Thank you, I’ve been have guilt buying my 6 needle machine last year and not being were I thought I would be now. I never started Etsy yet but would love to. I was only doing local orders.
I hear everything you are saying. I, too, was trying the Etsy thing. It's too much hard work for little to no return. I changed when a local lady was asking for a name to be embroidered on a baby jumper on my local page. I answered, did the job, light bulb went off. That was so much easier than seo and all that other time consuming stuff on there. Have now built up a little and it is improving each month.
Great perspective! I am a nurse and wanted to be successful on Etsy to be a stay at home mom....umm “Don’t quit your day job” is my self advise. I think Etsy is great for some, but for the majority it is just a hobby outlet not a sustainable income.
I feel you on all of this. Etsy has slowed down to a crawl for me as well. I am going to order some sample shirts from vendors and ship up some samples and start listing locally and I may go around to local businesses in my area offering my services. But I need to first get more comfortable with hats
Oh my gosh I totally agree with you. I have a full time job, but enjoy doing the crafty things too. Etsy is way too much effort for little return. Most of my business comes from word of mouth. I was asked once what my minimum order was…I said one. They laughed, but it’s true and definitely a niche. I struggle with how to price sometimes especially if I have to design it too. But it’s a great avenue to enjoy what I do and make a little money. You are spot on with the pivot.
I started my Etsy in 07 as well. Didn’t do much with it back then, my kids were little and I had a solid customer base locally. I really started focusing on it again in 2019, and it has done pretty well in the last couple of years. It’s still not my primary money maker, and creates way more hassle sometimes, but I’m keeping my shop open for the time being. My Etsy has slowed a little in the last couple months, and that’s fine with me.
I was planning to start an etsy shop soon but i listed my business on google with photos & when people search for embroidery they call me. I started last fall by offering porch drop off & pick up & it's worked fine for me so far. I do hold a full time job because i need insurance & hope to retire in 3 1/2 yrs & hopefully will be well established by then? I live 16 miles south of Austin & have received local orders from San Marcos, Wimberley, Dripping Springs, Buda & Kyle areas. I recently received an order from a High School teacher in Austin that needed a shirt embroidered within a couple of days & no one would do it for her & glad i did because i will be embroidering 20 caps soon. Word of mouth is key to getting orders locally. Good luck Kelli! Enjoy watching ur videos!
I wanted to be one of these big TH-cam/Etsy success stories. They keep me pretty hyped up, but I’m disabled and aside from issues that arise with that, most days I feel like I can barely move. I’ve been afraid to list things ANYWHERE because I never know if I’m LITERALLY going to have the energy to get outta bed most days, let alone meet deadlines for actually making something I sold. I’ve pretty much decided I’m going to just make things that make me happy, that I like, or that I can quickly stitch up multiples of, then basically list things for sale - either daily or weekly, depending on how it goes. I think this will work for me and be less stress and pressure on myself. With any luck, I’ll get a good stash of products up and maybe be able to hit some of the local pop ups or farmers markets to sell my stuff.
I'm so sorry to hear about your struggles and hope you are feeling well today! Sounds like you have a good plan, the key is that business isn't a one size fits all! Everyone has to find what works best for them!
Kelly, thank you for this video, You’re advise is very helpful to me. Im older and now looking to start an embroidery business as a side business and really appreciate hearing your views. Cheers
Hi I love the chit chat videos. I don't do Etsy but love the idea of selling to your local area. Lower carbon foot print. Keep up the good work. I'm just watching you while ironing.
I like your new plan. I am going to try going in a similar direction, I always felt Etsy was not what I wanted because the competition is too high for what I like to do - mostly 18" doll clothes and some home crafts.. I'll be watching to see how you do on the new pan of branching out. Best of luck !!
I tried Etsy to, for a long time actually, i had different stuff up for sale, both digital embroidery stuff and physical stuff, i had my store for about 2 years and i thought i did all right, but i had no sales at all even though i had products i know people want. So... Etsy is not for me either, i wanted to have 70 orders in the morning when i got up from bed, or 50.. or 20, or 10... or at least 1-2, it didn't happen. So in order to make some money i had to figure out other ways, making money locally is a good way to go i think.
I'm enjoying your perspective on making/selling on Esty. I'm not in the business because I still at this time don't believe that I have the time necessary to devote to get the big stack of orders like you see other people having on You Tube - I have to work as I need the insurance. This definitely gives you a better idea as to what you may come across and need to be aware and prepared for if you think that you can just quit your "day job". I hope that your new "business model" pans out and you pick up more business. I look forward to hearing how everything works out.
I closed my Etsy shop the first of this year. It was pretty much a hobby for me, but 25 sales in 5 years? Agree that it is more work than what it was worth! have a day job, so I didn’t need it for a main income, just a side hustle that was fun. It got to be where it wasn’t fun anymore.
DO NOT DO THINGS FOR FREE!! It's hard, and a work in progress for all of us but I'm considerably better at it over time. My mom gets things for free. THat's it. For everyone else it's a business and I treat it as such. Do I give friends a discount...sure! Do I sometimes accept wine as payments? Definitely! But I get something in return for my time!
Thank you, I’ve been have guilt buying my 6 needle machine last year and not being were I thought I would be now. I never started Etsy yet but would love to. I was only doing local orders.
I hear everything you are saying. I, too, was trying the Etsy thing. It's too much hard work for little to no return. I changed when a local lady was asking for a name to be embroidered on a baby jumper on my local page. I answered, did the job, light bulb went off. That was so much easier than seo and all that other time consuming stuff on there. Have now built up a little and it is improving each month.
Great perspective! I am a nurse and wanted to be successful on Etsy to be a stay at home mom....umm “Don’t quit your day job” is my self advise. I think Etsy is great for some, but for the majority it is just a hobby outlet not a sustainable income.
I agree...don't quit your day job is great advice! Especially if Etsy is the main source of income.
I feel you on all of this. Etsy has slowed down to a crawl for me as well. I am going to order some sample shirts from vendors and ship up some samples and start listing locally and I may go around to local businesses in my area offering my services. But I need to first get more comfortable with hats
Good luck on your new adventures!! Your very intelligent Kelly you will go very far!!!
Thank you so much for those kind words, Tina!
Oh my gosh I totally agree with you. I have a full time job, but enjoy doing the crafty things too. Etsy is way too much effort for little return. Most of my business comes from word of mouth. I was asked once what my minimum order was…I said one. They laughed, but it’s true and definitely a niche. I struggle with how to price sometimes especially if I have to design it too. But it’s a great avenue to enjoy what I do and make a little money. You are spot on with the pivot.
I started my Etsy in 07 as well. Didn’t do much with it back then, my kids were little and I had a solid customer base locally. I really started focusing on it again in 2019, and it has done pretty well in the last couple of years. It’s still not my primary money maker, and creates way more hassle sometimes, but I’m keeping my shop open for the time being. My Etsy has slowed a little in the last couple months, and that’s fine with me.
Yeah, I"m almost to the point that when I actually get an Etsy order I'm kind of annoyed by it! Ha!
❣️❣️❣️
I was planning to start an etsy shop soon but i listed my business on google with photos & when people search for embroidery they call me. I started last fall by offering porch drop off & pick up & it's worked fine for me so far. I do hold a full time job because i need insurance & hope to retire in 3 1/2 yrs & hopefully will be well established by then? I live 16 miles south of Austin & have received local orders from San Marcos, Wimberley, Dripping Springs, Buda & Kyle areas. I recently received an order from a High School teacher in Austin that needed a shirt embroidered within a couple of days & no one would do it for her & glad i did because i will be embroidering 20 caps soon. Word of mouth is key to getting orders locally.
Good luck Kelli! Enjoy watching ur videos!
Well hello there "neighbor"! We really are very lucky...it's such a huge area with an endless customer base!
I wanted to be one of these big TH-cam/Etsy success stories. They keep me pretty hyped up, but I’m disabled and aside from issues that arise with that, most days I feel like I can barely move. I’ve been afraid to list things ANYWHERE because I never know if I’m LITERALLY going to have the energy to get outta bed most days, let alone meet deadlines for actually making something I sold. I’ve pretty much decided I’m going to just make things that make me happy, that I like, or that I can quickly stitch up multiples of, then basically list things for sale - either daily or weekly, depending on how it goes. I think this will work for me and be less stress and pressure on myself. With any luck, I’ll get a good stash of products up and maybe be able to hit some of the local pop ups or farmers markets to sell my stuff.
I'm so sorry to hear about your struggles and hope you are feeling well today! Sounds like you have a good plan, the key is that business isn't a one size fits all! Everyone has to find what works best for them!
Kelly, thank you for this video, You’re advise is very helpful to me. Im older and now looking to start an embroidery business as a side business and really appreciate hearing your views. Cheers
You're so welcome! Thank you for watching! I really do appreciate it.
Hi
I love the chit chat videos. I don't do Etsy but love the idea of selling to your local area. Lower carbon foot print. Keep up the good work.
I'm just watching you while ironing.
Thanks so much! What an excellent point!
Good for you! Will you be giving up your industrial machine?
I should...I don't need it anymore. But I NEED it so I"m keeping it! Ha!
I like your new plan. I am going to try going in a similar direction, I always felt Etsy was not what I wanted because the competition is too high for what I like to do - mostly 18" doll clothes and some home crafts.. I'll be watching to see how you do on the new pan of branching out. Best of luck !!
Thank you so much! Good luck to you as well!
I tried Etsy to, for a long time actually, i had different stuff up for sale, both digital embroidery stuff and physical stuff, i had my store for about 2 years and i thought i did all right, but i had no sales at all even though i had products i know people want. So... Etsy is not for me either, i wanted to have 70 orders in the morning when i got up from bed, or 50.. or 20, or 10... or at least 1-2, it didn't happen. So in order to make some money i had to figure out other ways, making money locally is a good way to go i think.
Definitely give local sales a shot...I think you'll be surprised by how quickly word spreads!! Good luck!
I'm enjoying your perspective on making/selling on Esty. I'm not in the business because I still at this time don't believe that I have the time necessary to devote to get the big stack of orders like you see other people having on You Tube - I have to work as I need the insurance. This definitely gives you a better idea as to what you may come across and need to be aware and prepared for if you think that you can just quit your "day job". I hope that your new "business model" pans out and you pick up more business. I look forward to hearing how everything works out.
Thank you for the words of encouragement and for watching!
Good for you! I look forward to chatting again!
Thanks for watching, Shantell!
I closed my Etsy shop the first of this year. It was pretty much a hobby for me, but 25 sales in 5 years? Agree that it is more work than what it was worth! have a day job, so I didn’t need it for a main income, just a side hustle that was fun. It got to be where it wasn’t fun anymore.
That's the thing, isn't it?! If it's not fun it's not worth it!
Hi thank you for sharing
My business is so bad this year on Etsy that I don’t know what to do
Hang in there!! Start getting the word out locally...you might be surprised!!
@@1922project thank you so much
Hello nice seeing you
Hi, Robyn!
What happened with the bag making?
I love bag making! I mostly do it for fun though. I can’t work out how to make money off it!!
Ok I have a question. You mentioned family and friends . How do you handle charging them? I find I keep doing things for free.
DO NOT DO THINGS FOR FREE!! It's hard, and a work in progress for all of us but I'm considerably better at it over time. My mom gets things for free. THat's it. For everyone else it's a business and I treat it as such. Do I give friends a discount...sure! Do I sometimes accept wine as payments? Definitely! But I get something in return for my time!
You have a great head on your shoulders.
Very kind of you to say! Thank you! made me smile!
Etsy doesn’t work for me either. I opened my shop 3 years ago and haven’t gotten one order. And yes it’s my fault also, it it just isn’t for me.
That's the real issue, isn't it?! There was this collective agreement that Etsy was for everyone but it's just NOT!
But anyways Etsy is dead every body is screaming because business is bad overall
I've had my shop since 2013 and sold 4 items.
@@theresagray4140 sorry to hear that