Join Alice Thorpe and Laurel from Laurel Mayart, as she takes us through her transformation from creating TikTok content to managing a flourishing Etsy shop and her own Shopify platform. Listen in as Laurel candidly shares the ups and downs of moving away from commission work to establishing a more secure online business model, handling the challenges that come with growth, and the strategic ways she's navigated Etsy's fees to build customer trust. Her journey offers a wealth of practical advice for anyone looking to start small on Etsy and expand their creative business with wisdom and grace.

In our discussion, we explore the delicate act of balancing the creative spark with the necessity of productivity, a struggle familiar to many in the artistic field. Laurel and I delve into the complexities of separating work from leisure when your passion is also your profession. We exchange ideas on the importance of taking regular breaks, inspired by different work schedules, and the rejuvenating power of weekends off. For those caught in the social media comparison trap, we share personal strategies for stepping away from screens to maintain mental health, alongside the tools and informal approaches to social media that help nurture our creative businesses without succumbing to burnout.

Hear about the behind-the-scenes world of content creation as we discuss the realities of maintaining consistency across social media platforms and the surprising amount of time dedicated to editing that goes unnoticed. Laurel reflects on her experiences with Patreon, providing a glimpse into the routine that keeps the content flowing and the community engagement that shapes it. Wrapping up the conversation, we touch on the intricacies of managing a small business's growth while prioritising mental well-being, and Laurel offers a generous peek into her thought process, making this an episode brimming with insights for fellow creators and entrepreneurs.

Alice

https://www.instagram.com/alicethorpe_/

https://www.youtube.com/alicethorpe

https://www.alicethorpe.co.uk

Laurel

https://www.instagram.com/laurelmaeart/

https://www.youtube.com/@LaurelMaeArt 

https://laurelmaeart.store/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.