to feel furious with myself at wasting this time

[uselesscow]

I am a sahm and my dh doesn't earn that much. Last year I had the brainwave of setting up my own Etsy/craft shop selling items that are quite unusual and that I thought there might be a market for.

Tonight I have closed my shop having taken my last sale and wish to god I had never bothered. I've spent the whole time it was open wasting time trying to make it work for us to bring in much needed income and have completely failed.

I stood freezing my fat ass off at craft fairs smiling away politely while people just walked by without a glance at the things I'd made, which just felt humiliating. Promoted and promoted and promoted my shop via facebook, twitter, pinterest, blogging, everything you're supposed to do. Wasted money on books on how to sell your crafts. And all for virtually nothing. I've made about £250 in a year, and have easily spent that on books, supplies and other shite. About £20 a month. My husband who is very talented and good at what he does can make that in less than an hour doing freelance work.

The stuff I make is quite easy to fuck up as well. I've cried tears over orders that I've mucked up and had to start again. Snapped at my husband. Ignored my dcs trying to get the right photo in the right light of my products rather than playing with them.

Sorry to rant, I just feel like I wish I could go back in time and tell myself not to bother. I honestly thought it would be a small second income for us but it has just been a stressful time consuming money consuming nightmare. Guess I am just destined to be useless.

OP, if you haven't actually lost money after your first year in business--you win!

I'm also in a crafty type business, only slightly further down the line than you. My first year, I sold £390 worth of goods in the whole year. Not only that, I had someone default on payment for over £2000. Sucked is not the word.

A little further down the line, people started hearing about us, then they started commissioning work... We mastered the art of mass-production by hand, and the stuff we made last year pales in comparison to our current stuff.

It can work out, and even if it doesn't you're still working and learning. That's the important part.

How frustrating. I have several times been let down by people making handmade goods who never deliver/return messages/answer inquiries. What a shame that someone who wants to make it work hasn't been able to.

What did you make?

Don't be cross with yourself. You tried and it didn't work but at least you tried. Much better than to sit around aged 80 thinking "if only I'd followed my dream and done x". You will find another outlet for your talent and creativity which works better for you. Life is often about trial and error, don't they say better to have loved and lost than not loved at all?

I run a small 'craft' type business from home. I think you are being too hard on yourself. Year 1 I lost money, year 2 I just about broke even...now on year 5 and slowly beginning to turn a 'reasonable' profit. It's not a business that will EVER make me serious money. But it works well around family life and I earn a reasonable wage. It's FAR harder work that I have ever done in my life and I put more hours in than you ever would for some one else! In terms of an hourly rate ...don't even go there!
Etsy is a tough market btw
You need to look at why your product isn't working, could you adot what you do in any way? Sell it in kit form? Without knowing what you do it's difficult to advise.

Thank you all, you are all lovely, I knew I did the right thing to post here as I was feeling quite low last night.

I make personalised items, decorations mainly, they're actually not that unique, I think I just like to think they are! I do like the idea of packs minouminou but the stuff I make is quite easy to really make a mess of if you haven't had a bit of practice so might not work - I had to practice quite a lot to get them right.

Tripe, I don't think I would be allowed to post the link on here, I will pm you it. I don't expect you to buy from me for 1 mili second but if you can be bothered to give me feedback, and do be brutal, I would appreciate that - all my friends and family just tell me it's great so it'd be good to hear an honest voice!

I think you are fab for actually giving it a go. Businesses sometimes need to grow and adapt and you will only learn by trying things out and seeing what works.

Don't give up.

oh I want to know what you sell too!

I like that sort of stuff - post the link, please! It'll just get deleted if you're not allowed to post it!

Please post a link or pm me. I run a craft business and I'm also a partner in a web design/online marketing company so hopefully with both my hats on I might be able to come up with a few helpful suggestions? :)

post the link - you are doing it so MNers can review the site and give you feedback.... ah go on....

Yes would be happy to look and give feedback.

yep post a link, we want to see.

A friend (not close) has a craft business. When we had a baby she sent a craft gift and asked that we suggest the items to friends, she sent one for each subsequent baby. It was nice. A few years later and lots of our friends have started having babies and moving house and I get a personalised gift from her each time so her marketing/gift has paid back. I personally think her items are cheap for the amount of work that goes in but it is her second job and really her hobby so not the be all and end all that she makes loads and you are competing against people like her that will undercut you and I think that makes it really hard. It sounds like you gave it a really good shot.

You are all so kind. I will post the link, had a change of heart today and reactivated my shop!
Please be brutal, I can take it. Going to take a back seat on it for now and leave the shop but not drive myself mad trying to promote it on fb, Twitter etc. If there is anything obvious you see that I could fix please do say.
Just feels like the hours I spent working on it could have been spent doing something else.
www.etsy.com/shop/violetfizz

For every 10,000 people who piss around thinking they would love to start their own business there is usually only one, you, who actually gets off their "fat arse" (your words!) and gives it a go.
This means to me that although the business my not be a success yet, you as a person are very successful.
You've had good advice and great insights here, don't give up.
I wish you the best of luck.
And have a ((hug))

I'm not familiar with Etsy - but my gut feel is that you should streamline to get more of a signature 'brand' . So two styles of sign, four fabric choices on each - and a note to say you'd be happy to discuss special commissions.

My ILs had a small business - they were actually quite firm with the punters on what their product/service was - I think they thought that being too bespoke wasn't worth the hassle.

Thanks Bewitched.x

Thanks coldwinds, I have wondered that before about streamlining. It's definitely something I need to consider.

Well done for giving it a go. If you hadnt, presumably youd be looking back and wondering. Now you know

yes, streamline - I'd go with just personalised doorsigns (you could probably charge a little more too, not much), with more of a range of styles/colours, not lots of different things.

(And ditch anything that's "keep calm and carry on" style once you've got rid of current stock, it's had it's moment and is beginning to look dated)

My Etsy shop has been open a similar amount of time (I do ceramics) and I've not made that many more sales than you, so I feel your pain!

I think your photos could be improved a bit- some of them are quite dark/ have shadows and aren't showing your lovely stuff off to their best advantage. I've been stalking websites that have good photos (like Rockett St George) and trying to recreate some of their shots. Try photographing on the same background for your first shot- it makes your shop look more 'together'.

I also think to might have to re-adjust your expectations. I too am a sucker for those I-gave-up-my-day-job-stories, but chances are it ain't gonna happen! Stop putting so much pressure on yourself, get some of the enjoyment back and if you get a sale it's an added bonus.

It's bloody hard work to get where you are- would be a shame to give up on it entirely.

Your things are lovely...I like SILICA, WATER, GLYCERIN, POLYSILICONE-13, PEG-12 DIMETHICONE, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, HAMAMELIS VIRGINIANA (WITCH HAZEL) EXTRACT, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, STEARYL GLYCYRRHETINATE, METHYLPARABEN. this a lot

Perhaps the only critisicm is that it's a bit too "safe" in general...not the Baby Bunny sign...that's lovely...it looks really vintage bordering on kitsch which I LOVE. The other designs are a bit safe though. Could you try again with more stuff like the Bunny? Did that sell well?

Oh whoops! Posted a link to the ingredients in BioPore NOse Strips!

Never mind...I liked this

And I would also add that I have been self employed now for 5 years and it is only THIS year that I am making money. Don't beat yourself up! Pick yourself up, take your lessons and carry on!