How would you like more views on your Pins on Pinterest...?

If you are an Etsy shop owner, you may be concerned about using Pinterest to gain views and followers.  In order to do this we must keep up on marketing strategies.  This includes how to use social media sites to benefit your business.  Recently I have read that using "Long Pins" are more beneficial than short pins.

What is a long pin..? Right? If you are an avid Pinterest user such as myself, you have seen many long pins but probably did not realize it had a name.  Basically a long pin is a collection of photos that take up more space than a single photo.

I decided to give this strategy a try... I used photoshop to create a collection of my most popular items from my Etsy shop. Here is the Long Pin:

Pinterest

In about 2-3 months I will re-post any results of using this marketing strategy.

Celebrating My 2000th Sale With A Starfish Adjustable Ring Giveaway

I'm excited to be celebrating my 2000th sale with a giveaway! I will be giving away an Adjustable Starfish Ring. This piece was created especially for this giveaway. The band is made of Sterling Silver with a Brass Starfish.

How to Enter:
1. Leave a comment under this post and your contact information.
2. Go to my Facebook Fan Page and let me know what your favorite item is in my shop.

~  Your comments left under this blog will be numbered according to posting.  I will be choosing a winner using the Random Number Generator .  On Sunday, August 5, 2012, I will be contacting the winner and I will be posting the winner on my blog as well as on my Facebook Page.

*This giveaway starts July 28, 2012 and will end on August 4, 2012 midnight (PST).
** One entry per person

Good Luck!

Congratulations are in order!!!

Thank you to all participants! This had to be the best giveaway I have done yet!   I really enjoyed reading all of your New Years Resolutions on my Face Book Fan Page and hope that all of the new fans I have gained will continue to participate in future giveaways.


THE WINNER IS:

DIANA Z.

Thank you again everyone! Pop in every now and then to see what's new at Hapa Girls!

Bring on 2012!

2011 was a great year for Hapa Girls and I have all of my fans, followers and customers to thank for it!!!!

I am now ready to embark on 2012 with new goals and resolutions.  I am also looking forward to gaining new contacts and bringing new designs to life. 

What's Coming in 2012

January 8, 2012 will mark my 3rd year on Etsy! It's been an awesome experience and I feel very fortunate for all of the followers, fans, admirers and contacts I have made through this ever growing Handmade Market Place.

If you did not know this by now, every year I have an ETSY Anniversary Giveaway!!  The first year I gave away a Cherry Blossom Key Chain.  The second year I gave away a pair of Cherry Blossom earrings.  This year, I thought I would change it up a bit!  I will be posting my, "Anniversary Giveaway" starting January 1, 2012 ~


Have a safe and Happy New Year!!!

1000th Sale on Etsy Giveaway!!

When I opened Hapa Girls on Etsy almost 3 years ago, I never imagined I would have 1000 sales!  Actually it is probably more with all the custom multiple listings I've done, but still 1000!

 In honor of this personal milestone, I have decided to do a 1000th Sale Giveaway!!! You are probably wondering what you have to do to enter this giveaway?

Rules:
1.Visit my Etsy shop (if you haven't already) and take a look around.
2. Go to my Face Book Fan Page and post to my wall your favorite item in my shop.
3. Leave a comment and your contact info under this blog post.

How easy is that?

*I will be giving out numbers to everyone entering in the order of the information left in this blog post.
*I will pick a winner randomly with the help of Random.org.  I will announce the winner on my Face Book Fan Page!
*This giveaway starts TODAY, November 29th and will end on DECEMBER 6th (1 week from the start date.)

Oh! I bet you are wondering what I am giving away!!!!!  Well, since this ring was one of the top trending items on Wanelo with over 385 saves, I'm giving away one of my new Cherry Blossom Branch Adjustable Rings! You will have the choice of the Rounded petals or the pointed petals.

Good Luck and Thank You for making my 1000th sale possible!

Pinterest and Wanelo

I know a lot of you are addicted to pinning products on Pinterest, I know my sister is!!  Has anyone tried Wanelo?  I came across Wanelo while looking at my Etsy Shop Stats.  I noticed I had quite a few visits from the site and thought I would check it out.  I signed up, it's free, and started searching through the many products displayed.  Like Pinterest, you can pin products to Wanelo the same way.  It's a great way to promote your products as well as find new products that are trending today.  Give it a try, you may find that someone has already been promoting your products for you! Pay it Forward!!

Just one of the many popular items on Wanelo

Get a jump start on this coming Holiday Season!

I can't believe how fast September has flown by!!  I told myself that I would be more prepared this Holiday season than I was last season so I will be stocking up on  Cherry Blossom earrings and Cherry Blossom Branch Cuff bracelets.  They were a hit last year so I hope to be fully stocked in that area.

I also hope to be adding a few "One of a Kind" items to my shop for those guys who always come in for that last minute gift!!! You know who you are - MEN!!!!!!

Enough about my shop!

I hope to have enough time to promote great gift ideas from other Etsy Artist.  I do most of my promoting on my Facebook Fan page, so if you would like to post your shop name on my page or follow me (no obligation), stop by and say Hi!

I love Custom Orders!

I was recently asked to create a charm for a customers bridal bouquet. Her original charm was a bit of a disappointment and asked if I could make her another one.

 Thank you Kelli for sending me this photo of your beautiful bouquet!

August

I love this color!!

Happy 4th of JULY!!!

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION for Independence Day! ****July 1- 4 ***** This Weekend only - Hapa Girls is giving 10% off your total purchase! Coupon Code "JULYRTN" may only be used once per customer. Excludes Custom orders and shipping.Thank you!!

Shop these new items and more!

What's going on in the studio?

Key, Keys, Keys!

When I get an idea in my head, there is no stopping me!  Right now I am obsessed with making key style pendants.  These are my newest additions.

I have also added a new Lotus pendant to my ever growing collection of flowers.  I started making this blossom about a year ago but only offered it in my shop when one was made.  It is now available as a made to order item. Let's see how it does!!!

Spring Cleaning  

I know some metal artists participate in challenges such as "Ring a Day".  I would love to do that but there is not enough time in a day, week or month to devote the energy needed to come up with designs for a new ring EVERYDAY.  I also can't see myself creating so many pieces that may never find a new home but the plastic container I keep them in! 

On that note, one doesn't have to participate in a challenge to have excess rings and pendants. I think all jewelry artists/Metalsmiths, have pieces they have made tucked away in  baggies titled, "NEED TO LIST ON ETSY", or "NEED TO RE-PHOTOGRAPH"! 

It may have taken me 2 years but I final am starting to clean out those baggies and get these pieces out for public viewing!  Visit my "Is this Ring Your Size" section of Hapa Girls and get Free Shipping !

Collaborating with other Etsy Artists can be fun -

Especially when it's your sister!

At Urban Corner you'll find beautifully hand wrapped leather bracelet decorated with Swarvoski crystals and Rhinestones.  Now you'll be able to purchase bracelets with my sterling silver and copper cherry blossoms.  I have customized my cherry blossoms to fit her leather wraps, not only as a decorative piece, but as a closure.

Have a peek into her shop and request a custom order.  I put my order in for a Triple leather wrap with these gorgeous 6mm red Agate beads.  I can't wait to share it with everyone!

Celebrating MOM

Mother's Day is fast approaching. There are many wonderful commercial gifts for Mom but why not give her something unique and handmade.

Flora and Fauna Press

Belle Terre

Angelina Fong

Wapa

Sarahespania

I just want to say.....

Thank you!
March was awesome for Hapa Girls!
For starters my silver cherry blossom ring made it to the front page of Etsy!  To top that, my cherry blossom branch cuff made it into the Etsy Finds daily email!

It was the perfect month to have been featured as I am donating a percentage of my sales to The American Red Cross to aid Japan in their time of need! I'm excited to donate and feel very appreciative to have had such a great month.

I just want to give a big "Thank You" to all of my new customers as well as returning customers!

It's always nice to make it to Etsy's Front page!

The last time a ring of mine was featured on the front page of Etsy, I was not home to see it. So you can imagined how shocked I was to log into Craftcult and see over 140 item hearts! My first thought was, I might be on the front page!!! I was!!!

I find it amazing that in 1 hour on the front page of Etsy can generate over 30 new shop hearts, 140+ item hearts (95 of those hearts just on the ring featured) and 3 sales. 

Thank you to Pilulajula for featuring me in her treasury!

Free Shipping Through End of February!

Although it's too late to ship by Valentines Day, I am extending Free Shipping on all of my "Ready Made Heart" items!! 

Heart Bangle

All of the Heart items are one of a kind!

February is filled with hearts!

Holes in My Heart

   It's February and Etsy shops are filled with hearts.  From small hearts to big hearts, whole hearts to broken hearts, hearts are every where!
    Isn't amazing how two tear drop shapes set side by side can affect a persons emotional state.  What is it about the shape of a heart that makes people so happy?  After all, an anatomical heart looks nothing like the shape everyone calls a heart.
   Though theories vary on the origins of the heart shape, people all over the world recognize this symbol for love.  Every year people search for the perfect heart gift to give to their loved ones.
Click on the link below to view my collection of Hearts in my first curated Treasury 

I Heart You

 

I love my New Piggy!!

I just got my new Piggy today and I love him!!! I had him custom made by Ruth Jensen of Sparkflight on Etsy.  He is perfectly sculpted from copper wire and sits in my kitchen.  I think he may be waiting for a friend to play with!!! 
Please take a look at Sparkflight as Ruth is an amazing artist! 

Something for Dog Lovers!

Tanner

When I'm not taking care of my busy 3 year old daughter, and I am not working in the shop, I love shopping on Etsy! My most recent purchase is for all you Dog Lovers!! 

Tanner my Vizsla,  is always cold. So I thought I would find him a coat.  I came across Cozy Horse on Etsy.  They make Custom Horse Blankets & Dog Coats.  I simply gave them Tanner's measurements and 2 weeks later Tanner has his new coat! I love it!!

Let's ring in the New Year with a Cherry blossom Giveaway!

What's New for 2011


Now that Christmas is over, it's time to clean up the shop and get ready for the new year! For starters, on  January 9, 2011, I will be celebrating Hapa Girls - 2 year anniversary on Etsy!!!! Last year I gave away a cherry blossom charm.  This year, I will be giving away a pair of copper cherry blossom post earrings!  Check back on January 1st for the entry rules of my "2 year anniversary Giveaway."

Valentines Day

Last year I did a series of heart pendants with matching keys.  I also did a few broken hearts that had a bitter sweet meaning to me.  Because I do create a lot of my pieces from my own life's experiences, I am not sure which directions my hearts will be going.  However, I do know there will always be some "Happy" hearts in my shop.  This year, I hope to have many of my heart items "ready made" in time for Valentines Day.

2010