sarahruby
Full Member
Posts: 300
Jul 1, 2014 0:40:17 GMT
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Post by sarahruby on Apr 14, 2016 17:32:09 GMT
I opened up my own shop beginning of this year to achieve a large goal that I have.
I am getting sales and hope it continues to grow.
I'm always looking for you tube videos to watch and learn a ton.
Those of you that sell on etsy....do you think a business coach is worth it? We're talking a 1k investment if that helps
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 15:37:41 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2016 18:01:18 GMT
Before I invested in that, I would look into a group like Flourish (publishes Handmade Seller magazine, which is also excellent!) I've gotten immeasurable expert advice on every topic from SEO, branding, photography, financial, etc. I can't even begin to detail how much information is presented daily in that group by experts in their field. I'm going to be attending the 2 day workshop in Atlanta in May and the information and education they are presenting there is phenomenal. Handmade Seller MagazineThe Joyful Entrepreneur The Joyful Ent is actually a free FB group that is similar to Flourish, but Flourish is the paid portion of it. When I joined Flourish, I thought it would be for a month or two to get all of the past lessons and then get out, but every bit of information that they have presented has been so worth it that I can't even imagine running my online business without it. There is no "last chance before the price goes up" pressure that other coaches (Renae Christine and Chalene Johnson, I'm looking at YOU) constantly do. There's no inbox spamming (looking at Renae and Chalene again!), etc. The owner/admins are honest and authentic and there's no perfect backdrops to their "professional" videos - it's all just real people with experience and expertise. I would at least urge you to look into it for a month or two before you make such a huge investment in a coach. P.S. These are not referral links and there's nothing in it for me at all by recommending them. |
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sarahruby
Full Member
Posts: 300
Jul 1, 2014 0:40:17 GMT
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Post by sarahruby on Apr 14, 2016 18:09:58 GMT
I'm in florish!! Yeah...I think I'm passing on the coach idea....I feel like I'm talking myself into something. ..
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 15:37:41 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2016 18:11:43 GMT
I'm in florish!! Yeah...I think I'm passing on the coach idea....I feel like I'm talking myself into something. .. What do you feel like you are missing from Flourish? Is it something that you could get by just hiring an expert in that area? I would be surprised if any coach could give you more than you are already getting other than possibly individual attention but (as I'm sure you know), you can even get that in Flourish. ETA: I know that I'm not getting all I could from Flourish because I'm so darn busy just handling the business that I've got. I've had the flu for 6 days and tried to cut back and still have had 10+ orders a day to try to deal with (because I really hate to put my shop on vacation) |
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sarahruby
Full Member
Posts: 300
Jul 1, 2014 0:40:17 GMT
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Post by sarahruby on Apr 14, 2016 18:17:14 GMT
Will respond to this after I get off work...this will be an interesting chat  |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 14, 2016 18:26:51 GMT
I've been getting emails for some time now from Create & Thrive which is a sideline run by a lady named Jess who owns a successful jewelry business that she started on Etsy. She really seems to know her stuff and has posted a lot of great info on her blog. She also offers coaching and I think it's a lot more affordable than $1K. I think before spending that much money, I would look around to see what other options there are that might be just as good. Create & Thrive |
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sarahruby
Full Member
Posts: 300
Jul 1, 2014 0:40:17 GMT
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Post by sarahruby on Apr 14, 2016 21:28:26 GMT
Hi Ladies, I'm back  Let me first say that I am a follower of Renae Christine. I really like her. Her rich mom university is jammed packed with lots of good information. However, it's really for people that want to go to great lengths in their I don't feel I am that person. Honestly....I started my Etsy shop after selling items to my coworkers over Christmas. My opened my Etsy shop with a I watch lots of webinars, have learned a lot. I am getting sales in my shop, and I have a goal to make a certain amount a week. business. I committed myself to do an event in a couple weeks, to sell my items there. My first event...I am nervous, b/c I am an introvert. But I am determined to succeed!!! I do hate to give up some goodies from RC's university, but honestly....the 1k price tag, I just don't want to add that to what I want to pay off. My goal with my shop....to pay off a large debt that I have. I have 18 months to do this. I'm serious about it, and feel I will come either close to my goal or actually reach it. Flourish - I do like that FB group, I also get their magazine. I know RC had been a part of that group, but then left. I think I'd get the personal help from Flourish a bit more than RC. When people ask RC questions you hear 'that's in module x', which I understand...but sometimes you need clarification on things. Right now in my shop, my focus is having the right titles and keywords. They are focusing on logo, colors, target audience etc right now. While those are important items....I also feel it comes down to how serious you are taking your business. Does that make sense? I am serious...but at this point, I don't see myself keeping this shop for years down the road. That could change, I know. I hope I'm making sense in this reply... I'm trying to do what's best for reaching my goal, praying about it a lot. |
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,682
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Apr 14, 2016 21:45:35 GMT
I certainly wouldn't get a business coach for just starting an Etsy shop. I have an Etsy shop, stand-alone (shopify) shop and sell on Amazon; I sell both handmade and manufactured products and am looking into adding local rentals as well, so I've been considering a coach or something similar. There's plenty of info out there for free/cheap for Etsy alone, at least enough for start ups, maybe reconsider a year or more down the road.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 15:37:41 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2016 0:38:25 GMT
I'll have to look more into Create & Thrive. I like that there's a podcast.
I don't have anything against Renae Christine personally and even considered (pretty heavily) RMU, but I'm kind of turned off by the whole "besties" thing as well as the obvious marketing techniques of limited time, limited pricing, etc. The over the top language "Oh my gosh we crash every server we try" that she and a lot of other coaches use just doesn't sit well with me. I think that's why I like Flourish. They aren't as polished, but they are real. It was bluntly asked and (very diplomatically) answered recently and there isn't anything that RMU offers that Flourish doesn't. Or any other coach. It's just a different format.
I do wish that the files/videos were better organized at Flourish but I think that's partially a FB issue and I know they are working on their own website. When I go to Atlanta next month, I'm going to bring up that it's a bit difficult to find what you are looking for in terms of layout.
Given what you laid out, I really think that a $1,000 investment for a coach is way above what you want/need. Doesn't RMU really push towards an individual website? I know Flourish suggests it so that you have complete control, but they do a ton to support other venues. I actually moved to funnel everything through Etsy at the beginning of the year. I will consider changing to a stand alone sales site at some point, but for now, Etsy works for me and I'm willing to pay for the convenience.
I'm sorry to hear that the personal interaction in RMU isn't what she makes it sound like it would be. I'm on a WAHM tax group (you probably are too?) and although the information is great, the answer always is "it's in the files." I KNOW it's in the files, I don't effing understand what it says!" (Oh shit, I just remembered, quarterly taxes are due - this week of having the flu has totally put me behind on everything)
I would soak up all of the free coaching out there since your goal is more short term.
Best of luck!
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Post by scrapsuzy on Apr 15, 2016 3:59:21 GMT
I know y'all are talking about handmade stuff, but would something like Flourish work for someone looking to sell product that isn't handmade (but may be customized)? I've never sold a thing like this before (if I decide to do it) and want to make as few mistakes as possible. My goal, also, is not to do this forever, but to pay off some big debt and then some.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 15:37:41 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2016 4:25:44 GMT
Suzy - I think so. I know there are vintage sellers in Flourish. It's not about the actual making of products or suppliers. If you would like to PM me, I might be able to give you a more specific answer, but basically Flourish teaches
1 - Branding (more than your business cards - building your brand, essentially your store front and identity)
2 - SEO - it varies a lot depending on which venue you are using (and I guess this sort of crosses over into hashtags)
3 - Photography
4 - Pricing
5 - Copy (your item descriptions, etc.)
I can't remember how much the magazine is but it's very reasonable for the information contained. Flourish is $14.99 a month and you get all of the presentations, videos, etc. that have been presented since the beginning. I freely admit that I thought I would be in for a month or two and then out, but it is worth way, way more to me than $14.99 a month.
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Let me first say that I am a follower of Renae Christine. I really like her. 
