Relate to Buyers – A Little Goes a Long Way

Etsy seller Dahlila, from the shop DahliaFound, began selling on Etsy.com because she found the selling platform to be “very inviting and attractive.”  Dahila said, “It felt like boutique instead of a mega mall. I liked that.”  Dahlila says she credits the look of Etsy.com as what drew her to the site  – “The design and simplicity of use. It’s very attractive.”

“I have two Etsy shops,” she told us, “one for fun cards and crafts and the other for vintage decor and accessories.”

Dahlila says that the most important thing she tries to do when selling on Etsy.com is relate to her customers and be genuinely interested in their needs.  “I want them to have the right color, best card, cutest bracelet to match their dress, the right vintage shoes to wear to the prom! I want it all to work out grand And maybe, if I’m lucky, they’ll come back or share my shop with someone else,” she tells HandmadeMarketing.org.

This Etsy seller takes extra measures to make the difference in the eyes of a buyer.  Below are Dahlila’s ideas:

• Make It Personal. “Add a personal note with their package, even if it’s just a few lines,” she suggests.
• Take Time. “I hand wrap even my vintage items,” Dahlila says, “Tissue paper and a bow goes a long way.”
• Have Fun. “I like fun stickers,” she tells us.  “Sometimes I stick them all over the box.”
• Thank You Stamp. Dahlila told us about her “thank you” stamp.  “I found an ink stamp that says “thank you!” on it,” she sais.  “It never hurts to remind your customers how much you appreciate their business. Stamp it on their card or package box. Even grown-ups deserve a little fun in the mail!”
• Encourage Questions. “Some people are genuinly afraid to ask,” Dahlila told us.  “I say, ask away!”
• Shout Outs. “I Twitter a lot and every so often I throw out a huge “thank you” to my customers,” she says.  “Whether they see it or not, the universe knows.”

How have Dahlila’s tips paid off?  Customer have commented on her efforts.  “It really is heart warming when it happens,” she tells us.  “Sometimes they write it up in my feedback, other times it’s just in a nice e-mail or convo from a browser. It really feels wonderful when it happens.”

Dahlila shared an example of a time where her efforts to connect with her buyer left her satisfied.

“Right now, I have a customer who emailed me about a shawl she has been wanting for quite some time,” Dahlila shared.  “She was concerned about the cost of international shipping.  Once I told her the cost, she disappeared. This happens often, but there was something about the kind way she asked about the item that really stuck with me. This item has had only minimal interest and is headed for the sale rack. In my mind this woman needs to be matched with this piece. They belong together! I’m making her a drastically cut price offer. Then I just wait and see.”

“Another time,” she continued, “I was thrilled to see a customer interested in a cake tin I had. She had a huge matching kitchen set. I was so excited to sell it to her and told her. We laughed that we were bringing all the pieces back to their rightful home. She later sent me a photo. It’s in my feedback. I loved that.”

Dahlila reminds Etsy sellers that relating to handmade shoppers is the reason many started their shops in the first place.  “I am in the business of selling and making money, but if there isn’t some joy in what I do, I can’t do it. I really love matching people up with something they love. I’m a vintage match maker!” she says.

You can connect with Dahlila on her blog or follow her on Twitter.

How has connecting with buyers helped your shop?  Do you have tips for how to make lasting relationships with handmade shoppers?  Have an experience you would like to share with HandmadeMarketing.org?

We want to hear how you relate to handmade shoppers!  Tell us your tips for making the most of a customer’s experience in your shop.  Submit your ideas and tips to HandmadeMarketing.org by clicking our “Join” tab at the top of the site.  If our editors feature you, we will link back to your shop as the source!