Nearly two years ago, I discovered a little website called Etsy. It was so awesome, I just knew I had to be a part of it. Back then I was working full time for “the man,” I was a single mom, and I rarely found the time to make art. My job had nothing to do with my degree and my passion in Fine Arts. I was 30 years old, miserable, overworked, and exhausted. I also had severe tendonitis in both of my arms.
I quit my job and opened a business with a friend of mine. On the side, I opened a little Etsy shop too,
http://LeaKarts.etsy.com. Over the months, I plugged along. I met some amazing local artists and crafters through the PDX Etsy Street Team’s weekly tea time hosted by Leah Pellegrini (
http://LeahPellegrini.etsy.com). I was inspired! My arms had healed, and I started to find bits of time for crafting. I sold my work here and there on Etsy and at local craft fairs.
In 2007, the business that I had with my friend folded. My Etsy sales were picking up a bit for the holiday season, though, and my friend Ryan of
http://LittlePutBooks.etsy.com needed help keeping up with her shipping, so I was able to manage. Inevitably, Ryan would not need me forever, though, and could certainly not employ me full time. So I opened up a second Etsy shop,
http://SupplyRiot.etsy.com.
In less than three months, I found SupplyRiot to be more successful than I could have imagined. I joined the amazing
Etsy Supply Street Team (ESST), which has been incredibly supportive to me. I already have a stream of the most wonderful repeat buyers, as well as new buyers, who love to “buy locally” in a global sense, that is, they know they are able to support a small crafty businessperson and get the cool supplies they need by buying from a fellow Etsy seller.
Selling supplies on etsy enables me, in combination with selling my artwork and a side job here and there, to work for myself, from home. I am able to be more flexible for my daughter’s schedule. I am no longer haunted by the exhaustion of a meaningless “real” job, and now I make the time to create artwork every single day of my life. I always have new work to list in my other shop and to sell around town. Finally, I am able to connect with the Etsy community in a deeper way. Whether they are making a gift for a friend, or something really awesome to list in their own shops, I am able to offer quality supplies to inspire creativity in my fellow Etsians.
Things are still not easy. There are many challenges to working for oneself, and a steady income and time management are two of the big ones for me. But, thanks to my humble supply shop on Etsy, I am on my way!
By now most of you are probably well aware of the ubiquitous scrabble tile pendant. My friend Ryan of LittlePutBooks covered them in beautiful Italian and Japanese papers and sold them hand over fist in cute little decorated tins. Many other Etsy sellers took up the same idea and ran with it, and Ryan has since sold the scrabble tile business in exchange for some personal down-time.
