Advice I wish I HADN'T taken as a handmade seller

"You can’t make your hobby your business." How many times have I heard that. I’m still struggling, but in the end, it’s this comment that keeps me going. 😛

YT gave me the video titled "Was I wrong about Etsy... (a rant about localisation and pricing)" with a thumbnail that shows "Etsy why are you like this" Looking at other folks' comments, sounds like that's what most of us were suggested. Lots of great info in this video as always, but the last bit really caught me in the gut... "some people think work has to be something you hate or it's not work... that's a conversation to have with a therapist" 🤣Welp, I have been talking about this with my therapist for quite some time now and FINALLY... FINALLY... I gave my notice last week and am walking away from my job to try and find what lights me up instead of just pays the bills. When you said "that doesn't mean to say you can't do a job that you genuinely adore" it made my heart very happy to hear that, thank you! 😂💚

As for niches, I think of that like making an attractive display in a shop. If your various crafts work cohesively together they compliment each other and should interest the same customers. For instance I was in a shop that I sell to and saw a customer walking around with 3 of my things in her hand, all different and from different parts of the shop but they all appealed to her because they were all my style.

From an American's point of view, you come across as so wonderfully English. I love listening to you express yourself.

"Was I Wrong About Etsy? A Rant..." was what showed up. Love & hugs

I needed this today! I've been debating about how to proceed. I've got some fun ideas and have been working on learning the software needed to make my thoughts a reality (notice I didn't say dreams). One of my thoughts has always been I need to like the products that I produce because what if I get stuck with some of them. I need to feel comfortable with the leftovers. Yes, there will be leftovers, you will either need to use what you produce or be able to reallocate the pieces into something else. I'm planning on producing what I need as I go so I don't have a lot of inventory leftover. I've been there, done that; no thank you. I really enjoy classic and vintage homestyle items. The mass producers are chasing trends I'll let them and stay away from that. I rarely like what is being produced via the "trends" I find most of it quite ugly. I always enjoy our little "chats".

"Was I wrong about Etsy?" was the video that came up for me 🙂

"why are you like this". Watching in the US. Great discussion 🙂

"Etsy, why are you like this?" -- came up for me! Love your videos x

I hate niching down! It makes me feel like someone is trying to put me in a box and slap a label on it. It's so sad that it exists in the artist world too. Creativity not only should not be put in a box, it must not be put in a box! Artists are people who usually view the world differently, and that is the beauty of art and creativity. Love this video and your point of view, so interesting, and love your sense of humor.😊

You are an absolute delight!! During this entire video I'm thinking YES YES YES!! Ugh, this "bad advice" just makes my head spin! I've heard so much about nicheing down but also having a micro niche and it gives me a headache! Anyway, I'm am waving hello and cheers from an overly warm eastern US! And will now go make my tea ☕️ and think about embroidered tea holders 😉

What popped up at the end for me was “Etsy why are you like this?!” Love your videos 😊

I've come to make a distinction between what feeds MY soul and what I produce or do to possibly feed others' souls. I can make or do things that aren't "me." I used to look down on this and consider it hack-work at best- like the difference between an "artist" and and "illustrator," but yet sometimes these things can bring real joy to someone else. This is the logical, practical, financial side of creativity: knowing the market and filling a need for what others want. These things produced for others are different from the things I create that feed my own soul. My writing is like this; it's for me. It comes from the deepest part of myself. It would NEVER find an audience, but it's my way of expressing who I am (I have alexithymia, which is an inability to easily connect with my emotions, and my writing helps me do that.) It's necessary; without it I starve somewhat. Yet producing things that bring joy to the lives of others feeds the soul in a different way.

Hate competition, love camaraderie. I so get you:) ❤

I think authority figures just naturally evolve. I do think when people desire to be one - I tend to shy away from them as they just seem like they want to be that - when I want to find the one who actually knows the most.

I'm in Poland and the video that popped up was a rant about etsy and localisation and pricing.

Not an evil goblin! A cute witchy laugh 😆

Well said. I'm sick and tired of so-called. I know everything, people. Claire

"Why are you like this?" Emjoyed this video too. Thank you. I had a look at my stats for the first time this year and Jan - April goes down, down, down and down. Never mind, I'm sure it will pick up again at some point. Trends don't interest me - I think you will just end up in a very crowded place. 😊

"Etsy, why are you like this?" is the video that popped up for me next. Funny you should be talking about niching down. Guess what I'm working on right now? You always know Kim, you always know. Off to look around my studio to see if you are tucked in a corner somewhere watching. 🤣 Thank you as always Kim, Karen