10 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Starting a Handmade Business

As of this month, I've been fully-self employed as a maker for a whole decade!

It got me thinking - what are some of the things I wish I'd known about running a handmade biz when I got started?

Things that surprised me, challenges that I didn't expect - and some of the things that made all the difference between failure and success over the long term.

That's exactly what I'm sharing today - 10 things I wish I'd known when I started my handmade biz - Epheriell - back in 2008 (and yes, for those noticing the maths - I only went full-time in Jan 2010 :D).

💡 If you enjoy this video, please consider giving me a thumbs up, and make sure to subscribe if you'd love more content on having a thriving and profitable handmade business, and a happy & healthy work-from-home lifestyle.

Thanks for your support!

Jess :)

#sellingonetsy #sellingonline #howtosellyourcraftsonline

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💡 WHO AM I?

G'day, I'm Jess!

I've been 100% self-employed ever since.

I also love to learn and talk about happiness, health, and how to design a life you love.


💡 Affiliate Disclaimer - some links I include in my video descriptions may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission on sales made via the link.

[harshikachauhan]

1) It does get easier 1:06
2) you need a niche and micro niche 2:29
3) photos are everything 5:13
4) you're never finished marketing 7:11
5) SEO is very powerful 9:11
6) you'll be learning more time than making craft
7) Energy and passion wax and wane
8) you can not compete on price
9) when you turn your hobby into a business you need to find a new hobby
10) How important your story is and how important it is to share with your customers


You're welcome!

[Iloveyou-lzrr]

You can't imagine how this helped me. I started Selling my handmade jewelry and I'm all over the place. I make waist beads, loc jewellery, tribal necklaces, button earrings. Etc.etc 🤯 I just love them all. Now I'm confused and burnt out . Everything you said is what I needed to hear. Especially number two. Niche down! Lol I can now pause and focus on doing exactly that. Excellent content!!! You got a new subscriber.

[beautifultransformation]

I' am 1.38 seconds into this video and I had to stop and comment this is the absolute first time I felt like someone knew exactly what I was going through it's like you feel my pain lol every single thing you just named I can resonate with so before I push play I just wanted to say thank you for the hope " IT does get better" If I don't learn anything else after I push play I heard the most valuable thing I needed to hear today with those 4 words THANK YOU!!!!

[cathychats]

Hi Jen can you do a video about Shopify tips? I like the way you explain "stuff" :DD

[_f_aus]

Ihave an etsy shop from 2016 but it's been in holiday mode for a few yrs I've now started to try new crafts to reopen my shop and see what sells and what doesn't, I still have to sort out an issue with payment first 😅

[LennyYT]

Great video. Would love you document that special sale learnings. Have you ran giveaways and could share tips? ty!

[suewarry]

This is the best video on this topic I have ever seen. Thank you Jess. As a craft worker 2 years in, I agree with everything you say. So many videos want to hype up SEO etc. as the be all and end all, but customer rapport and niche within niche is of so much value……and lots of patience and hard work. Lots of work.

[adrienne_thorpe]

First time hearing this. Very helpful. Feel like I was the only one going through this. Finally after 20 years of jewelry making finally getting into the business with a new avenue.

[rafeyaawal]

Jess, I stumbled accross your Video, thank you thank you, for Giving me a Positive Vibe, i could listen to you all day for tips. I am looking to Start my Business, I'm not sure If its a late start as I have Older kids now, single mum but I am an optimistic person who wants to succeed, and today you have given me that boost 😊

[Janicesimpson-vyov]

The most helpful videos..thank you so much..

[pmgreatorex]

Hi Jess! I watched your video at a critical point in starting up my jewellery business and your advice is so reassuring. It’s very early days for me and the business and marketing side is a whole new world, after forty years of teaching! It’s also great to hear from an Aussie! I live in Brisbane and I feel more comfortable now, having heard from a very successful crafter who is working in the same state and who is generous enough to share her wisdom. Onwards and upwards! Pam

[annaksyonova]

Thank you Jess!! Seconds before I watched your video I was thinking that it`s not normal I`m spending less and less time on creating things and more and more on marketing etc. Hahaha I`m glad to learn this is a part of process! :)

[talori]

I make 100% cotton crochet textured rugs (but I also crochet, & hand knit blankets, floor poufs and other decor items, macrame tents, etc.
Can I say I make handmade textured decor items?? This is sooo hard!!!!

[Slimm_Sheedah]

Thank you for this video. I’ve watched hundreds and you make the most sense. Oh and the photos are indeed the hardest for me.

[SadbhW]

Wow, just amazing advice, thank you. Such an underrated channel, subscribed.

[ht]

I wanted to start one, but after two weeks of looking into it I decided it's not worth it for me. I love my job and wont quit, so this will be something on the side. I don't have the room for even a doesn't different items. I have no time for social media and no interest in it, and the list goes on, not to mention the cost of insurance (600 per yr), LLC (900 per yr), mail box (220 per yr) etc which may seem like something for down the line but with my situation and product I could loss everything with one lawsuit. So since I can't put the time into it, since I don't want to make it big, and the other reasons it's not worth it. I really thought it would be for me and help support my hobby, but it seems its not like a farmers market online, its where the little guy has to look big all the time with the best packaging, best marketing, best pictures, best etc. I will shop there from time to time and might consider it closer to retirement when I can put the time into it but not now. This experience has taught me a lot though, so not a complete waste.

[Jan-wvrk]

Hi, thank you for this very helpful video! Congrats on the 10years!

[jenniferkoistinen]

Wow, these points are all so true! I have felt all of these ways and it's such a relief and helpful to hear someone further along the line talk about working through these struggles with success. I'm in the first year of my art print business and I just keep telling myself to keep on going because it gets easier, but it's hard some days I wonder what the heck am I doing and should I give up. Thanks for sharing your experience, this helps keep me going during the difficult beginning phase.

[eileenosullivan]

Thank you Jess that was very informative all the very best

[somethingbronzie]

Thanks Jess glad I found your channel. The rollercoaster does get a bit much sometimes. Currently in a dip. Appreciate that many other creatives can relate