All Things Baskets
I started finishing some of my baskets with a water-based stain. It’s easier on the nose and the environment. I still have the previous colors, but am experimenting for the winter. So far they are going over well and my customers are loving them. They will become a permanent part of my collection Check out my Etsy Shop (link below) to see these colors. Available now over there
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BouquetofBaskets
So I finally did it. I changed my website to a business page so that I can sell multiple baskets to one customer and I can break away from my Etsy Store. The fees and the policies they are promoting are becoming very crippling to a small business such as myself. I have set up this website through Woo Commerce. It is free with the Business upgrade to the website. I don’t think I can afford a website designer so I am attempting to do it myself. They have many tutorials and articles on how to set up a commerce website so I am referring to them. So far I have products added, payment set up, and a cart system. I’m trying to figure out the shipping without getting too complicated but so far can only figure out a flat rate for everything. Any help out there would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much to all my customers who have been supporting my small business during these most difficult of times. The orders, the love on my Social Media Sites etc etc certainly make me a happy entrepreneur. Can’t wait to continue creating for you in 2021.
Same basket, different finishes, different looks. So many options when handcrafting a basket.
Plain and simple Fruit Basket. Used those apples today to make a pie. It was a productive morning.
New baskets added to my website today. Getting used to this, not as scary as it was. Definitely needs some fine tuning but it is coming along just fine . I will upgrade at some point and add a cart and such. Right now it is at its most basic point to be able to purchase a basket from me.
I currently have an Etsy Site but hoping to get it all moved over to this “Real” Website Soon Hope you are all having a wonderful week.
Search for Bouquetofbaskets under shops on Etsy.com
My shop is back open. I took a few days to catch up on orders and try to get ahead of it.. I decided to leave items sold out and deactivate other baskets in my shop. This tactic was used instead of actually putting my shop on “vacation “. I’ve used the vacation mode in the past. It seemed to really hurt my store as far as new views and orders after I opened back up. Before I slowed my shop down, it was a week before I even started to weave an order. Now, I can weave orders within 1-2 days
My strategy started by finishing all of the remaining orders I had. It was very satisfying to weave that very last basket. For the last few months I’ve been receiving 50-60 orders per week. Each basket takes an average of over an hour to complete from start to finish. This pace, needless to say, is virtually impossible to keep up with.
My ultimate goal was to make new orders in a timely manner while also having baskets ready to ship. I ended up weaving 15 baskets that will be ready to stain and ship out. I will mix these stock baskets in with the orders I receive. This will alleviate the time pressures and delays I have been experiencing. This will also free up time to design new new ideas and experiment. believe this has to be part of any successful business.
After opening back up, this strategy seems to be working and will be sustainable. I received 10 orders the first day. I had 6 of them already woven therefore had to weave 4. The second day I received 5 orders and will only have to weave 3 of them. While making these orders I will continually make duplicates of the baskets that regularly sell and keep them in stock. This will be my new strategy moving forward. I am very excited and I’ll keep you posted.
Bouquet of Baskets 