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You are here: Home / Podcast Episodes / 335 ~ Running an Etsy Shop That Gives Back w/Rich Varone of Zip Zap Craft Shack

335 ~ Running an Etsy Shop That Gives Back w/Rich Varone of Zip Zap Craft Shack

September 29, 2021

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Rich is a software engineer by day, a volunteer high school STEAM educator by night and in all the other times in-between, he runs his Etsy shop Zip Zap Craft Shack.

He sells eco-friendly, custom and personalized laser engraved wine charms, save the dates, dog/pet ID tags, games, and so much more.

Rich’s shop has a very interesting startup story which he shares in our conversation as well as how he’s using what he does on Etsy to enrich the lives of the kids he mentors.

Topics Discussed:

  • Rich’s strategy for creatively funding the mentorship program he’s involved in and helping his business at the same time
  • Intricacies of running an eco-friendly and sustainable products store
  • How to find partners in business that share your values with respect to the environment
  • Branching out into new niches
  • Transitioning from a robotics-based business to an Etsy-based business
  • Figuring out social media strategies that work
  • And lots more…

Rich’s Etsy Shop ShoutOut

  • CraftingSuccs – run by Rich’s best friend Tiana where she sells her handmade succulent crafts like magnets, candles, etc.

Resources Mentioned

  • Rich’s Excel spreadsheet for calculating product prices
  • Tailwind – social media scheduling tool for Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest
  • OneNote – part of the Microsoft Office Suite, this tool can be used to keep notes, documentation, etc.
  • eRank – Etsy keyword research tool (eRank is popular; Sale Samurai is the tool I personally use and recommend, use code “etsyconversations” to get 20% off your subscription for life)
  • Vela – Etsy listing editing tool

Connect With Rich

  • Etsy shop: Zip Zap Craft Shack
  • Email: Rich [at] ZipZapCraftShack [dot] com
  • Instagram: @zipzapcraftshack

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