... of starting a business

After more than six years of people constantly telling me: "You should sell these!" after I give them handmade gifts, I have finally made the first step toward actively pursuing that goal.

It wasn't until, maybe, two years ago that I found out about Etsy. If you don't know about Etsy (most of you probably do), it is an ebay-like site for all things handcrafted and vintage. Sellers establish their own "shop" and pay small fees to list items that are handmade, vintage, or supplies to make handcrafted items. I have been an Etsy addict for at least a year now, buying everything from sewing and crocheting patterns to vintage toys and clothes. But never selling.

Until now...

I type this all dramatically, but I haven't actually sold anything yet. I've just listed a few things that I've been meaning to for quite some time now. I guess that's why I'm "on the verge" of starting a business and not actually starting a business. I'm pretty scared of what it would be like if I really could have a business making things for money. It sounds... busy... but I guess that's why they call it a "business". Up until this point, I have either gifted or traded everything. I have sold a total of three handmade t-shirts over the years... oh, and a baby blanket and shoes to my mother and her friend, but that's it. Now I am putting myself and my stuff out there for all to see and (hopefully) buy.

My next task is finding my niche. I make a lot of different things, but I don't know what people want the most. And I don't want to continue making crazy amounts of random things. Slowly but surely (and not so slowly that I don't get a good start before the baby comes), I will try and get SewSmith started so I don't waste all of these crazy ideas that God really only knows where they come from.

The first item I listed in my etsy shop.

www.etsy.com/shop/sewsmith

Comments

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