The Experiment Continues: Etsy vs. Hyena Cart vs. Big Cartel

Not sure what I'm thinking these days, but I've decided to add Big Cartel to the experiment this week.  Mr. Felt Food Kids thinks I'm a bit nuts but he loves me, he's wonderful and he's used to indulging me in my ideas.

Big Cartel lets me list 5 items for free each month.  No commission even if items sell.  Their fees to list more items are a bit steeper than HC or Etsy.  Still, if I reach a larger customer base....right?  I'll be able to use my google analytics data to see if it drives more traffic to the Etsy shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/FeltFoodKids).  In my 5 items' descriptions, I added a link so buyers could go to the Etsy shop for better selection or international shipping.  BC was very easy to set up.  I could see expanding if I see sales or lots of traffic coming through the site.

Update on Etsy vs. Hyena Cart:  No sales through either yesterday or today but I have had signs of traffic through each.

I'm having fun with this experiment and hope you're having fun, too!

An Experiment: Etsy Vs. Hyena Cart

Latest Addition to the Shop Today:  Citrus set!

Back in December when Christmas sales were rockin', I also listed and sold a few felt foods on ebay.  I haven't felt the urge to set up a shop on ebay though.  Not yet at least!  lol

I have been wondering about Hyena Cart.  As my sales on etsy in the new shop are picking up (more than double last month--hooray!), would opening a shop on Hyena Cart be good, too?

I pondered the pros and cons.  Mr. Felt Food laughed & asked if I had time for that.  Good question!  Then I saw the special Hyena Cart is running.  While it'll still be a $7.50 monthly fee, to open a shop it's only ONE CENT.  Not the usual $10.  Just one little penny!

What can you buy with a penny these days?  Evidently an entire store!

I couldn't resist.  Last night I opened a shop on Hyena Cart.  Same prices, same pictures, same descriptions as what I have on etsy.

Want to see the shop?  Check out:  http://hyenacart.com/FeltFoodKids/

Of course the etsy shop is here:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/FeltFoodKids

I uploaded about 7 items last night & another 13 today.  I'm intrigued because there aren't too many felt food sellers on hyena cart (unlike etsy where competition is stiff).  There wasn't a lot of selection either.  I'm wondering if other sellers have tried HC in the past & given up from lack of sales?

Which site will sell more felt food?  Etsy or Hyena Cart?  So far it's been just under 24 hours & I haven't had much traffic to HC.  I know, give it time!

Let the experiment begin!

FAQ: Why Eco Felt?

1.  My daughter and I are allergic to wool felt.  No hives or itching with eco felt!

2.  Environmentally friendly!  Eco-Felt is made from recycled post-consumer plastic bottles.

3.  Made in the USA!

Where Fun Meets Felt

     Hi!  My name is Amy and I'm the mommy behind Felt Food Kids.  My two year old daughter Grace is the driving force behind all that I do.  I started selling felt food in my other shop, Amazing Grace Creations Shop on etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/AmazingGraceCreate) on Dec. 3.  That's when my good friend, fellow mom and etsy seller Jenny talked me into giving selling a try.  In the month of December I had nearly 30 sales!

My first sale:  A set of felt food eggs, sunny side up!

     I love sewing felt food but I also have a love of sewing clothes & accessories for children & babies so late January I decided to open a second shop devoted entirely to felt food & Felt Food Kids (http://www.etsy.com/shop/FeltFoodKids) was born!

    Jenny came up with the slogan for my shop:  Where Fun Meets Felt & it is so fitting!  I really do want my food to provide hours of fun for kids.  As I add to my daughter's kitchen & pantry, I hope to add to other children's kitchens along the way.

     Designing felt food is the hardest part.  Once I've perfected my pattern, sewing items over & over may take patience and attention to detail but at least I'm past making prototype after prototype.

All my felt foods need to fit my requirements:
1.  Quality & Durability:  if it isn't going to last--why am I making it?  Grace is an excellent tester of my prototypes.  I try to use double layers of felt when possible because I want my felt food to last.  I double stitch items or hand stitch certain features, too, for the same reason.

Salsa & sour cream are double layered for better durability.

2.  Encourage Imaginary Play--HOURS of it:   I want my food to inspire kids to play all day long.  While some of Grace's creations may not appear that appetizing in real life, I love that she's a risk taker in her felt food filled kitchen!  A lot of my food can also be used to play garden and I'm always amazed at the ideas Grace has for the food.  For example, did you know a slice of bacon can also be a knife?  lol!

I add options like 2 jellies to foods to increase the fun & variety!

3.  Adorable & Representative:  I want my creations to be cute as can be & to look like the foods they are supposed to be.  Most foods are real life sized & all are adorable!

Adorable green eggs & ham set!

4.  Affordable:  There's a balance I'm walking when I create felt food.  I try to include enough details that the item looks realistic but not so many details that I'd have to charge too much to cover the hours spent making it.  Sometimes I have to remind myself I am creating toys not art!  :)

Apples with adorable leaf detail.

5.  Versatile/Kid Friendly:  I avoid using beads & glue whenever possible--they just aren't kid friendly materials.  When creating, I want the food to work well together & be versatile.  The bacon can work with any other breakfast item or toss it on some bread with lettuce & tomato & you have a BLT in no time!  I use velcro on things like tacos to help hold ingredients together (plus, Grace gets angry if her taco doesn't stay shut after she's created it!).

Yummy bacon!

     Before becoming a stay at home mom, I was a school psychologist, working mainly with kids aged 3 to 9. That experience helped shape my understanding of the importance of play--pretending is important!  While Grace helps me in the kitchen with nearly every meal (we are total foodies here!), her time with her felt food is  equally if not more important.  I hope the toys I create inspire kids to play, play, play!