Welcome to the new Chicago Style Crafters website!

Our members have worked ardently over the past five months to make this space a place where those interested in the Chicago craft scene can participate in a larger conversation about our community and passion for creating. We have a lot of ideas, energy, and excitement—and we want to share it all with you. Through our diverse membership we hope that this site will inform, amuse, and inspire more people to join and/or support our city’s local artisans.

Chicago Style Crafters (CSC) is a team of over 100 local handmade artists who sell on Etsy. We have come together to support each other, share our expertise, and join forces for projects and events. Many of our members are brand new to Etsy and the handmade world, while some are veterans who have a lot of wisdom and experience to share. Some work a more traditional job to pay the bills and do their crafting on the side, while others earn their living entirely from their handmade work.

You can find CSC members at craft shows in school gymnasiums, bars, churches; in galleries, street fairs, boutiques, vintage/antique shops, and restaurants. Our members cover just about every corner of the handmade world and all have something unique to bring to the team.

We will update our new blog daily, giving readers a broad scope of topics ranging from profiles on local artists and shops, insightful advice aimed at helping our crafting community both on and offline, current news and reviews, and information on upcoming events. Whether you create for a living, or simply have a desire to support Chicago’s craft culture, we hope that this blog will become a part of your daily routine, and encourage your participation in our growing community.

For more information on the Chicago Style Crafters, see our “About” page or contact
membership@chicagostylecrafters.com

Ashley Ray (One in The Hand)
CSC Captain

Melissa Rutherfoord (Melissa and Zoë)
CSC Web Committee Lead

Posted in Uncategorized | 3,143 Comments

Social Networking 101: Facebook

Ashley Ray presents a series of Thursday posts about how you can use some of the most popular social media sites to support your handmade business.

Facebook is the most popular social media site in the United States. Your grandma probably doesn’t have a Tumblr, she may not be on Twitter, but it’s very possible that she has a Facebook account. And guess what—grandmas (and everyone else) like to buy stuff! This is the draw of Facebook—it gives you the ability to reach all kinds of people. It takes “word of mouth” to a whole new level. One mention from your friend about your shop could reach hundreds of people, and if one of her friends mentions your shop, you could reach hundreds more. When I first created a Facebook account for my Etsy shop, a friend sent the link to 500 of her closest friends, and over 150 of them “liked” my page and are still fans!

You can increase exposure to your Facebook fan page and Etsy shop by “liking” other fan pages and commenting on them. I try to log into my Facebook fan page weekly, if not daily, so I can see what other Etsy sellers are up to. When I comment on their pages—on an article, photo, or question—the other readers see my shop name and a photo of one of my products. Just interacting with other handmade artists on Facebook gives me exposure to potential customers. It’s also a great way to get to know other artists.

Now, let’s say that you already promote your shop with a website/blog/Twitter/flickr/mailing list/etc. Why add to the list with a Facebook page? I’ve already mentioned how wide an audience Facebook provides, but Facebook also makes it really easy for your fans, customers, friends, family, and handmade peers to interact with one another. Personal connections and experiences result in loyalty. Even if someone hasn’t purchased from your shop yet, a positive experience on your Facebook page can help him think of you the next time he wants to purchase something for himself or a loved one.

Facebook allows you to post a variety of updates—photos, links, polls, statuses, videos. You can get really creative with your shop fan page. You can hold a giveaway contest, fans can post photos of them using your product, and you can link up your new items as you list them in your Etsy shop. You can ask your fans questions about your products and shop and use the feedback to implement change or to improve your customer service. As people interact on your page, you can use what they “like” and what they comment on to tell you what sort of content interests them. Having a Facebook shop page is like having a free marketing department in your computer!

So what do you think? Do you have a Facebook shop page already? If not, do you plan to create one? What are you waiting for?

Ashley Ray is the Chicago Style Crafters captain and owner of One in the Hand.

Posted in Social Media | 3,375 Comments