Affiliate disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. If you enjoy reading “Legalese”, here’s my full disclosure policy.
Starting an Etsy shop based on a fluke comment on social media… What!?
This week I’m sharing a really enlightening conversation I had with Christina Springer. Christina is a multidisciplinary artist and she runs the Etsy shop Mmmm By CSpringer where she sells black womanist and lifestyle objects for everyone.
Christina fine art has been exhibited in galleries across the United States and she opened her Etsy shop as a way to make her artwork accessible to more people.
I love this because she believes that having beautiful pieces of art and home decor should be attainable in every and and that has become part of her mission in opening her Etsy shop.
She is the author of four collections of poetry, the most recent of which was published by Frayed Edge Press in 2018. She is also an orisha priest and home education consultant.
Topics Discussed:
- Learning to recognize the value in our skills and consciously deciding to place a value on those skills
- Integrating social justice and cultural awareness into her business
- Figuring out the process of creating custom fabrics
- Getting grants for commissioned artwork and tips and ideas for how other artists and makers can go about doing the same
- Time management >> gallery shows, Etsy shop, etc.
- How going deep has helped Christina be successful in her business
- Tips for connecting with a community as a way to find your audience and grow sales
- Christina’s top tip (and super easy strategy) for staying in touch with past customers and remaining top of mind with them
- And a lot more…
Christina’s Etsy Shop ShoutOuts
- Karen James Makes – Karen makes functional ceramics and mixed media art pieces
- Art of Robert Trujillo – Robert is an Oakland-based artist (my former stomping ground… Yay!) and he makes art prints, bookmarks, stickers, and books featuring his original artwork
- Urban Cherubim – Terra Turner’s Etsy shop in which she makes and sells holiday decorations inspired by the black experience.
Resources Mentioned:
- Spoonflower – site for buying and selling custom fabric, wall paper, and home decor
- Patreon – site for creators to get support from their community for their creative work
- Google Workspace (formerly known as G-Suite)
Connect With Christina
- Etsy shop: Mmmm By CSpringer
- Website: ChristinaSpringer.com
- Christina’s Patreon
- Christina’s Facebook page
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:
- Instagram: @EtsyConversations
- Twitter: @ConvoMePodcast