Well I can crochet. Albeit, I'm not wonderful at it. Practice makes perfect though, right? I've been pondering the idea of starting a little Etsy shop.
Now currently there are almost 200,000 items (although compare that to the 1,057,000 listed under art) listed under the crochet category on Etsy. I don't think that out of that many items I would have a spotlight. I do have this little blog though. If I am able to put the word out with my blog, I'm hoping that people would help support me (especially as people are turning more to "small businesses" for their purchases). If I decided to make the Etsy plunge, all money would go to help pay off my student loan debt.
So my questions are:
Would it be worth the extra pennies?
Do you have an Etsy shop? If so, what do you think makes it (or does not make it) successful?
Would you support me?
5 comments:
Cool idea!!! I work a Friday club (2 hours Fridays) and Saturday school (3 hours Saturday mornings) for extra cash. I used to waitress on Saturdays but the restaurant I worked at closed. Go for it!!! And go local! Advertise locally. Craft fairs locally. Business cards. etc! Think big girl. If you want advise, contact my friend who has her own Etsy shop: http://mnssams.blogspot.com/ and http://www.etsy.com/people/bouncingblossom
I started at Etsy shop at the beginning of the year for the same reason. I got overwhelmed with car and student loans and the idea of no subsidizing my income as a teacher. I don't sell anything yet, but I've got plans on some things to add as time goes by. You should totally and ABSOLUTELY do it. Between your blog, placing business cards around, and maybe joining local craft fairs and things like that. Yes! Do it! I'll absolutely support you 100%!
I hear you, cause I have 88K of student loans (yep, that's right) and I also have two jobs. :( But because I live in the very expensive Bay Area, the money doesn't end up going toward paying off my loans! I say go for it, re: your etsy shop . . . because it doesn't cost to open an etsy shop, you have nothing to lose, right?
I have an Etsy shop. It doesn't cost much at all to run one. I say go for it. I don't make much on mine, but I am hoping to put more work into it this year. Plus, they say that knitting and crocheting is relaxing, almost like meditation. Couldn't hurt, right?
I don't have an Etsy shop, but knowing what it's like to have student loans laying ahead of you, I think anything to make a little extra money wouldn't help - within legal realms, of course. ;) The most important thing will be knowing how to market, administer, and plan your products. I would do as much research as you can before opening a shop, and I only say this because I wish I would've done proper research and brainstorming on my blog before I started one. I went through this whole back-and-forth, come-and-go, wishy-washy phase before I finally settled on the blog I have now. I think anyone runs the same risk with anything if they don't know know what they're getting into first. With that being said, if it's something you really enjoy, I say go for it. If it turns out not to turn enough profit, you can easily step down. It never hurts to try as long as you stay balanced in your business. (This is all my logical thinking; I don't actually have any experience with shops, lol.)
Post a Comment