A Brief Hiatus

Hello guys!

The blog will be taking a little break, as we are doing a total overhaul on it. New ideas, new look and new writers - so exciting :-D

While we are working behind the scenes on bringing you a more awesome blog (blawesome), here are some updates on what's going on.

We have LOTS of new helpers (thanks!) on all parts of the team.

Our Blog Team is:
Rose of SevenSails
Lori of GrayFlannelDesign
Erika of UniquelyEJewlery
Liz of DzyMsLizzy
Sara of BySaraLynn

Our Twitter Team is:
Jane of jmliss
Trisha of PixieDustFineries
Lisa of Paperbullet

Our Facebook Team is:
Malarie of itsastitch
Sara of BySaraLynn

Our Flickr Team is:
Miki of duckfoot
Malarie of itsastitch

Our Forum Writer is:
Sara of BySaraLynn
(sidenote: here is our April Forum Thread, come by and say hi anytime!)

I (itsa) will also continue to hold the Virtual Lab meetings, and keep up with our Team Page on Etsy. I'm also in the process of making some tutorial videos on being successful on Etsy, so keep an eye out for those in the future.

Should you have questions about a specific part of the team, or suggestions for somethings, be sure to contact someone from the above list ^ to make sure the question goes to the right people. I'm happy to take questions, but I am also only 1 person, and can forget about things from time to time.

We will NO LONGER be using our Facebook Fanpage. We are switching to a Facebook group, which will allow me to message the entire team, and is better about alerting members of discussions and posts. Be sure to request to join if you haven't already!

If you have a request for something you'd like to see on the blog, twitter or a tutorial of, post it in the comments! We always love input from our members.

Be sure you're tagging a few items in your shop with the tag "labratsteam", as well as any tweets you want the team to see with the hash-tag #sqk - doing this makes it easier for us to find you!

Thanks to everyone who offered their help in some form, I truly appreciate all the help, and if the positions were filled before you asked, I put you on a list of "back-up" (essentially), should we ever need more help or a replacement.

 

Blog Buttons, Tutorials and more!

Hello team! Hope you all are enjoying warm weather and left over Easter candy.

First things first, we need a blog button! I'm going to turn that over to you guys to create. I'll make a little contest of it, the winning creator of our blog button will get a feature on Facebook and an extended spotlight on the sidebar of our blog! The guidelines for creating our button:

• It should be relevant to "Lab Rats", whether it feature rats, science or the virtual labs - whatever the name means to you.
• It should be 200 pixels wide, and 150-200 tall.
• It needs to be turned in by Saturday, May 1st.
• To turn it in, leave a link to the photo in the comments section of THIS entry. I recommend uploading it to flickr or, if you don't have a flickr account, imgur.

Other than that, be creative and have fun! Once we have all the entries, we'll do a member poll to pick the winning design!

 Moving right along, I'd just like to let people know our little tags and stuff, in case you were new or not sure.

On etsy, use the tag labratsteam on a few items to be seen. I will tell you right now that I when I look for photos to feature on the blog, I search those pages!

On twitter, if you want the team to see something, use the hash tag #sqk. Stick it at the end of a tweet and we can find it!

And lastly, tutorials! If you can make something totally awesome, or feel like you are an absolute EXPERT on something (photos, utilizing social networking, how to approach blogs/boutiques, etc.) send itsastitch a conversation with your idea and we will work out the details!

You guys rock, keep making those treasuries and being awesome! Stay tuned for the next few weeks, we'll be announcing our SUMMER challenge and our next virtual  lab meeting.

Can't wait to see those blog buttons :-)

News and Things To Expect

Happy February, Rats! Instead of Mosaic Monday, I'm going to give every a run down of upcoming events, and team links that you may have missed.

In case you missed our last virtual lab meeting, we discussed things we would like to do/see more of in 2010. As some of you know, we already have a team forum thread on etsy, feel free to post whatever you'd like, whenever you'd like!

Are you on Twitter? Follow us, and even better, want other rats to see your tweets? Include #sqk in them, it's our team hash tag on there!

How about Flickr? It's a photo sharing site, and we have our own group on there. Just request to join, and you'll be approved, usually same day! Once your there, you can upload your photos to the team for other members to see.

The team also has a Facebook Fan Page, post any thing you'd like - photos for critiques, exciting news, questions or ideas.

And lastly, I started a google group specifically for the rats, where you can, more privately, discuss things that you may not want in the Etsy forums.

Our NEXT virtual lab meeting is scheduled. It will be Tuesday, February 16 at 3:30pm EST! This meeting's topic is Tag and Title help/critiques and improving your SEO (search engine optimization). Come by for help or to give help!

Now, as for 2010. We have lots of awesome things in store!

First up, our Spring Giveaway! I have already notified those who will be participating this time around, but thanks to everyone that applied! I'm so thrilled that people were so eager to help out and have a little fun. We have 8 shops that will be giving almost $200 worth of free swag! How awesome is that? In two weeks, we will start revealing who they are, with mini-interviews with the artists, too.

We will also be having another challenge in the summer. Feel free to contact me with any ideas you have for  the challenge, including theme or prize. This won't begin until mid-spring, so back of the mind it ;-)

Also look for more How-Tos and craft tutorials this year. If you would like to make a video or write an article (or both!) on a specific technique that you have down, shoot me a convo or e-mail and pitch your story! I'd LOVE to have other people teach how to do things (even if it's something like properly utilizing twitter, or sewing a button, I'm open). Should it be really involved or super neat, I may even ask for you to hold a Lab meeting!


Speaking of pitching stories, I am also opening the Lab Rat blog to ideas for articles/ghost-writers. If you have an article related to Etsy, creating, promotion, crafting, etc, send a rough draft to our team e-mail and we can discuss.

Finally, remember our trunk show? We will be having another one near Christmastime this year, but I am planning on contacting other team leaders to see if they would be interested in holding a multi-team trunk show, allowing more, fresh eyes and potential customers to see what each other's teams have to offer! I will begin contacting them in the summer and want to make this big, organized and tons of fun!

 A big thank you to lushboutique (Jenni) and nightowlcraftworks (Sally) for being amazing co-leaders! Without them, this team would never be as on top of things (or successful!) as it is right now. You ladies are amazing :-)

 

First Meeting of 2010!

Hello hello, my good friends!

Just a quick reminder that we have a lab meeting TOMORROW afternoon (Thursday) at 3:30pm EST.

We will be discussing goals for our shops, as well as goals for the team, and I'll  happily take any questions people have on, well, anything!

As always, if you can't make it, I'll just kill you..... kidding. It's not a big deal, just feel free to e-mail/convo me any ideas you have for the team in 2010.

Alsoooo, I will be contacting people for the spring giveaway sometime next week! We have had lots apply, but you still have time to send in an entry for selection for our Spring team giveaway! Just fill out these questions, and leave a comment:

1) Your name & shop name(s).
2) What you create, how long you have been doing it, if Etsy if full time or a hobby and your inspirations.

3) Where are you located, how do you enjoy your free time?
4) What item would you like to offer for the giveaway?

Trunk Show Information

This was sent out as an e-mail, but I'm posting it here, too!

TRUNK SHOW
Gallery in the Virtual Labs
7pm (EST)
Monday, November 23

A trunk show, in real life, is when a group of crafters get together and have a small show for people they invite or whoever happens to come by and see. It works almost the same in the virtual labs, only... well, it's virtual!

I'd advise coming around 15-30 minutes early, and getting settled, and start chatting up your deals and what you will be offering. Invite EVERYONE. The more eyes, the more likely a sale.

Which brings me to my next point, think up some kind of discount or sale to offer to people in attendance. Free shipping, BOGO, 10%/15%/25%/however much percent off. It'll be a great way to encourage multiple sales and make people want to stay and buy more.

What will you actually do? Well, I will be allowing other members to to on their webcam (but PLEASE REMEMBER to wear headphones, you get horrible echo if you don't!). If you don't have one, that's totally ok, you don't need one. I just feel like it makes it a little easier to communicate! We will be taking turns, probably in a 5-10 minute frame, of showing off items (via item cards) and you will explain what sale is being offered, who it would be a great gift for and if there are any other items in your shop that would go well with it.

If you're offering discounts in the trunk show, I don't really advise against changing the listing, in case other buyers are in your shop and they might get a deal on not knowing. If someone is interested, my best advice, is just to refund them back through paypal. If you're offering BOGO, either select an item everyone will get (a free gift sort of deal) or tell them to pick out an item and reserve it for them.

Feel free to announce in your shop the Lab Rat Trunk Show, I will be! I WOULD wait until maybe Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon to announce it, or else people may wait and get a discount rather than just buy the item. I've gone ahead and typed up and example, if you'd like to just copy and paste:

LAB RAT TEAM TRUNK SHOW
Looking for some great holiday gifts, along with some holiday sales?
Come to the Etsy Virtual Labs Monday, November 23 at 7pm (EST)
Art, jewelry, baby items, paper goods, crochet, vintage and so much more!
Everyone is welcome!
Look for the Gallery, in black.
http://www.etsy.com/virtual_labs.php

Here, is an example, of what you might do, should you attend:
- prior to, talk it up with everyone (in person, on twitter, on your blog, facebook, in your shop).
- Enter room, about 20 minutes early. Chat with everyone about the 15% off all items you have going on tonight.
- itsa turns cam on, selects you to go.
- you annouce your sale, give a link to your shop, and soon, people start putting in item cards from your shop.
- you mention something would make a great gift for those ever elusive teenagers or a Mother In Law.
- someone sees something they want, they purchase it. (yay!)
- you (after doing the happy sale dance, it's required) refund them the 15% back through paypal.
- you pick the next person to go!
- No sale? Bummer. But you still get to pick the next person.

If you have any other question, don't hesitate to ask! Nothing is too silly or stupid.

Can't wait, hope you can make it!

Lab Rats In The Storque!

Hey guys! I was so proud and excited to see our team made it into Etsy Find's: The A-Team, which showcases a few teams and some upcoming events/discounts they have going on.

We will be having a trunk show in the Virtual Labs on Monday, November 23 at 7pm, so be sure to come by, as this is FANTASTIC promotion for it! Sure to be some buyers in the house (myself being one of them).

Congratulations, team!

Some Notes

Hello! Just a few quick notes for you all.

-Meeting tonight! 7:30pm (EST) Shop Critiques in the Sky Room. Come if you're able to - I'll try to get to as many shops as I can =)

-Challenge! We only have a few entries for the Team Challenge, so I wanted to remind/make sure everyone is aware. There are 9 days left to enter, here is where you can read up on/leave your entry. Great stuff, so far!

-News! The lovely, wonderful and talented lushboutique is now our 3rd team "captain" (I don't know what we're officially supposed to be), but she will be taking over Wish list Wednesdays from here on out. Yay! And thanks so much to everyone who has extended their services/help to me. I'm TERRIBLE at asking for help, so it's truly appreciated. I plan on adding another one or two leaders to the team to run other things, so just sit tight and keep your eyes peeled.

-Open a second shop? Great! Just let me know and I will add it to the group, no need to fill out the application again.

-Etsy Team Profile Update. We now have some stricter rules for applying and some more links to check out on our profile if you haven't seen them yet. I love when rats recommend others, just make sure they read through the profile page first!

Thanks and hope to see some of you tonight!

SimplyInvitingCards' Holiday Chaaalleennnge!

Hey rats! Fall is in full swing, and the holidays are peeking around the corner. It's the perfect time for a little friendly competiton for a fantastic prize.

What is the theme?
Glistening Snow and Mistletoe!

How do I enter?
1). Create an item that best fits with the theme, Glistening Snow and mistletoe. ANY item can be entered, so long as it fits the description of the theme. It must be a NEW creation, not something pre-exisiting.

2). List that item on Etsy, and it MUST be tagged with "labratsteam". If you have a flickr account, upload it to the team's group (this is optional)!

3). Copy and paste the link into the comment section of THIS blog entry and this blog entry only. You may only enter once, with ONE item - so make it a doozy. :-P

Who is judging?
itsastitch, Allysattic and SimplyInvitingCards (since she picked the theme). The next time we do this (which will be next summer), another member will be choosen to pick a theme and judge with us.

What are we looking for?
- GREAT photos.
- Fits with the theme.
- Creativity.
- A thorough, well done description.

How long do I have to enter?
Contest starts today and runs for a month, ending on SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22nd. That means the last day to enter will be SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21st.

How will we score/pick the winner?
With a scale of 1-5 for each category, 1 being worst, 5 being the best. We will look at each entry in a private chat room, and score, picking a top 5 from the entries and announcing them on WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25th. Once the top 5 are announced, we will create a poll for you  to vote on. If you happen to make it into the top 5, you may invite anyone and everyone you know to vote on it, you DO NOT have to be a member to vote. The poll will be up for ONE WEEK, ending TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1st at 11:59pm EST.

Ok ok ok, but what is the prize?!
Well, the winner's item will receive a 4-day long promotion on craftcult.com on the scrolling bar at the top, paid for by me, Allysattic and SimplyInvitingCards! It will run the very first avaliable 4 day span on craftcult, and we will notify the winner of those days.

But what if my item sells?
Well first, yay sales! But secondly, the item can remain in the contest, and should it win, an item of your choosing can be used in place of the item that won for your ad.

Best of luck, rats. Can't wait to see your entries!

On your mark, get set - CRAFT!

Member Review

Happy Sunday, Rats!

Just letting you know that Allysattic and I will be review members this week, and deciding on those we feel are not active within the team. Please don't worry, we don't plan on removing people who have made a point of telling us they have been busy or something similar, we are reviewing members who joined the team, but have made absolutely no contributions or efforts to be active within the team.

Those members will be contacted later this week, letting them know of their removal to the team. We want our team to be full of quality members who truly enjoy the team and what it does. It's not about having the largest team, it's about having fabulous members!

Check back tomorrow for Mosaic Monday & enjoy your Sunday!

Next Meeting

Hola! Just posting a little update to remind everyone of our meeting tomorrow. These will be shop critiques and I will be choosing from people in attendance!

Meeting is at 1pm EST in the Sky Room of the Virtual Labs.

Just come on in the room - no password is required. I (itsa) will be hosting the lab via webcam. Hope to see you there!

On flickr?

Because we are now! Join our flickr group (if you have a flickr account, of course) and start adding images to the team's page!

Flickr Page

Acceptable images:
-Your items
-Any pieces you are working on
-Craft fair set-ups
-Screen shots of team treasuries
-Screen shots of a rat on the front page
-Etsy meet-ups

Can't wait to see!

Annoucements and Such

Just popping in to say a few things!

• Our very own rctees is in the Etsy Voter! Please be sure to vote for her Mighty Oak Tee!
• Our meeting is next Thursday! Please be sure to come by the Virtual Labs' Moon Room at 7:30pm on the 24th to get to know members AND discuss preparations for the holidays.

Stop by tomorrow for some great items in Wishlist Wednesday!

Rat Spotlight

Happy Sunday, Rats. I know most of you are still in bed, but it's nearly 9am where I am so it's rise and shine.

I wanted to speak out on a feature we just added to the blog. If you scroll down the sidebar, you'll see a new piece has been added - the Rat Spotlight. This was a random choosing from our member list (good ol' random.org) for a member's Etsy Mini to appear on the sidebar from Sunday-Sunday. This will be a weekly occurrence, so each person will, eventually, get a chance. This week it is alyssakaycollections.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday & long weekend. Don't forget to scroll down and check out all of the awesome deals some of our members have going on. Check back tomorrow for Mosaic Monday!

A REAL Team

itsa here, I've got some announcements for you (no pretty pictures for this entry, sadly):

--> We are an official team - hooray! Here is the Etsy Team page! There are a LOT of members missing, I know. The team pages on Etsy are not moderated by the team creators, but by Etsy staff. I sent them an email earlier today with a big list of all the lovely members to add. As long as you see your name on the Blog's member list (over there --->), you're good. Please check your email for the newsletter with all kinds of wonderful information.

--> I am moving! A lot of you know this already, but I thought I'd share anyway. I live outside of Baltimore, MD currently and am moving to outside of DC. I'll be here and there for the next few days as we move and get settled, and I will even post pictures of my new place for you!

--> There is a poll on the side bar, please select the topic you'd like our very first Virtual Lab meeting to be about!

xx