...supporting artists and crafters worldwide
Sneak Attack Happening NOW!!!
3 Shops: carrieannn
AND DBEAUTIFULMIND
AND zoezloft
Sponsor: uuendyandfriends
Click here to see the discussion about today's Sneak Attack!
What's all this? Read below to find out!
Sneak Attack Schedule:
Date |
Time (EDT) |
Sponsor |
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What is a Sneak Attack?
It's a way to support independant artisans who are trying to sell their wares online. Two days a week at an appointed time, an Etsy shop with few or no sales is announced on this site. As many people as possible then buy items from that shop, resulting in a frenzy of surprise business to the unsuspecting shop! To the upper right is the current Sneak Attack schedule. To participate, show up on this site at or soon after the time of the next attack and you'll see the chosen shop name in the box above. Then go to that shop and purchase an item, making sure to include the words "Sneak Attack" in the "message to seller". It's also fun to tune into the current thread on Etsy to talk about it with other "attackers".
The Handmade Movement Blog
December 7th: Sneak Attack Report–MonkeyDesignUSA, WestCoastOrigami, and HappyHoundCreative
On October 20, 2009 Stockannette sponsored an attack on MonkeyDesignUSA, WestCoastOrigami, and HappyHoundCreative. MonkeyDesignUSA sells commercial supplies for papercraft postcards. WestCoastOrigami makes origami boxes, flowers, and other paper art. HappyHoundCreative sells cards and custom stationary.
Celeste: What was your reaction when you first realized you had been sneak attacked?
MonkeyDesignUSA:Let me share with you my ignorance of sneak attacks right up front! To be honest, as a ETSY newbie I was thoroughly unaware of what a sneak attack was! However, when I began seeing more than the normal number of sales coming from ETSY and after I received your e-mail stating I was being attacked, I jumped online immediately to see what was going on. It was a truly wonderful experience! As you probably know, all of us put our heart and souls into the products we create and sell and it’s just so satisfying to share that with other people. It’s really not the money- it’s about receiving affirmation of an idea and the reinforcement to continue battling against the tide of unimaginative products to possibly add something creative to an otherwise barren retail landscape.
Monkey 1018 from MonkeyDesignUSA
WestCoastOrigami: Absolute surprise! I was busy that day so I didn’t check my emails until around midnight. My husband just gone to bed. I had 4 sales, don’t sound like much but it’s huge percentage when you only have 10 or so listings. I woke up my husband just to tell him about it 
I even wrote on my blog about the sneak attack.
Origami Thank You Notes by WestCoastOrigami
HappyHoundCreative: I had been participating in Sneak Attacks for a few weeks so I never expected to be a victim. At 7 pm that night I was searching everywhere for the link to the Handmade Movement website and remembered that the Sneak Attackers had a facebook fan page and I could find the information for the shops that were being attacked on there. I saw one of my cards in the thumbnail next to one of the shop announcements and thought for sure there was a Happy Hound impostor out there! I clicked on the link and was in complete shock to see that it was in fact my shop. I think I gasped out loud and my husband had to come check on me. I was so shocked and excited! It was fun to see the sales come in and to check out what everyone was saying on the thread. I will be forever grateful to such a wonderful group of giving and caring people!
Oh Christmas Tree note cards from HappyHoundCreative
Celeste: Is there anything else you would like our blog readers to know?
MonkeyDesignUSA: It’s interesting that papercrafting is still in its infancy in the U.S. In Taiwan where these are designed and printed, Monkey Design sells over 800,000 cards annually. While are numbers are nowhere near that yet, we’re hoping that more Americans come to enjoy the art of papercrafting.
For Monkey Design, ETSY has been a good way to test our product concept, get feedback from the crafting community, and to simply create a “buzz”. Because we carry over 130 different models, we’re unable to list every one on ETSY. So, we hope that people who like our designs will look for them at independent retailers near where they live (there’s a list on our website) and if they can’t find them there, request Monkey Design by name.
Robot 1091 from MonkeyDesignUSA
WestCoastOrigami: I have a blog that I just started. It’s focussed on Canadian handcrafted products or supplies, please let me know what you think . I started this blog because I enjoy researching other crafters so I’d like to share my thoughts and findings with others.
In addition to Etsy, I also have another online shop. This shop focuses on regular items customers who usually order in higher quantities such as weddings or showers. Even so, there are a few that like to buy a couple for their own enjoyment. I’m currently redesigning the shopping cart but I take order by email and can send Paypal invoices.
Origami Roses by WestCoastOrigami
Etsy is the store that I list items that doesn’t fit my online shop profile. I like Etsy as those who buy has a great appreciation of the time put into a handmade item. An example is that I love making origami roses made from handmade paper from Thailand. I could make it with regular paper, and it would be more cost effective, but visual impact is not the same. The store is a little bare but I will be listing more very soon. I’m have more envelopes to list and working on Valentine’s Day and maybe even for Chinese New Year. (It’s the Year of the Tiger and happens to land on the same day as Valentine’s Day)
HappyHoundCreative:I love sneak attacks! They are so addicting and fun. I am so amazed at the kindness and generosity of the group and am making such wonderful friends. I am completely addicted to handmade and love etsy. I have a blog , am on facebook and I have a website.
Perpetual Spring custom notecards from HappyHoundCreative
