The December magazine is live!! As we head into one of the busiest times of the year for handmade sellers, we’re super thankful for the stories that we have to share this month! Even our question of the month seemed to line up with the theme of this magazine which wasn’t actually planned. Right now, a lot of sellers feel pressured to create perfect promotions and trendy product lines, but sometimes you need to get back to the basics: embracing your joy. All of our stories this month demonstrate that doing what you love creates success (even if it makes no sense at the time), while doing what you think others want you to do leads you in circles. We hope this magazine issue gives you clarity and direction!! ❤️
“The next thing I knew it was a year later and I had made 2,500 sales.”
Jess filled out our Featured Seller Application a few months ago and her story instantly caught our attention. On the surface, we saw beautiful pictures of her art and we loved that she’s living and running her business out of a self-converted van while traveling across the country. But it was what she had to say about authenticity that got us excited. We’ve long been advocates for spreading the word that success is less strategy and more heart. Sure, there’s strategy involved, but your heart leads you to the right strategy for you. It was letting go of growth comparison and embracing herself that lead Jess to convert her van, create a lovely product line, grow her following, and get her to 2,500 sales in her 1st year. You’ll love her story!
“It wasn’t until I stopped comparing my growth that I was able to flourish professionally and personally. I was able to be authentic. My sales went up, my product quality went up, and I had more flow in my work.”
– Jess Capeling @jesspaperco
“In the first year, I tripled my income despite making fewer coats and working less hours…”
Our second featured seller, Elise, had to make a change when the enormous time commitment caused the joy to be was sucked out of her business. Despite everyone thinking she was crazy, she closed her wholesale accounts and switched to retail, which tripled her income immediately. She had to do what was right for her. Wait till you see what happened to her business after that! Spoiler alert: Facebook took an interest in her!
“Despite everyone telling me I was crazy, I wrote my wholesale customers in 2013 and told them that I was no longer supplying them. Selling directly to the public online was the best decision I ever made.”
-Elise Brown @fairdinkumdogsaustralia
Here’s a preview of the goodies inside the December magazine:
Magazine Question of the Month
Last month we asked sellers what one thing was that they wished someone had told them before starting their business. Read their answers and how they would have structured their business differently. Click here to answer next month’s question and get featured in our magazine!
How Becoming More Authentic to Herself Made Jess’s Business Flourish
Read about Jess’s journey running her business from a camper van and how becoming more authentic changed her personal and business life.
How Many Product Listings Do You Really Need to Be Successful?
A lot of sellers say that you need at least 100 listings to get consistent traffic on Etsy. But is that actually true? Join Deborah from Tizzit.co in exploring the facts and figure out how many listings your particular shop needs.
My sales tripled when I switched from wholesale to retail.
We’ve published many stories about sellers who grew exponentially when they got wholesale accounts, but it can happen the other way around as well! Elise bought her company when she was 19 and has been running it for 15 years. Read about her journey and the change to retail that tripled her income.
Telling Your Brand Story in One Sentence
How well can you describe your brand? What makes your brand story meaningful to your followers? Join Anna in discussing the elements of a captivating story and how you can narrow down your story to a single sentence. Photo by @rosehip_lane
Timmery Doesn’t “Niche Down” On Her Product Line
Have you ever been told that you should only focus on selling one type of product? Well, Timmery is proof that you can sell whatever you want and build a thriving business. She sells cards, prints, shoes, jewelry, and more! And she’s really good at it!
The Do’s and Don’ts of Running Social Media Ads
Running social media ads can be more effective than any other form of advertising due to the ability to measure ad success. Here are some essential do’s and don’ts when running paid ads.
The December Newsstand
Get updated on the latest industry news, shopping trends, social media changes, and more!
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