Pregnant Shop Sections

Some of the basic elements of maintaining and growing a small business are keeping on top of sales, and looking into the future to be sure that sales continue. Fresh new items and ways that I can create items that people will continue to use are some things I am always on the look out for

One main section of this particular thought is that I've always avoided baby items. There are so many Etsians already catering solely to those looking for gifts for baby. Well, now that my brother and his wife as well as my best friend and her husband are pregnant, I've got baby items on my mind. I've been looking for some items that aren't just the basic hats and booties that you imagine your grandmother's grandmother making. Another element I was hoping to keep for this new baby section is that I can use the same acrylic and cotton yarns which I've been using, so that I can offer all the fun colors that I do for the rest of my shop. I found some fun booties that I intend to recreate with permission to sell by Ketzl. (Photo is Ketzl's sample.)There are a few different similar patterns; some with buttons, others with flowers, and I plan to make some in boy color schemes. I have lots of fun buttons to use for these. Those shown are in cotton, so I'll have the same color options as the soap savers.

Sometime in the future I will be adding a line of children's beanies as well. These will have a space near the brim for interchangable ribbon accents. They will each come with 2-3 ribbons to change out to match outfits and make for a fun item to be able to wear as often as needed. It might also be available in adult sizes (very likely, actually). I know I get to wearing the same warm items all winter and need to change it up a bit without loosing the warmth and comfort of my favorite hat! This brown hat in the center is the sample I've made up for a recent customer, and the first of this interchangeable ribbon style. Ribbon not shown, but I've been stocking up.

Another section, I intend to adjust/add to my shop soon is bath items. The best workout includes a fabulous shower afterwards, and I hope to offer some of these items. Soap savers are already working their way into my shop. They will be linked to Paula Jean's Garden, who is my photographer, and supplies some gorgeous lavender soap to make even the funkiest gym rat smell humanesque again. I will be adding face scrubbies in the future and am debating some other little items, on a custom order basis.

At some point in the future, I plan to make up a whole stock of wristbands to share the Many color options available in the Red Heart yarn that I use for most of my items.

I have also been thinking about reassessing how I sell my apple cozies. I will be making up the cozies and just adding the leaves as I get them stocked up this time. I am thinking about selling them in this manner. Showing all of the apple color options, and the leaf options, and letting the customer choose without all the extra listings. I want to balance between ease in shopping, and option for my customers, and since it'd be lots of work to adjust the listings, it's currently just stewing on the back burner. Please let me know what you think of my upcoming ideas. Would you prefer to build your own apple cozy? Or just pick out the one you see listed already? Maybe a combination or both. Keeping some in stock, ready to go, and giving the option to those who'd like to make up their own ideas?