Etsy sell? And Etsy Sale!

Etsy, Etsy, Etsy.  We have a love hate relationship, but mostly, these days, just hate.

I love that Etsy offers an easy, straightforward approach to putting your items up for sale.  I love that my customers can use paypal, but can also use their debit and credit cards also.  I love that I can offer gift cards for purchase, and set up coupons.  I love that there is some pretty darn cool stuff, even though sometimes you have to wade through some somewhat strange stuff.

One of my many baby headbands at 13 Plum!

I hate that it is so saturated.  I hate that trying to search for something only pulls up the biggest and best of the shops, leaving the smaller ones with items that are just as wonderful in the dust.  I also hate that you can apparently sell things that aren't even handmade (even though the rules state otherwise), and that if you tack the word "vintage" it automatically becomes Kosher to sell.

One of my diamond scarves...I currently have it in 4 other colors

I have many sales locally, through Facebook, and through my booth at a gift shop in a town about an hour away, and even on Twitter.  But seriously, getting sales on Etsy is next to impossible, I don't really have the time to sit and constantly monitor and promote, and I don't like having to pay to keep my things listed.  I think I'm going to be doing things differently this year!

My favorite pair of barefoot sandals!

 This year, I would really like to get a few of my things into some local stores, and am going to take the steps necessary for that here soon!  My plan is to get my headbands into some local gift and boutique stores, as well as my dishcloths into some gift/kitchen stores.  Those are both things I can make fairly quickly (at least compared to things like blankets and shawls), and sell well.

I had no idea these little headbands would be as popular as they were...I could hardly keep up with orders!

I would love suggestions on other online venues for selling.  I know of Artfire, and HyenaCart, but am sure I am missing some others that are equally impressive.  Please comment and let me know if you have some favorites!

This scarflette is another of my favorites!

I will leave my things up on Etsy for a bit longer.  I'd like to sell them all before just pulling them down, though.  So starting today, everything in my Etsy shop, 13 Plum Knitting, will be 25% off, with the coupon code "JAN2013".  But only if you order through Etsy!  Stop by, take a look, and order somethings! Be sure to share with your friends, and please, what are your favorite online selling venues!?