How I turned my small Etsy shop into a MULTI-MILLION dollar business!

Summary

The speaker shares their inspiring journey of transforming an Etsy shop into a multi-million dollar business over eight years. They began selling hand-painted canvases at 18, expanded into stickers, notebooks, and planners, and navigated the challenges of running the business while attending law school. Through hard work, viral TikTok moments, and adapting to new platforms, they grew the brand exponentially. By the end of law school, they appeared on the Today Show, hired employees, and opened a larger office. The story highlights resilience, growth, and balancing multiple responsibilities.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Started an Etsy shop at 18, initially selling hand-painted canvas art, evolving over time to include other crafts like woodwork, trays, and custom items.
• 🎓 Ran her Etsy shop as a side business while attending Loyola Chicago for a degree in political science and history, working from her apartment.
• 📱 The introduction of stickers in 2018 significantly boosted her business, leading to steady orders and wholesale requests, sparking the first major growth phase.
• 📈 Transitioned to working on her Etsy shop full-time after law school began and eventually moved to North Carolina, focusing on selling more products like notebooks and planners.
• 🎟 Attended craft fairs and started gaining a local following, which grew her social media presence and helped her business take off further.
• 💻 Applied to Fair, a wholesale platform, and after initial rejection, successfully gained entry, driving massive business growth by connecting with retailers.
• 🏫 Juggled law school and her Etsy shop during the pandemic, using social media, particularly TikTok, to reach a larger audience and sell more products.
• 🚀 Experienced a business boom during 2020-2022, with exponential growth, viral TikTok videos, and expanded product lines, including planners and more stationary items.
• 🏢 Opened her first office space and hired part-time employees as the demand for her products increased, ultimately outgrowing her initial workspace.
• 💼 After graduating from law school and appearing on The Today Show, she further expanded her business, hiring multiple employees and continuing to scale operations.

Q & A

How did the Etsy shop start, and what was the initial product focus?

The Etsy shop started on the seller's 18th birthday, with a focus on hand-painted canvas art. Over time, she expanded her product range to include wood trays, water bottles, and stickers.

What role did college play in the development of the Etsy business?

While attending Loyola Chicago for undergrad, the Etsy shop remained a side project. The seller majored in political science and history, and managed her shop in her free time, customizing orders and creating original designs.

How did the introduction of stickers impact the business?

The introduction of stickers in November 2018 marked a turning point for the business. Stickers quickly became popular, with the first design, featuring an RBG quote, selling multiple units within a day. This led to consistent orders and requests for wholesale deals.

What was the significance of the iPad in the seller's journey?

The iPad, acquired through a research stipend for a school project, played a crucial role in allowing the seller to design her first stickers using the Procreate app. This technological investment sparked the sticker success.

How did the seller manage her time between law school and running the business?

During law school, the seller balanced her studies with her Etsy business by waking up early, packing orders before class, and continuing to work on her business during breaks. This schedule became more manageable when the pandemic shifted law school online.

What impact did the pandemic have on the Etsy business?

The pandemic provided the seller more time to focus on her business as law school moved online. She spent more time creating, posting on TikTok, and expanding her product line, which led to increased sales and viral attention for her designs.

How did social media, particularly TikTok, contribute to the growth of the business?

TikTok played a major role in the business's growth. The seller posted DIY projects and art, with her first viral post being a black floral painting that garnered 600,000 views. This led to significant sales, especially for art prints and stickers.

What challenges did the seller face with expanding the business?

As the business grew, storage and space became major challenges. The seller had to store products in her apartment and childhood home. Eventually, she signed a lease for a 1,000 square foot office space and hired part-time employees to keep up with demand.

How did the seller's business adapt to wholesale demands?

The seller initially faced rejection from the wholesale platform Fair but later convinced them to accept her products after they allowed other sticker brands. This opened the door to more wholesale opportunities, significantly boosting sales.

What were some key milestones in the seller’s business journey?

Key milestones included the first viral TikTok post, going full-time with the business, getting featured on the Today Show, hiring employees, opening a larger office, and growing the business from a small Etsy shop to a multi-million dollar enterprise.