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HEARTSY Pros & Cons

6/20/2011

17 Comments

 
Heartsy - Daily deals on fabulous handmade items, at least 50% off.
Groupon + Etsy = Heartsy
Much like groupon, living social, and other discount websites, you sign up to get Heartsy email alerts and are offered discounts anywhere between 50 and 65% off.

I have both bought Heartsy gift certificates and also submitted my art to be included in Heartsy.

Here's how Heartsy works:

1. Heartsy sends you exclusive deals on handmade items.
    Every day or so Heartsy will email you one deeply discounted deal to use at an artist's Etsy store. 
    Sign up to get their emails.

2. Click to buy the deal.
    Purchase deals with one easy click. You will receive your voucher immediately. It's that simple!

3. Use your deal voucher on Etsy.
    After purchasing a deal on Heartsy you receive a voucher (which is just like a gift certificate)
    which you can use at the Etsy store that sponsored the deal.
Heartsy - Daily deals on fabulous handmade items, at least 50% off.
PROS:
è
Great deals.
è
Exposure for Etsy artists.
è
Supports independent artists and crafters.
è
Those who purchase the discounted gift certificates may become repeat customers.
è
High quality shops have been selected to participate.
è
The people at Heartsy are very easy to work with, and seem sincere on both providing a good 
   
deal for its customers and supporting artisans.
è
Seller gets to control the number of vouchers available, the expiration date and collaboratively 
    works with Heartsy on the level of discount.
èSeller may run out of inventory and then I have to rebuild.


CONS:
è
Lowers the value of the items artists may have put a lot of energy and time into creating.
è
Most artist’s goal isn't to produce mass-market items that you can find anywhere but to create
    hand crafted items that are well-made and different from what you'd get anywhere else.
èSeller may run out of inventory and then I have to rebuild.

Some tips if you do Heartsy:
  1. Stock up on your inventory as much as possible before your deal goes live. Be ready to replenish it quickly afterwards.
  2. Set aside at least an entire day to just package items up and respond to emails, convos, etc.
  3. Start a spreadsheet to track your buyer's credits, VIP status, and invoices
  4. Make sure you have enough shipping envelopes, tissue paper, labels, etc.
  5. Have fun with it! Remember all experiences are  journeys and opportunities to learn!

If you click on either Heartsy image above and buy a deal on Heartsy,
you and I will each gets a free $5 to spend with us in the future, too!

Would love to hear your thoughts!
Mary
17 Comments
Mary link
6/19/2011 11:47:38 pm

I've never used Heartsy. As a seller, it's really not practical for me. I think I probably would do it if I sold prints or cards or something else that you can easily make multiples of without much time involved. But it takes me hours to make each pin, and then I have them priced low already, so you see what I mean? As a buyer, I'm interested. But I also understand people who think it devalues artisans' work. I think I'll have to check it out and then decide...

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Melody link
6/19/2011 11:52:59 pm

Yeah, I'm not sure how I feel about Heartsy, it could be good exposure, but I certainly can't afford to give a huge discount on my work!

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Emily Ann Selden link
6/20/2011 12:41:41 am

Thank you so much for this topic. I have been thinking of gaining exposure through Heartsy. I just signed up with them a view weeks ago and finally bought a voucher last week.

I knew I would need to prepare and you have answered some of my questions. I do have to say, even if I didn't buy from a shop I looked at, I did favorite ones I will certainly be going back to in the future.

Thanks! :)

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Pamela Holderman link
6/20/2011 01:22:22 am

Hi,
thanks for stopping by my blog awhile ago. You have a beautiful blog that covers lots of art. Have a great week and I will be back...

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Kala
6/20/2011 01:42:19 am

Very interesting, I am not sure how it would work for me, but definitely worth investigating...thank you:):)

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Rubi Javier link
6/20/2011 01:57:09 am

Summed it up very nicely!
For sellers, there is a process to apply to be featured (Not everyone gets accepted to sell at Heartsy).

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Susie Tenzer link
6/20/2011 01:58:10 am

No, I don't think Heartsy is for me. The discounts are too steep. Thanks for the info!

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Kathy @ SibStudio link
6/20/2011 03:37:12 am

Those are pretty hefty discounts. Great for the buyer, but I don't think it's right thing for me as a seller. Thanks for the clear explanation!

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jayne Bruck-Fryer link
6/20/2011 04:14:40 am

Thanks Mary,
Nice to air my view!!
I was so excited to be asked by Heartys, so I got my stock in hand, a few emails back and forth with Chris Estreich/Heartys about deals thinking 50/50 my wholesale price, and went ahead and applied.
One has to go through stages, firstly you have to get 60 "Yes Definately" votes by the public. Managed to get 93 "yes Definately" votes or so they said. Through to the next step, all this has taken several weeks, then it seems I'm in the deal stage, even though we hadn't really worked out a deal and they said it could be done later Ummm, next thing I know is a comment saying deal not accepted!! but,but we hadn't made the deal yet!
Emailed Chris Estreich/ Heartys. No reply from Heartys. Most disappointed after all that hard work, but I still have the stock ready and now doing my own 1/2 of sale. Thanks for listening.
www.etsy.com/shop/ruddlecottage

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Audrey
6/20/2011 04:18:16 am

I don't particularly like it for Etsy. In my humble opinion, I think it starts down the slippery slope of the "Walmart" mentality where people become used to only buying things when they are cheap, I'm sorry, inexpensive. I also agree with several others that as artists who create beautiful works of art and crafts with top quality products, and supplies, and then invest their time and talents that include quality control, (unlike at some stores) they can't afford such steep discounts. I know as a supplier, I can't. I also have a brick and mortar store where over the years I've noticed the "Walmart" mentality of so many people, where they will only buy when something is deeply discounted! They will not return to your store to buy at regular price - they will wait for that item to go on SALE!!!

Now, please don't get me wrong. I am not knocking Walmart. They obviously are number 1 at what they do! I'm only asking, is that what Etsy wants to emulate?

Just my 2 cents.....

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Beth Shepherd link
6/20/2011 08:05:19 am

Thanks for the info! Its seems there is always something new out there that makes me feel out of the loop! :)

I'm thinking Heartsy wouldn't work for me If it works for other crafters and they are able to keep the the same quality of work and still make money then go for it! :)

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Mary C. Nasser link
6/20/2011 09:32:47 am

Thank you for so many insightful and informative comments! I really do appreciate hearing the variety of experiences and opinions. Glad I could help explain/clarify some aspects of Heartsy and allow an outlet for airing and listening. Your comments will help tremendously, too, to those considering Heartsy.

More comments?

Best,
Mary

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Mary Lou link
6/20/2011 11:05:29 am

Thanks for clarifying what Heartsy is about. This would not work for us as we would end up in the hole. That would not be a good thing!!

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Barbara German link
6/21/2011 07:42:02 am

Mary,
Thanks for finding me and stopping by to comment! I really like your map inspired art!
Barbara

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Tracy B. link
6/22/2011 02:03:12 am

I have been considering applying to do a hearst deal. On the one hand I see it as a great way to adverise about my products. Stores do great sales to bring people into their store hoping they will buy more items (think day after Thanksgiving). Isn't this basically the same type of thing?
On the other hand, I can see people's point about it devalueing the product. And then people will only want to buy when it's marked down.
Hmmm....I haven't decided, yet. Thank you Mary for posting the Pro's and Con's. Great info!

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Charlie
6/23/2011 01:21:15 am

Don't forget that they don't like to accept new Etsy shops very often. The votes don't mean an thing. Heartsy is horrible!!

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chelsa link
7/11/2011 03:29:59 am

I have been featured in.heartsy and loved it. I sell vintage clothing and they were still experimenting with selling vintage clothes on their site and only sold around 30 vouchers. I did the 15 for 35 deal. They are very good about communication even though it took some time to answer some emails they always did thoroughly. Most of my orders (90%) bought at least 10 dollars over the amounts of their vouchers.
Anyhow, three months later, they recently emailed me and asked me to be a repeat feature out of the blue ! Nadine is the person I mostly talk to and she is awesome. This time l ha e 100 vouchers to sell and I am excited to are how thing have changed on the site in 3 months ! Keep your eyes peeled for my feature on Thursday :)

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