Monday, September 30, 2013

Creating Success from the Inside Out: Tracking Sales Goals

I hate selling.  There, I said it.  It's awkward for me, I'm shy, and basically a dork.  That's why the internet has always been my salvation.  I can sell AND hide behind a curtain of code in the process.  This has its advantages and disadvantages.

File:Puzzly at the computer (RTL).svg


But I wasn't always like that.  My Catholic high school (rock stars at sales, by the way) had me going door to door to sell $25 daily raffle calendars.  They gave away really cool prizes (okay, Champion sweatshirts - yes, I'm dating myself) for meeting different levels of sales goals.  And you know what?  Man, did I hustle for those sweatshirts.  I was one of the top sellers.

 

Before that, I sold everything from beach towels to greeting cards.  Granted, I had the "cute little kid is at my door, how do I make her go away" thing going for me which tends to rack up sales.  But I believe that what really helped me be successful is the fact that I had a goal to meet (a prize) and I was willing to hustle for it, tucking away my shyness for the good of the goal.

I was pondering this the other day after reading an article about the importance of setting sales goals.  In comparison to the sales experiences of my more youthful days, it dawned on me that I'm not using a similar approach in my business.  I do track my sales very carefully, but I don't often look at the total (usually once a year when doing taxes) and I only have one lumpy goal for the year (and no prizes!).

I decided that I'm going to set a sales goal for each month and I'm going to write that in a spreadsheet.  As I make sales, I will deduct it from the goal and track my progress in real time.  I think this is going to be a good way for me to associate directly what I do every day with the outcome of meeting a tangible goal.

If you already do this, then I want to hear more about your sales goal awesomeness -  please share your experiences and wisdom in the comments below.

If not, join me!  Set a sales goal today.  Think about all the ways you can make that sales goal happen.  Even determine what your "prize" or reward to yourself  will be upon meeting your goal.

If you happen to be a jewelry designer, Flourish and Thrive Academy is going to start a free "20 Sales in 20 Days Challenge" today (9/30).  Acclaimed jewelry designer Tracy Matthews and her marketing guru partner Robin Kramer are going to share a multitude of ideas/tips/tricks for getting more sales.  You can go here to join:  Flourish andThrive: 20 Sales in 20 Days Challenge

Happy Selling!

Friday, September 27, 2013

Where To Find The Hudson Valley Etsy Team This Weekend

How about a little trip to Woodbury, New Jersey this weekend? Woodbury is just south of Philadelphia which means a little balmier temperatures - a weekend of mid 70s and sunny? Count me in! But don't worry, we have a team member selling local, too, scroll to the end of the post for a Hudson Valley event.

Anjali Creations and Merry Alchemy will be selling their jewelry at the Fall Arts Festival in Woodbury, NJ, this Saturday, September 28, from 11AM-6PM and Sunday, September 29, from 12-4PM.

The Fall Arts Festival is a celebration of the arts with a weekend of over 300 Artists, Artisans & Craftsmen featuring Five Stages of Free Music, Acoustic Music Lounge, Performing Arts, Fine ARTS Gallery, Gourmet Foods, Interactive Fun for Kids and Adults, Wine & Cheese Experience, Craft Beer Tasting, Art Battles, Chili Cook-off, Cake Wars & other Creative Activities.

Here's a small taste of Anjali Creations' pieces:
Anjali Creations
Anjali Creations


Anjali Creations

 And here's Merry Alchemy:
Merry Alchemy
Merry Alchemy

Merry Alchemy
If you're staying in the Hudson Valley this weekend go check out the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Harvest Fest in Bethel, NY, for their Rustic Craft Event. New Prospect Pottery will be there selling her beautiful pottery on Sunday, September 29, from 11AM-4PM.
New Prospect Pottery
New Prospect Pottery
Happy shopping!

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Hudson Valley Etsy Treasuries - Hudson Valley Etsy 9.26

Treasuries are a great way to check out many of our items at once. See more of this month's Etsy treasuries from Hudson Valley Etsy here: September Etsy Treasury

'Into the Pumpkin Patch' by ThePudgyRabbit


5 dozen mini Harvest Cookies - 30 Scarecrow & 30 Pumpkin cookie nibbles - CraftedCookies
5 dozen mini Harvest Co...
$20
Pumpkin Hat, Knit Pumpkin Hat, Baby Pumpkin Hat, Child Pumpkin Hat, Halloween Hat, Fall Autumn Hat, Baby Photo Hat, Kids Knit - NevadaKnits
Pumpkin Hat, Knit Pumpk...
$20
Vintage Style Pumpkin Earrings, Antique Copper, Halloween Earrings, Fall Earrings - Vintage Pumpkin - merryalchemy
Vintage Style Pumpkin E...
$24
8oz. Pumpkin Spice Roasted Almonds in Gold Tin - CloudyCityNuts
8oz. Pumpkin Spice Roas...
$7
PUMPKIN Hand Dyed Yarn Merino Sock Weight Orange - spinningmulefibers
PUMPKIN Hand Dyed Yarn ...
$23
Halloween Victorian Gothic Lady Skeleton Necklace - Lenore - Love After Death - pulpsushi
Halloween Victorian Got...
$21
Sugar fondant pumpkins - edible Halloween cake decoration - edible pumpkin cupcake topper for autumn / fall x 8 - GreenCaligo
Sugar fondant pumpkins ...
$8.5
Halloween Cat Silhouette Art Cut Paper Greeting Card - arwendesigns
Halloween Cat Silhouett...
$6
Pumpkin and Sunflower Seed Brittle with Herbes de Provence - catskillcandyco
Pumpkin and Sunflower S...
$15
Newborn Crochet Hat Infant Girl Baby Tan Flower Beanie Hat  Taupe Orange Yellow Brown Bouquet Autumn made to order - MyStitchInTime
Newborn Crochet Hat Inf...
$11.5
Printable Children's Halloween Costume Party Pack / Set - silentlyscreaming
Printable Children'...
$15
Felt Pumpkin set of 3 - Autumn harvest home decor - handmade felted pumpkin - FeltStory
Felt Pumpkin set of 3 -...
$20
Pumpkin mustache stickers, no carve jack o lantern, Halloween decoration, set of 4 - saralukecreative
Pumpkin mustache sticke...
$5
Gluten Free Paleo Pumpkin Spice Bread Loaf, Almond Flour, Raw Honey,  Made to Order - CoconutMocha
Gluten Free Paleo Pumpk...
$30
Kitchen decor Pumpkin soup Food art poster Orange 8X10 print Watercolor vegetable painting French cooking Botanical - lucileskitchen
Kitchen decor Pumpkin s...
$30
Large Book Page Pumpkin - Orange Thanksgiving Table Centerpiece Decoration - Fall and Halloween Recycled Decor Upcycled from Old Books - AnthologyOnMain
Large Book Page Pumpkin...
$30

'Autumn leaves' by landmstudio

Lollipops Suckers Candy Colorful Red Blue Yellow Child's Room Wall Art 8x10 Print "Suckers" - LawsonImages
Lollipops Suckers Candy...
$27
Vintage 60s coloured suede red mustard yellow and blue stripes patchwork hippy belt - PennyDreadfulVintage
Vintage 60s coloured su...
$18
Detroit Fordite Necklace - Recycled Vintage Auto Paint - Red Orange Yellow Sunset Shield Medallion on Sterling Silver with Hidden Bail - walkonthemoon
Detroit Fordite Necklac...
$74.5
Fall Leaves Wonderful Wacky Leg Warmers - LizaJaneNorman
Fall Leaves Wonderful W...
$55
Asian Glass Trade Beads Red and Yellow Old - africadirect
Asian Glass Trade Beads...
$49
Strawberry Lemonade - Handcrafted Lollipop - catskillcandyco
Strawberry Lemonade - H...
$14
Apple box hand painted in acrylic - polymer clay fruit - your choice of any color - granny smith, red delicious, golden - amberhlynn
Apple box hand painted ...
$25
Medium Zipper Pouch Cosmetic Pouch Pencil Case Guitar on Red Barkcloth - handjstarcreations
Medium Zipper Pouch Cos...
$12.5
Friends, Peppers Photo, Minimalist Photography, Square Fine Art Print, Whimsical Vegetables Red Orange Yellow - j2studiosphotography
Friends, Peppers Photo,...
$15
Carrot Mini Monster OOAK Crochet Doll - knotbygranma
Carrot Mini Monster OOA...
$24
Popping Red Candy Glass Pendulum Earrings - aStudiobytheSea
Popping Red Candy Glass...
$27
Child's Red and Yellow Super Hero Costume - JulieMarieKids
Child's Red and Yel...
$50
2 Inch Martingale, Red and Yellow Plaid, Sighthound Collar, Greyhound Martingale, Whippet Collar - GramaryeCottage
2 Inch Martingale, Red ...
$24
Red Bird, Yellow Bird - InkandBrush
Red Bird, Yellow Bird
$20
Slim Cosmetic Pouch Floral Zipper Bag Accessory Pouch Coral Red and Yellow Pencil Case - BizzieLizzie
Slim Cosmetic Pouch Flo...
$14
1950's Tin Picnic Basket Storage Tin Box  Container Red Green Yellow Plaid Double Handles - kelleystreetvintage
1950's Tin Picnic B...
$49.5

'Remembering' by handjstarcreations

Pale gray and golden necklace - limited edition necklace- pastel and gold " Round and round" - aplusdesignnn
Pale gray and golden ne...
$25
Colorful Blooming Yazma Crochet Lace Triangle Women Accessory Scarf Beadwork Crochet Accessories for Women, ReddApple Back To School - ReddApple
Colorful Blooming Yazma...
$29
Words with Friends, Original Abstract Art, 16x20 Canvas, Acrylic Painting, Wall Art Decor, Canvas Word  Art - NatsExoticCreations
Words with Friends, Ori...
$82
Repurposed and Recycled Sweater Shrug, Earth Tone Pixie Faery Floral Design with a Serged Woodland Elf Hood, Women's Size Medium - lovemadevisiblestore
Repurposed and Recycled...
$38
Deer Antler Chandelier - Painted Iron with Natural Rust - CustomAntlers
Deer Antler Chandelier ...
$395
Crochet circle necklace -  voronoy cells in violet, lilac and ivory - Fnine
Crochet circle necklace...
$32
meerwiibli white knit spinning rose dress size small to medium - meerwiibli
meerwiibli white knit s...
$148
Explosion-print - KijoStudio
Explosion-print
$20
Fine Art Photography, Still life photography, Camera photo, Camera print, Camera art, Old camera, Home decor, 8x8(20x20cm) - PhotographyDream
Fine Art Photography, S...
$22
bird madonna- original painting - roseymorris
bird madonna- original ...
$1200
Mixed Metal Alex Necklace - UnnamedRoad
Mixed Metal Alex Neckla...
$12
Coffee Kitchen Art Print--Espresso Cup--From Original Oil Painting - workingwoman
Coffee Kitchen Art Prin...
$35
Dark Womens coat - dark brown and red stripes coat with Goblin Hood and tall collar - CUSTOM SIZE - Malam
Dark Womens coat - dark...
$345
Spring Nectarine - Handpoured Soy Candle. Mouthwatering, fruity and earthy. Gift idea, home decor. Unique fragrance - aromacandles
Spring Nectarine - Hand...
$12
brown capelet crochet  touch on your shoulders -  Shoulder Wrap - vumap
brown capelet crochet ...
$55
Coyote Skull 5x7 Archival Quality Print Nature Photograph - subtleacts
Coyote Skull 5x7 Archiv...
$14