ETSY team captain summit 2018

Over 40 European ETSY team captains representing 20 different countries

It was a privilege to represent our Norwegian etsy seller at the 2018 European ETSY team captain summit in Warsaw earlier this month.

 

This was my fourth summit and while each one has been slightly different, the thing that never changes is the enthusiasm and dedication you feel not just from other ETSY sellers and team captains, but also from the etsy administrators (admins) who organized, participated and contributed to the event with either a presentation, a workshop, or even just as an attentive listener, eager to know about your team, your country and your experience on the etsy platform.

This is also the year I celebrate 10 years as an etsy seller, and while etsy as an online market place has changed a lot through the years, adapting and keeping up with the online commerce trends it still remains at its core a place for creators and artist to showcase their creations and make a living, or contribution to their income by selling on a website designed just for them.

Made In Norway etsy team

Find Norway based etsy sellers here: Instagram, blog

Seller Panel with Tess Duncan (The voice behind the etsy podcast), Tania from Belgium and Helen from the Uk

Trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson gave us some insight not just into what is trending at the moment, but how ETSY sellers are contributing to the fashion and design industry with their original ideas and concept. - Keep creating ! Maybe your idea is the next 'big thing !'.

Bright and cheery summit venue

The summit venue was on the top of a tall building, with a panoramic view of Warsaw. The big globe reminded me of the daily planet, I wondered if Superman would come pay us a visit ?

Summit veterants. Some of us had attended ETSY summit before, but there were many new faces this time too.

Photo credit: Studio 1, Nafsika Kokkini. (If I have forgotten someone please let me know and I will add your name )

For more photos of the summit check out #etsycaptainsummit2018

Artist portrait - Didier Martin of Paper crafts and toys

In the office of Paper crafts and toys

I wanted to share with my readers a few photos from my Papa's office. He's a talented artist and after many years working as a freelance illustrator he is now focussing on his line of unique paper models.

 

My dear Papa is one of the most creative person I know. His legacy is the love of crafting, and creative experimenting he has instilled in not just myself and my siblings, but hundreds of children and adults alike around the world.

I love you Papa ! You’re the best !

Here is his story in his own words: 

My name is Didier, I’m French, born in Paris.

I am a children’s book and comic illustrator, as well as a creator of activity pages and board games. I’ve taught children arts and crafts on several occasion and for a hobby have been assembling paper models, many from models available online to download and from books (Dover and Usborne books have a good selection).

After awhile, I started to create my own paper models, creating a few simple ones, and then with practice and experience I created some more complex ones such as the ones available on Etsy. I have several in the works in different stage of production and many more ideas in the waiting stage.

My vision is to create these projects, to offer you fun, easy to assemble paper models that require

only basic materials, paper, scissor or cutting knife, and glue to create 3D models. Some of these models are not only nice models that you can display on a shelf, but an actual toy that children can play with, as for example with the MiniWorld paper toys series.
Another feature of the MiniWorld series is that all parts are compatible and can be included with the other sets to create new scenery and new adventures. Also, by downloading the PDF, you are able to print extra pages to expand your paper toys.

Visit also my web site for a variety of other projects available, many for free or as a complement to the MiniWorld sets. Also, there you will find photos and previews of up-coming projects in the work:
http://www.mylittlehouse.org/

Work process

To create a paper model, I usually start the process with sketches to get the basic idea of the way I’d like to do the model. I also check books at the library and pictures on the internet for further ideas. To get a sense of the 3D view, I often draw the buildings and scenery and people in simple perspective.

Then I start to create the actual model, the challenge being to create a 3D model out of a 2D flat piece of paper. There are some programs available, but instead of using those, I prefer to think out the model and figure out the different folds and tabs. Due to experience working with children, I try to create my paper models as simple as possible to assemble, often creating simple pieces that are to be glued together to form a more complex part. This is in place of making a complex part with less pieces but many complicated folds.Some pieces are very basic and simple such as a cube, others are more complex and take some trying out to get the right result.

After sketching the basic form, I draw the different pieces on computer. Once that step is done, I print everything in black and white to try out and see if all the parts fit correctly. You can see a sample here of the old knight and his horse. Usually at that stage there are things to fix. This also helps to see if a certain part looks right or needs to be changed and done a different way. At this stage I often simplify the pieces further if necessary.

Afterward, when I have finished all the different fixing and tested certain parts again, I add the color and texture on the computer. I also then create the different details and accessories, and the many Mini People.

Then I will print it again, in color this time, test it again, and make sure everything is fine. And once assembled, I take photos. After that comes the tedious work of writing the instructions, which is a very important step to make sure everything is clear. Then the final layout to prepare the PDF. And then it is ready to post and available to download.

It is a long process, but always fun and challenging to create an actual 3D model of an idea first drawn on paper.

Thank you for visiting my shop and don’t forget to check my web site from time to time for new projects.

ETSY shop: www.papercraftstoys.etsy.com
Website: www.mylittlehouse.org
Blog:  https://blog-mylittlehouse.weebly.com/

Free dioramas available here: Website

The sword in the stone

Baby Moses

A little frog

Guardians of the gate

Merlin and Arthur

A work in progress - Details

A work in progress - Test model

ETSY team captain summit 2016

Last weekend I had the honor of representing Norwegian  ETSY sellers at the European  ETSY team captain summit in Paris.

The trip from Oslo to Paris was rather uneventful, clear skies, a good book to read and before I knew it I was at the Charles De Gaulle airport.There I met up with another team captain who arrived around the same time, and I’m very happy I did as not only am I terrible with directions but that particular airport is huge and having lived many years in a small Norwegian town I’m just not use to navigating within large international airports. She knew the place well, and soon we were in a train on our way to Paris. 

Then the Parisian thing happened, the train stopped underground and stayed there for over an hour while we sat and waited with no phone or internet connection hopping that the angry passenger behind us would calm down and find something to occupy his mind, other than harassing the poor conductor.

Eventually the train started again, and we never found out what had caused the delay. Everyone just said ‘Oh, that’s just Paris for you !’. Once again, I am happy to live in a small town !

When we arrived at the hotel we delighter to see it had been completely taken over by ETSY, we were greeted to ETSY captain summit banners, ETSY orange cushions, décor, and even ETSY coffee mugs in the lobby near the coffee machine. I went up to my room and found a tote bag, pen, notebook, a name tag and mug all in ETSY orange. Branding is important, small details not only set the mood but also act as ice-breakers and conversation starters.

The venue chosen for the summit was a charming old building, bright, spacious and fully customized with ETSY themed banners and details. 

ETSY Captain summit 2016

The two days summit was divided as such:

Saturday the 5^th of October was an all day conference, while Sunday the 6^th was dedicated to workshops. 

The conference began with a reminder of ETSY’s mission and values. There are more and more online marketplaces opening up each year to tap into the popular ‘handmade’ concept, but what makes ETSY different is their well-defined values that are the deciding factor in any changes, or upgrade they make.

See a small video here: https://vimeo.com/129150033

Read more here: https://www.etsy.com/no-en/about

We were 40 lady captains from 13 different European countries and ETSY admins from offices in Brooklyn, London, Berlin, Toronto, Dublin and Paris. This gave us a well-rounded selection  of expertise, and we learned a lot of new and interesting things such as how ETSY now uses several shades of orange in their branding.

As you can imagine there was a lot of questions related to the impact of Brexit, and the looming new online sale VAT ( similar to the digital sale VAT ). I personally do not understand all the details involved, but it is safe to say that there are experts working specifically to ensure that European ETSY sellers have the tools and resources needed to keep selling on the etsy platform, and  lobbying the case and needs of small entrepreneurs within Europe.

A summit for me is always an equal amount of instructions and inspiration. ETSY teams are very different, many are city based while others like our own Made In Norway cover a large geographical area which defines and limits a bit the choice of activities or form of communication. 

Two stories which really touched me were about the team fundraising efforts the Greek, and Italian teams had organized. 

In Italy ETSY sellers donated 298 items, and raised over 2400 EUs for the August 2016 earthquakes victims. http://italiahandmade.blogspot.no/2016/08/solidarity-with-italy-earthquake-victims.html

The ETSY Greek street team sellers also donated items, which they sold and gave the proceeds toward helping the refugees through Medecin Du Monde. http://etsygreekstreetteam.blogspot.no/2015/09/egst-for-good.html

Italy, Uk, Lithuania, Norway and France

Made In Norway etsy team get together in Oslo. January 2016 + Basic etsy shop SEO.

     Last weekend we had a little team get-together in Oslo, we met up in a nice little place called The Kasbah- Worth a visit if you are in Oslo.   ( www.thekasbah.no )

   

Mila and Veli         www.NevenBodyCare.etsy.com

Elise                      www.scrunchiedoll.etsy.com

Alexander             www.TOMAxALEXJewelry.etsy.com

Camilla                 www.PaheliDesign.etsy.com

Virginie                 www.rolanddesigns.com 

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We took the time to go over our shop stats, which is the best way to examine the health of your shop.

Keywords are important, but within an etsy listing you have a lot of bonus keyword spaces that should be used to maximise your online visibility, and drive traffic ( and customers ) to your shop.

Here is a little series of pictures that demonstrate all the possible places that you can slip in keywords and phrases that will help your listing be seen not just on etsy, but also on google searches.

PS. The listing chosen to as an example was selected at 'random', and is not an example of wording, keywords, or tags to use.