In this feel-good episode of How To Be A Handmade Boss, I’m joined by the lovely Fran from Born to Shop Designs – and we’re diving into how she turned hobbies like gardening, crafting and music into a heart-led clothing brand that connects people through what they love. We chat about navigating business pivots, building a brand that feels like you, and why community matters more than ever (especially when you're not a fan of working solo).

Fran also opens up about leaving behind a business that didn’t light her up, starting again with a friend and fresh purpose, and how the Handmade Business Success Academy helped shape her journey. If you’ve ever questioned whether your idea is the one, or wondered if starting over means starting from scratch – this one’s for you.

💬 Topics we cover:
 • Making your business match your life (not the other way round)
 • Why it's okay to leave a business that’s not working
• How hobbies can connect you to your customers – and your best friends
• The mindset shift that made all the difference
• Fran’s tip for finding your thing when you’re full of ideas

🛒 Explore Fran’s brand: bourneto.shop 

✨ Before you go…

If you’re stuck staring at a blinking cursor wondering what the heck to post, or your socials just aren’t bringing in the sales, then don’t miss my free challenge: Fix Your Socials. From 11th–18th August 2025.

It’s a 5-day makeover for your handmade business content, where I’ll walk you through exactly how to improve your hooks, visuals, CTAs, consistency, and engagement so that posting feels easier and starts working for you.

🎯 Perfect for handmade businesses who want to grow without dancing, guessing, or burning out.

Sign up now at handmadebosses.com/fixmysocials and let’s make your socials finally sell the way they should.

🌟 PS: Love the podcast? Please leave a review, it helps more handmade sellers find our community and resources!

✨ Free resources: Want to move forward without paying yet?

✨ Work with us for deeper, transformative support

✨ Join my free live mini workshops on YouTube + Facebook most Mondays!

Feel like your handmade business is stuck in the same place month after month -  no matter how hard you try? 😩 

In this episode, we’re getting honest about why so many makers hit a plateau (even when they’re doing “all the right things”)… and what to do if that’s you right now.

You’ll learn:
🔸 The illusion of growth that keeps you treading water
🔸 The real cost of DIY-ing everything alone
🔸 Why your fear of investing might be costing you more than you think
🔸 How to know when you’re ready to get real support

Plus, I’ll walk you through the difference between two real-life paths: Sam (the hustler stuck at £200/month) and Lydia (the maker who hit her first £1k month doing less).

✨ If you’re done winging it and ready for real growth — this one’s for you.

⏳ HBSA is OPEN until 8pm tonight! Join us here → https://www.handmadebosses.com/summer
Or hop on the waitlist: https://www.handmadebosses.com/hbsawaitlist

✨ Before you go…

If you’re stuck staring at a blinking cursor wondering what the heck to post, or your socials just aren’t bringing in the sales, then don’t miss my free challenge: Fix Your Socials. From 11th–18th August 2025.

It’s a 5-day makeover for your handmade business content, where I’ll walk you through exactly how to improve your hooks, visuals, CTAs, consistency, and engagement so that posting feels easier and starts working for you.

🎯 Perfect for handmade businesses who want to grow without dancing, guessing, or burning out.

Sign up now at handmadebosses.com/fixmysocials and let’s make your socials finally sell the way they should.

🌟 PS: Love the podcast? Please leave a review, it helps more handmade sellers find our community and resources!

✨ Free resources: Want to move forward without paying yet?

✨ Work with us for deeper, transformative support

✨ Join my free live mini workshops on YouTube + Facebook most Mondays!

Ever feel like your business is all over the place? One minute you’re buzzing with ideas, and the next… totally burnt out? You’re not doing anything wrong - you’re just in a different season of business.

In this uplifting episode, I’m walking you through the 4 natural seasons your handmade business cycles through - winter, spring, summer and autumn - and exactly how to thrive in each one without forcing yourself to keep pushing all year round. You’ll learn:

🌱 What each business season feels like (and how to tell which one you’re in)

🔥 Why forcing ‘summer energy’ 24/7 leads to burnout

🧘 How to support your energy and stay aligned, no matter what phase you’re in

🧺 Real-life examples of how I simplify, reset, launch, and grow throughout the year

PLUS: I’m sharing a fun mindset reframe that’ll help you let go of the guilt when things slow down, because it’s not failure, it’s preparation. 💛

✨ Before you go…

If you’re stuck staring at a blinking cursor wondering what the heck to post, or your socials just aren’t bringing in the sales, then don’t miss my free challenge: Fix Your Socials. From 11th–18th August 2025.

It’s a 5-day makeover for your handmade business content, where I’ll walk you through exactly how to improve your hooks, visuals, CTAs, consistency, and engagement so that posting feels easier and starts working for you.

🎯 Perfect for handmade businesses who want to grow without dancing, guessing, or burning out.

Sign up now at handmadebosses.com/fixmysocials and let’s make your socials finally sell the way they should.

🌟 PS: Love the podcast? Please leave a review, it helps more handmade sellers find our community and resources!

✨ Free resources: Want to move forward without paying yet?

✨ Work with us for deeper, transformative support

✨ Join my free live mini workshops on YouTube + Facebook most Mondays!

Welcome to Day 5, the final episode in this affirmation series! Today, we’re focusing on abundance and repeatable success because thriving in your handmade business isn’t just a lucky break, it’s the result of aligned action, consistency, and belief in your own power.

These affirmations will help you step into the role of CEO with confidence, embrace systems that work for you, and welcome growth with ease (and joy!). Whether you listen once or on repeat all week, let this episode remind you that success is already in motion and you are ready to receive it.

Take a deep breath, let the words sink in, and get ready to soar to new heights. You’ve got this!

✨ Before you go…

If you’re stuck staring at a blinking cursor wondering what the heck to post, or your socials just aren’t bringing in the sales, then don’t miss my free challenge: Fix Your Socials. From 11th–18th August 2025.

It’s a 5-day makeover for your handmade business content, where I’ll walk you through exactly how to improve your hooks, visuals, CTAs, consistency, and engagement so that posting feels easier and starts working for you.

🎯 Perfect for handmade businesses who want to grow without dancing, guessing, or burning out.

Sign up now at handmadebosses.com/fixmysocials and let’s make your socials finally sell the way they should.

🌟 PS: Love the podcast? Please leave a review, it helps more handmade sellers find our community and resources!

✨ Free resources: Want to move forward without paying yet?

✨ Work with us for deeper, transformative support

✨ Join my free live mini workshops on YouTube + Facebook most Mondays!

Welcome to Day 4 of our affirmation series! Today we’re diving into visibility... showing up, shining bright, and calling in your dream customers with confidence and authenticity. These affirmations will help you shake off self-doubt, embrace your unique voice, and remind you that every post, story, and conversation is planting seeds of connection and impact.

Whether you listen on repeat for a week or weave it into your challenge journey, let this audio help you feel more open, seen, and magnetic in your marketing. Your people are out there and they’re ready for you. Let’s take a deep breath, release the tension, and step into the spotlight together.

✨ Before you go…

If you’re stuck staring at a blinking cursor wondering what the heck to post, or your socials just aren’t bringing in the sales, then don’t miss my free challenge: Fix Your Socials. From 11th–18th August 2025.

It’s a 5-day makeover for your handmade business content, where I’ll walk you through exactly how to improve your hooks, visuals, CTAs, consistency, and engagement so that posting feels easier and starts working for you.

🎯 Perfect for handmade businesses who want to grow without dancing, guessing, or burning out.

Sign up now at handmadebosses.com/fixmysocials and let’s make your socials finally sell the way they should.

🌟 PS: Love the podcast? Please leave a review, it helps more handmade sellers find our community and resources!

✨ Free resources: Want to move forward without paying yet?

✨ Work with us for deeper, transformative support

✨ Join my free live mini workshops on YouTube + Facebook most Mondays!

Welcome to Day 3 of our 5-day Affirmation Series, created to help you stay focused, inspired ✨, and energised as you move through the Sellathon.

Today, we’re leaning into ease, authenticity, and creating a shop experience that feels as good to run as it does to buy from. These affirmations will help you release pressure, build genuine connections, and trust that your creativity and care naturally attract the right customers.

Whether you’re tidying your workspace, packing orders, or simply sitting with a cup of tea, let these words remind you: you don’t have to chase or force success - you’re here to invite it in. Selling can feel joyful, aligned, and true to who you are. Let’s take a deep breath and step into that calm, magnetic energy together.

✨ Before you go…

If you’re stuck staring at a blinking cursor wondering what the heck to post, or your socials just aren’t bringing in the sales, then don’t miss my free challenge: Fix Your Socials. From 11th–18th August 2025.

It’s a 5-day makeover for your handmade business content, where I’ll walk you through exactly how to improve your hooks, visuals, CTAs, consistency, and engagement so that posting feels easier and starts working for you.

🎯 Perfect for handmade businesses who want to grow without dancing, guessing, or burning out.

Sign up now at handmadebosses.com/fixmysocials and let’s make your socials finally sell the way they should.

🌟 PS: Love the podcast? Please leave a review, it helps more handmade sellers find our community and resources!

✨ Free resources: Want to move forward without paying yet?

✨ Work with us for deeper, transformative support

✨ Join my free live mini workshops on YouTube + Facebook most Mondays!

Welcome to Day 2 of our 5-day Affirmation Series, designed to help you stay positive, motivated ✨, and focused as you build momentum during the Sellathon.

Today, we’re focusing on something so many makers struggle with: truly believing in the value of your products and in your worth as a business owner, creative, and CEO of your handmade brand.

These affirmations will help you reconnect with the joy, meaning, and impact behind what you create, and remind you that your work deserves to be seen, valued, and celebrated. Whether you’re repeating them out loud or just letting the words soak in, let this be a powerful reset for your confidence and mindset.

Your creativity is your superpower and the world is lucky to experience it. Let’s dive in and light that spark today!

✨ Before you go…

If you’re stuck staring at a blinking cursor wondering what the heck to post, or your socials just aren’t bringing in the sales, then don’t miss my free challenge: Fix Your Socials. From 11th–18th August 2025.

It’s a 5-day makeover for your handmade business content, where I’ll walk you through exactly how to improve your hooks, visuals, CTAs, consistency, and engagement so that posting feels easier and starts working for you.

🎯 Perfect for handmade businesses who want to grow without dancing, guessing, or burning out.

Sign up now at handmadebosses.com/fixmysocials and let’s make your socials finally sell the way they should.

🌟 PS: Love the podcast? Please leave a review, it helps more handmade sellers find our community and resources!

✨ Free resources: Want to move forward without paying yet?

✨ Work with us for deeper, transformative support

✨ Join my free live mini workshops on YouTube + Facebook most Mondays!

Welcome to Day 1 of our affirmation series! This episode is your gentle reminder that you already have everything you need to succeed in your handmade business.

Together, we’ll ground ourselves, release fear, and focus on the small but mighty actions that create momentum and growth. Whether you’re listening in the car, on a walk, or while wrapping orders, let this short audio set you up for a day filled with clarity, intention, and courage.

You are powerful. You are ready. And your dreams are worth showing up for — today and every day. Let’s dive in!

✨ Before you go…

If you’re stuck staring at a blinking cursor wondering what the heck to post, or your socials just aren’t bringing in the sales, then don’t miss my free challenge: Fix Your Socials. From 11th–18th August 2025.

It’s a 5-day makeover for your handmade business content, where I’ll walk you through exactly how to improve your hooks, visuals, CTAs, consistency, and engagement so that posting feels easier and starts working for you.

🎯 Perfect for handmade businesses who want to grow without dancing, guessing, or burning out.

Sign up now at handmadebosses.com/fixmysocials and let’s make your socials finally sell the way they should.

🌟 PS: Love the podcast? Please leave a review, it helps more handmade sellers find our community and resources!

✨ Free resources: Want to move forward without paying yet?

✨ Work with us for deeper, transformative support

✨ Join my free live mini workshops on YouTube + Facebook most Mondays!

Ever had a listing randomly vanish from Etsy with no explanation? 😳 Or maybe you’ve heard whispers about copyright crackdowns and policy changes that left you wondering if your shop is truly “safe”? 🫣

In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly how Etsy’s policies work in 2025 and how you can protect your handmade business without losing sleep or second-guessing every listing. 😌

💻 We’ll walk through the real reasons Etsy updates its rules, the most common mistakes sellers make (yep, even without realising it), and what Etsy’s new focus on transparency means for you. 🕵️‍♀️✨

You’ll learn:
✅ What Etsy’s “House Rules” really mean
📝 4 key best practices every seller should follow
🚫 The most common IP mistakes (and how to avoid takedowns)
🔍 Why Etsy is finally shifting from punishment to seller support
📌 A simple 2-step action plan to protect your shop this week

This isn’t about scaring you, it’s about empowering you. 💪 

Because when you know the rules, you can sell with confidence and clarity. 🛍️🎉

🔗 Etsy policies https://www.etsy.com/legal/sellers/

🔗 The Ultimate Guide to Etsy Policy https://www.etsy.com/uk/seller-handbook/article/22398703823?ref=handbook 

✨ Before you go…

If you’re stuck staring at a blinking cursor wondering what the heck to post, or your socials just aren’t bringing in the sales, then don’t miss my free challenge: Fix Your Socials. From 11th–18th August 2025.

It’s a 5-day makeover for your handmade business content, where I’ll walk you through exactly how to improve your hooks, visuals, CTAs, consistency, and engagement so that posting feels easier and starts working for you.

🎯 Perfect for handmade businesses who want to grow without dancing, guessing, or burning out.

Sign up now at handmadebosses.com/fixmysocials and let’s make your socials finally sell the way they should.

🌟 PS: Love the podcast? Please leave a review, it helps more handmade sellers find our community and resources!

✨ Free resources: Want to move forward without paying yet?

✨ Work with us for deeper, transformative support

✨ Join my free live mini workshops on YouTube + Facebook most Mondays!

😩 You’re posting on socials, updating your Etsy listings, and maybe even running the occasional sale... but still not seeing consistent orders? Let’s clear this up once and for all.

In this episode, Steph breaks down the real reason you’re not getting sales and no, it’s not the algorithm, your branding, or even your prices. It’s your messaging and once you fix it, everything shifts. 👩‍🔧

We’ll cover:
        •        What your customer really needs to hear before they buy
        •        The 3-part messaging fix that turns browsers into buyers
        •        Real-life examples to help you reframe your product descriptions, captions, and more
        •        A simple mindset shift that’ll change the way you sell forever

☀️ If you’re ready to make sales feel way easier (and way more you), this one’s a must-listen... especially with the Sellathon Summer Sales Sprint kicking off soon!

🔗 Episode 58 - Why Your Sales Are Inconsistent (And How to Fix It for Good) - Podcast and YouTube

🔗 Episode 59 - How Handmade Sellers Are Making £1k in Just 7 Days (Without a Huge Audience) - Podcast and YouTube

🔗 Join the Sellathon Sprint - https://www.handmadebosses.com/sellathonsprint

✨ Before you go…

If you’re stuck staring at a blinking cursor wondering what the heck to post, or your socials just aren’t bringing in the sales, then don’t miss my free challenge: Fix Your Socials. From 11th–18th August 2025.

It’s a 5-day makeover for your handmade business content, where I’ll walk you through exactly how to improve your hooks, visuals, CTAs, consistency, and engagement so that posting feels easier and starts working for you.

🎯 Perfect for handmade businesses who want to grow without dancing, guessing, or burning out.

Sign up now at handmadebosses.com/fixmysocials and let’s make your socials finally sell the way they should.

🌟 PS: Love the podcast? Please leave a review, it helps more handmade sellers find our community and resources!

✨ Free resources: Want to move forward without paying yet?

✨ Work with us for deeper, transformative support

✨ Join my free live mini workshops on YouTube + Facebook most Mondays!