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Whether you’re a complete beginner on Etsy, or want to scale your handmade business to multi-6 figures, the “How To Be A Handmade Boss” podcast gives you actionable advice and workshop style full length episodes to grow your handmade business on Etsy and beyond.
We get it. Starting or growing a handmade business can be really overwhelming, and sometimes you feel like you have an expensive hobby rather than a profitable business. If you have questions like “How can I make sales in my business?” “How do I start a handmade shop?” “How can I make this passion my full-time gig?” or “How do I sell my crafts online” then you’re in the right place boss!
I’m Steph, a multi 6-figure handmade business owner (in the top 0.1% of all shops on Etsy), bestselling author of “How to be a handmade boss”, visionary and coach behind Handmade Bosses.
However, It wasn’t always rainbows and unicorns though. Today, my business(es) are bustling, but way back in 2014 when I started, it was HARD. Favourites but no sales, slow sales and low profits seemed in the beginning, like the trajectory of my business. Luckily following the system I’ve now curated, All of that changed and I went full-time in my handmade business in 2016.
Let’s focus on turning your passion into profit, because the world really does need these special creations that you only bring to life.
98 Episodes
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You keep hearing rumours about Etsy updates, fee changes, algorithm tweaks and “big changes coming in 2026”… and it’s enough to make any seller panic. In this episode, I’m breaking down how to future-proof your Etsy shop without trying to predict every update or burning yourself out in the process. We’ll talk honestly about why Etsy is always changing, what you can and can’t control, and how to build a business that doesn’t fall apart every time Etsy moves a button. You’ll learn: • Why wai...
January hit… and your Etsy sales fell off a cliff? Before you spiral, open Indeed, or convince yourself your shop is doomed, take a breath. This episode is here to talk you down and give you a clear, calm plan for navigating the post-Christmas slump without burning everything to the ground. In this episode, Steph walks you through why January sales drops are completely normal for handmade businesses, how to read your December Etsy stats properly, and the small, practical tweaks that actuall...
Holiday Replay: Our 2nd Most-Popular Episode of 2025 🤶 🎅 We’re rerunning the Start-Your-Shop Checklist because it helped a ton of makers stop faffing and finally launch. No waffle. No scare tactics. Just the order of steps that actually works. What you’ll learn: A simple setup that makes you want to sit down and createTarget market + niche, done without a headacheA USP that isn’t “I make it with love”Naming your shop (short, memorable, available everywhere)Legal bits + money basics without th...
Holiday Replay: Best of 2025 ☃️ We’re re-running our most-downloaded episode of the year - the no-fluff beginner’s guide to the Etsy algorithm. No scare tactics. No clickbait. Just how it actually works and what to do next. In this episode, you’ll learn: • The two-step search process: query matching → ranking (and why “Page 1” isn’t universal anymore) • The 7 signals Etsy uses: rele...
Right. Meet Gemma from Wild & Gem – archaeologist-turned-jeweller capturing real bits of the outdoors and turning them into wearable moments. 🌿✨ In this chat we get practical, not precious: • 📸 iPhone photos that actually sell – no fancy kit, just light and intention • 🎯 Your niche is your flag – plant it, own it, stick to it • &nbs...
If you’re spinning plates, drowning in orders, and trying to post on Instagram while reheating your tea for the fourth time - this episode’s for you. Steph shares her real-life four-step system to stay consistent on social media even when life feels chaotic. No 5am alarms. No “just push through” advice. Just a simple rhythm that actually works - especially if your energy and focus fluctuate (hello, ADHD friends 👋). You’ll learn: 💡 The 4P framework: Plan, Prepare, Post, Protect 🧠 How to crea...
If you’ve ever hit “post” on Instagram and heard crickets… this one’s for you. In this episode, Steph breaks down a simple 15-minute visibility routine that’ll wake your account back up and get your posts seen again – without spending a penny on ads. You’ll learn exactly what to do before, during, and after you post so the algorithm knows you’re alive and active, not just shouting into the void. No hacks, no fluff – just a proven rhythm that warms up your audience, boosts your reach, and br...
If you’ve ever found yourself spending hours in Canva, tweaking fonts and colours, only to post something that gets… crickets - this episode is for you. I’m walking you through a simple, six-step workflow to create scroll-stopping social posts in 20 minutes or less - that actually lead to sales. You’ll learn how to: ✨ Pin down the exact buyer moment your post needs to speak to ✨ Choose the right angle (pain, feeling, or transformation) ✨ Write a hook that stops the scroll in 3 seconds flat ✨...
Are you secretly undercharging for your handmade products or terrified to raise your prices in case sales dry up? In this episode, Steph gets real about why so many makers struggle to charge what they’re worth. You’ll learn how self-esteem and pricing are deeply connected, why handmade buyers want to pay more, and how undercharging keeps you stuck in burnout mode. Steph shares real coaching insights, simple mindset shifts, and practical next steps to help you price with confidence (and sto...
What if by Sunday night you could have 100 new subscribers on your list - real people who love your products and want to hear from you? In this episode, Steph walks you through her simple, no-tech, no-stress method to build your email list this weekend. Forget funnels, websites, or overthinking every detail. You’ll learn: ✨ How to pick a freebie that your ideal customer actually wants ✨ The quickest way to create a landing page (even without a website) ✨ Where to share it so people actually...
Imagine waking up to new orders before you’ve even posted on Instagram or checked your Etsy stats. Sounds dreamy, right? That’s exactly what happens when your emails do the work while you sleep. In this episode, Steph dives into why skipping email marketing is one of the biggest (and most common) mistakes handmade sellers make and how even a list of 100 subscribers can become a steady income stream. You’ll learn: 💌 The simple maths behind email ROI (and how it adds up fast) 📉 Why relying on...
What do you do when chronic illness forces you to give up the craft you love? If you’re Gillian, you reinvent everything and end up with a jewellery business as unique as the pages it’s made from. 💛 In this heartwarming and inspiring episode, Steph sits down with HBSA student Gillian, the creative mind behind Paper2Pearls, to talk about the unexpected journey from patchwork quilts to paper jewellery, the challenges of crafting with arthritis, and how she’s used the Handmade Business Success ...
Ever wondered if the Handmade Business Success Academy actually works? In this episode, you’ll hear straight from HBSA students who’ve gone from stuck, overwhelmed, and doubting themselves - to confident, consistent handmade business owners. They share how the Academy helped them: 💡 Find focus and stop “throwing spaghetti at the wall” 📈 Boost conversion rates and sales (some hit 2,000+ Etsy orders!) 💬 Build real confidence in marketing and SEO 🤝 Join a supportive community that keeps them g...
Think slow sales mean you need to add more products? Think again. In this episode, I’m busting one of the biggest myths in the handmade world: that more listings = more sales. Spoiler alert - it’s not about quantity. It’s about quality, clarity, and conversion. We’ll talk about: ✅ Why uploading random new products could actually be hurting your shop ✅ The real reason Etsy rewards certain listings (hint: it’s not how many you have) ✅ What to do instead: smarter product variations, giftable b...
Are you working harder than ever, but your sales graph just… won’t budge? 😩 You’re not lazy. You’re not failing. You might just be stuck in what I call the Plateau of Busywork and it happens to almost every handmade seller at some point. In this episode, I’ll walk you through how to: ⚠ Spot the 3 most common plateau signs 📉 Understand why your to-do list isn’t growing your business 🧠 Make small, strategic shifts that lead to actual progress ✨ AND stop wasting time on things that feel product...
Etsy just dropped a whole bunch of updates for 2025 and if you’re feeling a bit lost in the jargon, don’t panic. I’ve got you. 💛 In this episode, I’m breaking it all down plain and simple: → What’s actually changed → What you need to know as a handmade seller → And which updates will genuinely help you save time, reduce stress, and grow your shop this holiday season 🎄 From AI listing tools and post-purchase automation to real-time keyword insights and a totally redesigned dashboard, this is...
You’ve poured time into your products, uploaded them to Etsy, and maybe you’re even getting some traffic and a few favourites… but sales? Crickets. 😬 In today’s episode, we’re unpacking the real reason why your Etsy listings aren’t converting and no, it’s not just the algorithm. I’m breaking down the 3 essential layers of a high-converting listing: 1. Getting found in search (hello, buyer keywords!) 2.&...
If you’ve been scratching your head wondering what to sell or how to stand out on Etsy in 2026, this episode is your treasure map. 🎯 I’m sharing 20 real Etsy niche ideas that are high in demand, low in competition, and full of opportunity - perfect for handmade sellers who want to stop blending in and start carving out their own corner of the marketplace. I’ve done the research for something I’m working on behind the scenes (👀), and let me tell you - these niches are absolute gems. From sen...
🎄 Are you really ready for the Christmas rush... or just hoping it’ll all come together in time? In this episode, I’m walking you through a super quick 5-point checklist that’ll help you give your handmade shop a festive glow-up without the stress. We’re talking banners, giftable products, delivery cut-off clarity, festive upsells, and simple holiday promotion tweaks you can make today. If you’re a handmade seller on Etsy or your own site, this 5-minute check will help you feel more confide...
Ever find yourself doomscrolling through Instagram wondering why that handmade shop has more sales, more followers, or just seems further ahead? In this episode, we’re flipping the comparison trap on its head. You’ll learn how to: Spot the “highlight reel” trap before it derails your momentumTurn jealousy into a learning tool (without copying a single thing!)Set healthy boundaries around competitor stalking 😉Track YOUR growth (not theirs) and build a business that feels good to you Wheth...
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I love this podcast! so informative and uplifting. every episode is filled with valuable information that we can actually use in our businesses. thank you for giving all this free information ❤️
Hey, it is a great episode. I loved it. I really hope you create more of this kind of episode rather than only etsy focused.