Etsy Conversations Podcast

Grab your notebooks and get ready for this episode... My guests are Todd and Rachel Swenddal and they are the husband and wife team behind the Etsy shops , and the ecommerce website . There was so much I wanted to discuss with them so this isn't a typical episode...kind of... There are a number of things that they are doing that is quite unique so our conversation went off the usual track. They started in January 2014 where they sell handmade children's activity books, and in September 2014 where they primarily sell some of the most adorable birthday and holiday outfits for little boys and girls. Listen in to hear the inspiration behind their Etsy shops and how, in less than a year, they have grown one of them to the point where they have had to hire part-time staff in addition to creating an independent ecommerce website. Topics discussed: Staying true to the mission of your business What it's really like working with your spouse Using Facebook ads to launch an Etsy shop Tools for doing great keyword research Calculating profit margins and customer acquisition costs Multi-channel selling... Think eBay, Bonanza, etc. ...and so much more...! Resources mentioned: Google Keyword Planner Best ways to reach Todd & Rachel: Etsy convo: & Website: Social media: Facebook, Pinterest Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in and . That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow Facebook Group: - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos here too! Facebook: Like the Pinterest: Instagram: Google+: Email: Use the OR interview [at] convome [dot] com

Joelle Weber runs the Etsy shop where she makes and sells handmade art which incorporates the use of recycled and upcycled  paper such as wallpaper samples, magazine ads, and worn out books. She has made it the goal of her Etsy business, not only to create unique products, but also to make products that are eco-friendly. I really like that Joelle makes an effort to connect with fellow makers and she shares how she uses these connections to gain more exposure for her products and brand. She also talks about sourcing from other Etsy sellers and why she makes an effort to do that. Topics discussed: Selecting craft shows Etsy shop promotion using social media, blog giveaways, and email marketing Creative ruts and how to get out of them ...and more! Resources mentioned: Etsy Listings Manager Adobe Creative Suite How to reach Joelle: Email: PageFreeArt [at] gmail [dot] com Etsy shop: Social media: , , Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in and . That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow Facebook Group: - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos here too! Facebook: Like the Pinterest: Instagram: Google+: Email: Use the OR interview [at] convome [dot] com

Rachel Potucek is my guest this week and she runs the Etsy shop . She also started her own ecommerce website at around the same she opened up her Etsy shop so she provides some great insight into the ins and outs of running both, time management, ROI (return on investment) from each, etc. It's been quite a busy and successful first year for Rachel and we talk about some of her first year's hits and misses, just as importantly, we also discuss her definition of success and how one's definition of success can determine your own outlook when it comes to your business. What you see on Etsy when it comes to the number of sales a seller has is not necessarily the whole story. Rachel went big in her first year by diving into wholesale, and private label products on top of individual customer sales. Topics discussed: Landing corporate clients; private-label products Creating relationships locally for local sourcing Creatively using free Facebook services for marketing your business ...Genius... Methods for determining final product pricing Resources mentioned: Book - Words for Wise Women by Katherine Jordan Best ways to reach Rachel: Email: Hello [at] PeoplesSoap [dot] com Etsy shop: Website: Social media: , , Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in and . That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow Facebook Group: - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos here too! Facebook: Like the Pinterest: Instagram: Google+: Email: Use the OR interview [at] convome [dot] com

Shannon DePalma of Shannon DePalma Coaching and The Etsy Course is my guest this week and if you're a new or struggling Etsy seller then you'll really want to listen up and take note of what she has to share... And what she has to offer. In our convo, Shannon shares very candidly about how she first started selling on Etsy and gradually transitioned from having an Etsy shop to an offline wedding floral design business (which had its roots in her Etsy shop)... To now offering coaching services for Etsy sellers as well as an Etsy course and live workshops (but these are only limited to folks in the South Orange, NJ area... Or to anyone who might want to travel there for the workshop) :) Shannon's coaching comes from a place of personal experience and she takes a unique approach which involves teaching her clients how to be more vulnerable and self-confident as a way of growing to bigger and better things. It's worked for her you'll hear from her own personal story why she has chosen to take this approach with her clients. Topics we discuss: How to parlay your Etsy skills into other areas and expand your handmade business Hiring help for your business/outsourcing tasks Knowing your target market and why it's an integral part of your success Shannon's current favorite tools and resources Resources mentioned: Best ways to reach Shannon: Website: Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in and . That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow Facebook Group: - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos here too! Facebook: Like the Pinterest: Instagram: Google+: Email: Use the OR interview [at] convome [dot] com

If you're an Etsy seller and you're thinking about (or have been thinking about) expanding your brand to an ecommerce website but you don't want to leave Etsy completely... Then grab a cup of your beverage of choice and listen in to this conversation I had with Annika Schauer and Chris Craig of . was founded by Annika and her business partner and Etsy seller Raina Scott and the site officially launched on June 21st, 2015. The goal of the service they provide is to offer Etsy sellers an effortless way to create websites while still maintaining their (your) brand and shop on Etsy. Topics discussed: How came to be Mechanics of site-building with Beeswax and ease-of-use Content creation, SEO, newsletter/mailing list, and social media integration Syndicated content vs. duplicate content... What does this all mean? Pricing... Availability... Support... ...and lots more info about what you can do with a Contact information: Annika: Annika[at]BeeswaxWebsites[dot]com Chris: Chris[at]Beeswaxsites[dot]com Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in and . That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow Facebook Group: - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos & Etsy shop promos here too! Facebook: Like the Pinterest: Instagram: Google+: Email: Use the OR interview [at] convome [dot] com

This quote won't come as news to you: In this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. - Benjamin Franklin Today I'm talking to Mark Faggiano and he's the founder of , a cloud-based service that automates sales tax compliance for ecommerce sellers. If you thought you were somehow exempt from paying sales tax, unfortunately, that may not necessarily be the case. Please note that neither Mark nor I are lawyers or accountants, however, we are talking about the service he provides which takes the headache out of filing sales tax. Mark started his entrepreneurial journey in ecommerce and now he focuses on making apps that make the business side of ecommerce easier. He's passionate about solving complex problems for small businesses. You'll need to consult with a lawyer or accountant to get advice specific to your situation but when it comes down to actually wrangling the data and info you need to properly file your sales tax, then you might want to take a closer look at what has to offer. In my conversation with Mark, he shares lots of information about what does and how it can help you; not just Etsy sellers, but ecommerce sellers in general... So if you're selling on multiple channels online, listen up :) Topics discussed: Quickbooks vs. - what's the difference? Do you need both? How to determine if you need to file taxes in multiple states Autofiling of sales tax with Nexus...? What's that...? ...and all the other extra good bits that come along with a TaxJar subscription Contact TaxJar: Email: support[at]TaxJar[dot]com TaxJar and Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in and . That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow Facebook Group: - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos & Etsy shop promos here too! Facebook: Like the Pinterest: Instagram: Google+: Email: Use the OR interview [at] convome [dot] com

My guest is Danielle Vincent and she and her husband Russ are the brains behind . They started off with an independent ecommerce business on their own website Outlaw Soaps and then expanded the wholesale line of their business onto Etsy in their shop . Danielle spent 10 years working as a corporate Digital Product Manager before she quit to start making a living making and selling soaps. Topics we discuss: Running a business with a spouse and the division of labor Focusing on using Etsy primarily for bulk wholesale orders rather than individual retail orders All things Shopify for running an ecommerce website Blogging for marketing Approaching the press and media outlets to get exposure for your brand and product Resources mentioned: Chuck Revell (photographer) - - home of the tool for determining product pricing - ecommerce-building platform Reach Danielle: Social media: , , , Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in and . That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow Facebook Group: - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos & Etsy shop promos here too! Facebook: Like the Pinterest: Instagram: Google+: Email: Use the OR interview [at] convome [dot] com

Cara is an elementary school teacher by day and an Etsy entrepreneur by night... and that is literally by "all night" because she's having so much fun selling on Etsy that she really throws herself into it when she's not working. She runs the Etsy shop where she sells her unique handmade crochet items. Currently her bestseller is a , which caught my eye as well. Click on the link and check it out! One of the things I really liked about Cara is just how excited she is about selling on Etsy. She has a clear idea of what she wants to get out of Etsy, and so, unlike some new sellers who get jaded when the sales don't come rolling in quickly, she's enjoying the process of learning to sell on Etsy. Her goal for now is to have continue her hobby but get it to the point where it pays for itself. Topics we discuss: Leveraging experience as an Etsy buyer to be a better Etsy seller Using good customer service as a marketing tool Loop giveaways on Instagram Resources mentioned:  - Note: you'll need to have a business account in order to participate when they eventually roll out this feature to sellers on platforms other than Shopify and Demandware Best ways to reach Cara: Email: laceyblue83 [at] yahoo [dot] com Etsy shop convo: Social media: , , Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in and . That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow Facebook Group: - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos & Etsy shop promos here too! Facebook: Like the Pinterest: Instagram: Google+: Email: Use the OR interview [at] convome [dot] com

Jordani runs the Etsy shop and with just over 6,700 sales (at the time of our conversation) she has lots of good tips for selling successfully on Etsy that I think will be new to you and very, very actionable. Her success is real and her techniques for selling on Etsy are very down-to-earth and organic. They've worked well for her and even though you may sell products that are vastly different from hers, I think you'll get the spirit of how she found her own unique path on Etsy and made it work for her.  Like a lot of Etsy sellers, Jordani started off selling on Etsy as a hobby but in four years (these things take time to develop folks!). She was able, over that time period to successfully convert it into a legitimate business that completely supports her today. Listen to our convo to hear Jordani talk about: How raising her product prices led to increased sales The importance of renewals to increasing sales Outsourcing administrative tasks, even product photography How goal-setting can help to keep you on track and measure your progress Resources mentioned: Best way to reach Jordani: Etsy shop convo: Social media: , , , Website: Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in and . That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow Facebook Group: - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos here too! Facebook: Like the Pinterest: Instagram: Google+: Email: Use the OR interview [at] convome [dot] com

I love communicating with folks that listen to the podcast and when I ask for feedback and guest suggestions I honestly want it. This week's guest is a direct result of this... I got a request from a listener via Twitter asking for an episode with an Etsy seller that specializes in selling downloadable patterns. I was thrilled to get this very specific request and set out on a mission to fulfill it. I'm truly grateful to my guest Maria, she runs the Etsy shop and has done so since 2009 and she responded to a request I put out on the Etsy Conversations Facebook page and group. Thank you Maria! ...and ShoutOut to Karen of Etsy shop for introducing Maria to the podcast back in 2014! :) Maria is a veteran Etsy seller and she opened  as a way to sell toys and sensory tools she had designed for children with ADHD and autism.   She started designing products she thought would help children who were diagnosed with ADHD and autism with input and ideas from an occupational therapist. Initially, she started out selling her designs locally in the occupational therapist's office before she moved to selling them online.  Maria said she chose Etsy because she loved the marketplace, loved the forums, and felt like it was an encouraging place to grow her design skills and business. And grow she has... Hear how Maria used YouTube to learn advanced skills that helped her expand her product line and how that led her into the world of patterning. We also discuss the benefits of local Etsy teams as well as those that are not primarily focused marketing and shop promotion. I think it's a great discussion about the importance of connecting in a constructive way and how that can help you grow as a business person both on and off Etsy. Resources mentioned: Etsy teams: , , , and Local Etsy teams:  and Helpful podcasts:  (Jennifer Ackerman),  (Amy Porterfield), (Pat Flynn), and (Natalie Sisson) (I also find all these podcasts beneficial as well) :) Best ways to reach Maria: Etsy convo: Instagram: Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in and . That really helps to get the word out about the show. Connect With Me: Twitter: Follow Facebook Group: - This is where I'm connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos here too! Facebook: Like the Pinterest: Instagram: Google+: Email: Use the OR interview [at] convome [dot] com