What’s Working Wednesday: Christmas in july Shop Audit

Last week I talked about why July is the perfect time to start thinking about Christmas. Not because I’m in a hurry to skip summer, but because Q4 has a way of arriving before you feel ready for it. This week I want to get a little more specific, because if you are a crafter/creative selling products, one of the most important things you can do right now is take an honest look at your shop with an audit frame of mind.

I know the word “audit” sounds a little intimidating. But a shop audit is really just a systematic look at everything a potential customer sees when they land on your site, and then asking honestly if it’s doing it’s job!

What a Shop Audit Actually Looks Like

When I audit a shop (or website) whether it’s my own or a client’s, I’m looking at several key areas:

Listings. Are your titles clear and searchable? Do your descriptions actually describe the product, answer common questions, and speak to why someone would want it? Are your tags working as hard as they could be?

Photos. First impressions happen fast. Are your photos bright, clear, and showing the product the way a buyer needs to see it? Do they look current, or do they feel like they were taken five years ago in bad lighting?

Shop policies. When did you last read your own policies? Shipping times, return policies, and processing times need to reflect reality, especially before the holiday season when expectations are higher and patience is shorter.

Your about section. This is one of the most visited and most neglected parts of any shop. Does it tell your story in a way that connects? Does it feel current?

Pricing and shipping. Have your costs changed? Are your prices still making sense given what materials, time, and fees actually cost you now? Shipping prices continue to rise, and I’ve personally had to raise shipping fees twice this year!

And finally, the overall first impression. Step back and look at your shop the way a stranger would. Does it feel cohesive, trustworthy, and worth clicking around in?

What I Usually Find

Here’s the honest truth about shop audits: almost every shop has something that could be updated .

Sometimes it’s listings that were written in a hurry and never revisited. Sometimes it’s photos that made sense at the time but no longer represent the product well. Sometimes it’s an about section that’s so sparse it doesn’t give a new visitor any reason to trust the shop.

None of these things are disasters. But together they add up to a shop that might be leaving sales on the table. The good news is that most of these things are easily fixable. You just have to know what you’re looking for and be honest when looking.

What I Found in My Own Shop

I recently started re-vamping MY etsy shop, partly to bring in some side income, but also because I work with a lot of creatives who are trying to sell on etsy, shopify, and their own websites. I have been regularly working with shopify for the last couple of years, and I decided one of the best ways I could be in the know for 2026 with etsy is to work on MY shop.

And I had a LOT of work to do! Every listing is getting an overhaul with new titles, new descriptions, new photos and new tags. It’s been close to 5 years since I did much work on my etsy shop, so it was LONG past due.

The great thing about this is that I now have a good idea of what Etsy is looking for in 2026 to get your listings showing up better, and I have a plan of action. July is the perfect time to work on this project, as my shop will be in tip-top shape before the holiday season/

Want Someone to Do This For You?

If the idea of working through your own shop feels overwhelming, or if you’re not sure what you’re looking at when you get there, I can help!

My Christmas in July Shop Audit is a done-for-you review of your Etsy shop, shopify store, or online store. I will go through all of the areas above and give you a clear picture of what’s working, what isn’t, and exactly what to fix before Q4 hits.

It’s the kind of thing that pays for itself when holiday shoppers start arriving and your shop is actually ready for them.

Learn more and book your Shop Revival Audit here

Because the best time to fix your shop was last month. The second best time is right now – thinking about Christmas..in July!