To make sales through your online store, you first need traffic.   Most of us have found out the hard way that you can’t set up a website or Etsy shop, list a few products, and automatically have Google or Etsy bring shoppers to you.   You have to work for...

  When you set out to create a new product, where do you start?   >> How do you decide upon design? >> How do you choose colors, or scents, or materials? >> What makes you certain your product lineup needs this new product?   The world...

Consumers are starting to get a little restless. They’ve moved past the survival and fear mode and are ready to start planning for the future.   Your business needs to stay a step ahead and start planning for it as well.   It’s time to get excited and...

  You've likely experienced up-selling at the McDonald's drive-through when an employee asks: "Would you like to supersize your meal?"   Up-selling is offering a bigger or better option to a shopper who's already committed to buying.   But in a slow...

Some craft business owners have seen a significant drop in sales because of 2020's pandemic. Others have seen only a slight decrease, while some have seen an increase.   If your business's revenue has dropped and you're looking for new ways for it to make money,...

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here.      Consumers fall into one of three categories when it comes to income during this...

Many handmade business owners have seen a big drop in sales. The drop in sales may be due to the business owner wondering if it’s appropriate to market their products at a time like this (more on that topic can be found in this article) or it may be due to the product...

It’s likely most handmade businesses have had fewer sales during this crisis.   For businesses selling products that are more in-demand during this time, production may eventually slow due to lack of supplies or delayed supply shipments.   I sat down and had...

Most handmade businesses are going to see sales slow down as the world deals with this health pandemic.   Many people have either lost their main source of income or it’s been significantly reduced, which obviously has an impact on their spending.   Everyone...

  You may have already read my CRAFT TREND REPORT FOR 2020 but this is a list of specific products I noticed have trended down.   I looked at the trends I pointed out in my 2018 and 2019 craft trend reports and put together a quick guide to what’s trending...

Most handmade businesses aren’t spending enough time on marketing.   I understand why.   Promotion can be one of the most frustrating aspects of running a business.   It requires a lot of effort, and sometimes money, and it can be hard to track results....

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here.      If you sell handmade, you’re likely aware of Etsy. But a lot of people are...

There’s no doubt about it. Etsy has made updates that have affected shop owners’ sales.   Pair that with the platform becoming more and more popular, and thus, competitive, and you have some frustrated Etsy sellers.   We’ll always be at the mercy of a...

The statistics that most small businesses fail within the first five years is a scary one. As much as I would love to chalk it up to a "theory" and not actual stats, the truth is, there are a lot of handmade businesses that don't stand the test of time.   Through...