Etsy Conversations Podcast

Sevda runs two Etsy shops - and - in addition to working a full time job in architecture and she's my guest this week all the way from beautiful Istanbul, Turkey.

Like a good portion of Etsy seller, Sevda found her way onto Etsy not just for a source of additional income but as a way to share her creative skills with the world.

Interestingly, the bulk of her sales are international and so we get to discuss in-depth how she handles international transactions and some of the lessons she's along the way that have helped her offer great customer service to her international customers.

This is really good info for you if you're a seller who has some trepidation about selling internationally.

Mamma Mia Bridal & Eme Topics Discussed

Balancing a full-time job and two Etsy shops

Importance and benefits of offering a well-defined product line

Effectively selling to an international market

...and much more

Contact Sevda

Etsy shops: and

Email: MammaMiaEme [at] gmail [dot] com

Social media: , , , ,

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I discovered my guest Kaitlin Anderson through an article I read on the Huffington Post - . 

She runs the Etsy shop with her mom and after being in business for two years she has lots of great insights to offer both new and seasoned Etsy sellers. The advice Kaitlin offered in the article really got me thinking about how I make my spending decisions with respect to my business.

We talked about that in more detail in our convo. Kaitlin has taken a very natural and organic approach to marketing and growing their Etsy sales and their Treat Dreams bakery business as a whole.

Of the two business partners she handles the marketing and other administrative responsibilities (her mom does all the baking) and we talk about the strategies she's employed (and not employed) for promoting their business and brand.

Treat Dreams Topics Discussed

Running a family business and the division of labor

Being intentional about career choices

Strategies for making wise and sound business decisions

Keeping things natural and organic (both in their products and growing their business)

...and much much more

Contact Kaitlin

Etsy shop convo:

Website:

Social media: ,

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is the creative brain child of Kathy Bennett which she birthed after leaving the security of a government job and an 18-year foray into entrepreneurship and self employment.

Thanks to her experience running several businesses and having some of the struggles that are common amongst entrepreneurs, Kathy has some unique insight into what success means, and should mean for a business person and we talk all about that, and much much more...

The Painted Pearl SRQ Topics Discussed

Defining success

Job security vs. entrepreneurial life

Forecasting for future business expansion

Jumping in with both feet vs. making a more deliberate and planned move

Resources Mentioned

of the

hosted by Andreea Ayers

- founded and run by successful Etsy seller Dalia Abdalla of Etsy shop

Kathy's Etsy Shop ShoutOuts

- run by Kaye Kraus where she sells Bohemian jewelry and colorful beaded jewelry

- run by Lynda Groeschen where she sells rustic wall art flowers

- run by Julie where she sells her unique handmade Boho clothing and accessories

Best Ways To Reach Kathy

Etsy shop:

Email: kb558 [at] live [dot] com

Social media: ,

Website:

 

My Etsy Shop ShoutOut of the Week

- run by husband and wife team Joe and Sue. Theirs is a relatively new Etsy shop and they sell custom handmade coasters, snack trays, and serving trays.

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My guest this week is my neighbor of sorts... He's San Francisco-based Jacob Fisher and he runs the Etsy shop where he sells his handmade all-vegan accessories that are durable, stylish and very reasonably-priced.

 started out as a partnership business. Along the way has evolved into a one-man sole proprietorship. If you've ever considered getting a business partner OR going it alone you'll get some great firsthand insight form someone who's done it both ways.

Jacob shares the pros and cons of both setups and sheds some light on how to determine what works or will work best for you.

RetoolSF Topics Discussed

Transitioning from full-time outside employment to full-time self-employment

Pros and cons of different business structures i.e. partnership vs. sole proprietorship

Keeping vegan accessories stylish yet affordable

Strategies and resources for building handmade and crafting skills

Resources Mentioned

- I couldn't find the exact course Jacob took but it's a great resource for a wide variety of crafting courses nonetheless

State Board of Equalization and Franchise Tax Board -varies from state to state but these offices are where you typically will need to go to get your seller's permit

tool

Jacob's Etsy Shop ShoutOut

- original artwork, drawings and prints by Theo Ellsworth

Best Ways to Reach Jacob

Etsy shop:

Email: RetoolSF [at] gmail [dot] com

Social media: , ,

Website:

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is, in shop owner Mikala's words "a blind effort to create a cohesive, curated collection with the intent to use fabulous style to bring attention to and support charities who are doing a great job".

Mikala does this by following her 3-Step Plan to Save the World With Vintage, and yes, in our convo she lays out the exact plan and how she is working it right now. Mikala has a background in non-profit fundraising and so she has a real passion for helping charitable organizations that are doing good.

This played a huge role in the founding goal and the intent/mission behind which is to show people how little it takes to make positive lasting change...

She does this by donating 10% of the proceeds she receives from all sales in her shop to the various charitable organizations she chooses to support.

Greater Goods Vintage: Topics Discussed

Mikala's process for selecting/vetting charitable organizations to support

Jumping into Etsy "blindly" vs. strategically planning entry onto Etsy

Vintage shopping vs. Thrifting... One and the same, or is there a difference

Time management and organization for full-time work from home business

...and much much more

Resources Mentioned

- Mikala supports various charitable organizations at different times, this is the one she is currently supporting (as of the date of our convo)

(Tara Jacobsen's Etsy shop)

Mikala's Etsy Shop ShoutOut

- run by Jennifer Fleck where she sells, in her own words, "passionately pretty vintage clothing"

Best Ways to Reach Mikala

Etsy shop:

Website:

Email: GreaterGoodsVintage [at] gmail [dot] com

Social media:

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My guest this week is Jessica Stansberry and she's the Founder of , a branding, web design, and strategy studio.

Jessica's target market is women-owned businesses and she refers to herself as the "Lady Business Surrogate" because she helps businesses go from idea (or infancy) to fully-birthed. Jessica's passion is to help women who run creative businesses be successful in their business endeavors.

To achieve that she offers services which, in addition to web design, branding, and strategy, includes how to transition from Etsy to an ecommerce platform (with or without leaving Etsy altogether) without losing existing customers.

Jessica launched an eCourse called "Get Off Your Etsy" in which she teaches Etsy sellers who want to migrate onto an ecommerce website exactly how to do so and we discuss in-depth exactly what is covered in the course. Check out Jessica and her co-host Jaclyn's podcast.

If you're contemplating expanding your etsy empire by starting your own ecommerce website then give Jessica a holler as well!

Southtown Creative Convo: Topics Discussed

Business strategy for handmade businesses

"Get Off Your Etsy" eCourse

Jessica's "All Up in Your Lady Business" podcast

...and much more

Resources Mentioned

Jessica's podcast:

Best Ways to Reach Jessica

Website:

Social media: ,

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If you've ever been curious about selling vintage items on Etsy then you'll love listening to my convo with Bree...

She runs the Etsy shop (which she sweetly named after her grandmothers) and she specializes in selling vintage clothing as well as handmade upcycled clothing, accessories and jewelry.

Bree is fascinating... She used to own a brick and mortar boutique before she opened her Etsy and during our convo I asked her to do a comparison between the two. Listen in to hear her thoughts. In addition to being a self-proclaimed "fashion gypsy" she's also an established DJ!

Topics Discussed

Selling vintage goods vs. handmade on Etsy

Goal-setting for Etsy success

Product display and product photography

Building a business and making connections in a new city

...And much more

Resources Mentioned

- a resource for empowering women in the creative industry

- a site for converting vintage women's clothing sizes into today's sizes

- for local info on Farmer's Markets, craft shows, etc. in the Austin, TX area

Etsy apps - Sell on Etsy and Etsy browsing app (download from the Apple App store OR Google Play store)

Shipping supplies - and from eBay

- tool for building Instagram audience

Bree's Etsy Shop ShoutOut

- shop is run by Maggie who mentored Bree in all things vintage and more... Please drop by Maggie's Etsy shop and let her know Bree sent you! :)

Best ways to reach Bree

Etsy shop:

Websites: and

Social media: ,

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is run by business partners Chris and Rob and with a product line that consists (at the time of our convo) of 15 items, they have built a very successful online and offline business.

Chris is my guest this week and I think you'll enjoy hearing how they started and have grown their business to where it is today. They are also in the process of launching a second shop - , a wood working store that will offer all handmade kitchen items and drinking accessories made from reclaimed bourbon barrels - and we talk all about how they lessons they learned from building their shop has helped them with the second one.

One of the things I found quite intriguing was how Chris and Rob have turned some firmly - held beliefs about selling on Etsy on their head, specifically, that you have to stock your Etsy shop with lots of products to get found for more stuff and to be successful... Not so, in the case of .

Topics Discussed

Etsy Wholesale on-boarding experience

Testing out products locally before taking them online

Forming partnership with local businesses

Creating an ecommerce site with Shopify

Thinking outside the box when it comes to craft fairs and vendor shows

And more...

Resources Mentioned

- subscription-based theme-driven boxes and products

- Etsy keyword analysis tool

- "internet marketing made easy" tool

Merlin's Beard Products Limited Time Offer

Promo code for Etsy Convo listeners: Use coupon code "EtsyConvo" (no quotes) to get 15% off your purchase in shop until 12/31/2015... Just in time to do your Christmas shopping for the men in your life!

Contact Chris

Etsy convo:

Email: MerlinsBeardProducts [at] gmail [dot] com OR Chris [at] CamelotsFinest [dot] com

Chris' Etsy Shop ShoutOut

- father and son Etsy shop that sells custom Lego ornaments

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Darnell Brown is the Founder and Chief Creative officer of and he's my guest this week, is a quirky lifestyle brand that makes bold graphic tees and he's put in a lot of effort to define and target exactly the market he wants to reach.

From my first contact with Darnell, I could sense the energy he has put behind his brand and in talking with him his passion for what he's doing now and the direction he wants to take his company really shines through brightly.

I learned so much from Darnell because he reads a LOT and really has taken the time to educate himself about business and things that intrigue him so he was dropping all kinds of "knowledge bombs" on me and I loved!!

Topics Discussed

Building a culture around your brand

Lean startup methodology and how he's applying that to his creative business

Social media strategy for marketing an Etsy shop and brand

Time management and multi-tasking

My Favorite Quotes by Darnell

Wall art is about impression, graphic tees are about expression

Creativity can flourish, even within constraints

You've got to niche down and scale up

Resources mentioned

Darnell's Etsy ShoutOut

Etsy buyer: Lucy T. for providing valuable insight and being the first customer to purchase a graphic tee

Contact Darnell

Etsy shop:

Website:

Social media: , , , ,

 

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Kim Konen is back on the podcast and if you don't yet know who she is then you probably didn't hear the of the podcast back in June 2015.

Kim is a former Etsy employee who relocated from New York and now sells full time on Etsy in her shop . I've been waiting to have Kim back on to talk about her own Etsy story as a seller and in this episode you'll get to know her better as an Etsy seller (which is also interwoven with her time as an Etsy employee).

For the second time now, I anticipated that I'd spend about an hour talking with Kim for the podcast but we went on for almost 2 hours!! That's because she's just so engaging and a huge source of helpful information.

I love that Kim is still so passionate about the Etsy community and making it a marketplace that buyers and sellers feel good about doing business on... And it's genuine, not because she's worked there but because she genuinely believes in it.

I really think you'll enjoy this Etsy Convo.

Topics Discussed:

Time management

Setting realistic expectations

Goal setting

Prepping for Christmas/holiday selling period

And much much more...

Resources Mentioned:

Best ways to reach Kim:

Email: tinyhearts [at] gmail [dot] com

Etsy shop:

Social media: ,

Blog:

Kim's Etsy Shop ShoutOut

- run by Katie N. who makes and sell custom pet portraits and other other gift items for pet's humans

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