Selling Handmade Stuff Online

There are tons of benefits to selling your handcrafted goods online, the top one being it’s usually cost- and risk-free!  Tell me, is there anything worse than lugging all of your merch to some overcrowded craft show, only for people to walk by all day without making a single sale?  Now you can avoid that pain and humiliation by setting up an online shop!  It’s 2019, anything and everything is sold online now.  But which sites offer the best deals to merchants?  And how do you know which site is ideal for your products?  Well…

Do you have tangible goods to sell?  If yes, you can rely on Etsy and Bonanza.

I’m sure by now you’ve heard of and maybe even bought something on Etsy.  But did you know it’s totally free to open a storefront?  They only charge you 20 cents per listing and a small percentage of your commission!  So if you’re just getting started, you could post your strongest pieces that are guaranteed to sell, and risk practically nothing!

Bonanza mirrors this model by also giving you a free storefront, but you get free listings as well!  And to beef up the offer, they boast Google Integration and syncing all of your listings so that if something sells on Etsy or ebay, it will be reflected in your Bonanza store.

Both Etsy and Bonanza are perfect for artisans who have a lot of merch to sell over many platforms, and even offer options for you to personalize your online presence and really make a living through your craft!

For graphic designers who dream of seeing their art on anything from t-shirts and tapestries to mugs and clocks, RedBubble and Society6 are here to help!

There aren’t any sign-up fees for either site, but they do take a portion of your commission.  RedBubble guarantees in their user agreement that your art will always belong to you and you have total control over your merchandise, from the products they appear on to the prices you’d like to set for them.  If you’re looking for an easy way to make some money from your designs, it doesn’t get much easier than this!

Society6 works similarly, in that you get monthly royalties for the products you sell, rather than the full retail price.  Although, it seems like a pretty fair trade when you consider all the work they do for you.  And have you checked out their listings?  The stuff ain’t cheap, but consumers are more than willing to pay it–which just means more cha-ching for you!

Payments are made monthly based on when your product sells and when the shop doles out their royalties: so say someone buys your product on April 13th, there is a 30-day grace period for the site to do their thing, and then you’ll either be paid on May 15th with Redbubble or June 1st with Society6.  Great options for someone looking to sell long-term or even just posting some products, forgetting about them, and then waiting for the money to roll in.

Now are you looking for the absolute lowest risk possible?  You probably already interact with this app every day… it’s logo is a blue square with a white F on it… yep, I’m talking about our pal Facebook.  For those who don’t know, Facebook now has its own Marketplace where you can sell pretty much anything (as long as it’s legal).  And the best part?  There are NO fees!  No, seriously.  I sold a keyboard on there last week for $75 and walked away with $75.  You do have to put in the work of arranging to meet up with the buyer and dealing with them trying to haggle your price down, but Facebook even tries to combat this by encouraging you to meet in a public place and gives you the option to “rate” the buyer, so you can warn others of sketchy transactions.  The only requirement for using the Marketplace is an active Facebook account, which is free – but costs your soul in the long run.

So why not put all of your time spent on the internet to good use?  There are tons of sites just waiting to make you a millionaire!  Or at least help you get rid of the stuff piling up in your garage.

The Fourth of July is a national holiday full of food, fun and fireworks, so don’t let something as simple as forgetting the basics get you down. Sunscreen, bug repellent spray, and water are key points to keep in mind during any fourth festivities. If hanging out by a pool, river or lake, don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen. Go for one that is considered coral safe or biodegradable if possible, it’s better for the wildlife (even if you aren’t at the beach!) Mosquitoes and ticks are no joke this year, so if you plan on being outdoors, make bug spray your new friend. If you choose to go with the do-it-yourself method, remember to include Rose Geranium essential oil, as it has been proven to repel ticks.

 Water, water and more water! With the rising temperatures across North Carolina, it’s important to keep your body hydrated, especially if you plan on indulging in any adult beverages. Stay hydrated with some fun twists on a plain ole’ glass of water that’ll keep you coming back for more. Infuse ice water with your favorite fruits and herbs, like strawberry mint or lemon basil for a refreshing kick. Combine lemons, limes and oranges to provide vitamins and minerals to keep you going through all the barbeques and fireworks. Coconut water is another excellent source of sodium and potassium, two minerals that are essential for proper hydration. For those who are hesitant to try it out, blend coconut water with fresh pineapple and mango – these will help to balance out the flavor!

Pet parents know all too well how difficult the sounds from fireworks can be for their animals, especially for those who have been rescued from abusive situations. Animal shelters across the country report increased admissions of runaway animals on July 5th, due to scared pets escaping the day before. One of the best ways to keep your pet calm is to stay inside with them, preferably in a room with no windows, and have the TV or music on to block out any neighborhood noise. Keeping your fur-baby occupied with toys can help to soothe any anxiety they may feel, and you can also try natural pet treats containing Chamomile or L-Theanine.

Want to be the hit of your neighborhood shindig? Click the image above to try out a delicious Sweet and Spicy Grilled Watermelon recipe from The Kitchn!

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Independence Day!

The last Friday in April, best known as Arbor Day, is more than just an obscure day found on store-bought calendars. It turns out that most countries celebrate some version of Arbor Day, which varies depending on the planting season. It became an official American holiday in 1872 when J. Sterling Morton, whose lifelong fascination with trees lead him to spread the message of protecting forest habitats. Today the legacy is carried on by the Arbor Day Foundation, founded in 1972. Their purpose is to provide education about the conservation of forests and native tree species, as well as provide community tree recovery for areas affected by natural disasters.

Who can blame Mr. Morton for being so enthusiastic about trees? The connection between trees and people is not a new one. The term “tree hugger” was coined in 1730, when a group of people from the Bishnois branch of Hinduism physically held on to trees in their village to protect them from being used to build a palace.

Trees are one of the most important resources we have on the planet. On average, it takes one large tree to provide enough oxygen for four people. They can also help to cleanse polluted air and water, as well as provide a much needed cooling effect for the Earth. Trees even have the power to make people feel relaxed by just being there. If you’d like more information on why trees are so great, you can check out the numbers on the Arbor Day Foundation’s website. The bottom line is that trees are an indispensable support system.

Japanese Maple Seedling

The simplest way to get involved in the cause is to plant a tree. Fruit trees are an excellent investment to have around your home and property. Apples, pears, peaches and plums grow well throughout most of North Carolina. Live in an apartment? You can easily plant a seed from your apple or lemon in a planter, making it easy to move from place to place. Seek out organizations in your community in need of planting – parks, schools, and churches are a great place to get started. Try contacting a National Park in your area for information about volunteer opportunities to get involved with. If you’d like to start planting, check out your local nursery or farmers market for the best advice on native tree species, what could grow best on your property, and tips on planting and care.

After a long winter, spring and Easter are finally upon us! To celebrate the brighter days and warmer weather, try incorporating some fresh flavors into your traditional Easter meal. These delicious dishes are easy to make and are sure to impress anyone, plus they are light enough to keep your family moving for Easter egg hunting fun!

Appetizer:

If you are anything like me, you’ll probably fill up on deviled eggs long before the main course is on the table. To mix things up a bit, try these Deviled Potatoes. This recipe incorporates fresh dill and can be made with any smaller-sized potato. Be prepared for them to disappear as soon as you put them on the table!

Main Dish:

This Apricot Dijon Glazed Salmon is easy to make, plus it’s a healthier alternative to the traditional Easter ham. Try it alone as a main dish or as a topper to this Apricot Quinoa Salad. The fresh flavors and colors will bring some vibrancy to your holiday table.

Dessert:

What’s better than guilt-free cheesecake?  These Vegan Mini-Cheesecakes only have 7 ingredients, and require no baking to set. The cashew filling is insanely creamy and perfectly sweet. You can add any flavor to your heart’s content – my favorites are chocolate and berry!

Wishing you a Happy Easter from The Chaney Group!

This is Part Three in our series on buying and building. Here are Part One and Part Two.

Buying in the High Country

I have been asked by a plethora of folks lately “Who is buying?” The High Country has always been a second home market, but there seems to be an evolution occurring.

When I moved here five years ago, the market was slow. I started my own property management company for vacation rentals just to compensate for the lack of sales.  Most of the folks I did work with were looking for a second home, investment property, or just a family get-away.  Out of these, the majority paid cash.

In the last two years, I wanted to see if there was a shift from vacation homes to primary residences. Lately it seems that the buyers reaching out to me are only looking for a second home about 25% of the time. I tell my team regularly “get prepared, the market shift is approaching.” All the families that live within a three-hour radius of Boone that just got the “go ahead” to work remotely are high-tailing it to our little piece of paradise. Why wait till you are 65 and retired to move to the mountains, or the ocean, or anywhere that you go on vacation, when these places can now, reasonably, be called “home”?

Checking some numbers in the High Country MLS caused this discovery:

• As of 2/26/2018 – in the last 180 days there were 965 single family homes/condos/townhomes that sold in Ashe Avery and Watauga Counties.
• 384 of those sales were CASH transactions and had an average sale price of $300K
• 498 sales in the last 180 days got Conventional Financing and had an average sold price of $282K.
• 8 owner financing
• 25 FHA Loans
• 25 VA Loans
• 25 – of unknown financing

Looking back at the same 180 days 2 years ago here is what I found

• There were 739 sales of single family homes/condos/townhouses
• 289 of those sales were cash sales
• 362 of those sales were conventional loans
• 15 FHA loans
• 21 owner financed
• 20 VA loans

Breakdown of the findings:

40% of the sales today are cash, 60% were financed in the last 180 days.

40% of the sales two years ago were cash, almost 60% of the deals were financed.

Interesting that year over year the cash vs finance buyer remains THE SAME.  Obviously with 965 homes sold in the last 180 days and only 739 in the same time-frame 2 years ago, we are seeing MORE sales. By my calculation that is 24% increase.

More people ARE moving here. I base that assumption more on my gut and the fact that the premise of why folks can, and will, move to a vacation destination vs a larger city is about quality of life.  The High Country will continue to remain a vacation destination but as we see an increase in new construction I expect that more and more of these consumers will be building a primary residence. Only time will tell for certain. If you are thinking that you want to move to our little piece of heaven, call The Chaney Group! We will shoot you straight on the trials and tribulations of this “life-style evolution.”