04.16.2019
I am delighted to announce that my Etsy shop is now open! Almost two months to the day after leaving my beloved Head Choice Inc. family, I finally have something to show for my big decision.
It's been quite the journey (...mentally. I didn't actually go anywhere). When I left my job, all I really knew what that I wanted a life that did not involve hours at a desk. I wanted to be able to work on my own time, in various settings- working hard, but feeling fulfilled. I know it sounds like a bit of an idealist goal, and maybe not too realistic. However, I'm constantly inspired by the quote "If you do the things that others won't, you can live the way that others can't". I believe by leaving my job I was doing what others wouldn't, in order to live the way I wanted. Though what I wanted my work life to look like was maybe too idealized, I didn't think I would feel right at any job until I'd at least tried to make that a reality for myself.
I originally had two paths in mind for how to accomplish my goal: voice recording, and crafting. Though I hate to admit it, I gave up on voice recording rather quickly. It's not that I didn't enjoy it, it's that whenever I sat down to record, I found myself thinking about what I could be knitting at that moment instead. I'm, perhaps, a bit too crazy about knitting. So, I decided a crafting business was the way to go. The problem was (is), there's so little profit in knitting. A good yarn can cost $15-20 for a single ball. Many projects take multiple balls of yarn to complete. Aside from the cost, a relatively simple project can still take 4 hours to complete. By the end of it, you have a product that, at cost, is what someone would expect to pay for the item at Target.
I spent weeks and weeks not physically doing much, but thinking non-stop in my mind about a product that would fit parameters of cost, time required, and retail pricing and coming up with nothing. It was really disheartening and frustrating. I felt ashamed that I had no true progress to report to family and friends.
If you read my last post about the spinning wheel class I took and the spinning wheel that I purchased, you'll know that I hoped that spinning wheel would be a turning point for me. In many ways, it really was. Though only one product on my Etsy page is made with my custom spun yarn, the spinning wheel and coming up with the Harry Potter themed wrist warmers was such a motivation kick-start for me!
Once the wrist warmers were completed, I started to think of what else I knew how to make - anything I knew how to make. I have enjoyed making lavender pillows for several years, so I kept forging ahead with those. I made 8 at a time, using an assembly line system from start to finish. From there, the motivation has been pretty self-fueling which has been a wonderful feeling. Though profit margins will continue to be a challenge, I'm confident I will overcome this with continued thought and experimentation.
From learning about product photography, to working with a graphic designer to create my logo, to creating this blog, I've had an absolute blast. My time with Head Choice prepared me so wholly for this venture and it feels wonderful to apply what I know about business to something that is my own.
I know there is much work ahead still. I want my shop to feature more of my knits, so I will need to spend some time coming up with additional styles. Additionally, it will take a lot of learning to navigate the Etsy selling platform and understanding how its search engine operates in order to make my listings visible. I don't have any delusions that this will be easy. I acknowledge I may never sell anything from my shop. However, opening an Etsy shop is something I've wanted to do for years, and I'm thrilled now to just bask in this accomplishment for as far as I've taken it.
I sincerely want to thank you all for the support you've all shown. I always hope to make you proud!
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