For the past 10 years or so, I’ve always had a dream in the back of my mind that I would love to own my own shop. It would be dedicated to those finishing touches – decor, practical and very impractical (but fantastic enough you’d want it anyway). Specifically? Anything. Anything I felt like making that I thought other people would enjoy: wreaths, ornaments, frames, decorated furniture, jewelry, clothing, art – anything.
My friend Lori was a co-dreamer almost from the beginning, and we had incredibly elaborate conversations about where the shop would be, what it would look like, and the contents. But of course, owning your own business requires a huge leap that we were never in a place to take – or willing to accept the risk, I guess. I’ve done a few things to fill that need for creating – I participated in a “local artist” craft fair, with my sister Kari and my mom, for a couple of years, but it was two months of preparation for two days of potential sales. And of course I subject my family to be the guinea pigs for whatever new thing has inspired me that month. So much so that I’m sure they sometimes wish I’d just go for gift certificates instead. So I do manage to get my crafty urges out in one way or the other, but it’s not exactly my dream of making money doing something I love.
I heard about the online store, Etsy, about a year ago. It’s a website dedicated to handmade items, allowing artists and craft-addicts to sell their wares, similar to an eBay style shop, but at set prices instead of bids. I checked it out the first time I heard the name, and was pleasantly surprised at how easy and cheap it is to set up your own shop. And every month or so, I would get a brilliant product idea – but I either never followed through, or I would check for similar items and find that oh, only 300 or so other people were doing the exact same “original” idea. So it remained in the background of my mind like a CNN crawl, always there, but never the main focus.
And then I was having a conversation with my brother-in-law, a few weeks ago, about his first big step to start selling his baked goods. I was joking with him that I really wanted to sell some things on Etsy, and I was projecting my possible profits to be in the 10’s of dollars. His response? You have to start somewhere.
So I did it. I started my own Etsy shop. Seriously. I finally put the effort forth and got a very small inventory together (which will grow a little bit in the coming week, but not by much), took pictures, figured out prices, drew my own logo (thank you very much), and now it exists. And there is a very good possibility that not one thing will sell and my family will be receiving these specific items as Christmas presents (which is why none of you are allowed to buy anything just to make me feel good). But at least I will have attempted to do something I’ve only thought about for 10 YEARS! It’s about time.
Hooray!!! I have really been toying with the idea of putting some stuff up on that site too. I’m so proud of you for going for it! Way to take the first giant step!! And now I’m leaving to go check it out π
Congratulations! I’ve had a store on Etsy for a couple of months now, and I still haven’t had the guts or time to put anything on there. I love the opening options, and I’m proud of you for attempting something new.
If it works…I still have the plans for the store! Let me know…
oh britt, i am so proud of you! i love the stuff you have up and can’t wait for you to put up more.
are we allowed to buy things from your store as presents for other people not in our family?
Maybe….but you know I’d just make you whatever you wanted…
way cute! I have a sister-in-law who has this framed art thing she’s been trying to do and I’m so glad I read this! I have to tell her about Etsy- I had never heard about this before, so thank-you! And, I wish you the best of luck… the ornaments are just adorable π
Good for you! It is important to start somewhere. Otherwise you never begin.
wahooo! right on that is awesome. i want to put stuff up there too. i like your magnets they are cute.
I noticed you had 2 sales! Congratulations!!