Balancing Work Load

[Former_Member]

I am thrilled to be right in my busy season. It's wedding time and my shop is thriving! I couldn't ask for anything more... I even passed 300 sales just recently! However it is challenging to keep up and balance the work load. I've got two little ones I stay home with and I love spending as much time as I can being outside in the beautiful weather. Do you have a hard time finding a good balance and work schedule? I want to put whatever time is necessary into making quality items for my customers and I absolutely love my shop and doing what I do. I never want to turn down an order even when someone needs it "rushed." It does seem a bit overwhelming at times and hard to find enough time to get everything done. What strategies do you use to stay organized and to keep up with all of your sales? Do you set a a schedule for yourself to have enough time to devote to your work?

[Former_Member]

I put lead time into my special order so the customer know it takes time to hand make the item. Never had one turned down for it. I always tell customers special orders take 4-6 week from the date of the deposit. I explain it is because of the orders I have and am working on when they order.If I finish earlier I will let them know.

Sometimes you just have to say I am not able to do that for you this week. It is not NO, it is not today.

If they need it fast, outside of Etsy, I have a 25% rush fee. People pay when they need to be moved to the top of your list of orders. IMHO

[Former_Member]

Sarah, I am in the exact same situation! I also have two little ones at home and am in the height of wedding season :)

I feel so guilty if I am working on my shop/orders with the kids around, but also feel guilty if I am outside playing with them instead of working on orders! And my husband gets annoyed when I work in the evenings/night once they go to sleep because it's the only time we get together. I don't even want to get started on finding time to clean, run errands, do laundry, wash cars, yardwork, bills, etc.....

I have no real schedule as some weeks are busier than others. But when it's slow, I spend as much time with the kids as I can and work on the house. And sometimes, Spongebob babysits and the house is messy until I get my orderes finished.

I would love to hear how others handle it, as it does get very overwhelming!!

[AppleWhite]

First of all, congrats on having such great sales! It's wonderful to hear about shops that are doing well.

It's tricky finding time to do it all. I have three little ones and have to balance Etsy life and home life as well so I really understand. For me, giving myself a long enough processing time in all of my listings is key. Most people aren't going to mind waiting for an item they love. When someone says they need the item asap I write back and let them know the soonest date I can ship it. Sometimes I can get it out right away and other times I just can't. No one had ever cancelled an order because of it.

I also gave up on trying to schedule time for Etsy or home. With kids, life is too unpredictable. I know if I'm up early before my kids are I can get on the computer to answer convos and make a treasury but I let the rest of the day flow organicly. For me its less stressful than trying to maintain an unrealistic schedule and one of the great things about being an Etsy shop owner!

[LLFarm]

For me when our children were young I would set a schedule and a timer to take break every so often. The best of both time with the family and time to work.

Stick with it, it will pay off in the long run.

[Former_Member]

So great to hear so many similar situations! Thank you for your comments. Many customers (especially those looking for wedding items) wait until the last minute and are in a huge rush to get their order. I guess I am always afraid to say "there are others ahead of you" because I don't want to turn down a sale. So I always try to find a way to squeeze in as many as necessary. Maybe being more realistic about my time and being very up front with customers will help.

Janessa I think we are running the exact same life! :) Great to have someone feeling the same way.

Also great to hear a reminder to "go with the flow". Thank you for that Dana.

Anyone else offer an extra fee of any kind to be moved up in line?

I usually find that I start right away on a large order that will take longer to complete, but then when I have several smaller orders that come in during that I get those done right away because they are quick and easy.

Do you work on smaller quick orders as they come in or do you usually find it best to work on the sales that come in first and let the others wait no matter the size?

[Former_Member]

I have three kids so I know what it's like. I'm not sure I could have done this when they were little.

When I first started my Etsy shop I felt guilty about it. I tried to "stuff" it into the spare moments of my life. I think as women we tend to do this with our own needs and Etsy is, unfortunately, often seen as "some scheme she's got going". In other words, either we, or our families, don't take it seriously. We treat it like a hobby.

Once my shop started paying the mortgage, my husband's attitude turned right around. And I admit that mine did too. I no longer feel like I'm neglecting other things if I work on shop things. It now feels like a job and prioritizing my day is a lot easier. (Finding the time isn't any easier, but I feel better about how I spend it.)

Our families won't take this seriously unless we take it seriously. And that might mean setting limits or having some hard discussions. But you should never be made to feel guilty for doing work that puts food on the table of your family. Anyone who makes you feel that way needs to have their attitude rearranged :)

**stepping off soapbox** Time management is always hard for moms. I don't think there's an answer because we have to be flexible for the needs of those (everyone!) around us. But it really has helped me to "soft schedule" my day. I block out time that I generally do certain things. It's flexible, but it's also a guide that helps me not spend too much time on one thing. I don't feel guilty about moving on to the next thing because I know that each thing will have its own time and I'll get to it all. Customers and orders always comes first, though, and my family knows it.

Hang in there. It's all worth it!

[Former_Member]

While I only have one kid, try adding in a full-time job to the mix, too!

I have found that I, literally, have to schedule my time; play time, work time, Etsy time, husband time, etc. Otherwise I go crazy and everyone feels ignored. It all balances out in the end.

I, too, have started getting panicked brides realizing that they need to send invitations out for their August(!) weddings. Some I can help, some I cannot. I give them a detailed explanation of the creation process so they understand that sometimes there are no corners to be cut. Most have understood and ordered anyway, some I never heard from again. It happens and you just have to keep going.

[Former_Member]

I just did a search and found this thread TOTALLY addressing what is my issue. Even though it is from June ... I can totally relate -- looks like Christmas is my busy season, for sure. I am a first year shop and I am totally overwhelmed with custom orders right now -- and starting to turn people down (all people I know, and all understand my life). PLUS -- pharmacy is the worst in December and I am a part time pharmacist. I have three kids at home and I am feeling guilty for not being able to make them things :( -- they were the ones I always made for!

I already have plans, after the first of the year, to put my shop on vaca mode for 1 -2 weeks, up my prices, and start making things in FEB for DEC!!! LOL!! I love all the ideas about trying to set realistic expectations for your customers, having a flexible schedule with kids and having SpongeBob babysit (temporarily) and let the house go while you catch up on orders :)))

I love my shop -- I feel so proud of it. But for the little money I make from it (although ... I have bought myself a nice pair of boots and it's going to help pay for our trip to Las Vegas in a couple weeks) compared to being a pharmacist, I definitely want to throw in the towel some days, even thought it's just now starting to REALLY pick up!!!

[AVisionToRemember]

Its a constant challenge for me. I have learned that I need to outsource some of my responsibilities. Like recruit my husband to help when he can, I found someone to help me clean. Then those things that I can't get to I just let it sit to the side until I can get to it. Its annoying but I have to remember my priorities. Family first, then my other priorities. My shop is here to help my family financially but when it starts taking over and doesn't allow me to really take care of my children then I have to reprioritize myself :)

[beatroad]

Definitely set a schedule and keep to it. It's like any other job...keep a calendar and list of goals for each day, then when it's time to step away, shut everything down and spend time with people doing things you love. :)

[Former_Member]

I have lots of plans for next year, after I get through all these orders :). Things that help me enjoy my shop MORE and feel less GUILTY about time away from my family. And schedule -- yes, definitely!

[Former_Member]

I love the idea about outsourcing, too ... I wish we had the money for that! There are definitely somedays I think about having a baby-sitter come in for just a couple hours so I can get caught up (THAT we can afford) on days I am off during the week.

[ohmyclumsyheart]

Lists.

I list everything I have to do and work through it all.

[Former_Member]

Bobbie, it's so true that we need to make sure our priorities are in check! I've been having such a hard time with that lately. We have 4 at home and I homeschool and have 2 etsy shops... talk about overload! I think my new goal is going to treat Etsy as a job, make myself business hours while the littlest are napping and the older two are doing independent work, and maybe reevaluate my order times. I love getting things out asap, like same or next day and I need to cut myself some slack and realize that that's just not reasonable.
Thanks for all that's been said, I know it's really helped me a bunch!
-Keshia