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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Online shop and quit my job?

36 replies

rollonretirementfgs · 03/05/2024 08:33

I want to start an online shop business. I hope to be able to quit my part time teaching job eventually. I have no idea what I'm doing, or really where to start. Am I being a dick? Can I really do this??

OP posts:
nfkl · 03/05/2024 13:37

Handmade chocolate stuff?

Open you TikTok shop, definitely. I m seeing lots of young people out there, selling their wares, especially in postal-friendly format (like brownie slabs, brownies and luxury dips, cake slices, etc.)

Overall, Etsy is dying out in terms of quality, traffic, and their fees are outrageous. I m there because I still have a few orders, but it's not a priority.

I have a Shopify too (forgot to mention), but unless you have traffic to direct it to, no one will find it. But if you use Etsy for your Insta sales, I would switch to Shopify right now (much lower fees with Shopify) and stop leaving money on the table.

There's a free app that allows you to connect your Shopify with TikTok so you can manage everything from Shopify, but the sync didn't work for all my products.

rollonretirementfgs · 03/05/2024 16:38

nfkl · 03/05/2024 13:37

Handmade chocolate stuff?

Open you TikTok shop, definitely. I m seeing lots of young people out there, selling their wares, especially in postal-friendly format (like brownie slabs, brownies and luxury dips, cake slices, etc.)

Overall, Etsy is dying out in terms of quality, traffic, and their fees are outrageous. I m there because I still have a few orders, but it's not a priority.

I have a Shopify too (forgot to mention), but unless you have traffic to direct it to, no one will find it. But if you use Etsy for your Insta sales, I would switch to Shopify right now (much lower fees with Shopify) and stop leaving money on the table.

There's a free app that allows you to connect your Shopify with TikTok so you can manage everything from Shopify, but the sync didn't work for all my products.

The chocolate goes well in Christmas markets, and I used to stock a sweet shop. Unfortunately the sweet shop closed down but that was a great money spinner. I had to take on someone to help me. Unfortunately though I just don't think people can justify spending their hard earned cash on fancy chocolate so I'm looking for sometime g new to sell.

OP posts:
rollonretirementfgs · 03/05/2024 16:39

The good thing about chocolate of course was that I was making it to order and didn't have to spend a huge outlay on stock.

OP posts:
sunglassesonthetable · 03/05/2024 16:53

If you work part time currently I'd say that's a really good basis. Don't give up the day job just yet but focus your other free time on your business.

Do lots of research. Currently your time is a free commodity. Business plan. Consistency. Diligence. Creativity.

No reason why you can't make a success on your terms. Others do.

Riverlee · 03/05/2024 16:55

There was a thread a few weeks ago from an Etsy seller who said business has really slowed down compared to previous years. Nay be worth reading.

MrsBobtonTrent · 03/05/2024 17:12

I have online shops. It grew well and eventually DH stopped work as well and it’s our family income. A few tips:-

Don’t give up the day job yet. It is still possible to build a business, but definitely much harder than it was.

Online marketplaces (eBay, Amazon, Etsy etc.) cost, but they will get you eyeballs cheaper than your own website. The best marketplace will depend on your product, but I find Etsy to be an awful lot of effort for little reward and dumped them last year.

Consider your hourly rate. If you are making less than supermarket wages with a lot more headache and little upward prospect then please give yourself a break and go and stack shelves. A hobby is nice, but you will drain the enjoyment out of it for slave labour wages.

Edibles and toiletries are a pain. Food safety certs, skin testing, allergies, best before dates.

Think about scalability now because if you take off you will have little capacity to be sorting things out when you are manically making, packing and shipping 24 hours a day.

Pricing - there is a magical price zone. Too cheap and you attract bargain hunters who want the moon on a stick for tuppence. These people are often demanding and hard work. They complain about stuff and basically want your product for free. Too expensive and people are reluctant to commit without either laborious hand holding or in person shopping. I want shoppers rich enough to be low maintenance and who don’t overthink about spending £40-100. Quality product, quality service. Don’t be the cheapest.

rollonretirementfgs · 03/05/2024 19:08

MrsBobtonTrent · 03/05/2024 17:12

I have online shops. It grew well and eventually DH stopped work as well and it’s our family income. A few tips:-

Don’t give up the day job yet. It is still possible to build a business, but definitely much harder than it was.

Online marketplaces (eBay, Amazon, Etsy etc.) cost, but they will get you eyeballs cheaper than your own website. The best marketplace will depend on your product, but I find Etsy to be an awful lot of effort for little reward and dumped them last year.

Consider your hourly rate. If you are making less than supermarket wages with a lot more headache and little upward prospect then please give yourself a break and go and stack shelves. A hobby is nice, but you will drain the enjoyment out of it for slave labour wages.

Edibles and toiletries are a pain. Food safety certs, skin testing, allergies, best before dates.

Think about scalability now because if you take off you will have little capacity to be sorting things out when you are manically making, packing and shipping 24 hours a day.

Pricing - there is a magical price zone. Too cheap and you attract bargain hunters who want the moon on a stick for tuppence. These people are often demanding and hard work. They complain about stuff and basically want your product for free. Too expensive and people are reluctant to commit without either laborious hand holding or in person shopping. I want shoppers rich enough to be low maintenance and who don’t overthink about spending £40-100. Quality product, quality service. Don’t be the cheapest.

Loads for me to think about here, thank you for taking the time to respond

OP posts:
rollonretirementfgs · 03/05/2024 19:09

Riverlee · 03/05/2024 16:55

There was a thread a few weeks ago from an Etsy seller who said business has really slowed down compared to previous years. Nay be worth reading.

Ok thank you I'll look it up

OP posts:
Hugosmaid · 03/05/2024 19:17

OP it’s not that hard.

I’ve got a business - with staff and I’m considering the same because I want to spend more time with my kids.

I built my own website in lockdown whilst my kids were feral and I was going through a disgusting marriage break up and I didn’t even know how to even use word at the time. So if I can do it any one can.

There are millions of YouTube videos to point you in the right direction but be careful you don’t go down rabbit holes - which I do 🙈

Message me if you like and we can chat about it 😊

rollonretirementfgs · 03/05/2024 21:32

Hugosmaid · 03/05/2024 19:17

OP it’s not that hard.

I’ve got a business - with staff and I’m considering the same because I want to spend more time with my kids.

I built my own website in lockdown whilst my kids were feral and I was going through a disgusting marriage break up and I didn’t even know how to even use word at the time. So if I can do it any one can.

There are millions of YouTube videos to point you in the right direction but be careful you don’t go down rabbit holes - which I do 🙈

Message me if you like and we can chat about it 😊

You sound ace! Thank you so much Flowers

OP posts:
Devaa2 · 05/05/2025 13:08

I freelance as an eCom photographer and work mostly with small online startups. One thing that helps is batching loads of content in advance—photos, descriptions, social posts—so I’m not working 24/7. It takes a bit to figure out your workflow, but once you’ve got a decent system, it’s manageable. I took the leap while still working part-time, then gradually dropped hours as it picked up.

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