Sadly, the majority of small businesses fail.   After 5 years, about half of small businesses have survived, and only a third are left standing after 10 years (source). (I’m sure many don’t necessarily “fail” but no longer fit the needs/interests of the owner).   >> You can check out my personal story of “failure”…

I recently wrote an article about the worst-selling Etsy shops, which discusses the downside of creating a product that is too original, which is, there won’t be a big enough target market for your products.   So I want to shed a little light on how to know if the market you’re targeting is big…

I was recently interviewed for a website that shares tips for entrepreneurs and business owners.   One of the questions I was asked was:   What’s the biggest mistake you made with your business and see other businesses commonly make?   I wanted to keep my answer relevant to a variety of businesses, so I…

Everybody wants to know which Etsy shops sell the most and what they’re selling. And as I’ve mentioned in several articles, having a best-selling Etsy shop or craft show booth has less to do with what’s being sold and more to do with how it’s being sold.   Having a product that follows the current craft trends,…

Starting a craft business requires more than making products and setting up at a craft show or on Etsy. But you likely know that since you’re checking out a startup checklist.   Success is more likely when you plan for it and take your business seriously.   Although you may not need to apply for…

Does the announcement section in your Etsy shop really matter?   Yes, it does.   It’s some of the first text Etsy shoppers will read when they get to your online shop and helps shape your first impression on them.   It comes before your listings, shop sections, about, and policies. So you don’t want…

When I started my handbag business, I chose material based on what stood out to me at the fabric store and created bag patterns based on what I liked or what I thought would be unique.   I did sell most of those handbags, but I wasn’t making the kind of sales I wanted, or…

More people are starting craft businesses to have better control of their income. But before you invest a bunch of time and money, or take the leap and quit your job, you want to know if it’s actually possible to make a living at it.   To make a living selling crafts you’ll need to:…

We’ve all been browsing before. We didn’t have anything in mind to buy but tagged along with friends to the mall, or popped into a store that looked interesting, or decided to check out a craft show.   Think about the last time you were in a shopping setting and were just browsing but ended…

There’s an image on Pinterest that catches my eye every time I see it. I’ve probably seen it close to a hundred times.   It’s a picture of a craft show table displaying greeting cards. The photo only captures a corner of the table, but you can tell it’s a clean, cohesive display.   Today…

Each year I write about the craft trends to help you brainstorm new product ideas for selling on Etsy or at craft shows.   >> UPDATE: You can find 2022’s trend list here.   I use a variety of tools to collect data on what people are searching for and/or buying online. I also research…

  If you’re considering selling your handmade items through retailers, you may be considering consignment shops and wondering what a fair consignment percentage is.   This article will cover what’s considered “fair”, why a percentage is fair, and answer some common consignment questions.       What Percentage Do Consignment Shops Take? Consignment shops typically…

There’s so much we want people to know and understand about our businesses. But sharing all the information at once makes it overwhelming for potential customers. So how do you determine what to include when it comes to marketing material such as business cards?   Which information is important to share and where? What’s going…

  National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day is celebrated on March 29th. The holiday was founded by Rick and Margie Segal, as a way to honor their parents who started a hat shop in 1939 and grew it into a multi-million dollar clothing shop.   It’s important to have a day to recognize small…

Disclaimer: I’m not a lawyer by profession and nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice. Although I strive to provide accurate general information, the information presented here is not a substitute for any kind of professional advice or free from errors, and you should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a…

  Pricing handmade items is a subject that puts panic into many handmade business owners. They’ve heard their prices are too low, go looking for a pricing formula, plug their numbers in, and then freak out when they realize what their prices should be.   What you should be pricing your products at depends on…