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It’s all about The Coastal Workshop this week… 🙂
Frequently the best businesses are born from our own need: we have a problem, and need a solution. We create the solution, and then sell it to others who also need it. That was the case for today’s guest: Joe Leo.
Joe isn’t new to the world of selling and customer service. He has owned brick and mortar shops before, but he was new to ecommerce and Etsy when he opened his coaster shop in August of 2015. He and his wife had bought new, white furniture for their bedroom and wanted to keep the end tables pristine by using coasters. Not able to find what he wanted, he created some.
Even after he made a set he enjoyed the experience so much he continued making them. His daughter suggested he put them on Etsy and sell them to others. Even though he had no idea what Etsy was he got online that afternoon and jumped in with both feet!
It wasn’t long before he was making sales of his handmade coasters, expanding his offerings into other items like snack trays and overall growing his business. He continues to work his full-time job as the marketing director of a radiology group, but sees Etsy as a valuable way to enjoy his free time and make some extra money now and into his retirement days.
On this episode of the Etsy Conversations podcast, Joe and I talk about the most valuable tools and resources he has found to help him grow his business, why tracking his sales has been so beneficial and how he manages his time with work, his family, his singing gigs and his Etsy shop! There’s all of that and so much more on episode 120.
Tweetable: “There is a niche for everybody’s product.”
The Coastal Workshop – Topics Discussed
- The advantages of e-commerce versus a brick and mortar store.
- How did Joe get started using Etsy and what was his original intent in doing so?
- One technique he uses to increase sales, and why it’s so effective.
- How in-person networking added a new stream of revenue for his business.
- What advertising strategies does he use?
- And more!
Joe’s Etsy Shop ShoutOut
That’s Old Money – vintage and antique coin shop run by Roger Varouj
Resources Mentioned
Backpage – A place to advertise your products and direct traffic to your Etsy shop; similar ot Craigslist
Craiglist – Same as above
Marmalead’s episode on the show
Wave Accounting – An accounting/bookkeeping tool
Best ways to reach Joe – The Coastal Workshop
- Etsy shop convo: The Coastal Workshop
- Website: TheCoastalWorkshop.com
- Email: TheCoastalWorkshop [at] gmail [dot] com
- Social media:
- Twitter – @CoastalWorkshop
- Facebook – Coastal Workshop Page
- Instagram – @TheCoastalWorkshop
- Pinterest – The Coastal Works
- Check out his singing skills at The Jukebox Legends… These guys are really good! 🙂
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- Email: Use the Contact Form OR interview [at] convome [dot] com