I am a Business Owner!
If I say it over and over again.... will I start to believe it??
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So, you did it! You opened a Business!!! Gooooo You! High Fives all around! But, there is one tiny problem... YOU ARE Terrified! Will anyone want what I have to offer? Will everyone think I am insane for starting up this new venture? Will I make money? Will I lose money? Will I look and feel stupid for trying?
I have two business, I own a preschool and I have a shop on Etsy. I was so scared starting both of them. When I opened my preschool I had one student and as the first year ended I had 8. Now 10 years later I just graduated 37!
The photo below was taken right before our Town Parade!
When I started my Shop on Etsy... it took me 4 months to get my first sale. And now, a year and a half later, I have 70 sales. Am I reaching for more??? You Bet!!!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/103418045/mosaic-guitar-with-case-for-artists?ref=shop_home_active
https://www.etsy.com/listing/89564504/abstract-mosaic-mirror-brown-tones?ref=shop_home_active
My point here is that everything takes time.
You just have to stick with it!
Selling online is crazy! No sugar coating here folks. If you are looking for one of those stories "I made millions with my online store and quit my day job" you are in the wrong place! I am what my friends call a "Negative Nancy". I call it being real and not getting carried away on a cloud of fancy. Day dreaming is not my thing! I am a person who believes that baby steps is now everything starts.
To be honest when I read those "I make millions" stories it just pisses me off! I know they are meant to capture the Dreamer and prove you can do it. But, to me it just makes me think that some people will get too disappointed if they don't see Big Money right away and quit before they get started.
Here is the thing.....
Things don't just drop out of the sky and all is good in the world. If things are dropping out of the sky... RUN!
Things take energy, time and dedication!
If you have a hard time lighting a fire under your own butt...
well... having any type of business is not for you...
What you need is called a hobby.
Now for the good news! Etsy can be both. Lots of folks make their hobby into a business. Lots of folks work Etsy part time. Lots of people have so many wonderful items that they just need good homes for them so they can enjoy making more goodies! But, if you want to sell those outstanding items you can't think of it Only as a hobby. Nothing will ever sell and you should just think of who you are going to give what to at the holidays!
If you are going to open or you have an Etsy shop ....
1. Get on Facebook and get yourself a Fan page!
2. Get yourself on Google
3. Get yourself on Pinterest
4. Get yourself on other social sites.. there are a ton of them.
5. Get yourself business cards and leave them everywhere.
6. Talk about your shop... not so much that people run the other direction when they see you coming.. just enough so they know you are still selling and what you are selling.
7. Join teams on Etsy
8. Never hide your 'favorites'
9. Promote others on the site... Don't be what I call a 'Me Monster'
10. Enjoy what you do...
You only live once and life is toooo damn short!
Smile, giggle, and make friends!
Stop on over and check out my shop!
Thank you for reading!
Don't forget to check out the shop links to all these wonderful Etsy shops I featured in the blog!
Enjoy!!!
Very Nice! Thank you for including my sign. I like your Mosaics, pretty!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome!!!!
DeleteLove this Kate, Inspirational and adorable :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping in!
DeleteVery inspirational!! I'm one of those that needs to light the fire under my butt at times. LOL
ReplyDeleteVicki you are so funny! Do I need to come over and light the fire under your rump for ya?? LOL
DeleteGREAT advice! I feel ya on the slow sales! I think I'm hovering at 97 right before I put my shop on vacation due to my upcoming wedding.. :) Slow and steady wins the race for sure!! You got your first sale before I got mine... It took me 5-6 months I believe... Keep up the great work!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for popping in! Congrats on the 97 sales!! wooohoooo!!!!! And a HUGE Congrats on your upcoming wedding!!!! Many years of happiness!!! I am married almost 25 years!
DeleteI really enjoy following you and the stories you write up!!
ReplyDeletethank you so much!
DeleteKate - fabulous article! And a lot of truth to it. I wasn't sure if I was being smart, horribly conceited, or just plain crazy when I decided to open my shop. THEN I got completely terrified - you are so right! But it is all good. You have to push yourself in life and believe in yourself.
ReplyDeleteDeb... you are so right.. believing in yourself is key... even if you have to fake for a bit! lol
DeleteAwesome article!! You are so right, it is hard work but it is worth it! Diane:) (vintagebyrudi shop)
ReplyDeleteIt really is all worth it!!! Thank you for reading!
DeleteI love this post, all so true!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
DeleteThere are so many ways out there to promote, but it sure takes a lot of time! Awesome guitar!
ReplyDeleteIt sure does! And thank you so much for the compliment on my guitar!
DeleteCongrats, Kate! You're an inspiration to us all. ;) Maybe I'll take a break from snipping tin and get back to mosaics once this Oregon weather turns for the better!
ReplyDeleteGood luck, I'll be following!
Cindy (awisewoman on etsy, remember?)
Cindy.. create create create! So much fun in it all!!! thank you for stopping in and reading!!
DeleteThank you Kate for featuring my clock in your awesome blog!
ReplyDeleteYou bet! very cool clock!!!!!
DeleteGreat work Kate - how do you get all the comments on your blog. -
ReplyDeleteI have no idea! LOL And thank you so much for popping over for a read!
Deletelol! Wooohoooo for child care! Don't you just love working with kids! I have put my business cards on bulletin boards, left them with a tip, I have them in several galleries in my home town and send one with each sale. I need to get better at carrying them around everywhere I go. The good news is that living the etsy dream....it doesn't matter where you are...just leave one! Make sure all the parents of the kids you work with know about you shop! Happy selling!
ReplyDeleteaww so cute. :) thank you so much for featuring my Mind Energy tincture on your blog as well. great post!
ReplyDelete-Amanda
http://www.etsy.com/shop/DundeeBotanicsGifts?ref=seller_info
You bet! What a great product! And thank you for reading!
DeleteThanks for your tips, Kate. Making your business visible in social networking sites is a sure way to attract and gain customers. By the way, your items are interesting! Did you make them yourself?
ReplyDeleteEverything in my shop is handmade!
Delete