Here's what I know about it....When Troy and I made the decision to start selling our things so that we could purchase the RV and travel, we started posting our items on Craig's List and Ebay. Within a day, I had numerous replies for the few things we had posted. As people came over to claim their purchases, they discovered that everything in our home was for sale. They always left with more than they had originally intended and before we knew it we were "bankin".
Before we left our home, we also had several "estate-sales" which earned us plenty of cash. Grooves of people showed up from all different walks of life. We had the pleasure of meeting many of them who purchased "used" items in order to fix them up and resell or remake and resell. From a retired couple living in an RV, to a flea market couple to artists and Ebay Store owners, we had them all. It was so interesting to hear each person's story as they shopped our sale. What we discovered is that many folks do this as a supplement to another income. However, we did meet several people who relied solely on this type of income. They were the ones who worked really hard at it.
If this is one of your passions and you are interested in making this type of career change, I would do as much research online as possible as well as talking with the people who do this full-time. Starting slowly is key, as we sometimes discover in the midst of a career change that the new path is not for us or we haven't quite figured out how to make it work for us just yet.
For those readers who have experience under their belt with this passion, we'd all love to see your comments so we can learn!!
Thank you all for reading and until meet again....
I'm a huge fan of etsy (and artfire). I haven't set up my artfire
shop yet, but hope to soon because I feel that the more exposure I get
on different websites, the better for me.
The reason that I've had sales so far is because I create a few items
that no one else is selling on either website (crawfish jelly and
honey bourbon jelly). I find that I sell way more via facebook,
though (because of my fan page AND my personal page). It's just a
matter of doing self-promotion on facebook without making people sick
of hearing about what you're doing (I mean…not everyone eats jelly or
preserves!!). I try to make my status updates about the adventure of
creating rather than about having something to sell. And I really do
get excited about the creation! The other stuff (shipping, making
labels, etc.) is not so fun to me but necessary.
After my first listen to the Four Hour Work Week, as well as some
major soul-searching I've been doing, I decided to make some changes
in my life and one of the results was a need to redesign my etsy shop
so that I'm not running around in circles for very little profit.
First off, I'm charging full price for shipping now. I used to be
worried I'd scare people off with my high shipping costs, but I was
losing money on shipping. That's pointless.
Second, I'm no longer doing piecemeal orders unless it's for items
that are popular. So, if someone wants one of the wine jellies, they
are most likely going to have to order two or four at a time, instead
of just one. I took a look at what I was doing – spending money on
one-jar orders while the other jars I had to make with that one jar
would just sat around waiting for someone to buy them. I WILL still
do one jar orders, but only if I have them in stock. Or if they were
leftovers from a custom order.
Third, I have decided to discontinue some items that just didn't sell.
Actually, my cousin just placed an order for two jars of an item I
discontinued. I was JUST about to go make an entire batch of this
stuff that hardly sells when I realized, all I had to tell her was,
"Here's my last jar. I'm sorry, but I'm not making this one any more
unless it's a four jar order." (And I actually will probably make it
again, for myself...because I happen to love cooking with it.)
Another way that I've been adding to my etsy shop is by selling
vintage items. I absolutely LOVE going to flea markets. Kappy's
Korner is a very short bike ride from my house in Sunset. If
something only costs a couple of dollars and it's cute, I buy it.
I've only had a few vintage sales so far, but I think once I take some
better pictures, my sales will pick up. (Again…one of these sales was
because I posted a picture on facebook.)
While some of the recipes I use are my own (and I don't share those),
I do share some recipes. I know for a fact that goodwill (toward
people) is a great way to increase sales. In fact, I am loyal to
several etsy shops because of their goodwill toward me - they promoted
me when I first opened my shop and gave me good exposure.
As part of the Handmade Louisiana artisans group, we tag each other on
facebook and promote each other when possible (we call it Tagging
Tuesday). More promotion of and from other shops. This past month, I
purchased from Louisiana shops these items: a pretty little necklace
designed just for me; environmentally friendly laundry soap powder;
bath soaps; and badge reels (that I clip on my pants so that I don't
lose my printer access card for the office). I absolutely LOVE the
fact these small business owners got my money for things I needed,
instead of a big corporation who doesn't know me from Adam. Being a
part of the Handmade Louisiana group has really helped me learn the
ins and outs, plus they let me vent my frustration. We gage how
everyone is doing sales-wise about once a month. We get and give
advice/feedback. It's been very helpful to learn from these people.
I get inspired by them and just by browsing etsy's pages.
I do have more projects in the works, after I get some technical
difficulties worked out (my brother is building me a contraption so
that when I cut glass bottles, my cuts will be even - they're SO not
even right now). I figure it's a great way to use EVERYTHING from my
business...wine makes jelly, wine corks are being used for stamping
and cork boards, bottles will now become planters, vases, etc. I'm
even repurposing my old jar bands that can't be used again by creating
pin cushions with them (when I go home tonight, I'll put the final
coats of paint on my latest batch of bands). I've got so many stashes
of fabric scraps that I'll be using up my scraps for the pincushion
tops without having to buy new fabric.
And when I get a chance to breathe, I want to start sewing again. I
used to make reusable grocery bags out of old tablecloths, but every
time a friend would see my latest bag I'd end up giving it away...so
I'm out right now.
I've been reading your blog and a few others, as well as revisiting
some writing I did last year and the year before. I can tell that
I've been searching for SOMETHING for a while now...just not sure
what. And I'm still not sure what just yet, but at least I'm aware
that I need to be exploring and doing and creating. A few months ago,
I found my paints that I had been looking all over for - they were in
a drawer that I opened MULTIPLE times while looking for them. I think
that night I just needed to find them. I gathered all of the tiny
canvasses that I'd been collecting and I started painting. Most of it
was crap, but it didn't matter. It felt SO GOOD. And that week is
when I decided to make some changes. I want more time to paint,
create, sew, write, etc. I have been working so many jobs AFTER my
regular job that I would just come home late, cook, watch the news, go
to bed. It's not fun. And it wasn't making me that much more money.
That week, I decided I am going to eat tuna fish for dinner some
nights. One night, I cooked peas in the pot and ate them out the pot.
(Why dirty a bowl????) I live by myself...I don't have to act
civilized! Ha ha ha! I would rather eat tuna fish out of the can and
have time to sit outside taking pictures or sewing or spray painting
something, than spending all of my time cooking a meal for just one
person, and then cleaning up.
I've cut way back on my after-work hours since that week of awakening.
It may sound wrong, but if it doesn't work for me, it's just not
going to happen. I realized recently that almost all of the people
that I do extra work for don't even work full-time jobs! Some don't
work at all. I'm loving the "jobs" that bring me fulfillment or
good money or some other benefit, but some just won't happen any more
and that's my decision and it makes me happy.
I told you I wrote a lot. I could go on and on. But, I won't.
So, I'm also trying to learn to profit from my passions...but
adjusting along the way to make sure I'm not running in circles!
Oh...one last thing about profiting from passion is just talking to
people about what you do. I've been talking to Vince who owns the
Sunset Market about setting up a section of his market for people like
me who don't have time to man a booth all weekend. Every time I see
him, I remind him. And, here at the office, I have jars on my desk as
a way to start conversations. I got a nice order for Teacher
Appreciation Week that way. Soon, I hope to make a few surprise
shipments to friends who I know love my goodies and will promote my
shops.
Okay...that's really all. :)
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Check out my Green Boot Creations shops!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/mygreenboot
http://www.facebook.com/greenboot
