cialis belgique vendo cialis vardenafil generika cialis venta acquisto levitra sildenafil moins cher viagra bestellen comprar viagra em portugal acquista viagra genericos viagra impotenza rimedi probleme erection kamagra pharmacie prix de cialis sildenafil 50 mg cialis generico cialis generique en france levitra sin receta impuissance sexuelle viagra ricetta cialis en pharmacie viagra italia levitra generique generische viagra compra levitra vendo viagra acheter cialis generic acheter kamagra oral jelly acheter viagra pas chere viagra senza ricetta acheter kamagra 100mg trouver du viagra zithromax prix tadalafil rezeptfrei cialis generique propecia moins cher acheter cialis 20mg cialis 10mg cialis donne tadalafil generique cialis sur ordonnance costo levitra medicament levitra acheter cialis generique prezzi cialis sildenafil costo cialis 20 mg zyban generique achete levitra acquisto viagra on line viagra effet secondaire sildenafil venta libre cialis rezeptfrei kamagra apcalis vendita viagra acquisto viagra senza ricetta acquisto viagra italia cura impotenza acheter cialis sans ordonnance compro levitra il viagra acheter du cialis levitra sans ordonnance cialis prezzo prozac sans ordonnance prezzi levitra kamagra 100 viagra bestellen procurer du viagra levitra svizzera pastilla cialis cialis indien sildenafil venta vardenafil generique tadalafil 10 mg viagra versand vardenafil bestellen cialis sans ordonnance viagra dosaggio cialis ricetta medica compro cialis vardenafil generico viagra ordonnance viagra donne leivtra moins cher acheter finasteride acheter cialis sur la net pilule levitra acheter kamagra france trouver du levitra compro viagra viagra prijs vendo levitra comprar viagra pela internet kamagra te koop le viagra achat de cialis pilule viagra medicament impuissance levitra 20 mg prezzi viagra levitra generico achat cialis 20mg acheter cialis pas chere cialis generico 10 mg cialis sur internet viagra vendita on line viagra venta libre cialis generique acheter acheter cialis sildenafil kaufen comprare viagra acheter cialis internet viagra 100 mg farmaci impotenza cialis bon prix impuissance erection kamagra rezeptfrei levitra te koop sildenafil rezeptfrei commander du viagra aquisto levitra sildenafil sin receta acheter clomid en france viagra generico venta de levitra koop viagra cialis kopen vardenafil 10 mg levitra sur internet accutane generique ordina levitra

CraftyPod #97: A Top Etsy Seller Downsizes, with Ryan McAbery

by Sister-Diane on August 2, 2009

in Crafty Business, Interviews, Podcast!


A set of Ryan’s new photo blocks

 
icon for podpress  CraftyPod #97: A Top Etsy Seller Downsizes, with Ryan McAbery: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In this show:

- And interview with Ryan McAbery , who was a top seller on Etsy, and then decided to walk away from it.

- Learn what drove Ryan to leave her business behind, and what’s bringing her fresh inspiration now.

- Gain some perspective on the benefits and drawbacks of having a very busy handmade business.

Links:

- Visit Ryan’s new Etsy shop, and see her photography blocks and pendants.

- In Ryan’s blog, All Things Littleput, she shares new designs, snippets of her now-balanced life, and some musings on starting over in business.

- Check out Ryan’s current home – Portland Saturday Market.

- This “Quit Your Day-Job” article on The Storque about Ryan’s top-seller business was published in September 2007.

  • eve
    I understand what she is saying. I sold collectibles on eBay for three years and just got burnt out. Although I was doing really well, it got to the point where I as looking for items for eBay every where. I no longer enjoyed garage sales, or thrift stores. At antique shops I was looking, always looking for items to sell on eBay. I lot the fun of just shopping for my own home.
    I finally just gave away boxes of things and cleared my house of mailing boxes. It was such a relief. Now life is fun again.
    I will always love collectibles but now I shop for fun and when I make money off the crafts I do now, it's all good.
  • This is a really cool episode. I will always think of Ryan fondly as one of the first sellers I ever purchased from and someone I admire so much for allowing us the tutorial to her scrabble tile pendants. I have gifted several of her little accordion journals, which I am now going to have to figure out how to make myself (!?), and a couple of her pendants, and I admire her willingness to be humble and accept when she's only one woman.

    She sent me some washi papers that I am rationing out like gold! Buying more just doesn't seem genuine!!

    oh, I must go now, because I'm getting emotional.

    Chris

    p.s. Can I have Ryan's number?
  • Great podcast again, really makes you think about the idea of making sure you want what you wish for! I don't know if I would be as brave as Ryan, though, walking away from such a successful business.
  • Great interview and good food for thought. It was so nice to get to know Ryan a bit. Thanks to you both and best of luck to Ryan in her new venture(s).

    It's funny. I have gone just the reverse direction. I used to do all the craft fairs and trade shows but got physically exhausted by all the packing, unpacking, setting up and then standing all day to try and attract/welcome people to my booth.

    Now I have a craft website and am just loving setting my own hours, working from home, etc.

    I guess anything gets stale after a while and, as Ryan said, you need to get the balance right - for you.

    The interview is really making me think more carefully about next steps (expand, stay where I am ...).
  • Thank you both for doing this interview. You've really brought to light the same sort of process I've gone through. While I wasn't a top seller, I did come to the conclusion that fear of my designs being stolen was keeping me from creating anew and creating merely for the sake of creating. I was so caught on protecting one single idea that I couldn't let go to create anything new. There was no space in my heart and mind for new ideas to flow - and I'm an idea woman!

    The stuff for my store just sat around in my cabinet for months and selling had become quite disheartening. I have done festivals, but theft & rude people really put me too much on my guard. Plus, mentally, those things were dragging me down. I felt I had to sell them because I made them. When actually, I didn't. They're lovely & I've donated them to someone who will love them. Best part? I've been able to begin creating again.

    I don't sell anything in my stores anymore. It's quite liberating. In fact, it's given me more time to write/blog. Which I'd rather do. I don't care to make duplicates of anything. In fact, I've even stopped making clothes for friends because it too felt like a job that if I didn't finish by X time, then they'd be disappointed. It's much better for me, at the moment, to be spontaneous & allow myself the freedom to create and make as many mistakes as I want without someone being disappointed in my art.

    We should all free our minds a bit more. Create, share, dream, love, pour your emotions into your creations - let them live and breathe as they will.

    Thanks SisterDiane. I've been thinking on this one quite a lot!
  • keysandmemories
    Great interview! I have always been a big fan of Ryans. I don't have her sales numbers but I can really relate to her comments.

    Etsy can consume your life- I have struggled with this myself. My friend Bonnie ( Hello Crafty) helped me take a look around and step back.

    I don't think some sellers understand what happens when you have Ryans success. It is all consuming and leaves no time for anything else. Noticing some comments on the Etsy thread, I see sellers saying they want the sales not realizing that everything else suffers. I know my husband has commented that my business is #1 in my life which I know I need to change. I think an online business is a 24/7 thing, always there, never going away, or having 9-5 hours.

    I really can appreciate Ryans comments about no socialization running an online shop as well. I have recently considered doing some live shows just to get out of the house and see other humans. I am so glad I listened to this podcast. Best wished Ryan!!
  • Thanks for another great podcast!
  • it was slow this weekend because of the heat girl ;)
  • This was a great interview, thank you. I often struggle with the what-ifs of pushing my business to the next level, and come back to what Ryan discovered--being a top seller means making huge sacrifices, and maybe it's not the best goal for every maker/artist. Thanks so much for this, great food for thought. Thanks to Ryan for being so forthcoming about her experience!
  • Fantastic interview! Thank you so much for following up with Ryan. It really made a lot of sense, and I think that you both touched on some very important, often not-talked about aspects of working for yourself and living by your own creativity.

    Loved it, thanks!
  • joannajorgensen
    Ryan continues to be an insipration to me both with her previous success on Etsy & her determination to keep her craft true to herself & remembering what is truely important for your own personal meaning of success.
    I continue to learn from her example.
  • What a good reminder that we all need a life balance and that the best creativity comes from the heart.
  • SisterDiane
    Thanks, Kirsty! I agree - Ryan's story is a beautiful example of how
    important it is to step away and enjoy life.
  • How funny, just last night I was listening to Ryan's earlier podcast again. Now I shall sit down with a cup of tea and my sewing and listen to this one.
  • anneclarke
    AnneClarke
    AnneClarke says:
    Littleput,
    That was a great interview. It is nice to hear someone talk about getting life into balance. It's too easy to get sucked into the 24/7 world of the internet. I've recently decided that instead of trying to become tech savvy (googlebase, blogging, etc. etc.) I am going to focus on selling locally. It feels like a relief in many ways.
    Best of luck to you!
  • That was an enlightening and very human interview. It made me feel good about my own personal choices, decisions and work ethic. It was nice to hear your voice Ryan :)

    Balance, health and happiness in life is really, all that matters.

    I wish you the best in your present and future endeavors!
blog comments powered by Disqus

Previous post:

Next post: