New Etsy guidelines gives me Reasons to Reassess
Etsy has just rolled out with some new guidelines for their marketplace. The big ones are 1) allowing sellers to use manufacturing companies to produce their items and 2) allow those companies to drop ship to their customers. *Sigh*. How do lil' ole one-man shops like me compete? I can't lower my prices. To be honest I really need to raise them. If shops are able to manufacture their items at a quicker rate and lower cost, I cannot be in competition. I am not usually one to complain but...
It's time for me to step back and reassess the situation. No I do not want to close up shop. I love my shop and making beautiful gifts and packaging for people. But I am definitely missing out on some things I love. I haven't scrapbooked a single page of my daughter since she was born in October. I haven't scrapped my pregnancy, or even our wedding. I make these journals for new mom's to track their pregnancies and their children's first milestones and I haven't even filled MINE in yet. The info is still all on my phone!
My house has also taken a hit and I have not done all the beautiful DIY projects I've pinned on Pinterest (more on that later). Here is a pin I was inspired by to create our beautiful sunroom wall.
Here is our sunroom wall right now.
Sad, I know. I'm embarrassed. I wanted to make cute little seasonal ornaments to hang in the picture frames. We hung these frames up a year ago (purchased from Hobby Lobby) and the most I did was make the wreath in the middle. Even that little thing took me 6 months to finish after constant reminders from my hubby that I still haven't completed it.
I want to make things like this:
I want Lexie's 1st birthday party (in 3 WEEKS!) to look like this:
My goal a couple years ago was to apply for a design team like Crate Paper, Echo Park or October Afternoon, and to start making more of my decor and gifts. AND now to learn to sew clothes for my daughter! I think it's time to review my goals again and get back on track.
