It feels like I am riding a changing tide. At the end of my first year on Etsy, I'm pondering how to survive the economic crisis and still grow my Etsy site. There's so much I would do with my site, if I had more capital to invest. I would make a lot more jewelry, advertise more and certainly expand my options. I have made a vow not to create debt while starting this small business, and that has kept my business small. I have made ten sales this year, though I have made more sales off line at trunk shows and craft fairs. Ten sales feels too small.
I enjoy making jewelry, but I've other work to do, too. I would enjoy hearing from those of you with Etsy businesses how you find time to grow your business and do whatever other jobs you have. I will share some of the things that have been storming my brain and look forward to your ideas, too.
Claire's Ideas for Growing Business
- Make simpler, quicker jewelry, which can be sold for less.
- Repeat designs instead of making "one-of-a-kind."
- Find a less expensive source and recycle materials.
- Diversify what I make to include non-jewelry items (there's a glut of jewelry on Etsy).
- Find a good, active Street Team on Etsy. I love the team I have, but I maybe need another.
- Advertise myself more off-line.
- Focus on preparing for a few big craft shows and fairs and participate big time.
- Guard my spare time with a passion so I don't get burned-out.
- Passionately uphold my schedule, with an eye for boundary busters. (They don't know who they are, poor things, but they suck up a lot of my energy for my work. Only I can create my boundaries - and only I can enforce them.)
- And I will be aware of the fact I am learning and not compare myself to other artists.
I will honor that I am doing the best I can, even in those times when I need to do better.
So tell me all of you out there in Etsy Land - any advice for growing my business, without going into debt or spending too much? How do you guard your time for other things? What has served you well? What hasn't?
