Item:  California Note Card
Seller:  AshleyPahl

California Dreaming!

This week, I decided to spotlight an Etsy shop I discovered through a new feature I have added to Etsy Item of the Day.  It’s been a great way to find new Etsy shops!  Anyone can tell me about their shop via my Etsy shop submission page – and many great sellers are telling me about their work!

On Monday, I featured DaintyCreations, and Etsy shop that has darling handmade jewelry boxes listed.  I featured jumbo paper clips selling in Etsy’s PennyGlassGirl on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I featured this handmade autumn wreath from Etsy seller Toni, from Stylishstems.   Yesterday, I featured these yummy handmade french nougats from KettleConfections!

Today, as we head into the weekend, I thought this Etsy card from seller Ashley Pahl was fitting.  Anyone going out of town this weekend?  I could use a trip to a California beach!

Ashley is originally from Michigan, but she just moved to Chicago and Naperville in 2008.  “I went to school to study earth and plant sciences, but somehow ended up with a creative design and writing career,” Ashley said.  “I’ve been on Etsy since 2007 – I started as Ashleybug.etsy.com and I now focus my paper goods as Ashley Pahl.”

When she’s not crafting, Ashley says she loves drinking coffee, baking, climbing sand dunes (cool!), reading, watching The Office, and freelance writing.

I love asking Etsy seller which shops they love to browse.  “I try to spread the Etsy Love around as much as possible, but I really like Letter C Design,” Ashley said.  “Her work is so pretty, there are so many options, printing is fast, and she is really accommodating. As far as labels go, I am a loyal customer to that shop.”

WOW!  What a great shop recommendation, Ashley!  This shop is a fabulous find!

Ashley has three pieces of advice for handmade sellers and crafters:

1. Know who you are selling to: Ashley tells others to research the market, find out who would buy your product, and advertise to them.  “Make sure your potential customers get to your shop. Know the competition, and know how to make your shop the one people will buy from,” she said.

2. Have good photos. “Everyone says it, because it is so true!” Ashley tells sellers.  “Dark, un-focused, and un-edited photos will not bring people in. Also, make your photos cohesive, as part of your brand image, learn how to use your camera, and choose good backgrounds.” Amen sister – I couldn’t agree more!

3. Price your work correctly. “Don’t undersell yourself, or you won’t make a profit. People don’t shop handmade because they want a deal; people shop handmade because they want something unique and something of quality,” she said.

Ashley is currently working on expanding to the wholesale market and getting her handmade items into brick and mortar stores.  How exciting!

“I’m also preparing for the holiday season, as greeting cards usually do best in the fall and winter,” she told me.

If you like Ashley’s work as much as I do, be sure to peep her online!  The card I am featuring today is listed for $4.50 – and Ashley has many other states available!

You can find AshleyPahl on Facebook, Twitter @AshleyPahl, on her blog, or on Tumblr!  You can visit her shop on Etsy.com by clicking her shop name (AshleyPahl) at the top of this feature.

- Jackie