CheapTweet Blog

This week we talked to Lois Stifel, creator of Foxy G. Knits.

Lois is originally from Chicago, IL, but has spent her adult life living in both the Midwest and southeast. She received a B.A. degree in English from Roosevelt University in Chicago, and for that, according to her, she can get a cup of coffee for about $2.00!  Knitting was a passion that had its roots in her childhood. Check out her Etsy store, read her blog, and find her on Facebook and Twitter.

How did Foxy G. Knits get started?

For a long time, knitting was an avocation and not a vocation for me. Friends and family finally convinced me to open a store on Etsy.  I am sure that they were getting so tired of receiving scarves, shawls, baby blankets and hats for birthdays and every other special occasion!  In September 2008, I took the plunge and opened Foxy G. Knits where everything is knit by hand – from my heart to yours.

Tell us a little bit about your store. In what sorts of pieces do you specialize?

Foxy G. Knits features hand-knit, one-of-a-kind shawls, wraps and scarves that are versatile and designed for today’s woman.  My items encompass comfort and style, and you don’t have to give up one for the other.

Where do you get your inspiration?

My inspiration comes from colors and textures in the everyday world around me.  My favorite part of the creative process is coordinating and blending various yarn colors and textures. I have the ability to conceptualize and see various colors, textures and designs before they are actual completed items.

How do you market or promote your store?

I know that many artists and artisans do not like to promote themselves, and I truly understand.  However, if you don’t promote yourself, it is like throwing a party and not sending out invitations.  I bet no one shows up.  But there are ways to promote yourself that are not distasteful.  I use a variety of methods to market or promote Foxy G. Knits, and they all involve building relationships and trust.  I am a member of three teams: Etsy North Georgia Street Team, Etsy Twitter Team and Etsy Bloggers Team and share useful information with them at every opportunity.  I generously heart sellers whose work I like. I have a blog and promote members of my teams, as well as other Etsy sellers. I am also on twitter.

Recently, I wanted to build a Facebook Fan page and get to 100 fans so that I could secure my vanity name. So, I offered to knit a children’s scarf for the local homeless shelter for every new fan I received from July 15 – August 15.  And I posted that information on my Facebook page as well as tweeted about it.  I thought that it would take me a month to reach 100, but it took only four days.  By the time the promotion was over, I owed the shelter more than 200 scarves!

How do you use Twitter to help with your business?

I follow my entire Etsy Twitter Team, and we are very active in promoting our team as well as each other.  I also follow many Team North Georgia members. I try to follow people who don’t only push their items because that gets really boring really quickly.  I follow people who have good senses of humor.  And if all someone talks about is what they had for breakfast, I know where to find the unfollow button! I tweet and retweet regularly and share useful information at every opportunity.

Do you have any tips or advice for someone just getting her/his own business started?

Run your business like you are the customer – be that customer.  What makes you want to shop in a particular place – service, attention to detail? And do get comfortable with promoting yourself.