Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Making an Etsy-based business work when you have absolutely no other choice but to make it succeed is the situation Crystal found herself in back in 2011.
Today, Crystal runs the Etsy shop Le Rustic Chic where she sells custom handmade wire creations for special occasions and even though, thankfully, today we get to talk about the success she has found on Etsy, the journey started out with a lot of unknowns.
This week, Crystal is my guest on the podcast and if you’re at a point in your own Etsy journey where you find that you need a good dose of inspiration and a reason to keep forging ahead, then you’ll really love hearing Crystal’s own Etsy story.
Crystal and I discuss how she started off selling one particular product on Etsy and then when her passion for that waned, she shares who she found a new, much more viable passion and product to create and sell… And the great thing is, her strategy for doing her market research was so simple and freely available to all sellers… Listen in and you’ll hear her tell it in her own words 🙂
We also discuss:
- Startegies for offering gift-wrapping options in your Etsy shop and how Crystal has structured this value-added service for hers
- Lessons learned in international shipping
- Crystal’s time management strategies as an Etsy seller and work-at-home solopreneur
- Staying on trend within your niche to keep products fresh and in style
- How Crystal uses Instagram for informal market research as well as product marketing
- Pinterest marketing tips for Etsy sellers >> live Pinning vs. scheduling Pins
- And so much more…
Be sure you don’t miss Crystal’s explanation of who to link your Facebook page with your Instagram business account to make it so much easier to sell your products directly from Instagram…
This strategy was brand new to me so we went over it a couple of times… It’s brilliant!

Resources Mentioned
- Etsy market research tools: Etsy Rank, Google Trends and Etsy’s Editor’s Picks
- Shipping supplies: ULine and Amazon
- Google Chrome extension for Pinterest: Pinterest Save Button
- Photo editing software: Adobe Photoshop and PicMonkey (affiliate link)
- Crystal’s Facebook group: A Maker’s Craft
- Label printer: Dymo LabelWriter 4XL (affiliate link) – the price seems to have gone up since I bought mine but I promise you, it is worth every single penny; and here’s a link to the labels for the Dymo LabelWriter 4XL (affiliate link); you do get some starter labels with the printer but trust me, you’ll probably need a lot more (one roll of this should be okay to start with).
Crystal’s Etsy Shop ShoutOut
- Uttini Bikini: this shop is run by Crystal’s friend Teresa where she sells clothing with her own original art prints. Please go check out her shop and let her know Crystal sent you! 🙂
Connect with Crystal
- Etsy shop: Le Rustic Chic
- Social media:
- Facebook group – A Maker’s Craft
- Facebook page – Le Rustic Chic
- Instagram – @lerusticchic
- Pinterest – Le Rustic Chic
- Crystal’s husband’s video game Facebook page: Dead Sprint
Episode sponsored by: The Seller’s Resource
Please take a minute to subscribe and leave an honest review of the podcast in iTunes and Stitcher. That really helps to get the word out about the show.
Connect With Me:
- Twitter: Follow @ConvoMePodcast
- Facebook Group: Etsy Conversations – This is where I’m connecting with you after the podcast. Lots of fun convos here too!
- Facebook: Like the Etsy Conversations Podcast Facebook Page
- Pinterest: Etsy Conversations Podcast
- Instagram: @EtsyConvo
- Google+: Etsy Conversations Podcast
- Email: Use the Contact Form OR interview [at] convome [dot] com
For more help growing your Etsy-based business, check out these resources: