Quit Your Day Job Plan

[Former_Member]

So I figured I start this thread so we can write out our QYDJ plans and track our goals and inch ourselves closer to quitting the day job and taking our businesses full-time.

Pop in often to update your plans, change them, track your progress, ask for advice, encourage others, and so forth!

Happy planning!

[Former_Member]

Ok so I am clearly excited to be a part of this team, especially since everyone seems quite active and very supportive - this is my 5th post and I've only been on the team for a few hours, lol!!

Already QUIT my day job back in October (then it took me a few months to get all my business plans and licensing in order) but if there's a major goal I want to set for myself at this point, its to get my store inventory over 300 - I am currently just shy of the 200 mark - and I want to get my sales #s over the 100 mark before the holiday season is upon us.

I relish every single sale and every comment/compliment, but when you've already QYDJ, the big numbers count too .... because they pay the bills ;-)

[Former_Member]

So true Lauren! I prematurely quit my job in December 2011 to pursue my bath & body business full-time, only to have to go back into the workforce this June because I wasn't making enough money.

So here I am and wanting to do it right this time around! I will be back in shortly to post a part of my action plan.

[nearerthemoon]

Jacque, if it's not too personal, do you think you could mention some of the pitfalls you encountered and why you think it was premature to quit your job?

[Former_Member]

I’ve given this a lot of thought. and I think I want to use My Etsy shop to go back to school. There is this intensive Japanese program where you do Japanese for 8 hours a day and nothing else. I figure I need 65,000. I would like to put away 400 a week. then in 4 years, go for it. I would love to get my Doctorate in Japanese. I still don’t know what I would do with it, I just know its something I need to do in my life. Every time I look at a Japanese word or hear Japanese spoken I get butterflies and need to know what it is and how it can be interpreted. I think about Japanese all day, every day. and feel bad that its slowly slipping away from me every day that I sit at my desk job.
Ok now that I’m done being long winded about why I need to be successful at Etsy. Here is how I’m going to do it.

1. Keep posting an item everyday
2. Work on what people want AND what I like making not just what I like making
3. Get better at what I do
4. Do more anime festivals
5. Keep working on pic
6. Start finding other places to advertise online

I think this should at less keep me on track. Of course I only make a sale every other week or so. So I think I have a LOT of work to do. I am getting better at getting out there on the web, now I think I just have to work on my product. I know I can only get better. Every day I learn just a little bit more. And I learn a great chunk from you guys!!! *HUG* Cant wait to hear everyone’s Quit Your Day Job Plan

[Former_Member]

I haven't quit my day job, and I'm a few years from doing so, but im 22 and getting married next year and I would LOVE to quit my day job but still have my own income coming in (other than my hubby to be income) when we decide to have kids in like 3 or 4 years, so I can be a stay at home mom and raise my own kids!!! (Planning my life i know, lol) So that is the LONG term goal and I would love to know any tricks of the trade that you all have! Love this team! :)

[Former_Member]

I must admit, the only reason I have such a window of opportunity to go ahead and give it a go, is because I saved anything I made off my crafting hobby, for sooooo many moons prior to taking the plunge to quit my day job (oh and it totally helped that my boss turned into a fire-breathing monster who appreciated nothing I did to reform her business after 6 1/2 years of blood sweat and tears).
I squirrelled all my hobby earnings away (under the mattress) and made sure to use my supplies wisely and collect new supplies creatively/sustainably ... after about 3 or 4 yrs of serious money-hiding, I was able to put together a small business checking account and thats what I used to get all my licensing and additional supplies to become "official". Every day is a new challenge, and like Jacque references, its not always easy or as quickly successful as you want it to be - bottom line is it takes lots of work but it also takes incite, sometimes you have to change your ways or make something "they" want instead of what you love, but even comprimising is still more rewarding than conforming to the corporate cadences.

Easy, no, but nothing worth it ever is ;-)
Don't give up on yourself!

[Former_Member]

I originally had a plan before I quit the first time, but was so fed up with the job that I just quit and decided to give it a go.

I didn't have enough money saved in emergency savings, business wasn't steady enough where I knew I would be getting sales. Christmas craft fairs were finished and craft fairs were pretty much done for the winter. It was all around bad timing.

This time I will have consistent steady sales and venues in place, bulk savings and supplies available, and things in more order before I decide to leave again.

[CaseyHPerez]

I quit my office job back in May to pursue my own business(es). I knew that I was not going to make enough on etsy to pay all my bills, yet the office job was stunting my creative process (soul sucking! lol!) So I decided to open a dog walking business, which for me is personally seems connected to my etsy business, art and animals :) For me, I saved up a certain amount of months worth of bills and expenses that I would need in case i was not making enough to pay everything between dog walking and etsy. First month into I made just enough to pay all my bills without using my savings fund. This month, I will be making as much as I was making at my part time job which paid all my bills. Granted, I am a full time student, no kids, and my boyfriends parents own the house we live in, so my rent expenses are lower than if they did not own it. My dog walking business not only helps me creatively, but also allow for the amount of time I need to continue to grow my etsy business.

[Former_Member]

How fun, a dog walking business! I thought about it once but had no idea how to get started. Congraulations Cassi & Casey!!

[CaseyHPerez]

It is a lot of fun! I love it.

[Innov8iveKnits]

A couple of weeks ago the plan was to re-vamp the store by the end of the month and almost do a "grand re-opening" and well as usual things are a little backed up - but that's OK . I just won't be on the schedule I wanted because I wanted to have it up and going a good time before Christmas shopping season so people see me a lot before they go shopping & will think of me.

On the exciting part, one of the set backs is at the end of the month my husband and I are getting our first house so a lot of the time I was going to spend working on the store will be spent moving instead.

Part of the changes that I will get done (eventually - still before Christmas though). Is totally changing the line that I offer. Re-Writing all of my listing titles, descriptions & keywords AND re-photographing everything with my new backdrop and prop table so everything has the same cohesive look. Hopefully all of these things will change my views and popularity. Over a year of store ownership and only 10 sales is a little disheartening but I'm not giving up! And when the money starts rolling in THEN I will quit :)

[Former_Member]

Tiffany, I'm in a similar boat - I've been on Etsy for three years with very little traffic, and am working on re-writing listing info and re-shooting pics. The photography seems to suck up a lot of time and energy, but it has to be good, right?

I quit my job at the end of June. The stress of absolute boredom was affecting my health, so even though I had the tiniest of safety nets, I quit anyway!

My current plan of attack:
- Get into as many shows as possible for fall/holidays.
- Keep working my Etsy store (better pics, upload more work))
- Get more commissions
- Contact some stores to get into

It's amazing how even though I have way more time to work my business, it still doesn't feel like enough time, because I need income now!

I think the challenge for anyone to transition from unfulfilling job to awesome creative job is that buffer zone - having a financial cushion to give you time to ramp up the biz. If you can discipline yourself to save money, then you can make it work!

I'm going the crazy route, but I have faith :-)

[Former_Member]

Robin- I also left my job at the end of June (my car died and I could no longer make the commute, so I really didnt have a choice even though I was totally not ready!!), and am working hard and praying i can make this work! Talk about crazy!!!

My current plan is to:

* get as many ready to go items posted as soon as possible since Halloween is coming
* try to get my new line going (leather journals with leather tooling or burning on them)
* once I have some of the journals going, getting into craft fairs ( I dont currently have a way to get my full set up to a renaissance faire, so trying to do something smaller that still fits the theme of the shop)

And of course, praying that sales dont completely die off after the middle of October like they normally do..

[iNKthePRINT]

Tiffany & Robin, we have the same plans to re-photograph our art and do a bit of a shop makeover before Christmas. Good photographs are definitely key. Good luck!

John and I started our little shop almost two years ago. Our goal is to go into this full-time and live happily ever after. It'll happen. I am in no way ever giving up!!!

My goal right now is to increase sales to at least 7 sales a week (once a day would be nice!) After a bit of saving, I should be able to quit my day job and hopefully John can follow. I hope to cut down my hours at my day job even more around Christmas time so I can focus more on creating :-)

We started this shop with very little and we have slowly grown our studio in terms of equipment, supplies, and inventory. It's very exciting and rewarding. In the past month we sold to Australia & SIngapore! Every sale we make is motivating and so damn exciting, I can't wait to officially take the plunge and I admire all of you who have/are in the midst of doing so.

Colleen xo

[Former_Member]

Colleen,

What's your plan of attack to reach 7 sales a week? I've had very little to almost no traffic, even though my work sells when I do shows in person. I would love to hear some of your insights. Congrats on your international sales!

[Former_Member]

I have a 5 year plan and hopefully I will be able to quit at the end of it.

Goal 1: Pay off all student loans and vehicle if possible
Goal 2: Find a house and move out of apartment, this house will need a basement or a large garage for work space
Goal 3: Start doing at least 1 show a month from March to November. (That seems to be when most fantasy/reenactment shows run in my neck of the woods) I do pretty decent business on etsy for the holidays and right before the season starts. So December - February will be covered.
I would also like to find one Ren Faire to do, they usually run about 6 weekends.
Goal 4: buy machinery needed so I am no longer reliant on my job to keep my business going. I use alot of the machines at work to make my stuff in the off hours.

I think once I accomplish these goals I should be able to quit. I still have a long road ahead and I am about a year into my plan.

[Former_Member]

Great plan Danielle, do you have a savings goal in your plan?

[iNKthePRINT]

Robin,

Thanks! I plan to create more designs, revamp our shop with better photos, and just keep trying marketing attempts through social networks (just started with Wanelo.com last week) But no big secret plan of attack, just a lot of motivation and hope! Sales came to a halt this past week though. Very discouraging :-/ I keep telling myself it is the slow season. Plus I've been so busy with the day job that I've barely had time to create new things. Hopefully life will slow down in the next couple weeks and sales will pick up :-)

[Former_Member]

I haven't necessarily quit my day job -- but I down graded it! I gave notice that I am leaving at my full time job, and will go down to part time. Health concerns and other things are just making a full time job too demanding, with my plans for my artistic future!

My next steps are:
- check in with the local coffee shops/eateries. I've made contact with them once already, and need to check in again about their availability for openings and shows.
- I've entered a juried show for some of my work -- getting my name out there even more
- I've registered for an art fair in December and am ordering fair-specific inventory (prints, smaller items, etc).
- check in again with the gallery in town to sell some work. They said they would probably have some openings in September -- and that's now!
- look into local options to place my art in shops
- connect with galleries in other cities (I live in a very small town). Jackson, WY is my first choice to get something in a gallery (tourist, $$$ town).

I have so much drive and ambition. Art is really my life. I lost it for such a long time, and recently realized how incredibly important it is to me, and my well-being. Here's to trying it out!!

If we never go for what we want, we never know what we can achieve.

[dorsetclothing]

Looks like you're taking some great steps Emily. Good luck with everything! :)

[Former_Member]

Thanks, Mon! It's a little terrifying, but exciting ;).

[Former_Member]

I just joined this team and need some help getting started. I have recently returned to work after being home with my daughter for 2 years and I HATE it. I was not built for the corporate world. I worked from home for my father-in-law for those 2 years, but they could not afford it anymore. I miss my daughter, and just doing what I care about. I love Etsy and all it stands for. I have been "crafty" if you will, my whole life. I love knitting, jewelry making and sewing. I want to establish a shop that really shows my passion in what I do. Any thoughts or advice on getting started? Also, I need help setting a realistic goal for hopefully making this a full time gig. Ideally, I wouldn't have to go back to work right now from lunch, but how do I get my shop to grow? Management ideas? Thanks and good luck to you all!

[Former_Member]

I am a social worker, and when my latest contract ended in 2009 I decided to give a try to my felting as it was a hobby before. I feel I developed my shop a lot since, I even opened up my supply shop. But now my hubby got out of work and wants to stay home with me. Yayyyy! :) We are quite nomadic, moving around in our motorhome, or volunteering in India. The basic idea is to do this, and live out of etsy. Now we go back to India in the end of october, and I really hope that I can develop my supply shop (realfaerysupplies) at least, if the sales are low in my creative shop. THen we could cover our volunteer job much better. Unfortunately non of us are business minded too much:(((( But I will need a better plan now, and I am really happy to join the team!

[cornishcontemporary]

I now have no day job and am trying to make my jewellery and card business work, I have started listing a item a day in the hope that I start generating sales, any advice would be gladly welcomed.