Started in 2005, Etsy managed just $200,000 in sales in its first year. In 2010, annual sales topped $314-million. Just about all of that money has gone into the wallets and purses of moms who want to stay home with the kids but still help the household bottom line.
Meet Utah's Etsy Moms
Among Utah's Etsy women is Jennifer Rodriguez of West Jordan. Her Etsy online store is "All Things Belle." Jennifer does quilts and wall art, but started by making props for children's photographers. "This is my lens monster -- it gets their attention," Jennifer said showing off one of her creations.
Jennifer got into Etsy to get out of debt. "The bottom line is: I'm doing this so I can stay home with my girls."
In Provo, Lindsay Goodwin aka "BLSoaps" started with her own lines of homemade soaps and has now branched out in natural make-up. "I've always had sensitive skin," she explains.
Etsy sales have helped Goodwin to cover family income lost when her husband went on disability.
Tanya Newbery of Hooper makes makes custom art under the name "Gumball Grenade." Tanya said, "I make enough to supplement child support and alimony."
Within a couple blocks of Tanya are at least two other Etsy moms: Audrey Mann (Audzipan) and Amie Trejo (Willow Creek Signs).
They agree there are challenges to working at home. No sick days. No vacations or sometimes even holidays. "There's a lot of tears and late nights that people don't see," admits Jennifer.
Ultimately, the also agree it has been worth it. Tanya said, "You love being a mom, but you also know that there is more to you. Along with being a mom you're a creative person."
Why Etsy?
"It's super easy to use. I can list something in 20 minutes," said Audrey. She designs and makes silk screen prints. "I'm not a mass producer so everything will have its own little quirks. That's what people come to Etsy for, something that's completely different -- one-of-a-kind."
With five-million visitors a month to Etsy, Audrey's one-of-a-kinds get more view than what she'd get in a year's worth of craft shows.
Jennifer says Etsy is better than mega-auction site EBay where the unique is sometimes lost in the crowd. In a conspiratorial whisper she said, "EBay bad!" Then she went on to explain, "When you put it on Ebay and allow other people to tell you what it's worth, you're really taking something away from it."
Making it Big
Etsy is a place to start, but even home-based businesses can outgrow it.
Amie, an Air Force wife who has doubled the family income by making custom signs and lettering, ("You wouldn't think a mustache on a laptop would be a big thing!") is expanding beyond Etsy. She and her business partner have already hired their first employee who handles correspondence. They've also developed their own web site independent of Etsy.
Lindsay of S.L. Soaps is considering offers to do contract manufacturing. That would mean hiring up to three employees and perhaps moving the business out of the basement of the family home. Lindsay said, "I always had a website outside of Etsy. Putting your eggs in one basket is never a good idea."
Still, Etsy will remain in the mix for BLSoaps, if for no other reason than loyalty to the customers who got her started.
Reflecting on her good fortune, Lindsay commented, "I've done graveyards at Wal-Mart and I would pick this in a heartbeat!"
Jennifer echoed Lindsay's outlook and summed up her feelings on the Etsy craze, "The point is stay at home and be a great mom and still make some money."
Source http://www.abc4.com/
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