Saturday, February 23, 2008

Pondering while in the tub....

I just had a lovely bath. It is freezing out (actually snowing) and that is the perfect time to have a hot bath in a deep Japanese tub (with the window open so it feels like an outside "onsen" or hotspring). I put some of my handmade bath salts in and had my fabulous handmade face mask/scrub on and I was sitting there thinking about making some products to sell on Etsy.I love making products and my friends and family have told me I should sell them but I'm still undecided. I had the idea of offering free samples to customers who by paper and other supplies from my Etsy store just to get some feedback on the products or just to introduce the products to people. Any thoughts on that? Good idea? Bad idea? Hmmmm..... Could you answer the poll up on the right hand side please? You can post any comments here. Thanks!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I voted "bad idea," but I wanted to explain why. I think it would be great if you sold your beauty products on Etsy, but it might be best to create a separate store for it. It doesn't really mix with the Japanese stationery goods, so you might not get the right customers then.

maoiliosa said...

i agree with valerie that putting it in a new shop would be best. i voted 'good idea', but that would be my only concern for you!

personally, i know i would love a little sample with my purchase :).

enjoy your bath!

FromJapanWithLove said...

Hi Ladies,

Yeah....I'm thinking that would be a good idea but there is always the problem of getting your name out there and I was thinking since I have a relationship with so many wonderful people with my stationery store that it might be a good idea to offer them samples to get the ball rolling.

maoiliosa said...

yep, it's better than starting from scratch! at least this way, your current customers will know from experience, having received your samples, that you have another shop. since they will have had that connection with you, they are likely to remember the kind gesture and the great bath and body products, and go shop at your new store!

okay, sorry for haunting your blog ^-^

Anonymous said...

I voted good idea simply because I love handmade beauty products...oh and of course some samples would be nice :D

FromJapanWithLove said...

Hey Melissa....haunt away!! :)

Hey Tracy, thanks for voting! I always think "who doesn't love samples?" but still thought I better put it out there and see what others think!

RockerJewlz said...

I say you can't go wrong with free samples and don't know that it's necessary to create a separate shop since each shop can have categories..the great thing about Etsy is that it costs NOTHING to open a new shop if you did!

Aussie in love with Japan said...

Konichiwa from Australia.

I'm an Aussie that loves and studies Japanese at school, and is coming to Japan in the September holidays with some friends. I also think that you should sell you beauty products separately on Esty, its a whole different market to be selling to.

I'm really new to Esty and your store has really stood out.I luv it.Thanks!!!

FromJapanWithLove said...

Hi Rockerjewlz and Aussie...I'm actually preparing to open a website so that I can sell all the things I can't sell on etsy so that is where I might sell the skin care stuff on since I only want to start out with a few products and opening another etsy store with only a few products might not make sense. Anyway, I'm glad for all the comments and will keep you posted on the website!

Anonymous said...

I think it would be a good idea! Especially if you open a separate shop, you could send the samples through your other shop just as promotion for the new one. It might bring some of your customers over to your new shop!

FromJapanWithLove said...

Hey Glamourfae-that is what I was thinking..at least hoping!

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