Obviously, 2020 has been a year unlike the rest. So, as business owners, we should be preparing for the 2020 Holidays a little different this year.   Call it a new trend, a shift in consumerism, or a new way of life, these are ways typical holiday...

  To have a successful business, there are basic best practices that every business must have in place, as well as, basic mistakes that should be avoided.   These are the most common mistakes I see handmade business owners make and why they can harm sales…...

  Imagine choosing a gift for someone you love.   It’s fairly easy to find something they’ll appreciate because you know intimate details about them.   You know their likes and dislikes, what brings them joy and what stresses them out, items they’ve...

  Getting customers to your Etsy shop, website, or craft show table takes a lot of work.   So it’s important that you make the most of every shopper.   It’s not about taking advantage of shoppers and tricking them into spending more money.   It’s...

  Most advice on finding customers is focused on defining an ideal customer; the type of person who is most likely to buy your products.   The way place a business can get off track is by creating products based on what the business owner wants to make,...

Your customers are already planning for Christmas   I always advocate planning ahead as a small business owner (which is why I created THE SUCCESS PLANNER...set your goal now and start making a plan for how to get there this year).   But there’s a new trend...

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...

  *UPDATE More people are wondering if it's worth it to sell on Etsy now, because craft shows have been canceled, stores have temporarily closed, and their craft business's main source of revenue is now gone, or has drastically changed.   Here are a few...

  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 (check out: HOW TO USE...

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...