Dayshift: A Handmade Boutique

2010-02-07T23:57:00.000-08:00

OOH!! Mary Lynn is an official "unofficial" etsy seller!! Please visit the blog to see more. Her pretty leather journal was featured.

Here is the interview:

"Posted by alliteration at 11:01 AM 0 comments
Friday, February 5, 2010
#22 unofficial etsy featured seller - inblue
#22 unofficial etsy featured seller - inblue
Date joined etsy - 9/5/08
Sales to date - 519

-Give us some basic info about you: name, where you live, kids/pets, favorite ice cream flavor, etc.

My name is Mary Lynn Schroeder, I live in a small town called Cobden outside of Carbondale, IL (home of Southern Illinois University, go salukis!). I have two dogs and two cats (daschu, chief, mo, and noodle) and my favorite ice cream flavor is Ben and Jerrys Imagine Whirled Peace (love that toffee cookie dough) :) I run a small handmade shop in Carbondale called Dayshift, which features over 40 local artists' work. Between Dayshift and my etsy shop, I have my hands full all of the time!

-Describe an average day in life of "you".

Get up, check etsy, shower, check etsy, make breakfast check etsy...
I would say that I am kidding, but its close to the truth, I spend an enormous amount of time on the web! I always spend some time before I go into the shop just checking up online and getting a list together for what I need to do for the day, who needs to be shipped out, what product needs made. I find if I group it all in the morning I can come into the shop and make everything I need to assembly line style, ie: cutting everything at once, sewing, printing, etc. I spend more than half my day on filling etsy orders, the other portion on whatever the shop needs! I have a working studio in my shop, so I am able to make things while I watch the store. Its eclectic enough in Dayshift to provide a really cool, creative environment to work in! Customers are able to come into the shop and walk right into the studio and put their hands on the materials I am going to use to make their product. There is something really great and personal about that, and I feel like it adds special element to the shop in general.

-Were you creative growing up/what did you enjoy doing?

I colored all the time! I loved to play pretend or just be outside, read and listen to music. In my teens I played music in bands, which turned into a full time gig in my late teens and early twenties. I still always felt like something was missing artistially until I started sewing, I could never put my finger on it, but once I found sewing, everything changed for me.

-What made you want to start selling on etsy?
I had heard of etsy before I entered the crafting world, I had friends who sold on the site. When I started sewing, it seemed like the natural thing to do next.

-How long did it take for you to get your first sale on etsy?

Well, my dad was my first etsy sale, so probably it took about day or however long it took for me to call my parents and tell them I was online! After that I think it took about a week and half or so, it was slow going at first, even for the first 6-7 months. It took a while for me to figure out how to approach it, pricing, renewing consistently, etc. It was more difficult for me then because I was working overnights at Steak n Shake and I had just opened up the boutique (I had a shop in a different location before I moved it into Carbondale), so I was spreading myself so thin that I had virtually no time for etsy! Once the shop was doing well enough for me to quit the overnight job I was able to spend more time focusing on my online sales. It took a leap of faith to quit the second job and decide to focus on the shop and etsy, but it was well worth it! Instead of spending overnights serving burgers, I spent my overnights sewing, which was a lot more fun for me!

-Top 5 favorite foods, tv shows, and bands?

oh boy...

foods-
1)ice cream (see the first question!)
2) artichoke dip from the global gourmet (one of my fave restaurant/bars here in Carbondale)
3) skittles
4) avocado
5) anything mexican

tv shows
1)30 rock
2)the office
3)west wing
4)perfect strangers
5)its always sunny...

bands! (this is nearly impossible for me!)
1)jawbreaker
2)chuck ragan/hot water music
3)bob dylan
4)flogging molly
5)led zeppelin

-Is there anything you'd like to try your hand at doing? Knitting, baking, soap making, wood working, etc.

Screenprinting! I am always using alternatives to screenprinting, but I would love to take a class and learn how to do it! It seems like the most versatile way to print and be creative, I just need time to learn it...

I have always wished I could do woodworking, being a carpenter sounds like juiced up sewing! I love the idea of making furniture, so hopefully one day I can learn.
-What would you suggest to new etsy sellers to promote their shops?

Keep renewing items! Never turn down a blog giveaway or any kind of interest in your product! It is essential to get outside of etsy and promote your etsy site. There are some great featured apps available to etsy sellers, I highly suggest using them to get an idea of who is buying your product, what time of day they are buying it, etc. Everytime I look at who is purchasing from me I am super excited to see how many are first time etsy buyers! That means that people are constantly joining the site, making it vital that you keep promoting etsy in general. Always remember that any press for the site is good for you, even if it isn't your product, it comes around! Do what you can to spread the word about buying handmade, and hit every craft fair you can! Put your etsy site on your business cards, and when you hand your card to people, point out that your etsy site is on it, trust me, it makes a difference. I say the word etsy at least 30 times a day, it honestly becomes a lifestyle, and its by far the best job I have ever had!

-3 etsy shops you just LOVE?

www.happysolez.etsy.com (Katherine's product is amazing!)
www.ekra.etsy.com (Emily uses all recycled materials to make amazing crochet rugs, and awesome bottlecap necklaces at great prices!)
www.matchwick.etsy.com (these are the best candles! i love them!)

-By New Years Eve 2011 I hope my number of sold items is ______.

250,000 :) If I can't hit a quarter of a million, I would really like to hit 1,000. Its a large goal for me, but the day I hit 1,000 I am throwing a party and taking a whole day/night off work!

Dayshift in The Southern Illinoisan

2009-12-15T11:05:00.001-08:00

Our local daily newspaper did a lovely feature on the shop:
"CARBONDALE - It's been four months since Mary Lynn Schroeder opened the doors to her business, Dayshift. And while the national economy is stumbling, Schroeder said Thursday that business has been brisk inside her boutique off the Town Square next to the old train depot.

"We've been slammed," she said, while taking a break. "It's been crazy here."

Dayshift, which carries a colorful collection of handmade merchandise, was originally located off the boardwalk in Makanda but, when she set out to move, Schroeder said she still wanted to stay in a smaller town. To that end, Carbondale was a good fit.

"It's been great," she said of the move. "This community is just phenomenal for supporting local art."

The store is crammed with goods, most of them quite colorful.

Scarves and shirts sit next to plates, cups, handbags and just feet away from chairs and benches made of hand-bent wood. Trin-kets abound and, if you're in the market for handmade dog treats, they're for sale here too.

Schroeder said that, like the dog treats, everything for sale in the store is handmade, with most of the merchandise coming from a pool of about 30 local artists and designers.

Schroeder said she wants Dayshift to serve as a place for local artists and designers to display and sell their wares. The broad array of merchandise reflects of this goal.

And while she has her floor space, Schroeder said she also is making sales online and direct to other boutiques across the country. Dayshift's affiliation with the Web site Etsy.com, similar to eBay but dealing exclusively in handmade goods, brought Schroeder some national publicity earlier this month. Though she didn't see it, multiple persons told Schroeder that leather-bound journals she makes were singled out on the Martha Stewart show as being a holiday gift bargain by the founder of Etsy.com.

While the store is keeping her busy to keep up with demand Schroeder said she's pleased with how the business has performed in Carbondale.

"I don't think I'll get to sleep again until January," she said. "But it's great. That's a good thing."

blackwell.thomas@thesouthern.com

618-351-5823"

See the article HERE...

Around The Shop

2009-12-15T10:53:00.000-08:00

Take another look around the shop!
New items added all the time!
Now we have all natural, handmade dog treats from Earl's Pearls...
101 W. Monroe St
Carbondale, IL 62901

Mary's Leather Journals!!

2009-12-13T13:48:00.000-08:00

So, the lovely owner of Dayshift has been super successful with these leather journals!! Rumor has it, she may have been featured on Martha Stewart, after being distributed in an Etsy Email. She has been busy busy busy, so check out these amazingly beautiful journals!!

See her Etsy Shop HERE...

EKRA Recycled Art

2009-12-13T13:39:00.000-08:00

So, Emily is one of the shop's best sellers! She uses ONLY recycled materials when creating her beautiful goodies too!

Emily creates beautiful items like Bottlecap Necklaces, Ornaments, and Magnets. She also creates crochet rugs, cupcake trivets, and these amazingly sturdy fabric bowls. All of these items are very time consuming, because she cuts the fabric strips used in these projects.

Please feel free to visit her ETSY shop HERE and see more of her beautiful wares.

Please stop into the shop to find some her most unique items. The are affordable presents you can give as gifts!

Attention Artists and Crafters

2009-11-11T22:39:00.000-08:00

Attention to those who make beautiful things:

Dayshift is currently accepting ideas for new consignment merchandise for this 2009 Holiday Shopping Season. We have recently been featured in a glossy magazine by The Southern Illinoisan (out next week), and we are the main shop featured in it. This is sure to bring lots of traffic!

If you are someone who makes beautiful things, and would like your work considered to be sold in Dayshift on consignment, please comment below, or send an email to:

KatEyez62707 AT yahoo . com (this is written to avoid junk emails, you see)

So, feel free to contact us with ideas and we look forward to talking with you and seeing your work!

2009-10-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

The Shop is filling up quite nicely! 2 Weeks ago, Dayshift participated in Art Around The Square and featured a new Illistrator. He makes beautiful renderings that feature Dali-esque trees and melting landscapes. He is quite the artist! I will link to his website soon..
Meanwhile, please view a few more images of the shop and get inspired!

The current 10% off coupon lasts until November 7th, so if you have one, stop in soon to see what new and beautiful art has been added :)

Hope to see you there!

2009-10-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

About a week ago, we set up at the Carbondale DAWF (Downtown Art & Wine Show). We had a lot of fun and met some great people. We also may have acquired a few more artists too! This is the second show Mary and I have set up at together and both times have been really fun!!

See the goodies from Dayshift next weekend at Vulture Fest in Makanda, IL!!! Saturday and Sunday...

Craft Show Appearance tomorrow!!!

2009-10-01T16:27:00.000-07:00

For all of you who love Dayshift and really appreciate all things handmade, then we hope to see you tomorrow at the Carbondale Downtown Art & Wine Fair. It is located in Carbondale, IL near Longbranch Cafe and Tres Hombres. This time, the art vendors are located amongst the wine booths, so the art booth should attract an even larger crowd!! I am really excited because Mary Lynne and I have been working super hard to make lots of beautiful new stuff for you!!

Stop by our booth to grab a new 10% Off coupon good on your highest priced item.

If you can't make it to the show, then please stop into the shop for some amazing new items. New Body products have arrived, and just today a load of beautiful and great-priced scarves made their way in! There are fun, coordinating hats too!! Great for the chilly weather that is fast approaching!

So, take a peek at all of the beautiful new items in the shop! I hope to update you all with images soon :)

Hope to see you tomorrow.

Pretty Gals in The Shop

2009-09-18T13:52:00.000-07:00

The shop is so great because people can get custom orders through Dayshift. Whether it is a fabric item, a jewelry piece, or other piece of art, the artists of the Dayshift Co-Op are almost always willing to make you something special at a great price!

New Baby Items from Happy Solez at Dayshift

2009-09-06T09:26:00.000-07:00

New Artist (Sarah Shoot) ad Other Goodies

2009-09-06T08:29:00.000-07:00

So, Dayshift is now lovingly carrying Sarah Shoot, a local artist from near Makanda. She uses a lot of different collage techniques. She creates pretty items to hang on the walls, as well as cards, other paper goods, and pretty jewelry. She makes these earrings out of soda cans!! and other unique materials. She also makes cute hairclips!! So feel free to come and check out her work and all of the other beautiful goodies at Dayshift!

Coupons

2009-09-02T08:36:00.000-07:00

Hurry up and visit the shop before September 5th! The 10% Off coupon is only good until then. We are getting a lot of new artists quite often too. The newest one is Sarah Shoot. I will be posting images of her new work soon.

Lots of new jewelry in the shop too!!

Stock up early on Christmas presents so you can get them while it is still nice out! It is no fun having to scurry around at the last minute. You can make a better decision this way!

As with all of the items in the shop, many are one of a kind (OOAK), so it is super important to get them while you can. A fun and unique shopping experience awaits you...

Inside the Shop

2009-08-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome!!
Have fun while you feast your eyes on Brynna's Beautiful Jewels. They are each a work of art all on their own. They go really fast, so if you see something you like, please stop in! (One necklace seen in the previous post from the Dayshift Meet and Greet)

A fun collection of appliqued tees and onesies for kids and babies. Women's Collection coming soon. Check out Happy Solez at Dayshift! New items arriving weekly.
Another pretty corner of the shop.
Fun, new pins/buttons arriving from Sonia daily!! There are so many different types that it it hard to pass them by...Get your limited edition Dayshift Pins too!!
A small sampling of all the beautiful purses in the shop. Check out more HERE.
Dayshift has a great assortment of Bracelets, Necklaces, and other pretty jewelry.

SIUC Meet and Greet

2009-08-27T21:51:00.000-07:00

A pretty gal in one of Brynna's beautiful necklaces...

This past Tuesday, Dayshift set up at an SIUC Meet and Greet. Wow, the crowd was great. We gave away so many coupons and met a ton of cool people. Hope to see you all at the shop some time :)

It was held in front of the SIUC Rec Center. There were tons of local businesses, and the Sam West Trio played LIVE. They were great.

A Bit About Dayshift

2009-08-27T19:35:00.000-07:00

And stop in before September 5th in order to receive a free 10% off coupon!!

Hello World

2009-08-15T15:53:00.000-07:00

Shop Now...At the newest and coolest Handmade Boutique in Southern Illinois. Located in Carbondale, IL near the Cellar, the Chamber of Commerce, The Practice Pad, and across the street (IL-13) from Mary Lou's and Thai Taste.

Please stop in for a visit and find some incredibly wonderful handmade items.

Most items are one of a kind (OOAK), so get them while they last.

Shopping for any gift or event will be really easy, there are so many great items in the shop.

If you are an artist who may be interested in selling her/his original artwork here, please leave a comment or contact me.

Located at 101 E. Monroe Street in Carbondale, IL 62901