More than half (54%) of Americans last 12 months they took up something on the side to make ends meet. And while people looking to earn extra money now have almost limitless options – from dog walking to driving for Uber, tutoring and more – some of the best gigs are the ones that may generate passive sources of income.
For hustlers of any creative inclination, selling designs online – which may be uploaded as a digital file and printed on stationery, T-shirts, mugs and more – is an oft-traveled path to financial success. Today, sellers have a selection of platforms to select from including Amazon, Shopify, Etsy and more, all of which may be connected to other sales channels corresponding to a personal website or social media account.
Etsy, an e-commerce company focused on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies, has been in business for almost 20 years and stays one of the hottest platforms for sellers, especially those just starting out. Moreover, it has change into a staple for those selling digital products and/or using print-on-demand corporations that eliminate the need to hold inventory.
Entrepreneur I met with three individuals who began a side business on Etsy and are now seeing six- or seven-figure success: Kirstie Wang, owner A jar of pickles; Julie Berninger, co-founder Events in the Golden City; and Gina Van De Voorde, who runs a clothing store on the platform.
Read on to learn more about their journeys and secrets to success on the platform:
Kirstie Wang, owner of the pickle jar
Wang enjoyed making birthday cards for college friends, and when her roommates suggested she start an Etsy shop, Jar of Pickles was born. She received her first few orders in just a few weeks and kept up with the store “in the background” when she took a full-time job in the engineering department after graduation. Eight years later, the store had grown to such an extent that Wang could not juggle her side hustle with her corporate job – she had achieved six-figure sales and went all-in on entrepreneurship.
Wang’s advice: “As entrepreneurs, we dream about what latest products we are able to offer, what the packaging of our dream product might appear like or what our marketing plan should appear like. While it’s great to keep a list of fresh ideas to implement, it’s more essential to take what you are currently working on and make sure you see it through to completion. Don’t let “shiny object syndrome” get your attention so you could complete 10% of 10 projects as a substitute of 100% of one by allowing yourself to work on “shiny object syndrome” projects 20% of my time and 80% of the time on the projects for which I have already set goals and tasks. It’s at all times a good time to reflect and set specific goals to focus on for your store. “
Julie Berninger, co-founder of Gold City Ventures
Berninger was working as a project manager at large technology corporations when she decided to try her first job on Etsy, inspired by the personal finance podcasts she listened to on her lunch breaks. She sold temporary tattoos in the hen party area of interest before switching to printable digital products. Between her Etsy gig and blogging about her personal finance journey, Berninger made six figures in a few years; She then co-founded the online course company Gold City Ventures, which helps students arrange profitable Etsy stores for digital products and now generates over $100,000 monthly.
Berninger’s advice: “Don’t start a business on your personal! Choose a business partner and grow faster! Don’t waste time filing information on YouTube. Pay for a step-by-step program or a business consultant, because your time is beneficial.”
Gina Van De Voorde, owner of the Etsy clothing store
In 2021, Van De Voorde was stationed at a distant mental clinic. She was “scared” of the job and wanted to find one other way to complement her income. After hours of browsing YouTube, Van De Voorde got here across a tutorial on print-on-demand services – with lower minimum costs and less risk, she knew she had found her side hustle. Even with no experience in e-commerce or graphic design, Van De Voorde had launched her clothing store on Etsy by the end of the day. It took some trial and error and a lot of “niche research,” but Van De Voorde’s Etsy shop has surpassed $500,000 in sales.
Van De Voorde’s advice: Don’t assume this is some get wealthy quick scheme overnight. “It’s a lot of work at the beginning. So be prepared for the fact that at the beginning you will have to put all the work on the front end to get your store up and running – and then you will be able to kind of roll it back. But as long as you are consistent, posting every day, you will see success.”