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

By: SisterDiane

SisterDiane — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:10:21 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing your perspective, Amber! It's amazing how much labor a successful finished-handmade-product business requires. Burnout can happen so easily.

I wish you all the best as you start down this path again with a fresh outlook!

By: Amber Dusick

Amber Dusick — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 05:40:44 +0000

This is an older podcast, but I'm just catching up and I really appreciate this one. I relate so much. While I certainly didn't sell at the level Ryan did, I was a featured seller and had my fair share of busy in the short year I was active. I got burnt out, stepped back and took a full year off. I'm just about to start again, but plan to do so on a more relaxed scale – very similar to what she has done. Such a great reminder for me that is isn't success I'm after, just a community and a creative outlet.

By: eve

eve — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:49:47 +0000

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.

By: eve

eve — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:49:47 +0000

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:32:20 +0000

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?

By: Tammy

Tammy — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 22:37:33 +0000

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.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:52:06 +0000

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 ...).

By: Dread.Full FuFu

Dread.Full FuFu — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 05:57:15 +0000

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!

By: keysandmemories

keysandmemories — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:05:55 +0000

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!!

By: SisterDiane

SisterDiane — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 07:08:41 +0000

Thanks, Kirsty! I agree – Ryan's story is a beautiful example of how
important it is to step away and enjoy life.

By: heatherdollarstorecraftscom

heatherdollarstorecraftscom — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:31:00 +0000

Thanks for another great podcast!

By: michael medina

michael medina — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:16:00 +0000

it was slow this weekend because of the heat girl ;)

By: Clementine Cassie

Clementine Cassie — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:59:39 +0000

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!

By: Linkpile

Linkpile — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 18:33:23 +0000

[...] A Top Etsy Seller Downsizes: Craftypod Podcast interview with Ryan McAbery , a top seller on Etsy who decided to walk away from it. [...]

By: Allison

Allison — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:52:10 +0000

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!