Etsy, these tips can help anyone selling crystals online.
Just getting started?
Check out my 3 simple keys to selling crystals on Etsy
Order crystals and supplies early
It’s October as I write this. This week, I’m ordering enough crystal inventory and supplies to get me through the end of the year. And I should have started even earlier!
This year is different
Right now, the Covid pandemic and other current events are making it harder and more expensive to ship goods from country to country.
That’s a big deal for crystal shop owners. Whether you buy from local or international suppliers, most crystals are shipped from overseas. And most of your packaging supplies are imported too.
What’s even worse – China, a main crystal hub, is experiencing disruption. High fuel costs and shipping delays are reducing the amount of goods that can be shipped from China this year.
What does this mean for your Etsy crystal store?
Act now to make sure you have all the crystals and supplies that you need for the holidays. You don’t want to miss out on the biggest sales season because your crystals are stuck at a port!
By now you should ship your wholesale orders by air, instead of sea, if you want to sell them during the holidays. Even though this is more expensive, you can build the shipping cost into the price of your products. Customers are willing to pay a premium to get gifts in time for Christmas and other gift giving holidays.
Make buying crystals easy AF
Ever heard that saying, KISS – Keep It Simple, Stupid?
Apply the KISS principle to your Etsy shop for the holidays. The easier and faster it is to buy gifts from your store, the more sales you’ll make!
You know what it’s like during the holidays. Once Thanksgiving hits, it’s a rush to decorate… find the perfect gifts for your family and friends… travel or host family gatherings… and don’t forget keeping up with your day job.
By the time someone lands on your Etsy listing in December, they just want to buy a crystal and get it over with! Here are some suggestions to KISS and make it a no brainer to buy from your Etsy crystal store.
Make your Etsy listings mobile-friendly
In 2020, 61% of Etsy sales happened on mobile devices. So, more often than not, buyers are looking at your listings on their phone.
When’s the last time you checked out your listings from the Etsy shopping app? How about a mobile web browser? One thing that’s different is that the listing description is hidden on mobile – a buyer has to tap the description to read it.
It’s super important that you include the most important details, like the name and size of the crystal, at the beginning of your description. And, if you sell multiple variations in one listing, label them in the pictures so there’s zero confusion.
Ship orders quickly
Customers always prefer fast shipping. But for holiday gifts, shipping time becomes one of the most important considerations. They will always purchase from the shop that delivers their gift in time – even if they like another shop better!
How can you get more sales from these last minute shoppers? Here are a few ideas:
Offer expedited shipping
This is the one thing about shipping you have complete control over – how long it takes you to package an order and put it in the mail. If your regular time to ship is over 3 days, consider reducing that to 1-3 days for the holidays.
You can also charge a few extra bucks for the convenience of same day or next day shipping. Just make it clear that the customer won’t actually receive the package the next day… that’s just when you’ll ship it out.
Offer multiple delivery options
Allow customers to choose speedy delivery options like next day, 2 day, and Priority Mail delivery. You can offer a choice of carriers, like FedEx or UPS, in addition to your usual carrier.
Charge the customer for the full amount of the upgraded delivery. You can set this up in your Etsy shipping profiles.
Have a Christmas delivery deadline
Your delivery deadline answers the important question: when is the last day to place an order that arrives before Christmas?
Add your deadline to your Etsy shop announcement and FAQ by the end of November. It’s important to note that you can’t guarantee that a package will arrive by a certain date.
Instead, if a person places an order by that date, you promise to mail the package with enough time to reach its destination before Christmas – unless a delivery delay happens.
Delivery delays are common and you aren’t responsible for them. But, you might avoid some disappointed customers if you set your deadline early, like 2 weeks before Christmas.
Offer gift wrapping
Your buyers are busy. They waited until the last minute to order gifts. Your shop’s main goal should be to make their life easier! One great way to do that is to offer nice gift wrap with your orders.
Go to your Etsy Shop Manager, then click Settings, then Options. There you’ll be able to turn on a gift wrapping option for your shop, set a price up to $5, and add a picture of what your gift presentation looks like. Then buyers will be able to select and pay for gift wrapping at checkout.
The gift wrap option shows up on your product listings. Buyers can also filter their searches for items that can be gift wrapped. So make sure you are ready to fill this need during the holidays!
Have an irresistible Etsy crystal shop
Remember, you’re making it a no-brainer for customers to buy gifts from your shop. This means you have enough crystals and supplies; your listings are easy to navigate; and your buyers are confident the package will arrive before the big day.
Finally, be sure to make a wonderful first impression with your shop. Your shop will look professional and tied together with an eye-catching banner and logo, and the announcement, about section, and policies all filled out. Your crystal photos should seal the deal!
Learn more about standing out in a good way in my blog, 5 star Etsy crystal shop.
I hope these tips help you prepare for a stress-free holiday season! Take advantage of this opportunity to reach new customers and bring joy into their lives! And don’t forget to stop and smell the pumpkin spice every once in a while.
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