Is it possible to generate enough money to....

[Former_Member]

I need about $2400 in a year or two, just wonder if I give it all I've got on Etsy if it would be time well spent....or should I just forget it and just go get a job? I need to make enough money for a very special reason: fight for my children. I need to be making enough money in a couple of years to make payments on court costs that could cost over $10,000.

Rhonda

[Former_Member]

Sorry you're going to go through a horrible expensive process for your own children.

You're going to have to get another job. It is possible to earn that amount of money on etsy, but it would be much easier to get a job outside of Etsy.

[Former_Member]

A job with a steady paycheck is what I would go for. With etsy and being self employed, there's too many unknowns. I would definitely supplement your income with a shop on etsy, but when it comes to the decision with family involved idgo the conventional route. Good luck in all you endeavors!

[Former_Member]

well of course this is possible. it depends on two things i´d say
1) the category you are selling in (it´s always easier to get sales in categories where there´s not so much competition if you know how to present what you have)
2) the way you promote your items to your target market (this means good photos, shop policies, SEO,....)

[BrushStrokeOrnaments]

I agree with what others have indicated. It's best to get a job with a steady paycheck - especially since the extra $ is so very important.

You have only been on etsy a short time and have not had many sales yet. Therefore, you cannot count on etsy for income any time soon. It certainly can be done - but it depends on so many things: what you are selling, how popular your items are, how much of a following do you have and do you get repeat customers, how many items are in your shop, how expensive and time consuming are your items are to make, which items are popular (and can you make more variations on the popular items), etc. You only learn about these things (and all of the etsy selling intricacies like optimum photos and SEO) after months and months of work. Do etsy in your spare time making/selling products you love. Hopefully in a year are two you will be sitting right where you want to be.

[SunnySewn]

It took me a long time to get my shop going, I suggest getting a job and trying to keep your etsy going too!
Good luck~

[Former_Member]

I view Etsy like I do my husband's real estate career - it's going to take a while to get off the ground! I've seen lots of articles about people making a full time income on Etsy and I pray to be able to make at least a part time income on my shop one day, until then I do have an outside job. :)

[Former_Member]

Since Jan of 2011 I've made over $8100.00 on Etsy but do I look at the next 2.5 years and say I'll make that again and then some in the same amount of time? NO! It is not guaranteed income. I use Etsy as a way to boost our household budget but if I needed to earn that much and more I'd go out and get a part-time job that get me the money I needed.

[Former_Member]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!! This is my steady job for the past year and a half.

However you are very new and I suggest promoting, networking and working on your SEO. I have my etsy shop in so many places across the web, I think that is why I do so well and there are tons of sellers selling paper goods.

Good luck! You can do it!!!

[WilliamsGiftshop]

You won't make that crocheting. You need to find yourself a job.

[Former_Member]

Also remember that it could take a couple years to actually turn a profit you can keep. If you keep all your profit from the beginning, you won't have much to purchase more supplies to keep selling.

[Former_Member]

If its your kids I wouldn't take the gamble, get a real job first and do Etsy on the side. Good luck to you!! Wish you only the best!!

[Former_Member]

I, like the others here, would suggest an outside job to gain the sums that you require, but keep the Etsy shop going by adding more items to your shop to have a better chance of being found and to increase sales.

Knitting and crochet are highly saturated markets and somewhat seasonal at best. It may take a couple of years to be anywhere near profitable.

Keep working on your Etsy shop dream as you meet your other goals in life.

Here's wishing you much success in all areas!

[BaloolahB]

BeaG is right, sorry

[Former_Member]

BeaG was a bit blunt but unfortunately correct. It's hard enough to create income from handmade goods in the first place, but goods that take long hours to create are even harder.

There comes a point when you just can't crochet fast enough or work enough hours to make the money you need, even if everything you made sold instantly (which never happens).

[WilliamsGiftshop]

I in no way meant to be disrespectful. Sorry if anyone took my words that way!
I am Dutch and used to communicate in a direct way. My words are never meant to be blunt, nor disrespectful, but always helpful and supporting.
And I am a crocheter myself.

[Former_Member]

"I am Dutch and used to communicate in a direct way"
...........................
My husband is Dutch and I can attest to what Bea is saying...she was giving the best advice, and if it sounded "blunt", that's only cultural. What some people call "tough love".

I would suggest getting a job with tips. You can make a LOT of money very quickly at a restaurant or bar with a regular clientele and/or fast table-turnover.

[Former_Member]

Oh, I have tried so many things in my life...even joined the Navy. I am a bit slow and unsure of my self in the real world. People think I'm an airhead (of course that's not true). I just make alot of mistakes when I try jobs on the outside. I was a good nurse's aid until I hurt my back from lifting patients by myself. I get fired alot out in the real world. I don't fit in out there. But I can clean. I'm very good at cleaning and cooking if it's in a home setting. I've been persuaded by people in the home nursing business to work for them. Or I might use my cosmetology certificate to get a part time shampoo tech. job going. (Not my ideal job situation and I do have some health problems with that one that don't fit well with a salon).

I do have a little money coming in ....about $533/mo. Both I and husband are disabled. So we together bring in enough income that we don't *have* to work. But we don't have much left over for stuff like court costs and lawyer fees. The lawyer I talked to said I had to have around $2,000 down and I could pay the rest out.

And BGea, I'm not offended by what you said. Selling my handcrafts has been my dream for probably 20 years. I started having a dream of owning my own business for 21 years, just wasn't sure what I wanted to do.

Rhonda

[PotteryLodge]

I am not sure what your disabilities are, but there's a job for everyone. It may not be your 'ideal' job, but you will find something you are able to do. Just keep your head up and don't look to etsy for 'quick' money. It just doesn't work that way. You would be way better off finding a job with more security and having your etsy shop for extra income.

best of luck
-Casi

[PaperScissorsPop]

I think you should keep going with Etsy and work as hard as you are able. I think it is a fantastic outlet and a great place to get support and encouragement when you need it. I can't say you will or won't make enough money with your shop for what you need.
You have to be realistic and objective as you have a lot at stake. I also think that it is a good idea to get a job too and do your best at that because it is not worth risking not having the money you need.
If I were you I would get a job AND work hard on my Etsy shop. You will have the peace of mind that you are getting the money you need and working at your dream of selling your crochet stuff as well.
I hope everything works out for you!
x

[TheSmileEmporium]

Hi- I am sorry you have such a difficult time with a big decision with such stress.
Whatever your decision on working- if your etsy store stays open for whatever reason as a side income as suggested a few simple things can help your chances.

1-photos. I have a cheapy digital camera and use the macro function for close ups.
Refine some photos so they show your great work.
2- learn all you can for free. Don't know how to do something- google it, utube it someone out there has the answer.Thats how I learnt.
3-Consider selling in brick and mortar shops.Read up on it,how to approach them professionally, make sure you get a good deal for your time. Maybe start with smaller items that are quicker to create and cheaper for a shop owner to take a risk on buying wholesale.
4-Consider combining skills.. For example- You can crochet. if you combine this with another skill (existing or newly acquired -for free from utube) then yo can create a product that may be easier, less time consuming.
5- sell internationally but make sure your postage rates don't cut you short.Im in Australia. We are one one income plus my etsy supplement (pays utilities) I am frugal but if i see an item overseas for under say $20 plus postage I will buy it if its a gift or other as its reasonable to expect postage will cost a bitv.And a purchase that is not greater that $20 is ok if its for reason and small risk if something goes wrong.
I wish you well. The job outside esty sound like a good idea with etsy a side thing. This info here is meant in good will to be honest and share a few things i learnt.
Best wishes and happiness to you
Debbie

[PaperScissorsPop]

Nice advice Wollongong. Love that town. :)

[PrairiePrimitives]

It's possible, yes, but you'll need a heckuva lot more than 14 items in your shop! It would also be beneficial to learn about SEO as it pertains to Etsy.

At the very least, I'd suggest you get a part-time job or sign up with temp agencies.

Hope everything works out!

[Former_Member]

Yes, you can make that kind of money with your crocheting but it will take time to build up a clientele.

If you are looking to make money quickly, then you will either have to work very very hard and build up your shop or get an outside job as well.

It took me about 5 years before I could make a living from my crocheting and that includes teaching classes as well as selling at the festivals.

When I opened my shop I already had a viable business going.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for all your advice. I really love Etsy and wish I had the time to make my shop really good, but I don't have that kind of time right now. Two of my children are grown now. I don't want my other children who are still in school to go without having me in their lives more. It seems with the grown ones they don't want Mamma around, or they have come to not care . Making my shop work to the point that it takes over my current income soon enough for me to get another court decision is not really being realistic. I really can't wait that long. I want to teach my daughters to cook and sew and crochet and knit and X is trying to keep me out of their lives as much as possible.

Tomorrow I'm going to the Texas Rehabilitation Comission who helps people with disabilities find work. I have a friend who is mentaly and emotionaly handicapped and they helped him find a job with the VA hospital as a house cleaner and he has been with them for about 12 years and have not discriminated against him or fired him for being disabled and he makes around $14.00/hour now. I'm also a vetran and they work extra hard to get vetrans hired on. So tomorrow I go job hunting. I will keep my shop open but maybe wait till retirement to make it a full time endevour.

Thank ya'll so much I really appreciate you taking the time to help me.

Rhonda

Rhonda