Hey everyone! Today I want to talk about how it was owning a small business on Etsy for a year! In December 2018 I started an Etsy shop called Nestled Living. I created jewelry, home decor, and t-shirts. I made a business plan, established my name, figured out what I wanted to sell and got started. I have always loved crafts and being creative so I thought, why not sell it? I prayed about it and it seemed to be the right move at the time.
So, over the year (2019), I kept creating more and more product. I had hundreds and hundreds of different jewelry pieces and canvases. I posted all my listing on Etsy.com, adjusted my prices throughout the year, had sales and attended an event to sell my product in-person. I promoted all my listings on Instagram and Facebook and I had many friends and family buy from me.
Over time I realized I wasn't having as much fun as I thought I would have had. I made too many products and couldn't sell fast enough. I also was making things that were easy and not necissarily what I loved. Don't get me wrong, I think everything I made was great quality but it just wasn't live giving anymore.
I know it takes businesses a while before they start turning over a profit but I was doing it for the love of crafts and creating and I ended up making it more of a job than something fun. At the end of the year I closed my shop.
I prayed and prayed about this decision and I felt that God had other things in store for me. I took all the product I had left and gifted it to my friends and family for Christmas, and saved some things for myself. It was more life giving to give away the things I created than to sell them. By just creating and crafting and not worrying about sales or reviews, I got my love for crafts back. I also believe the people who received these gifts are going to enjoy them and cherish them. I love creating and I love giving, and those are the gifts God has given me to use. So I closed up shop!
I will always love crafting and creating, so I will continue doing it and learning new things. But at this point in my life, owning a shop on Etsy is just not where I need to be. God put a Women's Bible Study on my heart and I've started one. We've been "gathering" for 5 weeks now and it's been such a blessing. I'm not going to lie, I found myself a little bummed out at points when I wasn't making sales or when I had to close my shop but I also felt relieved when I made that decision. I know God has bigger and better plans for me so I'm listening to Him and letting Him guide me.
So that's my short version story of owning an Etsy shop for a year. I absolutely love Etsy for small businesses and creators. I buy so many items off of Etsy and always will because I love supporting small businesses, but selling just wasn't for me. Maybe one day God will allow me to have some form of business of my own, like a book/coffee/home decor shop. That's a dream right there!
To any of you small business owners out there, YOU ROCK! Keep on thriving and striving! I will support you when I can and I ask the same in return with this blog! So make sure you subscribe and join our mailing list! I promise I won't annoy you!
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