Actually today's post is mostly announcements and a few questions for you guys. I am working on a couple of ideas and I really need your opinions.
Ok, big news #1: I am going to launch a new shop on my website! Of course it is a complete work in progress at the moment. My goal is to get it all up and launched by June. Of course, ideally this would be June 1st, but we shall see! I love my etsy shop, but I feel like I have grown out of it. The new website will let me have more categories, offer specials much more easily, accept credit cards, and whole bunch of things that I am discovering as I work on it. So the question for you guys is what do you think I should do with my etsy shop? Should I close it and just leave a message saying that I moved? Should I slowly move items over onto the new site as they expire? Should I just have one-offs or specials over there? I have been debating this for a bit and would love to know what you guys think!
The other news that I think I have mentioned already is the change over to a new base sock yarn. I personally love the sock base that I have been using because it is lightweight and makes for a lighter sock. I am very gentle on my socks and I have never had a problem with holes or anything else with any sock yarn, including my own. However, I have heard from a couple of people that wear their socks pretty hard that they have worn holes in their socks. I have also seen a lot of people making scarves and other things out of my sock yarn so that they don't wear out the pretty yarn. So I have decided to switch to a new sock yarn that is still 100% superwash, still just as light, but has a much higher twist. This added twist should make the yarn sturdier and able to withstand more wear as socks. Now the question is should I keep the old sock yarn or should I just replace it completely with the new sock yarn? The new yarn is virtually the same only with a higher twist and maybe a little less yardage.
This brings me to one final announcement. Actually it brings me to why I am asking about the yarn. I had originally planned that I would just replace my sock yarn as soon as what I had on hand was gone. So I dyed up one last skein of Charlie Sock yarn for the cause. Well that one skein sold and I am now worried that there are still people that want this yarn and want donations to be sent to Get Your Guts in Gear. So, here's the deal: I'm not sure what I am going to decide about the sock yarn quite yet. I want to hear what you guys think. However, if you would like to have a skein of Charlie yarn I have decided to open it up to preorders. As in if you want a skein of this awesome, limited edition yarn, leave a comment with your email address or email me at lavendersheep (at) gmail (dot) com by June 1st. I will send you a paypal invoice for the yarn, which you then pay. I will donate 50%, as promised, to Get Your Guts in Gear on Chris's behalf, before he races. Then I will order all the yarn after June 1st and then send the skeins out to you guys as soon as they are dyed. This way everyone that wants a skein can get one and the money will get to Chris and Get Your Guts in Gear! A big thank you to everyone that has already bought a skein of yarn!
Oh, and as a last note, there might be a yarn type prize if you leave me a comment and help me out! Thank you!
~Planting little vines of fiber goodness~
6 comments:
I would definitely keep the Etsy shop if that's where people are used to going to find you. I've seen several shops put up announcements directing customers to their new website and I always follow the link to check it out. :-)
As for the sock yarn, if you have any left of the old, I'd continue to offer it up (along with the new) until it runs out. If you get a bunch of requests to continue carrying it, you can always order more and start offering some again.
Good luck with the new website!!! I'll definitely be visiting. :-)
I don't think anyone would object to the higher-twist yarn -- I certainly wouldn't.
As for the Etsy shop - move out of Etsy slowly, since that's where your customers expect to find you. I like the idea of leaving it open for specials and such for awhile, too.
I think that is great you want to know what I think!
First, close your etsy shop slowly. You might even use it for going out of production yarn for awhile. Customers will find you at your new site, given a chance.
I like higher twist yarn. I am hard on socks. Cascade's new sock yarn is not my favorite. I do like solid colors but it leaves a lot to be desired.
Good luck on your new venture. Teri
Well, I'm going to suggest keeping things as simple for you. Keep the Etsy shop but just put a link to your new site, and switch over to your new base yarn once you run out of the old yarn. We want you spending your time dyeing pretty yarn, not having to deal with extra organizational stuff ;)
I'm excited about the higher twist yarn as well -- I think that's a good move.
I have no idea about what to do about etsy.. I say keep it somehow, but I'm not sure how.. maybe just list some of your best sellers to bring people in?
Ok, regarding the sock yarn..
I am one of those really hard sock wearers. (You haven't and won't see my heels or toes for that matter). I LOVE the shawl and other lace I've made with your current base and I think that there is definitely still a market for it. When I knit lace I don't always want a super thin laceweight.
I hope that helps. :) I'm excited to see the new base. Please let me know when it's up... on etsy or otherwise..
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