NEST chat room meeting

Reminder!
NEST meeting in a custom chat room on July 11th at 7pm. (Tomorrow)

Want to see you there!

South End Open Market

In Boston in the South End on Harrison Street, there is an open market every Sunday.

Plants, clothing, baby gear, jewelry, pottery, furniture, windchimes and pan flutes, brownies, lip gloss, bread and sandwiches, muffins, italian ice, hemp clothing, indian import clothing, antiques and junk, tote bags, handbags, hair clips and scrunchie, flowers and herbs. All in one spot. Every week.

Etsy sponsors 2 booth spots for 4 Etsy sellers, evey other week (hahaha) stop in to say hi and show support. Pic is goolala, Lush Beads and Zesty Betsy at the end of a long hot day.

Sundays from 11-5. Go for shopping, check out setups, buy a spot and sell.

Bead show in Marlborough MA

Friday thru Sunday at the Royal Plazza Trade Center at 181 Boson Post Rd in Marlborough is the International Gem & Jewelry Show.

I'll be there on Friday wearing an Etsy pin. Say "Hi" if you see me.

Seller Profile Melanie Chabre

Melanie Chabre is the owner and designer of Bags by Melanie.

she is an active member in the New Hampshire Street Team too.

NEST: Where are you? How did you end up in New England ?
New Ipswich NH, which about 45 minutes from Nashua. I was born in Virginia, but when I was only 2 or 3 years old my parents moved the family up to New Hampshire. I have lived in New England ever since.

NEST: How did you hear about Etsy?
I was doing a search on the internet looking for a place to sell my handmade handbags, and stumbled upon Etsy that way. It is now my mission to make sure everyone knows about Etsy!

NEST: What do you make? Why do you make them? (what’s your inspiration) Okay, I make handbags. I started making them because a friend of mine asked me if I could take her well loved handbag and make her a new one because she loved it so much and couldn't buy the same one anymore. When I pulled it apart to make the pattern I found out how truely easy it actually was to make a bag. I almost never use a pattern, because I have found out over the years that almost all bags are made from the same basic pattern; I just make different sizes to what people are asking for.

NEST: Something, a tip? Motto?
I am completely self taught. Sure, I took home economics classes in High school, but how much do you really think I paid attention?? I don't think that I will ever learn everything. Over time you get better at what you do and you learn your own little things to make your craft your own and even better then before. Patience and time are your two best friends. You have to have the patience to become better, and the patience to make all your goals. You have to keep your chin up and just strive to get better, and remember you can't always please everyone. Anything you want good to happen to you will happen in time.

NEST: Are you a vendor at any upcoming shows/events? Are you teaching any classes?
I will be doing a craft fair on October 20th in Sterling MA at the First Church. I am rather excited, I have changed a lot of what I do over the years and I think this year is the year that I have the right things to market at a craft fair and do well at it.

NEST: What’s the difference between Art & Craft? Which are you?
MC: I am not sure how to answer this, I think to be good at your Craft you almost have to be an artist too. You have to see what things will go with each other to make the best possible product.

NEST: Favorite midnight snack? Comfort food?
Haha, right now I am pregnant so I eat what the baby tells me she wants to eat. I don't really have a favorite anything, I got through phases of what I want to eat. I will always love mashed potatoes though!

NEST: Recommend a good book or two.
I will read anything and everything from James Patterson and Mary Higgins Clark, they are my two favorite authors. I love a good suspense book!

NEST: What is the best thing about Etsy?
I think Etsy is an amazing place that will only get better with a little time and patience ;) LOL
I guess my favorite thing is I have met a lot of great people there. There are a lot of amazing people who make amazing things. I am so proud to be selling in the same venue as them and because I am doing this "with" them, they make me look good, LOL

Opportunity for vending in CT

Heather of DecadenceDesigns is in the planning stages of a craft show that will be held in the Hamden, CT area.

The space can hold 3 seller spots at a time and I would be booking several dates to accommodate all interested sellers.

One option is Friday nights to do a "crafts and cocktail hour" kind of thing, seeing that most sellers are booked on weekend days with other craft shows.

Another possibility would be to do a Friday night, Saturday day and Sunday day craft show, with 3 sets of sellers (so 9 in total) so that every one gets a chance to exhibit.

She'd like to start a list of sellers that can be contacted once dates are confirmed.

To get on the list please convo DecadenceDesigns your contact info.

oh no what's a promo?

What makes a good promo item?

anything that you can put your business name onto or that will remind folks of your business.
ideally something that they person will keep around to look at for a while.

magnets strong enough to actually stay on fridge
pin back buttons especially if your market is a younger crowd
key fobs if you can get your name on them
stickers might be good
tiny parts or pieces of your normal work (I heard of one person who promo-ed out 1 earring, and if you ordered from her store you got the mate as well for free!)
matchbooks imprinted with your info
small art & info glued to a match box?
candy? shorter life span since folks wouldn't keep the wrapper, but they might remember the sweet.
a small pouch with your logo & info
a t-shirt with your logo & info
a mug or cup etched or painted
tiny gift sized note cards


What do you use as a promo item?

Business Card and Promotional Item Team Swap

It's that time again to get your business cards and promotional items out there with other sellers.


How does it work?
1) buy, make, or otherwise get some business cards.

2) create, find, or snag some items of a promotional nature.

3) Send in your cards, promos and a buck or 2 for return shipping to Zesty Betsy
check the Yahoo Group for her address, or send her a convo.

4) Make sure you get them to her before August 4th

5) The week of August 6th you should receive a package with cards & promos!

Just in time for the Holidays!