I did a thing. I closed my Etsy shop. Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE Etsy! I love all the amazing finds and talented creators on Etsy. But I felt like I was spinning my wheels to get sales on Etsy and coupled with expensive (and slow) shipping through USPS, I decided it was best to pivot, refocus my business and close my Etsy shop to prioritize selling craft products instead of finished homegoods.
Why I Closed my Etsy Shop
I love being creative and creating finished home decor pieces. Absolutely love it. What I don’t love is the stress of selling, shipping and reviews. If you have ever sold anything on Etsy, you might feel the same way. Trying to compete in a sea of “handmade signs” it TOUGH! And do you know how expensive it is to ship a wood sign? There were times that the shipping was more than what the actual sign cost to make. 
Finally, the reviews. Thankfully, I didn’t receive any bad reviews, but I read reviews for just about everything I purchase. Do you do that too? What I notice is that people complain about A LOT! I was reading a review for a homemade keychain and someone complained about the shipping time and gave the shop a bad review. I felt so badly for the artist that created a beautiful product, shipped it on time, but for reasons beyond their control, the item was delayed in transit and they received a bad review.
What I’m Doing Now
I’ve changed the focus of my business, and have alleviated the stress I had over my Etsy shop. Now I only sell craft supplies through my online shop. I don’t have to package or ship ANYTHING. I order supplies for myself to do demonstrations and tutorials. Basically, I get to create DIY home decor, but I don’t have the stress of selling it. I show other people how to create it and then sell them the supplies to make their own home decor pieces.
If you feel like you’re spinning your wheels with Etsy sales or if you are looking for a side hustle that allows you to be creative, this might be a good fit for you.
I’m currently looking for people to join my team of Designers. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED.
[…] If Design Space has you frustrated and you are mad at Cricut, I have an alternative. A couple of years ago, I jumped into a new craft and I have not looked back. In fact, I can count on one hand how many times I have plugged in my Cricut machine. I do not miss it AT ALL! I’m making more money now than I ever did making crafts with my Cricut. Read all about why I closed my Etsy shop here. […]