Handmadeology

In the last two years, my Energy Shop on Etsy has evolved from a hobby into a second income for my family. However, last week and without warning, my shop was suspended by Etsy’s administration.

I am most proud of when I was contacted by a publishing representative to have my artwork included in their line of stationery. That was when I officially considered my work to be ‘professional’.

I have a policy in my store: If I make a mistake with your order, or if one of my products fails you, I am going to serve you so well that you’ll hope I screw up again in the future.

Go through your day from start to finish and think about your routine. You’ll surprise yourself at how many items you can add to the list!

If you love candle-making, it’s a great business choice because there is a HUGE void of candles on the Etsy marketplace, which leaves a wide opening for success.

I would like to introduce you to Bea, the artistic painter and creative mind behind these creations. I think you’ll be as absolutely taken with her talent as I am! Join me, as we explore her magical domain of fairies and pirates …

We are, each one of us, creating something out of nothing. We are artists. Two years ago, I didn’t have a small business. I just had an idea. I invested my time, energy, and a little bit of money–just as you did.

Many shops are making the biggest mistake in this marketplace: passively selling a product with little to no advertising. They believe that if they build listings on an e-commerce site, people will come. It takes more than that.

Wendy has been selling on Etsy since January of 2006, making her a 5-year Etsy veteran. I couldn’t wait to unearth her expertise and wisdom. Enjoy the interview!

It’s the Energy Shop’s second anniversary, and I love to write a big post every year to celebrate how far it’s come and what I’ve learned.

This week, you are going to map your “I Want” list from the very first assignment. By simply mapping this long list of wants, you begin to organize your plan for success.

I’ve learned how to gain better perspective, protected my dreams, and set realistic goals to attain them.

I’m calling myself out and pulling from the Energy Shop listing archives, as I highlight the do’s and don’ts of product photography.

If you’re seeking success, there’s really no difference between who you are now and who you want to become. It’s a matter of applying that feeling of success everyday until you meet your goals.

As handmade businesses, we want a lot of bang for our advertising buck. I am as attached to the dollars in my Paypal account as you are to yours, and so I’m happy to answer questions about my strategy and share my wins and losses. As handmade business entering the advertising world, we have a few options for cost-per-click ads

I recently witnessed her sell the roof off a lovely community center at a local holiday show. I had a front row seat from my Energy Shop booth and plenty of time to watch the magic of her day unfold.

I’ve been admiring Beth’s work at Hint on Etsy for several months now. Her talent and good intentions seem to shine in each of her handmade charms. She writes an intriguing blog titled hint jewelry, where it becomes obvious that she takes great care and pride in everything that she does.

Your business goals should always stretch you, but at the same time, they need to be realistically attainable. For example, earlier in the year I had created an affirmation that went something like this, “I have 500 sales this month.”