254 ~ Exploring the Relationship Between Art and Activism (& More) With Janine Kwoh of Kwohtations

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Do you view your Etsy shop and/or your craft as a platform for exploring social and promoting social issues and awareness? If not, or if you didn’t think you could, then you’ll enjoy my convo with Janine in this podcast episode.

Janine Kwoh runs the Etsy shop Kwohtations which she opened in 2011.

Her shop has evolved over the years but one thing that stands out clearly is Janine’s sense of social consciousness and awareness. You’ll see that recurring in the themes of the greeting cards, art prints, and other products she sells.

We get to talk in our convo about, among other things, the relationship between art and activism. I think sometimes, especially in the online world, we think the people who have a platform are those who have known names and brands, but we all have a name and brand, and even if we didn’t, we can use our talents to help bring awareness to issues we hold dear and educate those who might not be well-informed.

Janine has an inspiring journey on Etsy that I think will be particularly encouraging to you if you’re on your own Etsy journey too. she started her shop as a hobby and today it is her full-time business…

Listen in to hear how her shop and business evolved over the years and what plans she has for the future.

We also talk about:

• Factoring in the cost of renting equipment to your product cost
• Offering sneak peeks of new products on Instagram to test for market acceptance
• Getting products in retail shops
• Janine’s social media marketing and time management strategies
• And so much more…

Resources Mentioned

• Dymo LabelWriter – this label writer will save you so many headaches when it comes to shipping your products and it interfaces excellently well with Etsy Shipping. This is the exact brand I use and recommend, hands down and I got mine on Amazon (affiliate link).

• Wholesale In A Box – Here’s Episode 266 where I talk with Emily Kerr-Finely, one of the founders of this service
• Online learning platforms – Skillshare and CreativeLive
• Handmade In Brooklyn
• Rising Tide Society

Janine’s Maker & Etsy Shop ShoutOuts

• Jen from Just Enough Nonsense
  • Website: https://justenoughnonsense.com/
  • Instagram: @justenoughnonsense
• Michelle from Michelle Barrett Ceramics (she also owns a retail shop called Kind Goods)
  • Website: https://www.kindgoodsmarket.com/michelle-barrett-ceramics
  • Instagram: @michellebarrettceramics
• Eling from Migration Goods
  • Website: https://migration.bigcartel.com/
  • Instagram: @elingeling
• Kate from Quick Brown Fox Letterpress
  • Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/quickbrownfoxlp
  • Instagram: quickbrownfoxlp
• Kimberley from Porcelain and Stone
  • Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PorcelainAndStone
  • Instagram: @porcelainandstone

Connect With Janine

• Etsy shop: Kwohtations
• Website: www.kwohtations.com
• Instagram: @kwohtations
• Email: info [at] kwohtations [dot] com

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Connect With Me:

• • Instagram: @EtsyConvo
  • Twitter: @ConvoMePodcast
  • Email: Use the Contact Form OR interview [at] convome [dot] com
  • Facebook Group: Etsy Conversations

For more help growing your Etsy-based business, check out these resources: