The Create & Thrive Podcast

It’s time for a change. Since I started my handmade business, Epheriell, in 2008, the world has changed so much. I have changed so much. In 2008 I was a 27 year old tuition centre manager, living with my English boyfriend in the Brisbane suburbs, and I started making jewellery in my spare time to fulfil a creative urge I had neglected for years. When I started Epheriell as a hobby business, I had zero idea that I would be here, talking to you, almost 18 years later, after having built a number of different businesses – all in the realm of the handmade sphere – and having turned over almost two million dollars from those businesses in those years. Wow. I’ve never pulled that number up before! It’s a bit overwhelming to think I managed to create products with my own two hands and one brain, and have been able to make a living from them for all this time. But. The world has changed. I have changed. And it’s time for me to move on. So, as of June 2026, I’ll be retiring from handmade business education, and I’ll be putting Epheriell on indefinite sabbatical. What will I do next? I don’t actually know yet. But we’ve finally reached a point where we are in the financial position to allow me to take a sabbatical where I will have the space to rest, reflect, get the dosage of my MHT right (😆), and decide what’s next for me. I’ve officially reached middle age this year – I keep joking about the fact that I got my first reading glasses and my MHT prescription in the same week! I turn 45 in 2026, and like the elder millennial that I am, I have been obsessed with the internet since I first dove into the world of message boards, IRC, fandom, Geocities, Altavista and Ask Jeeves when I was a fresh-faced 15-year-old in 1996. Did you know, I made my very first website (on Geocities, of course) back in 1996 or 97 – and it was an X-Files fan site? It was pretty popular too! Though of course, the internet was a much, much smaller place back then. Since then, I’ve launched various blogs, started various businesses, worked for other people’s online businesses, been an affiliate, run a podcast, various YouTube channels, sold jewellery under 2 different brands, sold ads on my own site, launched a membership, sold ebooks and ecourses… I’ve tried all sorts of things and made money online in myriad ways since making that very first website (which, of course, made me zero dollars, but my nerdy friends thought it was cool, so…). Suffice it to say,  I’ve been here for a long time. 30 years! I always dreamt of making a living from the internet, and it took me about 12 years to finally crack how to do it properly – which started when I stumbled on Etsy back in 2008 and opened that first shop. It has been an amazing journey, and I have loved so much about it. It has enabled me and Nick to live a life we love. To live in a place we adore. To have so much freedom of time, to travel regularly to visit friends and family overseas, and to live a low-stress life. But I’m ready to move on. I’m also ready to take a break from the internet. I have slowly faded away from most social media over the last few years. I have no interest in instagram any more. I pretty much only use Facebook to find events to attend IRL. Threads I have been enjoying, because it felt like a breath of fresh air to actually talk WITH people again, but even that is growing thin for me right now. Don’t even get me started on TikTok (ugh). I have been putting myself and my face and my life out there on the internet since my early 20s. But as I get older, and the changes in the online world loom, I feel the need to take a step back and just be again, without sharing things publicly with the world. It’s time for retreat, recalibration, and reflection. To decide what I want to do with this next phase of my life. And to do that, I’m stepping away for a time. Does that mean I’ll never come back online? Not at all! I might decide to start up my YouTube again. Or to launch something totally new. And it doesn’t mean I’m disappearing today. But I am aiming to be on sabbatical by the winter solstice here in Australia, which is June 21st, 2026. Why am I telling you so early? Because I’m going to offer a bunch of things for the last time, and it felt disingenuous to do so without being upfront about it. I’ve always tried my best to be honest and keep firm grip on my integrity in a space where that seems to be increasingly rare. I want you to know what’s happening, and why, so you can prepare and be aware – and if you so choose, to take advantage of my offers with full knowledge. If you are in my community, or are one of my students, Thriver Circle members, or Epheriell customers, here’s the timeline of exactly what’s happening. Timeline December 2025 Thriver Circle final launch – December 29th till January 7th. If you join at this time, I will unlock the full Your Year to Thrive course, so you will have just under 6 months to work through it at your own pace during this time (which does mean doing 2 lessons a week instead of 1 should you want to). You will have full access to all other courses and workshops, and I will still be running 2 live calls each month until the end of May, and I’ll be active in the FB group community. February 2026 Set Up Shop runs for the final time – February 9th till March 10th. April 2026 I will offer shop critiques until April 6th, then they will no longer be available. May 2026 I will offer the Wholesale Know-How course until May 4th, after which it will no longer be available. June 2026 The Thriver Circle will close forever on June 8th, 2026. Members will no longer have access to any aspect of the Circle, including the FB group, courses, workshops, podcasts. All memberships will be cancelled and all payments will be stopped by this date at the latest. I encourage members to cancel their membership when their May payment is deducted, as you will then stay an active member until the shut-down should you so wish. I will archiving all my social media – bar YouTube (I’m leaving all my free videos up) in June. Epheriell will be placed on sabbatical on June 8th, 2026. This will give us time to process any final orders by the time I take sabbatical. (I’m not ruling out opening Epheriell again in the future, but it will be a long while – probably at least 18 months – until I do so – unless Nick decides he wants to run it without my input, but he’s gotten himself a good permanent part-time government job so that will probably keep him busy enough!). On June 21st I will hopefully be done with all the work to wrap up the businesses, and will be stepping away from all social media for at least 6 months and taking a sabbatical from work and the online world.    I’m not going to lie, I am simultaneously elated and terrified to take this step. I’ve been feeling the urge to move on for a while now, but the circumstances were not in alignment until now, and I know that if I don’t take advantage of this opportunity, I will regret it immensely. I’m excited to take my first real break from paid work since I was 16, and I’m so thankful to Nick for joyfully supporting me in this choice. I want to take a moment to thank him, publicly, for all the work he has put in since this all began back in 2008. Not only in the business – of which he has been an employee for over a decade now (and let’s be honest, an unpaid helper before that) – but in our life together. He has been unfailing in his support – both emotional and practical – from day 1. He has been the main home manager – taking care of the fundamentals of life like cooking, cleaning, shopping, mowing, repairs… all of those ‘mundane’ things that most women have bear the mental load of, even when they are working as well. He’s freed me up to manage and run the businesses – and we have assisted each other in our respective spheres all this time. It’s going to be quite the dynamic shift as he goes ‘to work’ (even though he’ll still be mostly working from home, thankfully!) and I take on more of the domestic load for the first time in our relationship. I couldn’t have a more supportive partner in business and life, and I am so grateful every day that we chose to travel through life together. Thank you so much, Nick, for all that you are and all that you do. I love you, and I couldn’t have done this without you.   So – I’m not going anywhere just yet, but I wanted you all to know what 2026 has in store. I will still be here, enthusiastically running my businesses and helping you for the first half of 2026, and I will treasure the chance to work in this space – and with you – for these last few months. It’s been an amazing career, and it wouldn’t exist without you. I want to say thank you to YOU. To the 6,000+ people who’ve bought a piece of Epheriell jewellery. Thank you for trusting us to make a treasured piece of jewellery. Particularly those of you for whom we’ve made wedding rings. Every one has been special and we’ve been honoured to make it for you. To every person who’s read my blog posts, my emails, listened to my podcast, or watched a YouTube video – I hope something I said has helped you! I have put so much free content out there over the years that honestly, you could have built your whole business using just that (and I know people who have, because they’ve told me!). But, most deeply, I want to say thank you to the thousands of past and present students who have paid me actual money to teach and help you grow your businesses: all I can hope for is that I haven’t let you down. I hope what I shared made a difference, I hope it was valuable, and I hope that you continue to chase your dreams, whatever they may be. I have always loved the handmade community – there are still so many genuine, creative, wonderful people making things with their hands and hearts. And in this ever-more-digital and fast-everything world we live in, I think handm

As of August 29th, 2025, the de minimus tariff exemption ends for EVERYONE. This will affect both product-based businesses shipping TO the US, and product-based business IN the US who buy materials from outside of the country. And that’s not even the worst part – because your customers might end up paying WAY MORE than just the tariff fee for the next 6 months. You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Keep thriving, Jess ✨P.S. Thriver Circle members, if you haven’t already, make sure to check out our newest mini-course – ​Fundamentals of Selling & Launching Online​! If you’re not already a member, you can ​join right now​ and get immediate access to this and all our other mini-courses and workshops. Support the show   Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Watch on YouTube… Listen Now

There are 2 business models you might be using for your handmade business. 1. You make products that people want to come back for over and over again. 2. You make products that people will most likely only buy once (or maybe once or twice). Which one are you – and are you using the right marketing channels for your business model? Today I’ll outline the difference between these two models, and explain which marketing strategies you should use for each. You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Keep thriving, Jess ✨P.S. Thriver Circle members, if you haven’t already, make sure to check out our newest mini-course – ​Fundamentals of Selling & Launching Online​! If you’re not already a member, you can ​join right now​ and get immediate access to this and all our other mini-courses and workshops. Support the show   Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Watch on YouTube… Listen Now

In early January, I decided to start writing Morning Pages. This is a practice taught and made famous by Julia Cameron in her classic self-help book The Artist’s Way. Written in 1992, The Artist’s Way (TAW) is actually the written version of a creativity course that Julia developed and taught – and has become a well-known book in creative circles. I have avoided TAW for many years, because I believed it had a bit too much of a ‘woo-woo’ element for my personal preference. However, I was moved enough by a recent feeling of creative stagnation that I decided to borrow it from the library and finally see what all the fuss was about. To this day, I have only read the introductory section – up to the beginning of ‘Week 1’ of the course. This beginning section is where Julia introduces the concept and practice of both the Morning Pages and the Artist’s Date – and explains what she means by the ‘creative force’ that she refers to throughout the course. Call it what you want, she says – god, the universe, or just your own creative energy – but whatever it is, the goal of The Artist’s Way is to connect with this creative energy and move past obstacles or blocks that have been holding you back. I decided to pause at this point in the book and simply commit to the core practices for a period of time to see what impact they would have on me, before I dove into the deeper work of the course. I started off with both Morning Pages & the Artist’s Date – but while I stuck to the first one (mostly) religiously, the second was a bit more ephemeral for me. I do like to get out at least once a week by myself, so that’s already a habit I have, but most of the time, I’m hiking, or going to brunch, or walking… so it felt a bit ‘forced’ to commit to the concept of the Artist’s Date for me. I might revisit it in a more formal way when I work through the rest of the course (which I’m doing starting early May in The Thriver Circle, ​if you care to join us​!) but I didn’t feel too bad about putting that to the side. However, the Morning Pages (MP) were a different story. I actually struggle to articulate what it is about the MP that made me keep going. I’ve kept journals and diaries before in my life – since I was in my early teens – but it only tends to be when I’m struggling with some aspect of my life. I have used it as an effective form of self-therapy to work through anxiety, relationship troubles, and creative struggles, but as soon as things resolved, the habit fell away. Keeping a form of a journal when things were good is something new to my experience. Maybe it’s the constraints around the practice? Your only goal is to write three pages of stream-of-consciousness thoughts. Something about it just worked for me – and I’ve talked more about this in today’s video and podcast. You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Keep thriving, Jess ✨P.S. If you would like the opportunity to work through The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron in a group setting, here is your chance! Starting on May 5th, and running for the 12 weeks of the course outlined in the book, we are going to be working through The Artist’s Way inside the Thriver Circle membership community for makers. ​Tap here to find out how you can join us. Support the show   Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Watch on YouTube… Listen Now

When I started selling my handmade jewellery online in 2008, it was so easy. You could ship pretty much anywhere, for just a few dollars, and the world was my oyster! Globalisation was the theme of the time, and the internet was still in its flush of 2.0 growth – the world of online business was only just beginning to pick up momentum, and anything felt possible. Things have changed. Over the last few years, especially, there have been numerous laws and regulations brought in around the world that have made selling internationally more and more difficult. And now, with the US tariff situation – throwing one of the biggest English-speaking markets into turmoil – the situation is more unsure than ever. Today, I wanted to discuss this evolving situation, and open up discussion for you to share your experiences. Whether you’re outside or inside the US, these changes affect you, and I believe it’s only going to become more difficult over time, as countries seem to be becoming more insular, and free trade seems to be waning. What are we to do? You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Keep thriving, Jess ✨P.S. If you would like the opportunity to work through The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron in a group setting, here is your chance! Starting on May 5th, and running for the 12 weeks of the course outlined in the book, we are going to be working through The Artist’s Way inside the Thriver Circle membership community for makers. ​Tap here to find out how you can join us. Support the show   Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Watch on YouTube… Listen Now

So I can’t remember how many times I have mentioned this Etsy hack to my students over the years – but this week I realised I had never shared it on the YouTube channel or podcast! Today I’m explaining a very simple trick you can use to multiply your Etsy search traffic – without creating any new products. This hack will work for you if you make any products that feature variations – different colours, finishes, fabrics, etc. And, it has the potential to vastly increase your presence on Etsy, as well as get more clicks and sales coming through your shop. Don’t miss this one… You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Keep thriving, Jess ✨P.S. If you would like the opportunity to work through The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron in a group setting, here is your chance! Starting on May 5th, and running for the 12 weeks of the course outlined in the book, we are going to be working through The Artist’s Way inside the Thriver Circle membership community for makers. ​Tap here to find out how you can join us. Support the show   Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Watch on YouTube… Listen Now

Have you ever considered selling both digital and physical products? Today’s guest – Emily Sheehan of Woolly Bear Knits – is doing exactly that. She is a knitter and knitting pattern designer who started her business in 2019. At Woolly Bear Knits, you’ll find cozy, modern knit accessories all hand-knit with ethically-sourced yarn to keep you warm on all your everyday adventures. Emily entered the handmade business world with previous business experience, and we discuss how that helped her in the beginning of this journey, and how her business evolved to offer both finished knitted products, and knitting patterns over time. We also discuss: Dealing with the isolation of being self-employed Product photography Knowing who your ideal customer is and how to reach them The importance of branding Not following the competition, and more! You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Keep thriving, Jess Support the show   Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Watch on YouTube… Listen Now Show Notes Emily started her company, Woolly Bear Knits (named after the Woolly Bear Caterpillar) in 2019. She was a stay-at-home mother at the time and living in Minnesota where the weather is cold. Having lived in California and Colorado for some years, Emily was wanting to spend more time outdoors and rediscovered knitting with Merino wool to create cosy hats to keep her warm in the Minnesota winter. Emily discussed how she transitioned to knitting as a business, and this started when she made hats as a fundraiser for her sister who had a not-for-profit business. Her sister had previously operated a successful Etsy shop and encouraged Emily to start one herself. Emily’s background is in business and human resources, and this has helped her a lot to run the business on her own. Having started her company in 2019, she had one full selling season (October to December) at markets etc. before the Covid pandemic. However, during lockdown, her hats, and particularly her downloadable knitting patterns, took off as people looked for new hobbies and online products. Emily has tried in the past to sell other products such as macrame during the summer months, but this never took off. Summer is now her time to build stock and complete admin tasks such as updating her website. Jess noted that it’s important for new business owners to get to the know the ebbs and flows of their particular product in their particular region, and not panic when there is a slow season.  ‘…Some of us just got really lucky in terms of the timing… I had two years of experience by then [Covid] and was able to scale my business a little bit more during that busy time, but if I were just getting started during that busy time, it would have been a different story.’ {Emily}  Jess spoke about the isolation that some makers experience and how important it is for them to realise that they’re not alone in their struggles. She started her business in 2008, the year of the Global Financial Crisis, and has seen ebbs and flows along the way. The current financial issues will also pass. Emily highlighted the importance of having a network of maker friends, who don’t necessarily make the same thing, but can offer advice or suggestions about aspects of running the business, or just provide support. Marketing was discussed. Emily mostly finds customers for her hats through Instagram, though she posts her knitting patterns on TikTok. An email list is also important for Emily, and she would recommend this to makers. She created a free digital download of the products she uses (wool, tools, etc.), and makes this available on her website for customers to click on, giving her their email address. This is the number one driver of people to her email list. Jess asked about how to balance the selling of two different types of products: finished items and patterns. Emily divides her products on the Etsy shop into sections, keeping the knitting patterns separate to the finished knits. The website which she set up last year is also divided the same way. It has occurred once that someone purchased a pattern instead of a finished hat, so Emily states very clearly in the first line of the product description whether it is a knitting pattern or a knitted hat / cowl. Makers should make it as obvious as possible that the item is downloadable or a finished product. The creation of downloadable patterns was discussed. Emily advised that it’s best to take a look at other patterns as there is a standard format. She has some templates available for sale on her Etsy shop for those who wish to design their own products. Once the pattern is written, she has some knitting friends use the pattern and seeks feedback. It’s also important to keep track of comments or questions that customers are asking in case there is something that needs to be fixed in the pattern. Jess asked for advice from Emily for new makers:  ‘…Something that I’ve learned over time is not to compare yourself too much to others. Go in trying to be who you are, you bring something unique to your craft… {Emily}   Jess and Emily agreed that it can be a trap following other makers who do the same as you as you can feel too much pressure. Find what you do best, and who your ideal customer is, and focus on that. Work life balance was discussed. The maker life has allowed Emily more flexibility to spend more time with her son, but now he’s at school, she restricts her work time to during school hours and tries to take time for herself to walk or do yoga. There are changes ahead however as Emily has recently hired some people to help with her knitting and will soon be starting a part-time job in human resources. Jess queried how Emily’s business has affected her relationship with knitting. Emily stated that knitting is definitely not a hobby anymore, and she would choose to do something else in her downtime. This aspect can be difficult for some makers to deal with, so if you want to keep your hobby just for yourself, then that’s ok too. Emily spoke about her product photography, and the importance of having good photographs of your items, both in flat light and in a lifestyle setting. The biggest highlight for Emily during her maker journey has been all the friends and networks that she has been able to make. Emily’s hats have also been featured on a local television show which was very exciting for her, and she received the Etsy’s Pick badge for some of her products. Advice from Emily: Know who your ideal customer is and market towards them. For example, Emily wants to encourage people to spend more time outside in whatever way feels authentic for them, so this is the audience she markets towards. Makers should also figure out what makes them unique and don’t try to be like everyone else. This might not be super clear in the beginning but continue to hone in on what that is for you as an individual Jess agreed with this and the importance of branding – This is telling a story, and that story runs through everything that you put out. However, you also need to connect this story with your product, and with your customers, and show how your products can solve a particular problem that they have. Quote from Emily is by Elsie de Wolfe, interior designer – ‘I am going to make everything around me beautiful; that will be my life.’ This was in a hair salon and stuck with Emily as her mother taught her to always appreciate the beauty in the little things. Making beautiful things and sharing them with others is really satisfying and resonated with Emily. You can find Emily on Instagram @woollybear_knits, on TikTok @woollybearknits, and on her website, woollybearknits.shop.

Etsy fees SAVE me money. No, I’m not kidding! I see so many people on social media complaining about Etsy fees, and perpetuating this myth that ‘Etsy fees are SO expensive’. Well, I disagree. And today, I’m explaining how Etsy fees actually SAVE me – both money and time. And why I’m HAPPY to pay them. You may disagree, but I encourage you to hear me out, because what I have to say might surprise you… You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Keep thriving, Jess ✨ P.S. One reason why you think Etsy fees are too high might be because your pricing is too low. Under-pricing is a HUGE problem in the handmade industry, but I have 2 resources to help you price for profit! First, ​watch this YouTube video​ where I break down the basic pricing formula I recommend for handmade business owners. Second, if you want to go deeper, you might like to take the Pricing with the Head & Heart Workshop inside the Thriver Circle, where I teach you alternative pricing formulas, as well as addressing the ‘intangible’ part of the pricing equation. Members, you can take the pricing workshop ​here​. If you’re not a member, you can ​join right now​ and access it immediately. Support the show   Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Watch on YouTube… Listen Now

I see this question pop up regularly – ‘how do I get more of my customers to leave reviews’? And of course, when we say we want more reviews, what we REALLY want is more 5-star reviews, right? This week I’ve shared my own personal secret weapon (plus a few other important strategies I use) to get a ton of 5-star reviews from my jewellery business customers. It’s a simple tweak that – quite frankly – I can’t believe more handmade business owners aren’t already doing. But the old adage holds true – you don’t know what you don’t know! This one change has revolutionised my communication with my customers. I call it the thank-you message. More than 50% of my customer REPLY to this email when I send it to them. And I credit it for skyrocketing the number of positive reviews I get in my shop. Watch or listen to this week’s video to find out how you can implement this change in your shop (and it won’t take you more than 1 minute per customer). Keep thriving, Jess ✨ P.S. This is just one of many things you can do to delight your ideal customer! In fact, our March focus inside the ​Thriver Circle​ is learning how to attract, convert, and delight your ideal customer – so make sure to join us (if you haven’t already) before the start of March if this is something you need to work on! Oh, and if you want to steal my exact thank-you message spiel, you’ll find it (and an exact breakdown of why every sentence matters) in the ‘Craft your Ideal Thank-You Message’ Workshop, available right now inside the ​Thriver Circle​ Resource Library. You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Support the show   Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Watch on YouTube… Listen Now

On the 26th of January, 2015, I started the Thriver Circle. I saw a desperate need amongst the maker community for a supportive, educational space where we could gather together and learn what it took to make our handmade businesses a success! Fast-forward to today – and in just 2 day’s time, the Thriver Circle will celebrate it’s 10th birthday! Over the last 10 years, over 2,000 of you have chosen to join the Thriver Circle and learn from me and your fellow makers. When it began, I had no idea what the Circle would become, and what it would mean to me – and to so many of you. Some of you joined in that first intake – and are still in the Circle to this day! Which never fails to blow my mind (you know who you are – I love you ladies x). Last year, I started thinking about what I wanted for the future of the Circle – and how I wanted to celebrate it turning a DECADE old! First – I decided it was time for a glow-up. I wanted a fresh feel & a better experience for my members. I’ve spent the last 2 months switching over to new membership software which makes it so much easier for new members to manage their accounts. It also gives you way more payment options (no more just relying on Paypal, hurrah!). I’ve also added a brand-new courses section inside the site – where you can take the flagship Your Year to Thrive course, as well as a whole bunch of new courses that I will be releasing throughout the year. Each month, we’ll be focussing on a different theme related to handmade business – such as Handmade Business Fundamentals, Vision & Planning, How to Attract & Delight your Ideal Customer, Beautiful Business Branding, and SO much more! Each theme will have a corresponding course for you to work through, as well as a couple of coaching calls with me. I’ve also completely redone the branding, and I’m so much happier with how the Circle FEELS to me, and I hope, to you, too! There’s so much more inside the Circle to help you grow a thriving & profitable handmade business in 2025 and beyond, and I am SO excited to open the doors to new members this coming Sunday! Not only that – let’s talk about the CELEBRATION! In honour of the 10 years the Circle has been in existence, I am running 10 DAYS of giveaways starting this Sunday! Each day I’ll be popping into the new FREE C&T Community Facebook group to announce the new giveaway, as well as tell you the winner of the previous one. To enter each day, you MUST be a member of this Facebook Group – which you can join right here. I’ll be emailing you reminders, too, so if you’re not already on the C&T email list, make sure to hop on over here and sign up right now! Finally – THANK YOU, Thrivers, for being here for so many years, and trusting me to help you on your handmade business journey. Here’s to growing our businesses together in 2025 and beyond! Jess x

Today I’m discussing a metric that we all look at and use, but ultimately tells us NOTHING about how successful (or not) a business is. We often use this number as a proxy for success – but it really tells us very little about how much profit a business is making – which is the more accurate financial metric of success. Although, it’s not the only metric that matters, and I discuss that today, too. GIVEAWAY ALERT! I will be running a HUGE 10th anniversary celebration for the Thriver Circle in late January, and as part of that, I will be giving away 10 prizes over 10 days – and you MUST be in the NEW Create & Thrive Community Facebook group in order to enter and win these prizes! I’ll be giving away things like FREE months of Thriver Circle membership (open to current and new members), critiques, 1-1 consults with me, courses, & gift cards! Join the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/createandthrivecommunity ✨ BTW – if you’d like to open a new Etsy shop and get 40 free listings, make sure to ​click on my link here. You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Support the show   Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Watch on YouTube… Listen Now

Thinking of starting a new handmade business, or looking for new products to make? To kick off 2025, I decided to do a fun episode outlining 25 trending handmade products that you can make in 2025 – for less than $100! If you want to start your own craft business this year, but you’re not sure what you want to make and sell, then today’s episode might just give you the idea that gets you up and running! ✨ Grab your FREE Ebook: 25 Essential Tips for Running a Handmade Business GIVEAWAY ALERT! I will be running a HUGE 10th anniversary celebration for the Thriver Circle in late January, and as part of that, I will be giving away 10 prizes over 10 days – and you MUST be in the NEW Create & Thrive Community Facebook group in order to enter and win these prizes! I’ll be giving away things like FREE months of Thriver Circle membership (open to current and new members), critiques, 1-1 consults with me, courses, & gift cards! Join the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/createandthrivecommunity ✨ BTW – if you’d like to open a new Etsy shop and get 40 free listings, make sure to ​click on my link here. You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Support the show   Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Watch on YouTube… Listen Now

So Etsy’s put a payment reserve on your account?  Or maybe they haven’t, but you’ve heard horror stories about it, and want to avoid it happening to you? Yep, it happened to me, too (and I’ve been selling there since 2008)! I worked out why it happened to me – and how to stop it happening again – and in this video, I outline why it might have happened to you, and – whether it has or hasn’t – how you can avoid it happening in the future. You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Watch on YouTube… Support the show You can make a secure donation (of the amount of your choice) via the Paypal button below. Each donation helps cover the cost of hosting, show-note writing, research, interviewing, recording, editing, etc. etc. In short – it helps to cover the time and financial costs of putting together a free weekly show to help you grow your handmade business. You can also: Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Listen Now

Is Etsy a good place to start a business in 2025 – or is it a waste of time? This week on the show, I’ll lay out the pros and cons of starting a shop on Etsy in 2025 to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you. You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Watch on YouTube… Support the show You can make a secure donation (of the amount of your choice) via the Paypal button below. Each donation helps cover the cost of hosting, show-note writing, research, interviewing, recording, editing, etc. etc. In short – it helps to cover the time and financial costs of putting together a free weekly show to help you grow your handmade business. You can also: Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Listen Now

Etsy’s Domestic & Global pricing is broken. If you are an Etsy seller outside of the USA, you NEED to know about this ongoing Etsy issue. I am far from the only person who this has happened to – so today I want to amplify this issue. Long story short – they have been charging my international customers domestic prices. And it’s been costing me (and many others!) money. I detail what is happening, how to deal with it if it’s happened to you, and what we’re doing to avoid this issue in the future in todays episode. If you know other sellers outside of the USA, please share this with them to alert them to this issue so they can address it if it’s happened to them – and so they can watch out for it happening in the future. You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Watch on YouTube… Support the show You can make a secure donation (of the amount of your choice) via the Paypal button below. Each donation helps cover the cost of hosting, show-note writing, research, interviewing, recording, editing, etc. etc. In short – it helps to cover the time and financial costs of putting together a free weekly show to help you grow your handmade business. You can also: Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Listen Now

Have you ever dreamed of selling your handmade creations at the top craft markets/shows/fairs in your country? Today, I’m chatting with Mona from River Timber Designs, who has built her business up by doing just that! After starting on the local artisan market circuit, she has focussed on getting her work into the big (and profitable!) markets around Australia – and today she talks about why it’s a great fit for her business, and how you, too, can get your work into these markets! See her work here: River Timber Designs Take my Markets 101 workshop inside the Thriver Circle. You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Watch on YouTube… Support the show You can make a secure donation (of the amount of your choice) via the Paypal button below. Each donation helps cover the cost of hosting, show-note writing, research, interviewing, recording, editing, etc. etc. In short – it helps to cover the time and financial costs of putting together a free weekly show to help you grow your handmade business. You can also: Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Listen Now Highlights of this Episode…   Mona makes homewares and jewellery from the burls of trees and uses the live edges and resin to make colourful reflections of nature. After working in corporate, Mona developed RSI in both arms, and while on sick leave she decided to start her own business. Mona and her partner had a fallen tree in their backyard which they had milled, and this ignited her interest in creating things from timber.A After learning of resin work from a friend and doing some research, Mona’s first pieces were timber and resin pendants as this allowed her to learn what worked and what didn’t, but on a small scale. Still having the workplace injury, starting out with jewellery was a more sensible option as a piece could be completed in a relatively short time. Mona now makes lamps and is the only artist in Australia making this type of piece. At big markets, these lamps are what catches the eye of shoppers and encourages them to look at Mona’s stall. What works best for Mona as a full time maker is attending the large design shows / markets that run for 2-3 days, and she travels all across Australia to attend.  Markets comprise 80-85% of Mona’s income, with the remainder coming from her website, and a small amount of social media interaction. Jess queried the transporting of Mona’s products for the design shows given the weight of some of them. Mona explained that she drives with her products to the various cities, except for Melbourne when she flies and does not take her heavier pieces to show. ‘…When I do shows, I’m very intentional…I’m pricing myself. It’s my time, cost of the product, the materials. And where I find my customers is at these trade shows, at these markets, where people understand it’s handmade. {Mona}  Jess discussed the making one-of-a-kind products. This doesn’t work for those selling online as it is too time consuming to take product photos, edit them, write listing descriptions, etc. Mona’s products are all one-of-a-kind and therefore she focuses on market selling where her products will be recognised for their quality and uniqueness. Mona stated that many makers start out selling at markets, rather than spending time creating listings on a website. Mona also enjoys the social aspects of the markets as she is an extrovert and gets energy and confidence from being around people and getting their feedback. ‘Understanding yourself is a really important part of being a successful business owner, understanding what sort of structure of business will suit you and help you maintain that long term.’ {Jess} Mona often is asked to attend other types of shows and expos, but knows that these will not make her happy and fit with her business goals, so she has learned to say no. Jess agreed with this, stating that it can be fun to try new things when you first start out in business as this can help you determine what works for you, but makers should choose an area to focus on that helps them achieve their goals. Advice from Mona for makers wishing to start out in markets:  Take good product photos so that you can present your work clearly and  accurately to those taking the bookings for the market Develop a good ‘elevator pitch’ so that you can quickly explain what your business is to those who don’t know. What do you make, what makes you different, how is it a sustainable business? Start small, and chat to other market stall holders about their experienceBe intentional about which markets you attend so that your products are not priced out. Tips for attending markets: Spend a bit of time making sure your display works, and look at how other stallholders have arranged their products Be aware of customer flow, and how your stall will be viewed from a range of angles. Place your ‘hero pieces’ in full view of the customer access to your stall Don’t be using your phone while customers are walking past, and acknowledge people with a smile, or say hello. Jess and Mona discussed how to manage multiple customers at the stall. It’s important to acknowledge each person who is at the stall, even if you are currently serving another customer. This makes them feel engaged and will encourage them to stay and look at more products. Mona also suggested to never take payment until you have finished wrapping their product – This gives them time to keep looking at your products and potentially purchase an additional item. Mona spoke about how she manages difficult customers. Negative customers usually only equate to about 0.1% of customers so if you don’t engage, then you are missing out on the other 99.9% of customers. Also, most criticisms come from a lack of understanding of the process of making the product, so should not be taken personally. Mona’s RSI and time management was discussed. When you work with an injury, allow yourself to not think you are lazy. Accept that this is your reality and put things into perspective. Understand how you work. For example, Mona has to work on several items at the same time as she cannot focus on one project. This also helps with her injury as she is not doing the same process for a long period. Advice from Mona: If you want to sell products, try different ways of selling. Try wholesale, Etsy, website, markets, and word of mouth. Tell people what you make and sell, and they will tell other people.  You can find Mona at upcoming events such as Finders Keepers in Melbourne, and Makers and Shakers in Sydney, and online at rivertimberdesigns.com.au and Instagram.  

Thinking about selling your handmade products via wholesale? In this video and podcast episode, I’ll guide you through 8 steps to follow in order to get your handmade creations stocked in brick & mortar retail shops and boutiques! If you need more help, and you’re ready to dive into the world of wholesale, don’t miss our Wholesale Know-How course! AND, if you just want to dip your toe in the water to check if you’re ready to sell via wholesale, download the FREE mini-guide ’10 Steps to Wholesale Readiness’ right here.  You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Watch on YouTube… Support the show You can make a secure donation (of the amount of your choice) via the Paypal button below. Each donation helps cover the cost of hosting, show-note writing, research, interviewing, recording, editing, etc. etc. In short – it helps to cover the time and financial costs of putting together a free weekly show to help you grow your handmade business. You can also: Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Listen Now

“Choose Your Hard.” I love this quote to live by shared by our guest on the show today – Laurel Taylor. Laurel and I have a wide-ranging discussion in this episode, where she shares her journey from learning to knit as an aid to focus, to starting and growing her business – Alabaster Purl – through many twists and turns – including moving from Alaska to Oregon to Texas! Laurel specializes in handmade knitwear and selling at in person shows, and she also has published a handful of knitting patterns. She has a lot of wisdom to share on how to maintain a handmade business long-term, and we have a lot of fun in this episode, too! I hope you enjoy it. You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Watch on YouTube… Support the show You can make a secure donation (of the amount of your choice) via the Paypal button below. Each donation helps cover the cost of hosting, show-note writing, research, interviewing, recording, editing, etc. etc. In short – it helps to cover the time and financial costs of putting together a free weekly show to help you grow your handmade business. You can also: Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Listen Now   In 2008, Laurel was struggling to focus in school when a friend offered to teach her to knit, thinking that if her hands were engaged, then her mind would follow. This was successful and helped her to focus in class. Laurel continued knitting and moved from Alaska to Oregon in 2010 where she decided to make Christmas gifts for all of her husband’s family and posted photos on social media. This prompted other friends and family to place orders with her for knitted items, and her business, Twiddle’s Treasures, was born. After a few years in business, Laurel rebranded from her childhood nickname of Twiddle to Alabaster Purl and opened an Etsy shop. ‘…Things have never really taken off for me on Etsy for my finished items, but they do super well at in person shows. That’s my passion now, selling at markets.’ {Laurel} 2019 and her family moved to Texas which was a huge culture shock, and there was some doubt as to whether Laurel’s knits would sell as well in a warmer state. With some extra effort leading up to the winter, Laurel had a successful selling season. The effect of Covid-19 on Laurel’s business was discussed, and this was a big challenge with many markets being cancelled. This prompted a larger focus on online sales. Sales of patterns, particularly Laurel’s ‘Hope Shawl’ took off on Etsy during this period, where previously these had not sold well. Buyers also knitted the ‘Hope Shawl’ and shared their work which helped sales. Social media was discussed. Facebook is the preferred platform in Texas however Laurel prefers Instagram. She is also working on creating her own website and getting an email list going. Laurel really enjoys making Reels, videos, voice overs, making people laugh and the creative aspects of this process, but this isn’t always the best way to grow her business. Jess suggested that TikTok might also be a good platform for these types of videos, however the process can be very time consuming if using multiple platforms. Makers also need to think about which platform their target audience would be using and focus on that. Laurel spoke about some of her challenges and goals. Her major goal was preparing for a specific show this year, but she was not accepted, and now is having to shift her focus. Smaller benchmarks have been achieved, like reaching 10k followers on Instagram and now being to almost 30k followers. Maintaining her business after moving to Texas was also a proud moment for Laurel, proving able to sell knits in a hot climate. Laurel feels very blessed and fortunate to be able to run her business full time, rather than as a side gig. Recent changes in the economy and their effect on small businesses was discussed as this has had a big impact on many makers, with people having less disposable income. Jess raised that Laurel has incrementally built her business rather than trying to do all the things at once. It’s good for other makers to see that you can take time to grow the business. Laurel has begun using SKUs to track her products and see which are more profitable. This allows her to focus on popular colours and phase out those that are less so. Some items are one-of-a-kind if they are hand-dyed, whereas some are made in a batch. Laurel’s life outside of the business was spoken about. She enjoys the control over her time that comes from being self-employed, as well as the freedom to live where she wants to, and having a quiet life. Jess spoke about having annual planning days to plan out one year at a time: run a course at this time, release a new design at this time, etc. Jess also plans out other activities like corresponding YouTube videos, podcast content etc. However, it’s important to be flexible and be able to pivot when life intervenes. Advice from Laurel: If just starting out in business, makers should ask themselves the hard question about what your goals are for the business and keep that goal in mind throughout. Do you want a side hustle, or a business that will make enough money to pay your bills/debts? ‘…Define success for your family, for you, for your business, before you even get started. Because if you jump into it and define success for you as you’re going, you could let yourself down and think that you’re failing when you’re not. You might have defined success incorrectly for yourself.’ {Laurel}   QTIP or Quit Taking It Personally: This is especially important when selling at markets as you have to deal with the in-person rejection of your products.  Don’t fight for the customers who don’t value your work. ‘Choose your hard’ is Laurel’s quote that she lives by. Some decisions and steps are difficult to take, but they are worth it. You can find Alabaster Purl on Instagram, Facebook for finished items, Ravelry and Etsy for knitting patterns, and later in the year on her website: alabasterpurl.com.

This has been a tough year for handmade business owners.  I’ve seen so many people closing up their shops – even people who’ve been in business for well over a decade. With the economic crisis; the rise of platforms like Shein, Temu, Amazon; the increased cost of postage and materials; and the downfall of Etsy – is it game over for handmade business – especially online? You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Watch on YouTube… Support the show You can make a secure donation (of the amount of your choice) via the Paypal button below. Each donation helps cover the cost of hosting, show-note writing, research, interviewing, recording, editing, etc. etc. In short – it helps to cover the time and financial costs of putting together a free weekly show to help you grow your handmade business. You can also: Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Listen Now

So you’ve got one Etsy shop… but you want to sell something that doesn’t quite fit there. You’ve been thinking about opening a second shop, but aren’t sure if it’s a good idea. In this video/podcast, I’m going to outline the pros and cons of having more than one Etsy shop so you can go into it with your eyes wide open and make the decision that’s right for you!  You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Watch on YouTube… Support the show You can make a secure donation (of the amount of your choice) via the Paypal button below. Each donation helps cover the cost of hosting, show-note writing, research, interviewing, recording, editing, etc. etc. In short – it helps to cover the time and financial costs of putting together a free weekly show to help you grow your handmade business. You can also: Leave a review on the C&T FB page. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Join the Thriver Circle – without the members of the Circle, this podcast would not be possible. Listen Now