Lyn opened another store on a website called Etsy early this year. Etsy is an online venue for sellers who make and sell handmade items. The Etsy store brought in a lot of additional business, so Lyn made the decision to close her eBay store over the summer and focus her efforts on the Etsy marketplace, which has been very successful.This past spring, Lyn also experimented with selling the Chalkydoodles line at the Canton Trade Days. There was a great response to the items and sales were good, but the overhead and time/babysitting required to go out to Canton nearly 5 days per month for set up, selling, tear-down, etc. didn't justify the profit. So, Chalkydoodles went back to just its Etsy sales.
As the Chalkydoodles store on Etsy become more visible in the marketplace, Lyn's little business began to get a lot of attention from the "Blogger World" as well as some contacts in other key markets. Lyn began getting inquiries about doing wholesale business with online as well as brick & mortar boutiques, several of which now carry Chalkydoodles items. Chalkydoodles has also gotten a lot of great "press" on the Etsy site itself through a series called Handmade Kids which highlights Etsy sellers and the items they make for babies & children.With all of the write-ups, "press and praise" from bloggers, sales have really grown, especially over the summer. Lyn has had a hard time keeping up with everything the past few months as sales were increasing, but the kids were home more during the summer, leaving fewer hours for Lyn to sew, take photos, list new items, email, etc.
So, things have been a little nuts, to say the least! Our kitchen table was impossible to find by mid-summer because it was covered by so much oilcloth & chalkcloth! The good news, however, is that our schedule is more manageable now with Hendon in Kindergarten and Merrill in preschool 3 days per week. Lyn is pretty much caught up with orders , and has even been able to take some time the past week or two to set up a new "studio" in our former guest room (which we rarely used for guests!) so that she has a dedicated space to cut, sew, store supplies and create all of the Chalkydoodles oilcloth & chalkcloth goodies!
So, that's the scoop on what Lyn's "work" is all about and an update for those of you who've been interested! If you would like to see the Chalkydoodles products you can visit the Etsy store here.
Also, Lyn has started the Chalkydoodles blog where she posts information about new product items, any blogging press or other attention the line receives as well as tidbits here and there about the life of a stay-online-at-home mom who has a business and also tries to keep things in check with her heart, her God, and her family.
Thanks to those of you who've been interested in this aspect of our lives! It's been very exciting and a lot of fun. Lyn will be selling the Chalkydoodles line this fall at the Canton Trade Days again but will be borrowing space in a friend's booth and will only have to work on-site a day and a half a month with very little overhead (a HUGE blessing and opportunity). Lyn may also be expanding her wholesale business over the next few months leading up to the holiday season.
And, while writing this blog post, some more really exciting news! Chalkydoodles was featured today on the PBS Kids Sprout for Parents website in a Cool Mom Picks feature! Check it out here http://www.sproutforparents.com/sprout/ParentsPlace/article_detail.aspx?id=79ab2941-2e29-48b3-abd8-9b18005f8135
We'll keep you posted of any new developments, but feel free to visit the Chalkydoodles blog anytime for regular updates on the business and to see what Lyn's been up to in the online crafting world!Thanks for all of your love and support!
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