1 00:00:05,030 --> 00:00:08,180 Gift biz unwrapped episode 63, 2 00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:12,470 Still have to innovate this to keep going at the same 3 00:00:12,470 --> 00:00:13,910 rate. It's crazy. 4 00:00:14,720 --> 00:00:15,830 This is John Lee, 5 00:00:15,830 --> 00:00:18,020 Dumas of entrepreneur on fire, 6 00:00:18,020 --> 00:00:20,540 and you're listening to gifted biz unwrapped, 7 00:00:20,540 --> 00:00:25,340 and now it's time to light it up. 8 00:00:25,340 --> 00:00:26,870 Welcome to gift biz, 9 00:00:26,990 --> 00:00:30,890 unwrapped your source for industry specific insights and advice to develop 10 00:00:30,890 --> 00:00:32,540 and grow your business. 11 00:00:32,540 --> 00:00:33,800 And now here's your host, 12 00:00:33,950 --> 00:00:35,000 Sue Monheit. 13 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:37,010 Hi there. 14 00:00:37,100 --> 00:00:40,760 I'm Sue and welcome to the gift biz unwrapped podcast, 15 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:43,850 whether you own a brick and mortar shop sell online or 16 00:00:43,850 --> 00:00:45,170 are just getting started, 17 00:00:45,410 --> 00:00:48,920 you'll discover new insight to gain traction and to grow your 18 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:51,530 business. And today I have joining us. 19 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:52,760 Christine Huffer. 20 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:54,590 Christine has been an artist, 21 00:00:54,590 --> 00:00:56,360 her entire working life, 22 00:00:56,420 --> 00:00:59,720 and is influenced by natural and ancient symbols. 23 00:01:00,050 --> 00:01:02,870 She says that they represent all that is missing in modern 24 00:01:02,870 --> 00:01:04,790 life. Our connection to nature, 25 00:01:05,030 --> 00:01:05,870 our bodies, 26 00:01:06,050 --> 00:01:06,890 our families, 27 00:01:07,130 --> 00:01:08,690 and the cycle of the seasons. 28 00:01:08,960 --> 00:01:12,020 Christine has been creating and selling beads and buttons. 29 00:01:12,050 --> 00:01:13,940 Since the mid 1990s, 30 00:01:14,210 --> 00:01:17,510 she also paints and makes mosaics along with other arts and 31 00:01:17,510 --> 00:01:20,870 crafts. Working as an artist at home has allowed her to 32 00:01:20,870 --> 00:01:24,740 homeschool her five children who are now almost grown. 33 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,830 And that of course is another big part of her life. 34 00:01:28,220 --> 00:01:29,090 Welcome to the show, 35 00:01:29,090 --> 00:01:30,530 Christine. Hi, 36 00:01:30,530 --> 00:01:32,750 thanks so much for making this podcast. 37 00:01:32,750 --> 00:01:34,520 I'm excited to take part in it. 38 00:01:34,730 --> 00:01:36,200 I'm thrilled to hear Have you, 39 00:01:36,230 --> 00:01:38,600 and we didn't talk about this in the intro, 40 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:39,230 but you know, 41 00:01:39,230 --> 00:01:41,360 I'll mention it now just for our listeners too, 42 00:01:41,630 --> 00:01:44,270 when I'm over and doing Periscope, 43 00:01:44,300 --> 00:01:48,470 there has been a specific request to learn more about Etsy 44 00:01:48,830 --> 00:01:52,280 and you and I found each other on Instagram and I 45 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:53,450 know you're doing Etsy, 46 00:01:53,450 --> 00:01:56,570 so that's going to become part of the conversation today and 47 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:58,520 a specific request from our listeners. 48 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:00,290 So I know we're going to have a lot of people 49 00:02:00,290 --> 00:02:02,150 tuning in when this goes live. 50 00:02:03,470 --> 00:02:05,390 Yeah. So I've done the intro. 51 00:02:05,390 --> 00:02:07,700 Is there anything that you would want to add to it 52 00:02:07,700 --> 00:02:08,600 before we get started? 53 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:10,130 I don't think so. 54 00:02:10,130 --> 00:02:12,860 I think as we talk in a more details would come 55 00:02:12,860 --> 00:02:14,120 in, but yeah, 56 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:16,940 I think that's great for getting started with All right. 57 00:02:17,180 --> 00:02:19,940 Well, I like to kick it off by having you describe 58 00:02:20,030 --> 00:02:21,500 a motivational candle, 59 00:02:21,710 --> 00:02:24,650 the light shines on you while you share your stories and 60 00:02:24,650 --> 00:02:28,280 your experiences and everything about your business. 61 00:02:28,640 --> 00:02:31,610 And I also believe I need to mention that your business 62 00:02:31,610 --> 00:02:33,710 name is bead freaky. 63 00:02:33,830 --> 00:02:35,030 So that's kind of interesting. 64 00:02:35,030 --> 00:02:37,250 I'm going to want to get into what that's all about 65 00:02:37,250 --> 00:02:38,570 in a little while, 66 00:02:39,410 --> 00:02:42,500 but let's start off with what is the color and what 67 00:02:42,500 --> 00:02:45,350 is the quote of your ideal motivational cannon? 68 00:02:45,410 --> 00:02:46,850 Oh, sure. 69 00:02:47,210 --> 00:02:51,410 I chose green because I feel like green is the color 70 00:02:51,410 --> 00:02:55,310 of plants and it symbolizes that energy, 71 00:02:55,490 --> 00:02:56,300 just water, 72 00:02:56,300 --> 00:02:59,440 sun and the earth kind of come together. 73 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:01,900 And then that energy comes through the leaves. 74 00:03:01,900 --> 00:03:03,970 And especially this time of year, 75 00:03:04,330 --> 00:03:06,820 there's just that green energy everywhere. 76 00:03:06,820 --> 00:03:08,830 So A natural energy, 77 00:03:09,100 --> 00:03:10,780 yeah, that Natural energy. 78 00:03:10,810 --> 00:03:14,350 So that's why I chose green for my quote. 79 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:16,660 I really motivated by Georgia. 80 00:03:16,660 --> 00:03:20,920 O'Keeffe the painter who lived in New Mexico for many years, 81 00:03:20,920 --> 00:03:22,420 did the flower paintings. 82 00:03:22,420 --> 00:03:24,550 And she started them in the thirties. 83 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:29,200 On top of being an incredible painter is also really very 84 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,600 succinct and perfect quotes, 85 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:33,400 summing up her work, 86 00:03:33,700 --> 00:03:37,780 made sure the details of her flower paintings and her other 87 00:03:37,780 --> 00:03:38,500 work to, 88 00:03:38,740 --> 00:03:40,840 to sums up a lot of life here. 89 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,740 It is someone else's vision will never be as good as 90 00:03:44,740 --> 00:03:48,520 your own vision of yourself live and die with it because 91 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:49,300 in the end, 92 00:03:49,330 --> 00:03:53,770 it's all you have lose it and you lose yourself and 93 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:54,910 everything else. 94 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:57,550 I should have listened to myself. 95 00:03:58,020 --> 00:03:59,010 Oh, that's interesting. 96 00:03:59,010 --> 00:04:00,240 What does that mean to you? 97 00:04:00,660 --> 00:04:02,460 Well, I think that No, 98 00:04:02,460 --> 00:04:07,890 you should always just pay attention to not get distracted by. 99 00:04:08,430 --> 00:04:08,790 So like, 100 00:04:08,790 --> 00:04:11,400 we don't want to be influenced by other people or listen 101 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:12,060 to other people, 102 00:04:12,060 --> 00:04:14,130 but you always have to be centered. 103 00:04:14,460 --> 00:04:15,450 And in reality, 104 00:04:15,450 --> 00:04:18,360 even if you feel like you're following somebody, 105 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,210 you really are doing what you want to do. 106 00:04:21,210 --> 00:04:23,430 And you should always go back to that center, 107 00:04:23,700 --> 00:04:25,580 that awareness that You, 108 00:04:25,580 --> 00:04:27,000 you really are yeah. 109 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:29,790 Of your path And not forget that. 110 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:31,800 Yeah. I think it's so easy. 111 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:33,960 Maybe not as much for artists, 112 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:34,650 but maybe, 113 00:04:34,650 --> 00:04:34,890 you know, 114 00:04:34,890 --> 00:04:36,960 you look at what other people are doing and you know, 115 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:38,970 it's like they're doing it the right way. 116 00:04:38,970 --> 00:04:41,430 So I have to do it exactly like they're doing it 117 00:04:41,490 --> 00:04:43,980 or I'm not doing it the right way. 118 00:04:44,280 --> 00:04:46,020 And with an artist, 119 00:04:46,020 --> 00:04:47,730 I think maybe it's a little less. 120 00:04:47,730 --> 00:04:52,740 So because artists understand better than anybody that personal touch and 121 00:04:52,740 --> 00:04:57,210 making it different and the creative effects that they bring uniquely 122 00:04:57,210 --> 00:04:58,320 to their product. 123 00:04:58,470 --> 00:05:01,920 So combining the artist versus just human nature, 124 00:05:02,130 --> 00:05:06,150 I think people look to others for the right way versus 125 00:05:06,150 --> 00:05:08,370 looking inside themselves for the right way. 126 00:05:08,790 --> 00:05:11,660 And then you create an unauthentic self. 127 00:05:11,670 --> 00:05:13,020 Really? Yeah. 128 00:05:13,020 --> 00:05:16,350 You just never feel just right in what you're doing and 129 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:18,040 you have to go back later. 130 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:19,770 I mean yeah. 131 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:21,390 Connected and true to yourself. 132 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:22,380 Yeah, exactly. 133 00:05:22,710 --> 00:05:23,040 All right. 134 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:24,030 So Christine, 135 00:05:24,060 --> 00:05:26,730 I want to talk about your business bead freaky. 136 00:05:27,030 --> 00:05:28,530 It's very unique. 137 00:05:28,650 --> 00:05:32,130 And I talk a lot or defense listeners know this about 138 00:05:32,130 --> 00:05:35,670 making sure you either niche down or have something very specific 139 00:05:35,670 --> 00:05:40,560 and unique to yourself and your beads clearly are very unique. 140 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,140 If people see some of your work, 141 00:05:43,230 --> 00:05:44,550 they would know that it's you. 142 00:05:44,550 --> 00:05:47,310 If they already know you take us back to the beginning 143 00:05:47,310 --> 00:05:48,420 of bead freaky. 144 00:05:48,510 --> 00:05:52,380 And how did you decide and kind of narrow in on 145 00:05:52,410 --> 00:05:56,280 that type of a product Kind of two directions? 146 00:05:56,280 --> 00:05:59,720 Cause there's the more practical circumstances of my life. 147 00:05:59,780 --> 00:06:02,900 I went to community college and I was really inspired by 148 00:06:02,900 --> 00:06:03,710 the teacher there. 149 00:06:03,710 --> 00:06:06,230 It was a fun class with ceramics. 150 00:06:06,230 --> 00:06:08,690 I really enjoy the tactile part of it, 151 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:11,090 which is a fun creation part. 152 00:06:11,390 --> 00:06:13,970 And then the visual AF or the kiln, 153 00:06:14,010 --> 00:06:15,800 you usually have that transformation. 154 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:17,240 You've got the bright colors. 155 00:06:17,660 --> 00:06:20,180 So I really like that part of it. 156 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,540 And so it passed that time and I was living my 157 00:06:23,540 --> 00:06:27,110 life and not going to school whenever I had the chance, 158 00:06:27,500 --> 00:06:30,680 I would try to set up a shop and get this 159 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:32,510 stuff I needed to do ceramics. 160 00:06:32,840 --> 00:06:35,380 And I was lucky enough to get a small kill and 161 00:06:35,390 --> 00:06:36,020 a spot, 162 00:06:36,050 --> 00:06:36,380 you know, 163 00:06:36,380 --> 00:06:40,430 enough space in my garage to make small things. 164 00:06:40,460 --> 00:06:42,410 So that's the direction I went. 165 00:06:42,620 --> 00:06:45,110 And one thing I like about this small things is, 166 00:06:45,110 --> 00:06:49,790 yeah, you can put just an essential symbol or little bit 167 00:06:49,790 --> 00:06:53,780 of something that's meaningful to you on it that you can 168 00:06:53,780 --> 00:06:55,730 then carry around or wear. 169 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:59,210 And so that mixture of practical. 170 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:00,980 And then again, 171 00:07:00,980 --> 00:07:04,010 I wanted to put in my love of having that little 172 00:07:04,010 --> 00:07:08,870 symbolic connection with something that you would carry or wear so 173 00:07:08,870 --> 00:07:10,670 that you can kind of be reminded. 174 00:07:11,030 --> 00:07:12,950 It's kind of almost like a centering. 175 00:07:12,980 --> 00:07:16,760 You can be reminded of our connection to nature just by 176 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:18,830 wearing one of my tributes. 177 00:07:19,130 --> 00:07:19,700 So yeah, 178 00:07:20,070 --> 00:07:22,280 that's, I guess the two directions, 179 00:07:22,280 --> 00:07:22,880 one was, 180 00:07:22,880 --> 00:07:26,060 it was easy to find what I needed to do to 181 00:07:26,060 --> 00:07:26,660 make it. 182 00:07:26,870 --> 00:07:29,420 And then the other thing is that I liked having that 183 00:07:29,420 --> 00:07:33,620 little way of putting that reminder of nature, 184 00:07:33,630 --> 00:07:37,550 reminder of spirituality onto something little that you could carry around, 185 00:07:37,660 --> 00:07:38,650 You took two things, 186 00:07:38,650 --> 00:07:39,640 the convenience, 187 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:42,970 because you had only a limited amount of space to work. 188 00:07:43,210 --> 00:07:44,860 So you made something smaller. 189 00:07:45,190 --> 00:07:47,350 So that was a convenience type thing. 190 00:07:47,380 --> 00:07:51,610 But then you also had this whole idea of connecting with 191 00:07:51,610 --> 00:07:54,400 nature as something that someone can carry around. 192 00:07:54,700 --> 00:07:55,930 You're so passionate about. 193 00:07:55,930 --> 00:07:57,580 I can just hear when you're talking about it, 194 00:07:57,610 --> 00:08:00,310 that really is important to you indirectly. 195 00:08:00,310 --> 00:08:02,200 I don't even think you probably meant to do this, 196 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:05,170 but this is your unique feature. 197 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,110 They're small pieces because normally with ceramics, 198 00:08:08,110 --> 00:08:09,340 you think bigger things, 199 00:08:09,340 --> 00:08:13,570 right. Pots and your very grounded in nature, 200 00:08:13,570 --> 00:08:16,780 just like your candle was and then all the symbolism on 201 00:08:16,780 --> 00:08:17,560 your pieces. 202 00:08:17,590 --> 00:08:19,150 So that's really interesting. 203 00:08:19,390 --> 00:08:22,900 You just kind of naturally got there by being authentic to 204 00:08:22,900 --> 00:08:24,190 the things that you liked. 205 00:08:24,220 --> 00:08:27,190 And then also the physical circumstances of having to stay in 206 00:08:27,190 --> 00:08:29,820 a little smaller area to produce our out. 207 00:08:30,190 --> 00:08:31,990 So you knew now that this is going to be your 208 00:08:31,990 --> 00:08:36,730 product, where was the transition from making these pieces and liking 209 00:08:36,730 --> 00:08:39,250 them to deciding now you're going to sell them. 210 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,110 Now you're going to turn it into a business, 211 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:44,110 right? That I first came up with. 212 00:08:44,110 --> 00:08:46,210 This was actually way before Etsy, 213 00:08:46,510 --> 00:08:47,650 before the internet, 214 00:08:47,650 --> 00:08:51,130 even really my husband and I were partners at that time 215 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:52,000 in the business, 216 00:08:52,450 --> 00:08:53,290 we worked together, 217 00:08:53,290 --> 00:08:58,200 coming up with some of the designs and techniques and it 218 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,810 obviously wanted to make a living at it. 219 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:02,040 At that time, 220 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:07,110 we went to bead shows and he drove to bead stores 221 00:09:07,230 --> 00:09:10,350 and sold to the bead stores wholesale. 222 00:09:10,740 --> 00:09:12,780 And we did some shows as well. 223 00:09:12,780 --> 00:09:14,850 And that's how we marketed it. 224 00:09:14,970 --> 00:09:17,940 We had a hiatus and then it was many years later, 225 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:19,320 we got back into it. 226 00:09:19,380 --> 00:09:22,140 I got back into it on my own, 227 00:09:22,470 --> 00:09:24,600 basically really near the beginning of Betsy. 228 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,330 I saw Etsy and I thought that would be a great 229 00:09:27,330 --> 00:09:31,110 place for me to do it on my own without having 230 00:09:31,110 --> 00:09:35,730 to drive to bead shops and do that part of it. 231 00:09:35,940 --> 00:09:38,370 I thought that it would be a great way to market 232 00:09:38,370 --> 00:09:42,060 it while I was doing both ends of it by myself. 233 00:09:42,710 --> 00:09:46,040 And so how long have you been on Etsy now Started 234 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,260 in November of 2007. 235 00:09:48,260 --> 00:09:49,910 So I'm an old timer. 236 00:09:50,630 --> 00:09:53,060 You've been on Etsy since 2007. 237 00:09:53,060 --> 00:09:55,430 And I know it's been a while since you started. 238 00:09:55,430 --> 00:09:58,340 So things have probably changed for someone who's just jumping on 239 00:09:58,340 --> 00:09:59,630 the platform now, 240 00:09:59,930 --> 00:10:03,560 but what did you find from them in terms of setting 241 00:10:03,560 --> 00:10:04,820 up and getting established? 242 00:10:04,820 --> 00:10:08,030 Can you walk us through your experience with just getting up 243 00:10:08,030 --> 00:10:09,290 and running on Etsy? 244 00:10:09,620 --> 00:10:13,910 Sure. Probably the trickiest part is having a ban or you 245 00:10:13,910 --> 00:10:16,340 want something on your store. 246 00:10:16,430 --> 00:10:19,220 Guy ended up just taking a picture of beads and using 247 00:10:19,220 --> 00:10:20,000 that as minor. 248 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:24,380 So even if you start with just a small group of 249 00:10:24,380 --> 00:10:26,960 items, I'll use vintage as an example, 250 00:10:27,140 --> 00:10:27,380 you know, 251 00:10:27,380 --> 00:10:30,830 maybe you have 20 items that you've picked up that you're 252 00:10:30,980 --> 00:10:31,970 ready to sell. 253 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,960 Basically it's like filling out a form really. 254 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:38,340 You're going to get in there and you're, 255 00:10:38,340 --> 00:10:40,220 you're going to set up your account. 256 00:10:40,790 --> 00:10:43,670 I think it's different from eBay in that you actually do 257 00:10:43,670 --> 00:10:44,540 have a store. 258 00:10:44,540 --> 00:10:47,150 You're going to want to talk a little bit about yourself 259 00:10:47,150 --> 00:10:50,180 and what you're doing and answer those questions. 260 00:10:50,570 --> 00:10:52,940 And you can take it as far as you want to. 261 00:10:52,940 --> 00:10:53,900 And of course it's, 262 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:55,130 the more you put in there, 263 00:10:55,130 --> 00:10:55,730 the better, 264 00:10:56,430 --> 00:10:56,990 the more you can, 265 00:10:57,170 --> 00:10:57,470 you know, 266 00:10:57,470 --> 00:10:59,480 the more you can put in about yourself, 267 00:10:59,750 --> 00:11:01,460 about your shop policies, 268 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:03,140 about your items. 269 00:11:03,620 --> 00:11:07,010 And of course adding the items as a separate process. 270 00:11:07,010 --> 00:11:07,670 First, you, 271 00:11:07,710 --> 00:11:09,530 you answer the questions about yourself. 272 00:11:09,530 --> 00:11:11,660 You put as much in there because that's what people are 273 00:11:11,660 --> 00:11:12,410 going to see. 274 00:11:12,740 --> 00:11:17,000 And then from there you describe each item carefully and describe 275 00:11:17,000 --> 00:11:17,480 it well, 276 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:18,140 photograph it. 277 00:11:18,140 --> 00:11:21,680 Well, that's really what you have out there. 278 00:11:22,460 --> 00:11:25,160 I want to focus for one minute on what you're talking 279 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:27,950 about in terms of when you're setting up a platform, 280 00:11:28,490 --> 00:11:30,800 whether it's an about us page on a website, 281 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:33,830 your own website or something like Etsy. 282 00:11:34,130 --> 00:11:38,270 I really encourage everybody to not just put the generic stuff 283 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:38,900 on there, 284 00:11:38,900 --> 00:11:39,620 like who you are, 285 00:11:39,620 --> 00:11:41,060 where you're doing business and what you do, 286 00:11:41,060 --> 00:11:44,090 but add a little bit of personality to it as well 287 00:11:44,090 --> 00:11:45,320 because people, 288 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:45,590 you know, 289 00:11:45,590 --> 00:11:48,890 that is the page that everyone talks about is the most 290 00:11:48,890 --> 00:11:52,550 read page because people want to know who they're buying from, 291 00:11:52,550 --> 00:11:56,110 who they're doing business with and not just the standard stuff. 292 00:11:56,140 --> 00:11:56,260 You know, 293 00:11:56,260 --> 00:11:57,130 they want to know something, 294 00:11:57,130 --> 00:11:58,120 personality wise, 295 00:11:58,120 --> 00:11:59,110 something quirky, 296 00:11:59,110 --> 00:12:01,930 something that's a little different that sets you apart, 297 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:05,320 where they can understand you as a person like Christine. 298 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:07,210 You may even talk about the fact that you have five 299 00:12:07,210 --> 00:12:10,450 children, because that's a little bit different than the norm and 300 00:12:10,450 --> 00:12:13,630 that you homeschool may not even relate to your product, 301 00:12:13,660 --> 00:12:17,800 but it gives people a little closer tie to the person 302 00:12:17,950 --> 00:12:19,540 you are as a business owner. 303 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:21,040 I'm glad you talk about that, 304 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:22,450 Christine, in terms of the, 305 00:12:22,450 --> 00:12:24,460 about you page and filling that in there, 306 00:12:24,460 --> 00:12:25,750 over on Etsy, 307 00:12:26,140 --> 00:12:28,900 you're talking about now putting up your products, 308 00:12:29,140 --> 00:12:31,870 a good photo of course is going to be important because 309 00:12:31,870 --> 00:12:33,700 they have to see the quality of the product. 310 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:40,270 Any advice on the description or anything that you've seen that 311 00:12:40,540 --> 00:12:43,330 would be beneficial in terms of tips for putting up the 312 00:12:43,330 --> 00:12:44,710 specific products, 313 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:45,640 more wording, 314 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:46,720 less wording. 315 00:12:46,990 --> 00:12:48,070 I don't know what it would be. 316 00:12:48,660 --> 00:12:51,990 I just kind of have done it organically over time. 317 00:12:52,350 --> 00:12:55,050 I'd say for my product, 318 00:12:55,140 --> 00:12:57,720 I want to describe it well, 319 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:01,830 but I let the image of it speak for itself also. 320 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:05,790 But I have also seen people who go into more or 321 00:13:05,820 --> 00:13:08,640 like inspirational extra stuff. 322 00:13:08,670 --> 00:13:11,400 And I think that can work really well as well. 323 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:13,470 It's not my particular style. 324 00:13:13,470 --> 00:13:17,070 Mine is I go into my inspiration a little bit, 325 00:13:17,100 --> 00:13:23,220 but I actually mostly let the look speak for itself in 326 00:13:23,220 --> 00:13:24,240 a practical sense, 327 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:26,100 because somebody can hold it in their hands. 328 00:13:26,100 --> 00:13:27,120 When they're looking online, 329 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:28,770 I want to give a good description, 330 00:13:29,310 --> 00:13:31,560 say that they know exactly what they're getting. 331 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:36,180 How do you feel in terms of the platform attracting business 332 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:37,230 unto itself, 333 00:13:37,260 --> 00:13:40,890 not driving business from other places like Facebook or anything else 334 00:13:40,890 --> 00:13:42,750 you do to capture business. 335 00:13:42,870 --> 00:13:47,130 But what about just the organic business that Etsy would provide? 336 00:13:48,660 --> 00:13:53,580 What advantage that I have in selling supplies is because people 337 00:13:53,580 --> 00:13:58,200 who are looking to buy items that they're going to intern 338 00:13:58,200 --> 00:13:59,700 using their jewelry, 339 00:13:59,700 --> 00:14:00,750 for example, 340 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:02,190 or knitted items, 341 00:14:02,580 --> 00:14:07,530 they are looking at Etsy for supplies as well for somebody 342 00:14:07,530 --> 00:14:09,660 who is making jewelry. 343 00:14:09,990 --> 00:14:15,540 I think it's more important probably to find other social media 344 00:14:15,540 --> 00:14:19,830 because although I think Etsy has been a go-to place for 345 00:14:19,830 --> 00:14:21,780 people who like handmade stuff, 346 00:14:22,020 --> 00:14:24,990 because the numbers are so high now, 347 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:28,920 I think it's probably really important to get out there with 348 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:30,480 your other social media. 349 00:14:30,570 --> 00:14:33,900 So you can find those people and get them to your 350 00:14:33,900 --> 00:14:35,460 specific page. 351 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:39,450 I have a lot of customers who may be buy sets 352 00:14:39,450 --> 00:14:41,820 of beads and they're going to turn around and they may 353 00:14:41,820 --> 00:14:42,720 not sell them on Etsy. 354 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:44,220 They may sell them at a craft fair. 355 00:14:44,220 --> 00:14:47,160 They may sell them just a little street market or something. 356 00:14:47,550 --> 00:14:50,880 Yeah, there's a little bit of element to wholesale to what 357 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:52,670 I, and I noticed, 358 00:14:52,670 --> 00:14:53,840 like was my jewelry, 359 00:14:53,870 --> 00:14:55,580 which I do make some jewelry. 360 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,580 It does better right around Christmas. 361 00:14:58,730 --> 00:15:02,060 It does better when people have a reason to be buying 362 00:15:02,060 --> 00:15:06,130 gifts. So seasonally you're finding that Etsy is great, 363 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:07,540 but then product wise, 364 00:15:07,540 --> 00:15:09,910 if you're selling just a specific finished project, 365 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:13,150 your suggestion is to make sure you're using other platforms to 366 00:15:13,150 --> 00:15:15,580 drive people over to your Etsy site. 367 00:15:15,760 --> 00:15:17,140 That's how I found you on Instagram. 368 00:15:17,140 --> 00:15:19,210 Cause I saw your product and I thought it was awesome. 369 00:15:19,210 --> 00:15:21,130 And your Instagram account looks great, 370 00:15:21,370 --> 00:15:21,760 et cetera, 371 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:22,270 et cetera. 372 00:15:22,570 --> 00:15:24,820 And that led me over to your Etsy platform. 373 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:26,680 Exactly. Now, 374 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,860 as he's gotten big enough to the point where you can 375 00:15:29,860 --> 00:15:32,140 probably purchase Etsy advertising, 376 00:15:32,140 --> 00:15:36,070 but you're also probably going to do well by driving traffic 377 00:15:36,070 --> 00:15:40,420 to your Etsy store specifically through your social media. 378 00:15:40,420 --> 00:15:45,040 So that the people who you're seeding your work, 379 00:15:45,370 --> 00:15:45,550 you know, 380 00:15:45,550 --> 00:15:47,530 they almost know what they're looking for by the time they 381 00:15:47,530 --> 00:15:48,280 get to Etsy, 382 00:15:48,370 --> 00:15:50,110 right? Are you using see advertising? 383 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:52,270 I use it a little bit, 384 00:15:52,420 --> 00:15:55,120 but I don't want to spend too much for people Who 385 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:56,320 are unfamiliar with it. 386 00:15:56,320 --> 00:15:57,250 How does that work? 387 00:15:57,670 --> 00:16:01,570 You as a buyer have less control over it than you 388 00:16:01,570 --> 00:16:03,250 would for like a normal ad. 389 00:16:03,250 --> 00:16:03,970 In other words, 390 00:16:04,330 --> 00:16:09,370 you decide which of your products and which keywords you want 391 00:16:09,370 --> 00:16:10,240 to use. 392 00:16:10,270 --> 00:16:11,230 So for example, 393 00:16:11,230 --> 00:16:15,460 I'll pick some of my best selling goddess or tree of 394 00:16:15,460 --> 00:16:16,210 life beads, 395 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:17,890 maybe my most popular buttons. 396 00:16:17,890 --> 00:16:20,950 And I'll choose those someones that the advertising will pop up 397 00:16:21,250 --> 00:16:23,530 and I'll use keywords after that. 398 00:16:23,530 --> 00:16:24,370 And it's all them. 399 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:28,090 What I'm hearing You're saying is you provide them the product, 400 00:16:28,330 --> 00:16:29,170 you provide them, 401 00:16:29,170 --> 00:16:32,860 the keywords and the description and the dollar amount, 402 00:16:32,860 --> 00:16:34,270 however much you want to sell it for. 403 00:16:34,270 --> 00:16:36,910 And then do you also do some type of a timeframe 404 00:16:37,150 --> 00:16:39,430 of when you want it to be hitting the ad to 405 00:16:39,430 --> 00:16:41,160 be hitting No. 406 00:16:41,170 --> 00:16:43,150 When you don't do anything else after that, 407 00:16:43,150 --> 00:16:45,280 except decide how much your budget is. 408 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:47,710 It's a little bit more like Google ad words. 409 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:50,170 So they'd know what your items are. 410 00:16:50,380 --> 00:16:52,390 They will pop it into say, 411 00:16:52,780 --> 00:16:53,920 somebody's search. 412 00:16:54,220 --> 00:16:56,860 If they're searching for something it's going to hit a little 413 00:16:56,860 --> 00:16:59,080 higher paying for that advertising. 414 00:16:59,380 --> 00:17:01,900 Yeah. They have like their little email sayings where they have 415 00:17:01,900 --> 00:17:03,160 featured items and stuff. 416 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:05,290 I think the people who are paying advertising are a little 417 00:17:05,290 --> 00:17:07,600 bit more likely put into that type of thing. 418 00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:11,260 Are you able to equate some of your sales from Etsy 419 00:17:11,260 --> 00:17:16,120 advertising If somebody found that item through their advertising and then 420 00:17:16,120 --> 00:17:18,520 they purchased it fairly soon after, 421 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,820 then it shows up on your revenue for the ad. 422 00:17:22,180 --> 00:17:23,080 Yeah. Sounds great. 423 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:25,840 Because for people who are looking at going on to Etsy 424 00:17:25,870 --> 00:17:28,660 and it doesn't sound like it's that hard to get established 425 00:17:28,660 --> 00:17:29,860 and to get up and going, 426 00:17:30,190 --> 00:17:33,070 and then if you're not as good at some of the 427 00:17:33,070 --> 00:17:34,060 advertising ends, 428 00:17:34,060 --> 00:17:37,360 it sounds like by providing just a little bit of information, 429 00:17:37,420 --> 00:17:40,000 they're then able to take it away and it's to their 430 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:40,750 advantage too, 431 00:17:40,750 --> 00:17:44,200 for any advertising to produce results because they want you to 432 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:46,600 keep doing it with them because you have so many options 433 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:47,290 these days. 434 00:17:47,530 --> 00:17:49,860 So it sounds kind of like a pretty good made for 435 00:17:49,860 --> 00:17:51,690 you platform based on what you're saying. 436 00:17:52,130 --> 00:17:55,250 Yeah. I'd say it is more similar to Google ad words 437 00:17:55,250 --> 00:17:55,970 than anything else, 438 00:17:55,970 --> 00:17:59,540 except it's more visual and you can see if it's working 439 00:17:59,540 --> 00:17:59,990 for you. 440 00:17:59,990 --> 00:18:01,940 If you try it out for a while and you don't 441 00:18:01,940 --> 00:18:04,190 get any sales from it you'll know, 442 00:18:04,190 --> 00:18:08,450 and then we'll try something else or do whatever it is 443 00:18:08,450 --> 00:18:09,350 you need to do to, 444 00:18:09,500 --> 00:18:09,800 you know, 445 00:18:09,830 --> 00:18:10,520 get it going. 446 00:18:11,060 --> 00:18:13,040 Well, let's talk about this a little bit more in terms 447 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:14,660 of sales and moving product, 448 00:18:14,750 --> 00:18:17,600 what would you say based on all of your experience and 449 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:19,160 it may not even be Etsy. 450 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:21,710 Let's just talk a bit about bead freaky and total. 451 00:18:22,070 --> 00:18:25,640 What is the best thing that you do that brings in 452 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:26,480 the business? 453 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:27,740 I think for me, 454 00:18:27,740 --> 00:18:31,310 having a lot of designs has really helped me. 455 00:18:31,310 --> 00:18:34,400 It's taken a long time to get all its designs, 456 00:18:34,670 --> 00:18:36,440 but I think having they, 457 00:18:36,530 --> 00:18:39,860 and they do all have that kind of similarity with what 458 00:18:39,860 --> 00:18:41,480 I was talking about in my, 459 00:18:42,020 --> 00:18:42,800 of my vision, 460 00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:46,100 it's helped me to have a lot of things. 461 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:50,210 Okay. So wide variety of designs in a wide variety of 462 00:18:50,210 --> 00:18:51,860 colors of all those designs. 463 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:52,880 So when people go there, 464 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:55,520 they might see something and not be like, 465 00:18:55,550 --> 00:18:56,540 Oh, I really liked this one, 466 00:18:56,540 --> 00:18:57,590 but it's not purple. 467 00:18:57,590 --> 00:18:58,460 I need purple. 468 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:00,650 But if you have all those different colors, 469 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:01,190 all right. 470 00:19:01,220 --> 00:19:04,280 A lot of depth in terms of your inventory, 471 00:19:04,430 --> 00:19:05,810 what's put up on the site. 472 00:19:06,280 --> 00:19:11,510 Exactly. In terms of process of a sale after somebody buys 473 00:19:11,510 --> 00:19:12,500 on Etsy, 474 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:16,670 what happens then on your end to get that product out 475 00:19:16,670 --> 00:19:17,390 to the customer? 476 00:19:17,390 --> 00:19:18,290 How does that work? 477 00:19:18,620 --> 00:19:24,350 I almost exclusively make first and then list because that of 478 00:19:24,350 --> 00:19:26,000 course makes it a lot, 479 00:19:26,270 --> 00:19:26,630 you know, 480 00:19:26,690 --> 00:19:27,440 it's immediate. 481 00:19:27,500 --> 00:19:29,240 I go out to my shop, 482 00:19:29,270 --> 00:19:33,320 I have it wrapped up and I take it out and 483 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:34,730 I send it right off. 484 00:19:35,030 --> 00:19:38,420 And then what I'll do is be sold out and I'll 485 00:19:38,420 --> 00:19:39,440 make another set. 486 00:19:39,440 --> 00:19:40,730 That's very similar. 487 00:19:41,030 --> 00:19:41,840 And then I, 488 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:46,340 I reactivated A lot of people ask about packaging, 489 00:19:46,430 --> 00:19:49,070 how to present their product through I'm S I'm assuming that 490 00:19:49,070 --> 00:19:51,050 you mailed them out postal service. 491 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:55,310 Yes. Most of mine is slide it up to be first-class 492 00:19:55,310 --> 00:19:57,830 mail because I do do supplies. 493 00:19:57,860 --> 00:20:02,090 I have a pretty bowl Brown paper neatly wrapped. 494 00:20:02,390 --> 00:20:06,410 So there's no doodling around or chipping unless I'm selling jewelry. 495 00:20:06,410 --> 00:20:07,580 And if I'm selling jewelry, 496 00:20:07,580 --> 00:20:09,650 I do have like a nice little jewelry, 497 00:20:09,860 --> 00:20:11,090 little gift box. 498 00:20:11,150 --> 00:20:14,570 And then I just loosely wrapped that in Brown paper and 499 00:20:14,570 --> 00:20:15,860 put it in my envelope. 500 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:19,490 Just a couple more questions with that T because I specifically 501 00:20:19,490 --> 00:20:22,910 wanted to get more information for our listeners on this platform. 502 00:20:23,210 --> 00:20:27,470 Is there any reason why you continue to stay on Etsy 503 00:20:27,470 --> 00:20:30,080 versus using any other platform that's out there? 504 00:20:30,500 --> 00:20:31,820 I think for me, 505 00:20:32,270 --> 00:20:34,910 I would Add another platform perhaps over time, 506 00:20:34,910 --> 00:20:36,290 but I wouldn't give up that seat. 507 00:20:36,500 --> 00:20:40,910 It's one where people who are looking for him made go 508 00:20:40,910 --> 00:20:42,260 to the most. 509 00:20:42,770 --> 00:20:44,360 So I would keep it. 510 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:46,280 And of course I've been there a long time, 511 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:47,500 but even as a new person, 512 00:20:47,500 --> 00:20:50,800 I think I would probably put in an Etsy store, 513 00:20:50,810 --> 00:20:54,430 even if I wanted to do other things in addition to 514 00:20:54,430 --> 00:20:56,290 it. It's good input. 515 00:20:56,350 --> 00:20:56,680 Of course, 516 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:59,290 nowadays, if you promote stuff enough, 517 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:01,870 you can do gear or standalone website. 518 00:21:01,870 --> 00:21:04,360 I think it comes to promotion at that point, 519 00:21:04,750 --> 00:21:06,400 because then it's all on you. 520 00:21:06,430 --> 00:21:08,710 Right. You're doing your own website. 521 00:21:09,120 --> 00:21:10,020 Right. Well, 522 00:21:10,020 --> 00:21:11,040 and I think for you, 523 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:11,310 I mean, 524 00:21:11,310 --> 00:21:12,150 right now, 525 00:21:12,210 --> 00:21:14,640 again, the way I found it was through Instagram. 526 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:15,510 So you, 527 00:21:15,510 --> 00:21:17,040 in a way have another platform, 528 00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:20,610 although you're not selling directly from Instagram necessarily, 529 00:21:20,790 --> 00:21:23,820 you are indirectly because your pieces are up there and then 530 00:21:23,820 --> 00:21:26,850 you have your Etsy link in your bio on Instagram. 531 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:29,460 Right. And I've definitely gotten sales that way. 532 00:21:29,460 --> 00:21:32,880 And I think it's for anybody who's out there selling stuff. 533 00:21:32,910 --> 00:21:34,740 I think Instagram is actually, 534 00:21:35,070 --> 00:21:36,630 it's my favorite social media, 535 00:21:36,630 --> 00:21:41,400 because I think it's just more direct again for artists who 536 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:42,990 have something visual to show. 537 00:21:42,990 --> 00:21:43,290 I mean, 538 00:21:43,290 --> 00:21:45,930 if you're talking then Twitter's probably yet, 539 00:21:45,960 --> 00:21:47,040 but for me, 540 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:48,420 definitely Instagram, 541 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,360 you get the most bang for each picture. 542 00:21:51,450 --> 00:21:53,820 Right. And so how often do you put up a new 543 00:21:53,820 --> 00:21:54,630 post on Instagram? 544 00:21:55,230 --> 00:21:57,330 I'd say maybe two or three times a week. 545 00:21:57,330 --> 00:21:59,130 I'm not as active as some people. 546 00:21:59,430 --> 00:22:00,840 I want my food to look good. 547 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:03,570 I want to actually have something that looks nice each time 548 00:22:03,570 --> 00:22:04,140 I do it. 549 00:22:04,410 --> 00:22:06,540 So I take my time a little bit. 550 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:09,690 Some people do a couple of times a day and that 551 00:22:09,690 --> 00:22:10,260 seems to work. 552 00:22:10,290 --> 00:22:11,670 That would probably be my goal, 553 00:22:11,670 --> 00:22:15,360 but it's tough to find enough breadth of images and, 554 00:22:15,750 --> 00:22:16,080 you know, 555 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:17,100 I want each one to be good. 556 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:18,810 Right. Okay. 557 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:20,310 So we're going to move on now, 558 00:22:20,340 --> 00:22:22,680 Christine, into our reflection section. 559 00:22:22,890 --> 00:22:24,240 This is a look at you. 560 00:22:24,270 --> 00:22:27,510 And what types of things you feel have led to you 561 00:22:27,510 --> 00:22:28,800 being successful? 562 00:22:29,070 --> 00:22:30,120 So the first thing is, 563 00:22:30,120 --> 00:22:32,730 if you think of yourself back when you were a younger 564 00:22:32,730 --> 00:22:34,170 girl, what would you say? 565 00:22:34,170 --> 00:22:38,130 The one natural trade is that you've always had your whole 566 00:22:38,130 --> 00:22:41,190 life that has helped you to be successful where you are 567 00:22:41,190 --> 00:22:42,720 today? Oh boy. 568 00:22:42,810 --> 00:22:47,660 Okay. I think just going consistently for where you're thinking, 569 00:22:47,660 --> 00:22:49,620 you're going try to have that center. 570 00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:52,050 So really knowing where you're trying to go. 571 00:22:52,110 --> 00:22:52,920 Is that what you mean? 572 00:22:53,310 --> 00:22:54,840 Yeah. And sticking with it, 573 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:59,580 not giving up or at least even if you waver around, 574 00:22:59,580 --> 00:23:02,400 like I was saying in a way there's a little add 575 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:02,880 going on, 576 00:23:03,150 --> 00:23:06,210 you kind of always go back to that goal again, 577 00:23:06,210 --> 00:23:06,450 you know, 578 00:23:06,450 --> 00:23:08,610 like maybe you deviate a bit, 579 00:23:08,610 --> 00:23:11,730 but you head back and stick with it. 580 00:23:12,090 --> 00:23:16,320 Okay. And then what tool do you use regularly in your 581 00:23:16,320 --> 00:23:18,180 life to keep everything together? 582 00:23:18,180 --> 00:23:18,540 I mean, 583 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:22,440 homeschooling five children and then also running a business. 584 00:23:22,500 --> 00:23:23,520 Oh my gosh, 585 00:23:23,700 --> 00:23:26,430 what tool or what do you do that you call upon 586 00:23:26,430 --> 00:23:28,230 every day that keeps you productive? 587 00:23:28,650 --> 00:23:31,230 Hmm. I'm always kind of sinking about it, 588 00:23:31,230 --> 00:23:32,040 especially I'm a, 589 00:23:32,270 --> 00:23:34,380 a bit more of a morning person and I always have 590 00:23:34,380 --> 00:23:38,790 those few little goals that I put down for myself that 591 00:23:38,910 --> 00:23:40,540 that's, what's going to be that day. 592 00:23:40,540 --> 00:23:42,840 And usually I probably think about it a little bit the 593 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:43,680 night before. 594 00:23:44,010 --> 00:23:44,730 And again, 595 00:23:44,730 --> 00:23:46,040 first in the morning, 596 00:23:46,280 --> 00:23:47,960 get started on those. 597 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:51,500 So that at least those couple of things that I planned 598 00:23:51,500 --> 00:23:52,220 on getting done, 599 00:23:52,220 --> 00:23:52,940 get done. 600 00:23:53,240 --> 00:23:54,980 I think that's really important. 601 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:57,920 And also to have kind of a longer term goal on 602 00:23:57,920 --> 00:23:59,450 the back of your mind too, 603 00:23:59,450 --> 00:24:00,290 like, you know, 604 00:24:00,290 --> 00:24:02,270 you have a bigger thing that, 605 00:24:02,780 --> 00:24:03,170 you know, 606 00:24:03,170 --> 00:24:05,960 you're probably not going to get done that day or even 607 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:07,070 the next couple of days, 608 00:24:07,070 --> 00:24:09,200 but you don't want to lose focus of that thing. 609 00:24:09,650 --> 00:24:11,660 I do want to figure out which days you're going to 610 00:24:11,660 --> 00:24:16,640 make those steps direction and not forget about that longer term 611 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:17,330 goal too. 612 00:24:17,770 --> 00:24:20,620 There are two things that I would underline for our listeners 613 00:24:20,620 --> 00:24:22,060 in what you're talking about here. 614 00:24:22,360 --> 00:24:24,400 I really like what you're talking about in terms of the 615 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:26,800 morning you've identified and I'm just like, 616 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:27,610 you are Christine. 617 00:24:27,610 --> 00:24:31,270 You've identified that you work best in the morning and not 618 00:24:31,270 --> 00:24:32,020 everybody does. 619 00:24:32,020 --> 00:24:33,490 Right. Sometimes people, 620 00:24:33,490 --> 00:24:33,700 you know, 621 00:24:33,700 --> 00:24:35,320 just by the way you naturally are. 622 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:38,200 Sometimes people come alive at four o'clock in the afternoon, 623 00:24:38,200 --> 00:24:39,940 which for me is my downtime. 624 00:24:40,780 --> 00:24:41,380 But so, 625 00:24:41,500 --> 00:24:41,860 you know, 626 00:24:41,860 --> 00:24:42,700 for you, 627 00:24:42,730 --> 00:24:42,910 you know, 628 00:24:42,910 --> 00:24:43,330 number one, 629 00:24:43,330 --> 00:24:44,050 you're setting goals, 630 00:24:44,050 --> 00:24:48,460 but then you're also really redefining them right in the morning 631 00:24:48,460 --> 00:24:51,160 and getting going right away because that's when you know you 632 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:51,940 work best. 633 00:24:51,940 --> 00:24:54,820 So give busy listeners really think for yourself. 634 00:24:54,820 --> 00:24:57,880 What is that day part that is the very best for 635 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:00,580 you. I'll give you a hint on me. 636 00:25:00,580 --> 00:25:04,300 I like to do podcast interviews in the morning. 637 00:25:04,300 --> 00:25:05,800 And when I schedule people, 638 00:25:05,980 --> 00:25:08,860 I try to put them all in the morning unless they're 639 00:25:08,860 --> 00:25:10,510 on the other side of the world and I have to 640 00:25:10,510 --> 00:25:13,540 do it at night because my energy level just isn't that 641 00:25:13,540 --> 00:25:15,520 great later in the day, 642 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:17,080 it's way better in the morning. 643 00:25:17,110 --> 00:25:19,090 So I intentionally do that. 644 00:25:19,090 --> 00:25:21,700 So I encourage everybody who's listening. 645 00:25:21,700 --> 00:25:21,940 You know, 646 00:25:21,940 --> 00:25:23,050 what is the day part? 647 00:25:23,050 --> 00:25:24,340 That's the best for you? 648 00:25:24,340 --> 00:25:27,670 And consciously put those tasks where you have to have the 649 00:25:27,670 --> 00:25:32,890 most energy or the more challenging tasks in the morning for 650 00:25:32,890 --> 00:25:36,910 Christine and my part or wherever your higher energy levels are. 651 00:25:36,910 --> 00:25:39,730 Because that really helps in terms of number one, 652 00:25:39,730 --> 00:25:40,450 the output, 653 00:25:40,450 --> 00:25:42,490 but also the efficiency of just getting it done, 654 00:25:42,490 --> 00:25:44,860 because that's when you have the most energy. 655 00:25:45,070 --> 00:25:47,170 The other thing that I like about what you were saying, 656 00:25:47,170 --> 00:25:51,100 Christine is you're talking about working on your business, 657 00:25:51,100 --> 00:25:52,630 not just in your business, 658 00:25:52,720 --> 00:25:54,880 what is the longterm goal? 659 00:25:55,060 --> 00:25:59,140 Where are you trying to take the business versus just making 660 00:25:59,140 --> 00:26:00,580 the beads and filling orders? 661 00:26:00,580 --> 00:26:04,150 Like what else do you see long-term for growing your business? 662 00:26:04,360 --> 00:26:06,010 That's what Christine's talking about. 663 00:26:06,010 --> 00:26:09,160 So she's doing both because clearly as an artist and the 664 00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:11,050 way Christine has her business set up, 665 00:26:11,080 --> 00:26:12,370 she has to do everything. 666 00:26:12,370 --> 00:26:13,450 She has to create it, 667 00:26:13,660 --> 00:26:14,830 put it on the website, 668 00:26:14,830 --> 00:26:15,850 fulfill the orders, 669 00:26:15,850 --> 00:26:16,720 all of that. 670 00:26:16,930 --> 00:26:21,430 But she hasn't forgotten that very important element of where do 671 00:26:21,430 --> 00:26:24,310 I also want to take the business in the future? 672 00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:26,290 There's nothing wrong with people. 673 00:26:26,290 --> 00:26:27,010 Specially also, 674 00:26:27,010 --> 00:26:30,310 if you have a part-time business because you're working somewhere else, 675 00:26:30,550 --> 00:26:33,790 you have younger children who clearly need a lot of attention. 676 00:26:33,970 --> 00:26:37,390 There's nothing wrong with just having your business kind of on 677 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:39,940 stable drive for a while too. 678 00:26:39,970 --> 00:26:42,130 Because the one thing about us all having businesses, 679 00:26:42,130 --> 00:26:47,070 we can control what our standard of success is and letting 680 00:26:47,070 --> 00:26:50,490 your business just kind of continue stable for some time during 681 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:52,020 certain life cycles. 682 00:26:52,260 --> 00:26:53,790 There's nothing wrong with that either. 683 00:26:53,790 --> 00:26:57,690 But you talking about goals and growing your business is also 684 00:26:57,690 --> 00:27:00,690 really valuable to know you're not just working in your business, 685 00:27:00,690 --> 00:27:02,760 you're also working on your best Haas. 686 00:27:03,120 --> 00:27:04,470 Anything you would want to add to that, 687 00:27:04,470 --> 00:27:05,580 Christine. Yeah. 688 00:27:05,630 --> 00:27:08,060 Yeah. I think that was a really good point because people 689 00:27:08,060 --> 00:27:10,700 do get busy and a lot of times it's a part-time 690 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:12,830 endeavor. But I was going to add though, 691 00:27:12,830 --> 00:27:16,550 because even when you're trying to be somewhat stable because technology 692 00:27:16,730 --> 00:27:17,930 and because we're working in, 693 00:27:18,620 --> 00:27:20,150 at least for me and se, 694 00:27:20,510 --> 00:27:23,240 and most probably people are listening to your podcasts, 695 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:24,350 they have their own website, 696 00:27:24,350 --> 00:27:28,310 or they're working in this technological environment where you kind of 697 00:27:28,310 --> 00:27:31,690 have to keep up and keep doing the right, 698 00:27:31,690 --> 00:27:33,650 right. If you want your business, 699 00:27:33,650 --> 00:27:35,150 even if you want your business to say, 700 00:27:35,150 --> 00:27:38,840 Hey, I'm only doing this level because this works for me. 701 00:27:38,840 --> 00:27:41,930 You still have to innovate this to keep going at the 702 00:27:41,930 --> 00:27:42,740 same rate. 703 00:27:42,740 --> 00:27:43,760 It's crazy. 704 00:27:44,060 --> 00:27:44,750 No, you're right. 705 00:27:44,750 --> 00:27:47,000 The world changes and you have to change with it or 706 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:47,300 you're going, 707 00:27:47,330 --> 00:27:49,040 even if you're you were doing the same thing, 708 00:27:49,040 --> 00:27:49,940 you'll get behind. 709 00:27:49,970 --> 00:27:52,130 If you don't change as the world is changing, 710 00:27:52,550 --> 00:27:53,300 right. Yeah. 711 00:27:53,300 --> 00:27:54,680 You have to do a little bit, 712 00:27:54,860 --> 00:27:55,250 you know, 713 00:27:55,250 --> 00:27:55,910 to yeah. 714 00:27:56,150 --> 00:27:57,380 To keep like Instagram, 715 00:27:57,380 --> 00:27:58,280 for example, 716 00:27:58,610 --> 00:28:00,090 for a really I'm, 717 00:28:00,530 --> 00:28:02,720 I've been on it now for about a year and a 718 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:05,750 half. And I think I was late compared to a lot 719 00:28:05,750 --> 00:28:06,230 of people, 720 00:28:06,230 --> 00:28:07,850 but there's a point where, 721 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:09,440 gosh, everybody's doing this. 722 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:11,990 I have to at least do this too. 723 00:28:12,350 --> 00:28:13,070 And there's all, 724 00:28:13,070 --> 00:28:14,630 so many things like that. 725 00:28:14,840 --> 00:28:15,410 Yeah. Well, 726 00:28:15,410 --> 00:28:16,610 and now you said it's you one, 727 00:28:16,670 --> 00:28:17,810 it's your favorite platform? 728 00:28:17,810 --> 00:28:19,040 So it's a good thing you got on. 729 00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:20,600 Yeah, it's a good thing. 730 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:21,080 I finally, 731 00:28:21,350 --> 00:28:24,090 I had to buy a smartphone for the last time. 732 00:28:24,260 --> 00:28:28,310 Oh, darn yeah. 733 00:28:28,310 --> 00:28:28,600 I know. 734 00:28:28,610 --> 00:28:29,750 It's really ridiculous. 735 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:30,470 I was like, 736 00:28:30,470 --> 00:28:33,020 yeah. I think it's probably a good idea to do this. 737 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:35,480 Your phones. 738 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:35,870 I mean, 739 00:28:35,930 --> 00:28:38,360 you need them for your business these days. 740 00:28:38,390 --> 00:28:39,680 This is just not a convenience. 741 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:41,390 This is a necessity in my opinion. 742 00:28:41,630 --> 00:28:44,930 Right. And forbid not needed to meet at of course the 743 00:28:44,930 --> 00:28:45,950 computer. I mean, 744 00:28:45,950 --> 00:28:47,120 I'm dating myself now, 745 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:47,540 but yeah, 746 00:28:47,540 --> 00:28:49,590 there was a time when you didn't, 747 00:28:49,590 --> 00:28:49,940 you know, 748 00:28:49,950 --> 00:28:51,800 they're pre-computer and post computer. 749 00:28:52,250 --> 00:28:53,300 Right. For sure. 750 00:28:53,330 --> 00:28:53,840 So yeah. 751 00:28:54,800 --> 00:28:55,460 To do a little bit, 752 00:28:55,650 --> 00:28:56,000 keep up. 753 00:28:56,750 --> 00:28:57,350 Yep, absolutely. 754 00:28:58,580 --> 00:28:59,330 So Christine, 755 00:28:59,570 --> 00:29:02,330 is there a book that you've read lately that you would 756 00:29:02,330 --> 00:29:03,740 suggest to our listeners? 757 00:29:04,210 --> 00:29:04,870 You're not the guy. 758 00:29:04,890 --> 00:29:08,540 I was lucky enough to go to the media forum at 759 00:29:08,540 --> 00:29:14,750 the social media experts here in Portland and one artist there. 760 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:17,150 Her name is Lisa condom. 761 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:20,960 She does printed and they're really kind of cool designs, 762 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:22,580 quirky illustrations. 763 00:29:23,120 --> 00:29:26,330 And she wrote a book called art incorporated. 764 00:29:26,690 --> 00:29:30,590 The essential guide for building your career as an artist. 765 00:29:30,920 --> 00:29:32,600 And it's really a great, 766 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:33,410 helpful book. 767 00:29:33,740 --> 00:29:36,410 I was lucky enough to win it in the little raffle. 768 00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:38,420 Oh, that was helpful. 769 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:40,010 Yeah, it did. 770 00:29:40,010 --> 00:29:40,790 It was awesome. 771 00:29:40,990 --> 00:29:42,580 She really covers all the bases. 772 00:29:42,970 --> 00:29:46,120 So You have a second book that you'd suggest They also 773 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:47,680 was reading MD Carr, 774 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:53,230 who is a really great Western artists from Vancouver, 775 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:58,300 Canada. And she has a journal hundreds and thousands of journals 776 00:29:58,300 --> 00:30:01,780 of an artist that was really great reading too, 777 00:30:01,780 --> 00:30:05,050 for more artistic philosophy stamp. 778 00:30:05,930 --> 00:30:06,320 All right, 779 00:30:06,330 --> 00:30:07,440 well give biz listeners, 780 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:10,590 this will not work for photo books necessarily, 781 00:30:10,590 --> 00:30:13,350 but I do know that you like audio since you're listening 782 00:30:13,350 --> 00:30:14,370 to this podcast. 783 00:30:14,700 --> 00:30:16,800 So as you're listening today, 784 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:20,010 you can pick up a lot of books that are valuable 785 00:30:20,010 --> 00:30:22,110 for you through audible. 786 00:30:22,110 --> 00:30:22,860 And as you know, 787 00:30:22,860 --> 00:30:25,530 I've connected up with audible and I would love to offer 788 00:30:25,530 --> 00:30:27,180 you a book for free. 789 00:30:27,180 --> 00:30:29,940 If you haven't taken me up on that offer in the 790 00:30:29,940 --> 00:30:32,520 past, all you'll need to do is go to gift biz, 791 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:36,270 book.com and make a selection that's at gift biz, 792 00:30:36,270 --> 00:30:38,220 book.com. All right, 793 00:30:38,220 --> 00:30:41,580 Christine, I would like to invite you now to dare to 794 00:30:41,580 --> 00:30:44,610 dream. I'd like to present you with a virtual gift. 795 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:49,140 It's a magical box containing unlimited possibilities for your future. 796 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:52,860 So this is your dream or your goal of almost unreachable 797 00:30:52,860 --> 00:30:54,600 Heights that you would wish to obtain. 798 00:30:54,900 --> 00:30:58,050 Please accept this gift and open it in our presence. 799 00:30:58,290 --> 00:31:00,570 What is inside your box TRIBE? 800 00:31:01,140 --> 00:31:06,420 I think travel seek the world more and then I definitely 801 00:31:06,420 --> 00:31:12,450 would want to express what I see and learn through painting 802 00:31:12,450 --> 00:31:13,380 and ceramics, 803 00:31:13,650 --> 00:31:15,090 but the big push would be, 804 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:17,070 get out there and see more. 805 00:31:17,550 --> 00:31:18,300 That sounds great. 806 00:31:18,300 --> 00:31:20,160 Okay. So without even thinking, 807 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:24,720 no thinking aloud or to pick up the phone or no, 808 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:28,050 go online right now and you could book a trip anywhere, 809 00:31:28,170 --> 00:31:28,890 where would it be? 810 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:31,110 Ooh, no thinking. 811 00:31:33,180 --> 00:31:35,160 I was going to say to Haiti, 812 00:31:37,650 --> 00:31:38,010 I thought you, 813 00:31:38,010 --> 00:31:39,060 weren't going to say Paris. 814 00:31:40,390 --> 00:31:41,160 How funny? 815 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:45,150 Because I Painting and travel and I was thinking of, 816 00:31:45,390 --> 00:31:49,230 it just started me thinking of artwork by Paul Gauguin and 817 00:31:49,230 --> 00:31:52,380 he did all those Tahitian paintings. 818 00:31:52,620 --> 00:31:53,010 All right, 819 00:31:53,010 --> 00:31:54,600 then. So there you go. 820 00:31:54,780 --> 00:31:55,140 All right. 821 00:31:55,140 --> 00:31:56,730 Well Tahiti it is. 822 00:31:58,410 --> 00:31:59,790 Okay. So Christine, 823 00:31:59,790 --> 00:32:03,480 if our listeners wanted to find and take a look at 824 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:04,890 your art, 825 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:06,300 what is the best place, 826 00:32:06,300 --> 00:32:08,970 the single best place for them to go Etsy? 827 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:10,110 My Etsy shop, 828 00:32:10,110 --> 00:32:11,970 which is being freaky, 829 00:32:12,270 --> 00:32:13,530 dive etsy.com, 830 00:32:13,530 --> 00:32:14,070 I think. 831 00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:18,000 Okay. Super and I also put together a show notes page. 832 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:21,600 So if you did not capture that website, 833 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,480 if you want to check out the books that Christina's mentioning, 834 00:32:24,690 --> 00:32:28,710 also, if you want to relisten to some key points throughout 835 00:32:28,710 --> 00:32:29,520 this podcast, 836 00:32:29,730 --> 00:32:33,450 just jump over to our show notes page on gift biz 837 00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:36,960 unwrapped, and we'll have all of that outlined there for you. 838 00:32:37,200 --> 00:32:38,100 Okay. Christine, 839 00:32:38,250 --> 00:32:41,150 I'm going to tell right now that I think you have 840 00:32:41,180 --> 00:32:45,590 well put in your time while you've been homeschooling all five 841 00:32:45,590 --> 00:32:47,030 of your children, 842 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:49,220 that it is time for you to travel. 843 00:32:49,460 --> 00:32:52,250 And I think you should pick up that phone as soon 844 00:32:52,250 --> 00:32:52,940 as you can, 845 00:32:52,940 --> 00:32:53,450 or I don't know, 846 00:32:53,470 --> 00:32:53,990 keep what no. 847 00:32:53,990 --> 00:32:57,560 Why he keeps saying phone or go online or something and 848 00:32:57,590 --> 00:32:59,390 get yourself a trip to, 849 00:32:59,450 --> 00:33:00,080 to Hedy. 850 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:03,110 Yeah, that's funny. 851 00:33:03,620 --> 00:33:05,750 Thank you so much for joining us today. 852 00:33:05,780 --> 00:33:09,170 Thank you for sharing all of that insight and information and 853 00:33:09,170 --> 00:33:10,640 your experience with Etsy. 854 00:33:10,640 --> 00:33:11,210 I really, 855 00:33:11,210 --> 00:33:12,440 really appreciate that. 856 00:33:12,680 --> 00:33:15,320 And may your candle always burn bright? 857 00:33:15,770 --> 00:33:16,850 Thank you so much. 858 00:33:16,850 --> 00:33:20,210 This was really a pleasure. 859 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:25,360 Learn how to work smarter while developing and growing your business. 860 00:33:25,540 --> 00:33:29,110 Download our guide called 25 free tools to enhance your business 861 00:33:29,110 --> 00:33:29,620 and life. 862 00:33:29,860 --> 00:33:32,440 It's our gift to you and available at gift biz, 863 00:33:32,470 --> 00:33:36,910 unwrapped.com/tools. Thanks for listening and be sure to join us for 864 00:33:36,910 --> 00:33:37,630 the next episode. 865 00:33:40,630 --> 00:33:43,570 Today's show is sponsored by Ben ribbon print company, 866 00:33:44,290 --> 00:33:46,900 looking for a new income source for your gift business. 867 00:33:47,170 --> 00:33:51,370 Customization is more popular now than ever grant your products of 868 00:33:51,370 --> 00:33:53,470 your logo or print a happy birthday, 869 00:33:53,470 --> 00:33:56,110 Jessica ribbon to add to a gift right at checkout, 870 00:33:56,710 --> 00:33:59,350 it's all done right in your shop for cross studio in 871 00:33:59,350 --> 00:34:02,920 seconds. Check out the ribbon print company.com 872 00:34:02,980 --> 00:34:06,820 for more information after you listened to the show, 873 00:34:06,850 --> 00:34:08,230 if you like what you're hearing, 874 00:34:08,500 --> 00:34:11,290 make sure to jump over and subscribe to the show on 875 00:34:11,290 --> 00:34:15,100 iTunes. 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