Search results (tags) for: "entrepreneurship"

Five Money Questions to Ask Before Quitting Your Day Job

2009-11-24T14:00:00-05:00

This guest post is by Amanda Steinberg, founder of DailyWorth.com. DailyWorth is a daily email about money for women — delivering practical tips, empowering ideas and the occasional kick in the pants.

I quit my full-time job four years ago to be a full-time entrepreneur. I earn my living running websites like this personal finance website for women called DailyWorth.com. Here are five things I wish someone had told me before I made the financial leap.

1. How much do you need to make, really? REALLY. Life without a stable paycheck has far more expenses than someone working 9-to-5 might realize. You'll need a lot of cash. As a business owner, I'm constantly lusting after marketing dollars I don't have. Consider additional expenses that you'll incur once you go out on your own.

Expenses You May Not Have Planned For

In addition to all of the line items in your existing plans and budgets, consider these expenses as well:

Personal Expenses	Business Expenses
Health Insurance	Legal Fees
Retirement Account (Roth IRA, anyone?)	Product Development Fees
Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments	Advertising
Increased Accounting Expenses	Constant Website Enhancements

Not sure what this all adds up to? Ask someone who knows. Life is expensive. Be conservative when you estimate.

Photo by valedesign

2. Reality check: How much revenue can my company really generate?
Evaluate your market and know what your competitors are earning on average. Better yet, be conservative. Don't collect blog posts featuring glossy success stories and think that everyone experiences the same level of success.

3. Can I cultivate multiple, dependable income streams to support me as I build my business? Now that you have a better idea of what your life and new business will cost in the first year, add 50% to what you think you need to earn. That's your earning target. Why? Because even though you might think you'll earn $4,000 in January, life happens, contracts are canceled, checks don't arrive and WHAM!, the money's gone. Stuff happens, so you'll need to earn more than you think you need to hit your earning targets. Don't think you can earn that much? Good, we're glad you're asking yourself this question now, rather than staring at a credit card statement that's $20,000 in the red.

Figure out where this money will come from.

Take a part-time job or stable freelance contracts. If you freelance, assume you'll only be able to bill clients for up to 20 hours of work per week. It's harder than you think to bill for more than 20 hours as a freelancer. When Nathan Shackles decided to found his own business two years ago, he first started by taking on 10-20 hours per week of extra work, in addition to his day job. “I saved every dime of the money I made from the contract work to provide capital for my business,” he says. One month ago, he launched his new product, ApplicantStack, a web-based applicant tracking and recruitment software for human resources and staffing agencies. While Nathan was able to work full days and extra hours on top of that, that kind of schedule isn’t for everyone.
Identify your most bankable skill. How can you make money most easily? Making money while you're growing your business doesn't need to be glamorous or fulfilling. It just needs to be lucrative. Period.
Line up part-time work before you leave your job. Line it up weeks or months in advance of your transition.
Try to turn your full-time job into a part-time job. Don't burn bridges! You can approach your current employer about reducing your hours or transitioning into a contract position. Given the recession, your boss may be open to ideas that save the company money while giving you the time and flexibility to set up your own business.

4. How much can I save in advance? If you’re leaving a full-time job, start saving aggressively six months before you announce your departure. Commit to making regular, automated deposits. Laura Rangel and Lisa Steen Proctor, co-founders of Karito Kids a multicultural doll company that teaches kids about giving back, started their company with $10,000 each from their savings accounts. Both agree that putting money aside now to help fund your future business is the best way forward.

5. Who do I know that's already done it? A mentor can point you to networking opportunities, troubleshoot financial pitfalls and show you where you're drinking your own Kool-Aid a little too aggressively.

Bottom Line
Don't be delusional. Don't risk your financial well-being thinking you're The Next Big Thing (though I hope that you are). Building a lucrative new business takes time and a lot of cash. By the same token, embracing entrepreneurship doesn’t mean that you have to bleed red ink all over the place. Pursue your dream. Just plan for it with your eyes wide open.

Learn more about smart spending and savvy saving by signing up for DailyWorth.

New Rules: Support Your Local Economy

2009-11-20T15:00:00-05:00

Stacy Mitchell is a senior researcher with the New Rules Project at the Institute for Local Self Reliance (ISLR), an organization started in 1974 to work with citizens, activists, policy makers and entrepreneurs to help communities improve their economies, reduce waste, manage local infrastructure and provide better overall living environments.

The New Rules Project “challenges the wisdom and inevitability of economic consolidation and works to advance policies that support strong local economies and vibrant communities.” In a nutshell, she works to advance many of the same things that Etsy stands for — handmade, local, independent production, and a connection to communities and producers.

I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Stacy about the growth of local and independent businesses over the past several years, which many people attribute to both a backlash against “big box” retail and an appreciation for knowing one’s maker. Stacy took some time to talk to us about these issues, and her latest book, Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America's Independent Businesses, goes into much more detail.

Tell us a bit about the New Rules Project.
The New Rules Project is a national initiative started by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. The project's mission is to make the case that bigger isn't necessarily better — that small-scale production and independent businesses nurture community and create a more sustainable and democratic economy.

Our focus is on changing public policy. If you look at the laws and regulations in place today, many of them actively favor big corporations. Federal farm policies subsidize big agribusiness; local zoning rules favor Wal-Mart; banking regulations aid big banks; and the list goes on.

We're calling for New Rules: public policies that support local economies and build strong, self-governing communities.

How did you get involved in the organization and what do you do?
I started working for the New Rules Project when it was founded in 1997. Much of my focus has been looking at the consequences of the rise of big retail chains, like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and Barnes & Noble. These companies have taken over much of our economy with the promise of delivering good deals, but it turns out that the big-box model has been incredibly expensive. In my recent book, Big-Box Swindle, I document how these companies are fueling many of our most pressing problems, from the shrinking middle class to rising greenhouse gas emissions.

The good news is that there's now a widespread backlash. The New Rules Project has helped hundreds of grassroots groups stop big-box development projects and enact new policies that keep the chains at bay and support local businesses instead.

Even more encouraging, our research is finding growing public support for locally produced goods and independent businesses. Local food is soaring in popularity. Over the last four years, we've seen increasing numbers of new independent businesses, from bookstores to food markets, opening across the country.

Local business alliances — like Stay Local New Orleans, Local First in Salt Lake City, and Portland Buy Local in Portland, Maine — have now formed in over 130 cities and collectively count some 30,000 businesses as members. These alliances are running very creative "buy local" campaigns that are not only changing people's shopping habits, but engaging them in a conversation about community and how to transition to a more sustainable future.

Why should people shop local this holiday season?
One reason is that shopping at an independent business, instead of a chain, generates far more benefit for your local economy. Several recent studies have found that a dollar spent at a locally owned business generates 2-3 times as much local economic activity as a dollar spent at a chain and supports many more local jobs.

Another compelling reason to go local this year is to make the holidays fun again. Who wants to sit in traffic at the mall? It's so much more rewarding to stroll through the small stores in your neighborhood or downtown. You'll not only find unusual gifts that don't come from a sweatshop, but you're bound to run into friends, get into an interesting conversation, enjoy the beauty of historic buildings decked out in lights, take time to savor a hot chocolate at the local café — in short, you'll have a chance to really experience and celebrate the place in which you live.

Of course, you can't always find everything you're looking for in your own backyard, and that's why sites like Etsy and Indiebound are a great way to take advantage of the convenience and diversity of the web while still supporting independent artists and small businesses.

What kind of impact does supporting the local arts have on a community at large?
Buying anything produced locally — food, art, music, fashion — has a sizeable economic benefit for your community. The money you spend stays in the local area and helps to keep your neighbors employed.

These creative professions also contribute to the welfare of the community in so many other ways. They make the places we live interesting. They create focal points for reflection and community.

Artists and craftspeople are great problem-solvers too. As we grapple with big challenges, like climate change, we need their special abilities to help us envision a different way of living.

Do you have any specific examples of cities or towns that are experiencing a positive change?
Thanks largely to the work of Sustainable Connections, a coalition of about 500 local businesses in and around Bellingham, Washington, that community has made huge strides in incubating new businesses, expanding regional food production, and reducing the carbon footprint of buildings.

Local First Utah has changed how residents and elected officials in Salt Lake City think about economic development. A recent survey found that three-quarters of residents want fewer chains in their neighborhoods and more local businesses.

Arizona Local First was instrumental in convincing the state legislature to outlaw the kinds of subsidies that are commonly provided to big-box development projects.

Here in my hometown of Portland, Maine, many local business owners say that Portland Buy Local has made a big difference in terms of galvanizing public support and helping them survive the recession.

What are you doing to support your local community in Portland, ME?
I'm one of many volunteers with Portland Buy Local, which has about 280 members, including local businesses, artists, and nonprofits. We create new poster and advertising campaigns every couple of months that highlight the value of independent businesses and encourage people to support them.

Our posters, which are displayed on hundreds of storefronts all over the city and reproduced as ads in local newspapers, are all designed by local artists, so they are very eye-catching as well as incredibly varied in their style.

Steve Darnley and Arielle Walrath, for example, designed this gorgeous poster (pictured below) for our holiday campaign last year. Sean Wilkinson produced a very powerful graphic for one of our economic messages (shown above).

Poster by Steve Darnley and Arielle Walrath

Etsy seller pineconeandchickadee created this amazing Valentine's Day poster, which was so popular that we turned it into T-shirts that have been selling like hotcakes.

Poster by pineconechickadee

Our latest poster series, by photographer Nathan Eldridge, emphasizes the wide range of products — from the unusual to the everyday — that are available from independent businesses.

How should people get involved with New Rules?
The best way to keep up with what we're doing and learn how you can start some of these initiatives in your own community is to sign up for our monthly email newsletter, The Hometown Advantage.

We publish lots of useful research and information on our website. Take a look and, if you find an idea or an article you like, please forward it to your friends, your neighbors, your elected officials, your local newspaper. We're a small organization, so we need all the help we can get to make our research and ideas part of the public discussion.

Lastly, like any nonprofit, we are dependent almost entirely on donations to keep the lights on and our staff fed. Contributions of any size are gratefully appreciated.

Any Etsy sellers you're particularly fond of?
I adore ferdinandhome — terrific T-shirts, my favorite greeting cards, and fabulous potholders made from vintage fabric.

Another favorite is pineconeandchickadee. I'm smitten with Amy Teh's designs.

I hope my husband is reading this, because one thing I'd be super happy to find under my tree this year is a messenger bag from bobbinstudio.

And, lastly, there's a real gem of a little business in my neighborhood that just became an Etsy seller a few weeks ago: HomegrownHerbandTea. Sarah Richards is a skilled herbalist who has been blending teas for both health and pleasure at her tea shop here on Munjoy Hill for several years. She just made the leap online and her teas are definitely worth checking out.

Further Resources:
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) proposes a set of new rules that builds community by supporting humanly scaled politics and economics. The rules call for:

Decisions made by those impacted
Communities accepting responsibility for the welfare of their members and the next generation
Households and communities possessing or owning sufficient productive capacity to generate real wealth

NewRules.org discusses the importance of rules and catalogs the best. We make the rules and the rules make us.

The Related Items below are all from Stacy's native Maine!

Find Etsy Sellers in Your Town | Read Our Shop Local Series | Check Out the Etsy Maine Team

Seller How-To: Entrepreneurial Tips From DailyWorth

2009-10-07T17:30:00-05:00

1. Network From Your Desk

Network. Walk into an event or a lunch ready to rub elbows, shake hands, introduce yourself and exchange information. Opportunities are everywhere. Be ready to recognize and seize them. It means putting yourself out there to fail — or, more likely, succeed. Learn more tips here: Network From Your Desk.

2. Sell Your Friends

Celebrate the success of others. When someone you know — a colleague, a friend, even a professional acquaintance — succeeds in getting what she wants, be a cheerleader. Announce her success on Twitter or Facebook.

Good karma. Good business.

3. Be Phoney

You know what you want. You've been scheming for months. Now it's time to go the extra mile to show that you're serious. Here's a timely tip: don't hide behind your email. Whether you're seeking a new supplier or a new customer, pick up the phone and call. Call someone who knows someone who knows someone. More reading on this subject: 10 Tips for Telephone Success.

4. Deal With Doubts

You're juggling a day job with your business and feeling overwhelmed by both. At times like that you may wonder why you thought you could bring your dream into reality. What were you thinking? To be honest, if a lot of entrepreneurs knew what they were getting into, they might have run away screaming instead of starting a business. The thing is, dreams don't go away that easily. You may try to dismiss them, but they're always in the back of your mind.

Doubts will never completely go away. They're part of being human. So don't wait for them to disappear before you embrace your dreams; keep believing in them and visualizing them. You'll be surprised at what you will accomplish. It takes courage to step out of the crowd and create a business out of an idea. Working on a full-time job and a business will take every ounce of belief that you have in your dream -— and the reward will be beyond what you could have imagined. Check out this post for more steps on Dealing With Doubt.

5. Aim Higher

You know that saying, "Careful what you wish for, you just might get it?" Here’s a twist: Careful the amount of money you seek to make, you just might earn it.

According to “Client Attraction” coach Fabienne Frederickson, a recent survey of 200 women about income revealed just how low women are aiming. In her survey results, women entrepreneurs said they aim to earn $50,000-$75,000 per year. But judging from their professions, Frederickson determined that many respondents had the potential to earn far more.

All of this invites the questions: Why are you aiming so low, and what constraints are you placing on yourself? Shame on you. Seriously, no shame, but umph. Triple your goals. What's the worst that could happen? You could earn half of your goal, and still be better off than when you started.

These tips (and more) will also be featured in our Etsy Success newsletter (sign up here!).You can find out more about Amanda and DailyWorth over at DailyWorth.com.

Seller Handbook | Art of Pricing | Your Shop 101

My Big Break: Posh Dots' Licensing Deal

2009-09-14T15:25:00-05:00

Every now and again I hear about Etsy sellers who have scored licensing deals. One such seller is Becky from PoshDots, teacher, artist and mother of three, who was kind enough to take time away from her very busy schedule to do an interview with me. She describes how the company approached her and struck a deal to have her design for her children's item manufactured.

Hi Becky! First off, how do you handle your shop, your kids, your teaching job and the licensing deal? Any time management tips?
I fly by the seat of my pants. With three kids, a schedule is worthless. I don't know from one minute to the next what challenge will face me. The last time I had the house to myself, the phone rang. My oldest had caught a softball in his mouth, and his lip was mashed into his braces (which were put on that same day!). We ended up in the ER. There is always drama here!

Becky with her daughter.

Tell us about your items and describe your licensing deal.
Posh Dots specializes in handpainted wooden letters and matching accessories. The bulk of my business comes from the letters. The licensing company, Dish & Spoon Productions, will use many of my designs on a variety of children's products, including canvas wall hangings, growth charts, night lights, and name banners, to name a few.

How did the company find you?
I asked them the same thing! They found me right here on Etsy. The company has a staff member who seeks out new, fresh artwork. They contacted me several months ago with the proposal, and I was shocked. Considering all of the wonderful talent here and the fact that they only add two artists per year, I feel like the needle in the haystack!

What's the appeal of doing a licensing deal?
The biggest appeal is knowing that someone really appreciated my work enough to want to reproduce it. It is truly an honor. With three young children and teaching full time, my painting hours are very limited. With this opportunity, more children can enjoy my work.

How did Etsy play a role in what has happened? Do you have any suggestions for other ways Etsy could help?
I would say Etsy played a huge role. I doubt I would have been "discovered" without having my shop here. Maybe offer suggestions for legal counseling or finding an agent?

Had you done any wholesale orders before?
I have not done any other wholesale orders. I am approached weekly by boutique owners wanting to carry my letters, but I am so overwhelemed with business from my own shop that I have turned them all down. I am currently in the process of developing a few new products that will be available for wholesale. The products designed by Dish & Spoon Productions will also be available wholesale.

Did you do any research or can you link us to any information that helped inform your decision to say yes to the deal?
I have two books that have lots of good info: Licensing Art and Design: A Professional's Guide to Licensing and Royalty Agreements and Licensing Art 101, Third Edition: Publishing and Licensing Your Artwork for Profit. I knew what red flags to look for. Talking with other Etsians was also very helpful. The contract was very simple and exactly what I expected. I did not go through a lawyer, but if things continue to grow, I will.

Becky's home studio.

What are your plans for your Etsy shop? Will you now use it to sell your handmade prototypes or more limited run (handmade by you) items? Will you use Etsy a place to continue to experiment with new products?
Right now, I am planning on taking the shop in a slightly new direction. I want to add more ready-to-ship items and personalized items that are less time consuming. I also want to move towards more teen and adult designs. I've considered canvas reproductions, but I don't want to compete with myself and the products made by D&S! My wheels are always turning...so keep an eye out for new and exciting products. And possibly a new shop with a totally different line of products.

Do you have any advice for sellers who are interested in getting licensing deals?
I wish I had some great words of wisdom on how to land a licensing deal, but this came out of nowhere. I had considered hiring an agent, but never did. If you are serious about getting your work reproduced, that may be an avenue. If, like me, you want to leave it in the hands of fate, keep your work fresh and exciting. Take great pics and set up a shop that is cohesive. KISS: Keep it simple, stupid!

If possible, get a small advance in royalties. As of now, I've put several hundred hours into creating sample pieces and have seen nothing in return. I knew what to expect from the beginning, but it's tough staying motivated. I know I need to be patient... It will pay off!

Becky hard at work.

Do you think there's something about your item that lends itself to a licensing deal?
My work is very colorful and fun. The designs are simple, clean and fresh. I love mixing patterns, which seems to be a hot concept right now.

What stage of the process are you in now? How does it feel?
Right now, everything is still in the production stage. I have not seen any of the final pieces yet. I'm very anxious to see what they are doing with my work. D&S is preparing to launch the products in September at the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas. I will have something final soon.

Do you get credited on the final packaging of the items the company sells?
Yes, my signature, BSBowen, will be on all of the products. That's very exciting!

What is important about "handmade" for you and your business?
With my business being custom work, I feel it must be handmade. Painting is my passion. If I couldn't be working with my hands and mind, I would go crazy! This business allows me to do both and to create something truly unique for my clients. I've often asked in the Etsy Forums about pricing, time management, etc., and many will offer advice on how to change my product line by offering more ready-made items. But, somehow ready-made and custom just don't work together in my mind. I love the design process, working directly with the buyer and creating something just for them.

Was there anything in the contract that you felt strongly about and made a point of negotiating? or if it hadn't been in the contract, you would have pushed for it?
I wanted to able to have the final word on the products, and I wanted to have my signature on my pieces. I also wanted to maintain copyrights to my designs. It was all in there exactly as I wished.

Were you concerned as to whether this was legit? did you have anyone review the licensing contract?
There were a few times when I wondered what I had gotten into! But, after many conversations with the owner and seeing their products on several top ranking sites featuring children's products, I feel good about the decision. My very cautious husband reviewed the contract.

Can you share with us any highlights or how much more money in proportion to your income? (No worries if this is too personal!)
It may not seem like much in California or New York, but in the backwoods of Virginia, the estimate they gave me is huge. If the estimate turns out to be correct, it will top my teaching salary...not bad.

What does this licensing deal mean for your business?
I don't know yet! It has the potential of surpassing my teaching salary. (Of course, that won't be hard to do!) But, I have quite a wish list:

1) Operate Posh Dots full time
2) Put on an addition to our home
3) Travel
4) Save
5) Use extra income to start up another business
(I am always dreaming up ideas for new products — some handmade, some mass produced.)

My biggest dream...buy a beach house!

I may have to pick just one from this list.

Posh Dots, we here at Etsy wish you luck and will continue to watch for your latest items! Visit her website poshdotsstudio.com and PoshDots Etsy shop.

Readers, do you have a licensing deal and tips to share? Let us know if you'd like to contribute a post or leave your words of wisdom in the comments. Questions? We want to hear those too!

The Outsiders: Finding a Way into the Art World

2008-09-02T15:00:00-05:00

This article was originally published on September 26, 2007. We are reviving it as part of the Best of the Storque series. Enjoy!

When it comes to the art world, everyone always seems to be looking for the next big thing. If it isn’t an artist, it’s a concept, a style or a shtick. However, if there is one genre that exists solely to contradict the idea of trendiness, it is the often misunderstood, always intriguing, idea of outsider art.

As far as modes of artwork are concerned, "outsider art” (otherwise known as art brut, visionary, contemporary folk, naïve or intuitive art) has become a phenomenon that forces us to rethink the relationship between mainstream society and who is culturally "accepted" as an artist. Michel Thevoz, curator of the Collection de l'Art Brut in Lausanne, defines outsider art as “works produced by people who, for various reasons, have not been culturally indoctrinated or socially conditioned. They are all kinds of dwellers on the fringes of society. Working outside the fine art ‘system’ (schools, galleries, museums and so on), these people have produced, from the depths of their own personalities and for themselves and no one else, works of outstanding originality in concept, subject and techniques. They are works which owe nothing to tradition or fashion.”

Artists typically grouped under the outsider art umbrella are those who exist outside the confines of conventional society, with little to no contact with “high art”: prison inmates, the mentally ill, religious zealots, and the developmentally challenged. These intricate, often compulsive works are typically characterized by a certain “raw” quality: colorful images, recurring idiosyncratic patterns and a childish naïveté usually not present in the works of a “trained” artist.

These works were first documented in 1922 by Dr. Hans Prinzhorn, who collected thousands of works by psychiatric patients (including the incredible Adolf Wolfli) to publish Bildernerei der Geisteskranken (Artistry of the Mentally Ill). According to outsider art journal Raw Vision, struggling French artist Jean Dubuffet was so inspired by the these works that he formed the Compagnie de l'Art Brut in 1948, an organization that “strove to seek out and collect works of extreme individuality and inventiveness by creators who were not only untrained artists but often had little concept of an art gallery or even any other forms of art other than their own.”

Outsider art has since come into the public eye via institutions such as the American Folk Art Museum in New York and the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, showcasing the works of many disenfranchised individuals whose work had long been overlooked, often until after their death. (A prime example being brilliant visionary artist Henry Darger, recently profiled in In the Realms of the Unreal, a documentary of his life and work. An example is shown below.)

However, the idea of outsider art has changed in recent years. Artists that once lived and worked in the relative obscurity of basements and institutions are being brought to light and encouraged to produce via art programs built to foster their work during their lifetimes, such as the Creative Growth facility and National Institute of Art & Disabilities program based in California, as well as Project Onward and Inklude (who have an Etsy store, Inklude.etsy.com) in Chicago.

As a casual art student, I’ve been interested in the eclectic nature of outsider art for a while. When I first read about Art Enables, an arts-and-enterprise program for adults with developmental and/or mental disabilities based in Washington, DC., I decided that I had to visit and see the work that people were producing in the present. The inspiring facility functions as a studio and gallery space to those who are enthusiastic about working toward becoming professional artists. These individuals, affected by an array of disabilities ranging from autism to Down's syndrome to schizophrenia, are encouraged to work in the studio a few days a week to produce work, which is then marketed and featured on the Art Enables website and in their gallery for purchase.

This set-up allows the artists-in-residence to work in the entrepreneurial spirit while cultivating an income from their work during their lifetime. “Artists with disabilities have the same drive, the same ability to create, and the same desire to sell their artwork and earn an income from it as any other artist would. This program was founded on that model – to provide that marketing element so that people could earn money from their artwork, as opposed to just doing it for a recreational activity,” said Jill Scheibler, marketing associate at Art Enables.

Art Enables’ humble beginnings commenced five years ago. As executive director Joyce Muis-Lowery explains, “The program was originally designed as a vocational training program. The arts would be used as an employment training vehicle and people would be prepared for a move off into mainstream employment. [However], no one wanted to leave. They wanted to continue to create art as a permanent part of their lives. We shifted the focus and ultimately redefined ourselves as offering the opportunity for adults with developmental and/or mental disabilities to work toward becoming professional artists.”

Artists tend be referred to the program by other DC area programs, family members or simply by exhibiting the interest and motivation necessary to pursuing their love of art. As Scheibler states, “All of the artists in our program were already creating and working, and they came to us because they wanted a place to commit to their art and create an income from it.”

To the casual observer, the next question that comes to mind is how the Art Enables artists can be considered truly “outsider” if they’re working within the framework of a facility, producing work to market during their lifetime. Scheibler asserts that “[Art Enables] uses the rough heading of 'outsider,' with the caveat that, because people are working in this sort of setting, it doesn’t really fit the definition of outsider art. Traditionally outsider art is defined as working in private, without coming in contact with traditional art modes.”

Director Muis-Lowery was quick to add that “‘Outsider,’ in our case, is probably a more consistently accurate descriptor of the artists themselves than the art. Everyone in the program is in major ways cut off from the mainstream…Also, [it’s important to add that] we don’t teach. We facilitate. The role of staff is to be sure people have access to and are using the correct materials correctly, to help them when they get stuck, to make suggestions or push them out of their comfort zones, but above all, not to intervene in or encroach on the individual way of expressing themselves in images which they brought into the program…What is a constant source of delight and amazement to me is that not a single one of them ever tries to imitate someone else. They are just so wonderfully driven from the inside to make the art the way they make it.”

So just what is it that makes outsider art so interesting, so mysterious, so intriguing to collectors? For many, it’s the back story to the artwork — the fact that each of the artists exists in a unique world seemingly distant from the experiences of the typical audience. As Scheibler explained, “There’s a fascination with sordid stories and artists that are very compulsive…From the gallerists’ perspective, they want that intrigue, that romantic idea applied to artists like Van Gogh with inner demons and cutting off his ears. I think the public is entranced by that. However, there’s a trade-off there: if someone like Van Vogh had been medicated, his art would’ve been much more mainstream, but the quality of his life would have increased.”

Muis-Lowery added that the appeal of outsider art for the contemporary collector is “the biographical element: that so much of [the artwork] is borne of fundamental social, economic or educational deprivation or psychosis. [And] the fact of a lot of it is being legitimately [produced] from the heart rather than the brain.”

Ultimately, outsider art has become increasingly trendy in recent years, for a variety of reasons: the inexpensive nature of the pieces, the excitement and rarity of finding a treasure trove of self-taught work, and the “relatable” quality of the work. Art Enables artists Charles Meissner’s aerial views in watercolor and Paul Lewis’s odes to pop culture icons such as “The Munsters” are big sellers.

As Muis-Lowery put it, “Gallerists are in hot pursuit of new outsider artists because the first ‘discovered’ generation is dead or dying and their well is drying up. I personally think that one is unlikely to find a lot of ‘old school’ outsider artists today in developed countries for the simple reason that we no longer isolate people the way we used to. We have stopped hiding them in the woodshed or the asylums or leaving them to fend for themselves on the farm while everyone else goes off to the fields to work. In that sense we’ve come a long way.”

As of yet, few of the approximately thirty artists that work at Art Enables are self-sufficient. However, many are well on their way, as all of the artists make at least one sale each month, with some making sales of up to $1000 in a single month. There is even talk of certain artists being picked up by galleries. As Muis-Lowery put it, “Everyone makes money, but it isn’t a lot of money — although for about half of them, it’s their only earned income. The point is that they’re making money from their abilities and not by putting in time someplace, or by doing work that is created for people with disabilities of whom little is expected. We expect a lot. This is not a hobby. This is their job and they are wonderfully focused on doing it well.”

Outsider Art Resources
More photos from Alison’s trip to Art Enables
To meet the artists from Art Enables through video and see their work
What is “outsider art”?
What is "visionary art"?

Organizations
Art Enables
NIAD
Project Onward
VSArts
Inklude
Inklude’s Etsy shop
Gateway Arts
Gugging Center
Creative Growth

Museums
American Folk Art Museum
Folk Art Society of America
American Visionary Art Museum

Prominent Outsider Artists of Note
Adolf Wolfli
Howard Finster
Henry Darger
Bill Traylor
Martin Ramirez
William Hawkins

Academic Journals and Written Resources
Raw Vision
“Folk Art Notebook” article
Outsider Art Links
John Maizels, founder of outsider art journal Raw Vision, on raw/outsider art
“On Outsider Art and the Margins of the Mainstream”

Visit The Storque's This Handmade Life section for more inspiring stories, and check out the rest of our Best of the Storque content!

Quit Your Day Job: DennisAnderson Takes the Plunge!

2008-05-08T18:12:00-05:00

In the last couple weeks in the forums and in the Virtual Labs, I discovered that one of Etsy's famous soap makers, DennisAnderson, had very recently quit his day job to sell full time on Etsy! I was very excited to hear this news and proceeded to ask him tons of questions and wish him the best of luck when I thought, "this would make a great article for those thinking about taking the plunge themselves or for those that already have and want to compare notes!"

Dennis graciously accepted my proposal for an interview to find out exactly what allowed him to take the plunge from working a full time day job to becoming a full time Etsy seller. Keep reading to learn how he is taking the plunge.

When you first started selling on Etsy did you have dreams or goals of eventually quitting your day job?
The first day I started selling on Etsy was on May 13, 2007. I had signed up about a month earlier and was getting a feel for the site. My girlfriend opened a jewelry shop a few months before I did. I worked for a lawn care company fertilizing lawns in over 100 degree temperatures, so I would have to say that after last summer, quitting my day job was a goal I wanted to meet.

How long were you selling on Etsy and working your day job before deciding you were ready to switch over to Etsy full time?
I quit my day-job on April 7, 2008 so it was a little under 11 months selling here on Etsy. I did want to wait another month or two to quit, but circumstances came up which I did not agree with, so I decided to take the plunge.

What made you decide to quit your day job?
Well, it's been a dream of mine for the last 6 months. I worried about financial stability and think I hesitated longer then I should have. When I decided to leave my day-job, it was a spur of the moment decision that scared me to death but it has been a blessing. I'm learning new things about business everyday and love my new found freedom.

How did you know you were ready to take the plunge?
Last October my sales were not too great. Then November and December hit and I got swamped (with the holiday rush). I loved it! Since then sales have been constant, so I just had to do it.

Did you do anything to prepare ahead of time before taking the plunge?
Yes I did. First, you have to make an inventory list and a costs list (for your business materials). A costs list is basically how much money in supplies and personal labor. Figure out how much it costs you per item (to make). I figure that after the costs I needed to take x amount of dollars a week to pay the bills and rent for the month and at least 100 dollars a week for supplies (although lately I'm spending a lot more) the rest gets put into an emergency account in case I need to order something in bulk or if I just need some rainy day money.

What goals have you set for your Etsy business in the next few months and year?
I definitely want to grow; doesn't everyone want that for their business? I want to be able to compare last year's financial statements to this year's and see an improvement, and I want to see that every year. I haven't yet decided on what kind of percentage of improvement but most likely it will be between 10 and 25 percent depending on the month.

What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business?
I use other sites to promote my Etsy shop. You was surprised at how inexpensive it can be to put up a banner on their sites. Also, word of mouth is HUGE. I am a member of the CCCOE (California Crafters Club of Etsy) and there have been so many wonderful people who have tried my products and refer customers who want a wholesale account with me. I also effectively use the Promotions section in the Etsy forums. Many sales have generated from there. Hasn't everyone seen my "I want a sale" threads every day?

How's it going so far, are you getting by?
So far in 3 weeks it's been going great. I have met all of my quotas financially and have had more time to produce more and new items. I am getting by, but at some points of the week after I make an order or have to spend money, I get uptight a little but it's all good!

What piece of advice would you give someone thinking about quitting her/his day-job to sell full time on Etsy?
If you have constant sales and you are making enough after expenses to live free and independent, I'd say do it. The only person looking over you is yourself. You will be like "there is no way I can afford that," but I will tell you, the three weeks after I left work, I only used 1 tank of gas, so I saved between 60 - 75 dollars that way. I'm kinda happy I don't have to look at 4+ dollars a gallon gas prices every week anymore.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I'm so happy that I found this site. It has changed my life. There is a kid's song from a show my daughter watches, I believe the show is "Yo-Gaba-Gaba" and they have this song and it's stuck to my head permanently. It's basically a song that tells you to keep trying and too not give up, because you will make it right. If you keep plugging away, have great pictures with natural light, an avatar that shows off one of your popular items you sell, there is no reason why someone wouldn't be interested in purchasing from you. Sometimes it takes a while to get noticed. I am a seller, but also a buyer on Etsy.... I bought all of the gifts I gave away this last holiday season and any special occasions from Etsy...except for a video game.

Thank you so much Dennis for sharing your story with us! You are an inspiration to many and we wish you the best of luck making it full time selling on Etsy! Did you recently quit your day job or are you thinking about it to sell full time on Etsy? We'd love to hear your story and how it's working out for you. Please send me an email to mary@etsy.com and let's chat!

Kiva and Etsy Get Down in NYC

2008-03-03T16:00:00-05:00

If you're in the New York City area, join us Tuesday, March 4th, for a good cause and a good time as we team up with Design 21 and Good magazine for Kiva's first local event.

Be sure to RSVP as space is limited. We hope to see you there, but even if you can't make it, take a moment to learn a little bit about Kiva, the organization "that lets you lend to a specific entrepreneur in the developing world: empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty."

Etsy wants to help spread the word about micro-development. Rob Kalin, Etsy's founder, is very interested in new models for helping independent artists and entrepreneurs make a living making things. To read more about his vision and what we're trying to achieve with the company, see Rob's post Etsy's First Five Years. We recommend Banker to the Poor by Muhamamd Yunus, about the Grameen Bank — a project in the same vein as Kiva.

Required Reading for Etsy Sellers: Craft Inc.

2008-01-18T12:28:00-05:00

Reviews of Meg Mateo Ilasco's book Craft Inc: Turn Your Creative Hobby Into a Business had been swirling around the blogosphere since the book came out this summer. I hadn’t had a chance to pick up a copy and was thrilled to see that Santa had put one in my stocking. Finally I could read what all the buzz was about.

While I am already past hobby-mode and have been running my little letterpress business Paperstories for a few years now, I still found this book to be very helpful. Craft Inc. starts you at the beginning, giving advice on all the necessary stuff like getting a business license, setting up your product line, and even choosing an appropriate name. Once you get through the basics, the book gives lots of helpful tips on everything from setting up wholesale accounts, creating a marketing plan, and how to grow the business. With chapters like “Your Creative Mind,” “Production and Pricing Plans,” and “Ups, Downs, and Next Steps,” there is a wealth of useful information not only for the newest crafter but for the seasoned veteran as well. Also, as a new mom, there were some wonderful words of wisdom for about running your business during major life changes such as having a baby.

In my opinion, one of the best aspects of the book is its integration of fourteen interviews with some current craft and design heavyweights. Here's just a sampling: home-goods designer Lotta Anderson (aka Lotta Jansdotter, who did a Open Studio Tour video with the Storque) to design-blog heartthrob Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge (see Grace's Trends piece on the Storque) to shopkeeper Rena Tom of the Brooklyn based Rare Device (see the Storque's Featured Buyer piece with Rena's partner Lisa Congdon and another video piece on an American Craft Council event with Rena). Each interview is thoughtfully interjected into the chapter that best fits the tone of the interview. For me, these interviews were pure inspiration.

A quick read and beautifully laid out, Craft Inc. also covers topics that have been the source of many lengthy forum threads on Etsy, such as the copyright issues involved using commercially purchased fabrics or patterns. This book answers a variety of questions related to good business practices and is full of appropriate resources. In the back there is a handy internet resource guide that even gives a nod to Etsy. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to every shop owner on Etsy. In fact, I think it should be required reading prior to opening a shop. You will learn a lot and hopefully be inspired along the way.

Further Resources:
Meg Mateo Ilasco's website
www.mateoilasco.com

U.S. Small Business Administration
www.sba.gov

American Craft Council
www.craftcouncil.org

Etsy in the Press: Right in the Middle of the Top 100

2007-12-18T09:35:00-05:00

Silicon Alley Insider named Robert Kalin as #50 in their list of the Top 100 most influential people in digital business in NYC... not to mention one of the youngest. Silicon Alley Insider, "a new business site produced by and for the New York digital business community," placed Rob at the core of a digital biz field of seasoned executives, venture capitalists, and other start-up founders that includes New York City mayor and founder of Bloomberg LP Michael Bloomberg (#1), Tim Armstrong of Google (#6), and Wenda Harris Millard, President of Media at Martha Stewart Living, Omnimedia (#38). That's pretty awesome company!

Rob was singled out because Etsy was "born in [his] living room", which goes to show just how much the handmade revolution has resonated both with the business world and crafters alike. It's what propels Etsy as a company as well as the artists worldwide who use it to make a living making things.

Etsy in the Press: Behind the Money with Rokali

2007-11-09T18:34:00-05:00

"I have mixed feeling about pretty much everything in life." — Robert Kalin.

Rob was interviewed by Behind the Money about cash flow matters and Etsy. Get the inside scoop on investors, not-selling-out, and the passion that drives Etsy founders.

Plus, Rob's wardrobe is courtesy of RuffeoheartslilSnoty, who were at the Etsy Labs for the Majestica artist-in-residency, the artist collective with MixenDixon and EmpireEmpire.

Etsy in the Press: Entrepreneur Magazine and Meaningful Marketplaces

2007-10-04T10:15:00-05:00

Entrepreneur Magazine just wrote an article about Etsy's founder Rob Kalin (better known to us here as Rokali). If you go to Entrepreneur.com right now (Oct 4, 2007), and wait for it...Rob pops up!

We're happy about the article because it focuses on our mission to build a sustainable business and to foster the entrepreneurial spirit in an online community.

"After speaking with Rob Kalin, the founder of handmade products marketplace Etsy.com, it's apparent that like any true entrepreneur, his company isn't just a means to a paycheck. It's a mission: A mission to change the way commerce works; a mission to promote sustainable products..."

Also, The Storque's got its first mention in the press (not counting blogs, of course) since launch, and we're really pleased!

"The latest feature on Etsy, The Storque, is an online magazine written by members."

Open Studio Tours: Lotta Jansdotter

2007-09-28T08:44:00-05:00

Lotta Jansdotter has been creating simple yet luxurious housewares and clothing for over 10 years. Starting her business by silk-screening pillowcases in her cramped apartment, Jansdotter's wares are now sold internationally. She was a gracious host as she gave us a tour of her studio and spoke about how she got her start as an artisan and businesswoman. Lotta has built her business up to the point where many Etsians would like to be: she's making a living from what she makes while remaining in creative control of her products. We thought it would be interesting to hear her story.

Watch the Video

Further Resources:

Lotta Jansdotter's studio is now open to the public on Saturdays, see www.jansdotter.com for details.

IndieEntrepreneur blog

CraftRevolution.com

Team Spotlights: Etsy MUD

2007-09-21T08:00:00-05:00

The Etsy Mud Team is a Global Team on Etsy. Global teams face some challenges due to their membership across the globe, but Etsy Teams have been fantastic at creating innovative solutions to bridge the distances between them. They share tips, techniques, stories and create valuable networks among themselves within the community. The Etsy Mud Team has a gorgeous Flickr photo pool where members regularly post their work, and the team maintains a great blog, where they feature pottery, ceramics and other artists from their team, as well as news and highlights for the team. The goal of the Etsy Mud Team is quite straight-forward: to more effectively promote their art on Etsy by offering unique hand-made pottery; pottery made the old fashioned way - one at a time and with care.

The following interview is with Phyllis of montezumamudd, on behalf of the Etsy Mud Team.

What do you find most challenging about being on/running a global Etsy team?

The Mud Team has members from the US, United Kingdom, Scotland and Australia. At first, I worried that it would be quite a challenge trying to organize team discussions given the difference in time zones, but once we discovered the forum, my worry disappeared. We all grab our morning coffee, log-on to Etsy and check out the thread. Sometimes we get quite involved in our discussions, and before we realize it, an hour or so has passed. It’s great – sharing a cup of coffee and good conversation with your friends. For those members who couldn’t join the chat in progress, they can read through the posts and stay current with the team news. Challenges? What challenges?

What's most rewarding about the team for you?

When I initially started the Mud Team, I posted a note in the forums and then wondered if I would get a response – seriously, who would be interested in a potter's street team? I was stunned - not only by the number of people who wanted to join, but by how quickly we connected and came together as a team. By the end of the first week, we were sharing names, ages and children’s ages, as well as glaze recipes and throwing techniques. We work well together and have accomplished a great deal in a very short period of time. We have been a team for a little over a month and have recently opened our team shop on Etsy – Etsy Mud Team. We had our first sale within the first hour of opening our doors! That’s quite rewarding!

What are the team's general goals, and what do you consider success for the team?

My reason for starting the Etsy Mud Team was to bring more exposure to pottery and ceramics. I am passionate about ceramics and really wanted to share my enthusiasm with the greater Etsy community – basically with anyone who would listen. I felt that by working together as a team, we could more effectively promote our art on Etsy, and hopefully increase our sales. What I really, really wanted was an all pottery Front Page – selfish, I know. I thought it would take months just to get noticed, but surprisingly within a few weeks the Mud Team made their Front Page debut – an all pottery Front Page! Now that is success!

We have been a team for a little more than a month and are beginning to see the results of our efforts. Pottery and ceramics are being featured in more treasuries and front pages than ever before, and sales among our team members have increased, as well as the number of hearts our shops have received. Next step – Etsy featured seller. If one of our team members were to be selected as the featured seller – that would be amazing. I can hear the buzz in the thread already!!

Our goal is to maintain this level of exposure on Etsy and elsewhere and to continue to improve our sales. After all, we would all like to be able to make a living from our art – someday.

How do you all delegate work amongst the team?

We don’t really delegate work. When a task arises, someone usually jumps in and volunteers; although we do have a designated blog master, graphics designer, mailings person and shop keeper. No arm twisting here – they all volunteered!

In what ways does your team communicate? Do you communicate daily, weekly, etc.?

With team members spanning the globe, with schedules that are quite varied due to children, work, etc., chat rooms are very difficult. Finding a time that will work for a majority of members is impossible. We would be lost without the forum - it is our main source of communication and team discussion. We keep a thread going at all times – we start a new one weekly because we are actively chatting on a daily basis and the thread soon becomes an ocean of posts. We share ideas, techniques, and glaze recipes; we share secrets for repairing cracks and making pots plump; we offer support to beginning potters and new Etsy sellers. And of course we share life stories and chat about nothing at all! We’re a bunch of women (and 4 guys), what do you expect!

How do you balance running a successful Etsy shop and leading up a large team?

The team pretty much runs itself – I’m nothing more than a cheerleader encouraging (nagging is probably a better word) members to snag a treasury whenever possible. We don’t have any set rules – we’re a fairly relaxed, but active, team. We would rather spend our time creating pots, than sitting in front of our computers. Truth be told, Etsy really does all the work – I simply list items for my shop and the Mud Team shop, sit back, relax and wait for sales! Doesn’t get much simpler.

Any other thoughts on teams and Etsy?

It would be really nice if the financial information of a shop could be password protected and stored separately from all other information. This would allow for a multi-member shop, such as Etsy Mud Team shop, to be run by all members without risking the financial information of the “shop owner”. All members could list their own items, but all other functions would be under the control of the shop owner.

The ability to more easily donate to charities would be awesome. I would like to see a “charity” option offered when listing an item. I would like to be able to choose a charity and the percentage of the sales price to be donated when listing my item. I would like to have all the proper deductions made and money sent at check-out. Buyers would also be more confident about donations if we could have a company such as MissionFish working with Etsy. Strong buyer confidence = sales!!

MontezumaMudd lives in Mancos, Colorado, and likes her coffee mug to fit my hand perfectly, as though it were a part of her.

See more photos at the Storque's flickr stream

Quit Your Day-job: LittleputBooks

2007-09-18T08:00:00-05:00

No one was more surprised then I when my little shop littleputbooks.etsy.com took off like a rocket in December of 2006. I have run this struggling little craft business since 2002 with very little recognition and even less wage. I was and still am unprepared for the success I have found with Etsy. It has been an interesting ride, trying to be an artist and run a business all at once. I'm still stumbling along and learning a lot along the way.

I can’t explain my success or tell you the magic formula. There was luck involved. Imagination, creativity, a good camera, a strong sense of cute, good timing and a lot of trial and error played a big part, too. When I first started using Etsy, I was so enamored with the site that I set out to make and create new products just to impress the other sellers. Every little heart and every treasury star was encouragement that fueled my creativity and my desire for visibility. Each sale still feels like its own mini success. I list frequently, try new ideas often, post in the forums (Hi forums!), renew to stay visible and work hard on improving my photos. The more I work at it, the more I seem to be rewarded, which inspires me to work even more. All top sellers put in many, many hours. It isn't easy, but it's an amazing way to earn a living.

There are basic ideas that apply to anyone who wants to make a living as a craft artist and as an Etsy seller. I've made a lot of foolish items in the past five years, and I must say selling starts with a good product — and even better, a unique product. New and well-executed ideas stand out: they get you into treasuries, attract hearts and can even land you on the front page. If you are not sure about your talents, take classes of interest and really hone your skills. If you aren't sure about your products, hit the art markets in your area. Selling in the real world is a great way to test market your imagination and craft-abilities. After four years of selling paper in the rain at Portland's Saturday market, I can tell you what sells well and what I should never make again.

Because Etsy is an online venue, you need to take interesting, good quality photos of your work. Your photos should be the focus of your listings; your work should speak through them. Words are good for adding character, giving dimension, material and pertinent information. Long, wordy listings are not a good way make up for lack of pictures. It is hard to convince people to buy poorly photographed work, even if you write a lot.

Additionally, you need to find a good price for your item and a fair rate for shipping. Your price can make or break the sale. A lot of Etsy artists price their work too low, undervaluing their product: cheap does not equal quality. If your price is too high, your work will be coveted, but rarely owned. When I am thinking of price increases I poll the forums. Etsy users are honest, helpful and capable of giving experienced and unbiased opinions.

Lastly, make the right impression with your customers. If something breaks, gets lost or just isn’t right, do all you can to fix it. Even if the transaction is flawless, don’t forget to say thank you. Your customer is your biggest asset: the fact that they chose your work out of the billions of retail options is something to be recognized, respected and treated with gratitude.

Ultimately, Etsy is an art unto itself. This site's designers approached it as an artist making a piece. It is limitless and continually being re-invented for the better of all. Etsy's tools, workshops and search functions are an amazing source of inspiration and an incredible way to showcase your work. This site is built to reward the artist; if you have interesting, unique, colorful, playful or beautiful products, people will notice. They will share it with others and drive traffic to your shop. I cherish this about Etsy and find myself challenged to come up with new ideas all the time. I am incredibly thankful that Rob, Chris, Jared and Haim (and everyone else on the About Page) created this venue. Here, artists and crafters can put their imaginations to the test and be rewarded for it, and that is something worth mailing pie for :O)

I have a top ten list of selling tips on my blog www.littleput.blogspot.com, and to all those in or near New York on October 25th please come to my marketing workshop at the Etsy Labs or just stop by and say hi. If you’re in the Portland, Oregon area, please check the teams forum for weekly teas and skill shares. Come on by!

Ryan aka Littleput Books

Erin from Etsy: New Orleans Trip (Pt 2)

2007-09-14T06:30:00-05:00

Four years ago, I spent a year in New Orleans. This past February, since I had begun working at Etsy, I decided to try to meet all the Etsy sellers of New Orleans, and see how they were spending their Mardis Gras. It was great to be back there to see how the city was doing. I hadn't been back there since Katrina, and now, just after the anniversary of the storm, I've revisited some of my New Orleans video footage. I'll be sharing those here on The Storque as a series. Here is Part 1 and below you'll find Part 2.

Watch the Video

I was in touch via email with Monique Leon from gurlygirl.etsy.com before my trip, but she missed our first face-to-face meet-up at the coffee shop. Later that night, at a circus-themed party, she overheard me talking about Etsy and we found each other! Luckily I had my video camera and I interviewed her right on the spot.

The next day I went to visit her at her home studio in the Bywater neighborhood, which is adjacent to the 9th Ward. In fact, Bywater used to be called the Upper 9th Ward until residents decided it needed a more specific name. They borrowed the telephone company’s designation, Bywater (by-the-water), and it has been known that way since the 1940s. It’s a special neighborhood situated right on the curve of the river between the Marigny and the Industrial Canal. The houses are all charming and close together. Stepping out onto the porch in the Bywater guarantees conversation with neighbors. When Monique came out to say hello to me, she saw several people she knew walking by, and they stopped to talk. We all shared a laugh about the skywriting overhead that protested the fact that people were having too much fun in the French Quarter!

The first thing I noticed about Monique’s home was the color. The outside of the house is painted bright lavender. People in New Orleans love to paint their houses in bright colors (not unlike Burano, one of the islands of Venice). A hot orange house with bright blue trim won’t turn a head. It just complements the turquoise house next door, whose bushes and trees are strewn with glittering beads, built up from past years’ Mardi Gras.

Monique’s home is a shotgun and it’s set up with her studio in the front room. Her jeweler’s bench takes up the majority of the space and her polishing station is nearby. She has all of the tools a professional jeweler needs and the enviroment of her studio is cheerful and inspiring! There was a striking hot pink Georgian era wig on the wall. Her television was gilded in gold from a previous experement just to see how it might look. Pretty amazing, it turns out! Her closet was stuffed with costumes. All the boas and sequins mixed unassumingly with her everyday clothes.

You'll find that her jewelery has a similar character to her home. Superb, traditional craftsmanship meets the whimsy of a costume ball, like in these "stearling heart fluff earrings".

I bought this ring from Monique -- and would you believe it, I ran in to a guy in Williamsburg, Brooklyn last week wearing the same ring! I think gurlygirl is catching on.....

Etsy Youth Sellers: Not Back to School

2007-08-31T20:00:00-05:00

My name is Sarah Higgins and I am a thirteen year old homeschooler. I became interested in selling online about six months ago. My mom and I own a children’s book and curriculum store called Blue Thistle Books, where I work part-time with my family. I started saving the money I earned to start selling my own items.

I got started on Etsy a few months ago when I renewed my macramé skills. My sister taught me how to make necklaces and bracelets when I was eight. I also learned how to crochet a couple years ago, with help from my aunt.

Before opening my little store, I decided that I was going to sell my items online, but I had never heard of Etsy. So, I looked and looked and found a free place to host my site. I listed my items and made two sales, but after that nothing happened and my website was just sitting there. Finally, I started looking for another website and found Etsy!

Etsy is a great place to have a shop. People look at your items, you meet wonderful friends and you have fun! It took me a while to make my first sale, but when you have a shop, I learned, you have to be patient.

Some of my most popular products are my Pink Ice earrings, my striped earrings, my double blue sunshine earrings, and my crocheted scrunchies. I also just discovered how to make crocheted bags and I’m going to start listing them very soon!

On Etsy I learned about how to run a business and how to be patient. I also found my photography skills have improved and I am learning valuable skills in ecommerce. I never knew running an online shop would be so simple!

Etsy Workshop Talk: Global Microbrand

2007-06-27T20:00:00-05:00

Many entrepreneurs want to grow their businesses but at the same time, they want to remain in control of what they produce. At Etsy, we would like to help more independent artists make a living from what they make. We've discussed trying to find an alternative model to "business-as-usual." This Monday July 2nd, we'll be opening our doors at the Labs and to the online Workshop to further discuss how to remain independent while creating a sustainable business. Part of this entails a new approach to marketing and communications.

On Monday July 2nd at 7pm, we'll be hosting an informal talk led by Englishman Antonio Gould: The Global Microbrand: Using the Web to Stay Small whilst Selling all over the World. Antonio will address many of the issues Etsy sellers face as they try to make a name for themselves. He has worked as a new media consultant in Europe and approached Etsy, seeing it as an interesting manifestation of many of his key points.

If you are NYC-area based, please join us in person for this free talk. As many of our members can't be there face-to-face, we'll be using the Workshop to open up the discussion to everyone. Please wait for the virtual doors to be unlocked in the Workshop Lobby at 7pm (Eastern time, see timezone info here) on July 2nd. You just have to be a logged in member of Etsy to get into the workshop (registering for Etsy is free and easy).

Anyone who has an interest in blogging, social-networking, online video, etc is much welcome. We want this to be a lively discussion with folks sharing their experiences and newbies raising important questions from their point of view.

Please RSVP@etsy.com and say whether you'll be coming in person or online via the Workshop. Here's my post in the forums about the talk. See you soon!

--Vanessa

We made a How-to from his talk.
Note: This was originally posted in the Etsy Garden.