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- [00:00]
A
For you, you can go outside of Etsy, but I would say use that time to just pour instead of like feeling like you, oh, you have to list or you have to do, like your designs, you have to do your SEO, because I know that can be a repetitive use that extra time to go and research. Because if you want to make a ton of money on Etsy, you have to give people what they're looking for. And the way that you get better at doing that is by researching what those people are looking for.
- [00:26]
B
Hey there. Welcome back to the Built Online podcast where we talk about all things online business, from E commerce to digital marketing to building your dream life and your dream business. I'm your host, Cody McGuffey, and if you've been with us for a while, you might remember us as the Etsy seller podcast. Well, we're expanding, expanding our horizons and transitioning from just talking about Etsy businesses to covering all types of online businesses because we believe the opportunity is so massive that we should be covering so many unique businesses online and at ever be. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to pursue their passions, live life on their own terms. And we believe in making E commerce accessible to everyone in the world, no matter where they are, and be using it to make a positive impact in our families and in our communities. We believe that anyone who truly commits to something truly pursues it with undeniable force of will that they will succeed. Let's jump in to today's show. Bridget, what's going on?
- [01:26]
A
Not much. Just here. Happy to be back. How are you doing?
- [01:29]
B
I'm doing great. Thank you for that. Thank you for coming back. Very excited to have this conversation again and nice to see you again.
- [01:37]
A
Yeah, me too. I'm excited to be back and, you know, share some, you know, more tips or extra tips with people that are listening.
- [01:44]
B
Totally. And if you guys haven't watched the first episode that we had with Bridget, she came on, I think it was maybe of 2024, and actually have the episode here. It's called. The title of the episode is called From Healthcare to E Commerce A nurse's guide to $300,000 in sales. So you can kind of get Bridget's entire backstory that we covered there. We're not going to talk about all that stuff today, but it is there. It's super valuable. So definitely go check that out. Bridget, let's do a life update. How are you? Maybe quick summary of who you are here.
- [02:19]
A
Okay, so kind of quickly. So like a nurse by trade, I still keep my license I've been a nurse for like 10 years, but then stumble on like a Print on Demand. When I was doing like research for a digital store, I had like a printable shop and then I saw a print on demand kind of like videos about it. And at first I thought it was like I was kind of skeptical, like I was like, how are you gonna make money doing this? And you never touch the items. But gone to rabbit holes next, you know, open an Etsy shop. I shut down the other shop, the printable shop. And then I just kind of started going with it and started learning, started figuring out, failing. Try so many things and you know, here we are. I mean of course it was rough at the beginning and you know, but I learned a lot and here we are now. So that's a little quick little story.
- [03:06]
B
Beautiful. And it's probably too modest and too fast to really get in there. But I want to mention a couple things very important. Last time we talked, I think you approached 9,000, 9,000 sales on Etsy in a short period of time, if I recall. Was it less than two years, wasn't it?
- [03:23]
A
Yeah, it was about two. Uh huh. Yeah.
- [03:25]
B
And now I checked, you're Pro, you're approaching 14,000 actually 13.9 and some change.
- [03:33]
A
Yeah.
- [03:34]
B
So almost 14,000 sales on Etsy. And again we've, we just talked like this year. It was six months ago I believe, right? Yeah, you're crushing.
- [03:43]
A
Thank you. Just you know, try.
- [03:46]
B
Can we talk revenue a little bit just to give everybody a kind of.
- [03:49]
A
Yeah.
- [03:50]
B
With Print on demand, how are you doing this year?
- [03:52]
A
So like from the, like you talking about from like the last time? No, just now.
- [03:57]
B
Let's talk all of it maybe.
- [03:58]
A
Oh yeah. So all of it now is like four. I think it's like 450.
- [04:03]
B
Yeah, 450,000.
- [04:06]
A
Aha. Yes.
- [04:07]
B
And this is how many years.
- [04:12]
A
It'S about to be like three. I mean three years. I mean serious, like two years. But since I opened the Etsy shop, I say three years. Yeah.
- [04:19]
B
450, 000. I'll just recap that. 450, 000 in less than three years in revenue. All print on demand. And yes. Damn, that's special. The reason why I want to like kind of spend some time on that is because it's hard enough to get one sale and to create your first $1,000 on, you know, on, on Etsy or really any platform.
- [04:39]
A
Right.
- [04:40]
B
Let alone, you know, do it 14, 000 times and generate over $450,000 in revenue by, by the way we can talk profit, too. But this is very impressive and it takes a special type of person to be able to accomplish this. I believe, and I. I believe. I think that you. And I think that our goal here is to share what type of aspects and what type of mindset that person has to have in order to achieve stuff like this. What do you think?
- [05:10]
A
Oh, absolutely. I mean, I think, like, that's the number one thing. And it's also part of the reason why I wanted to get on YouTube, of course, like, to show you, like, the amazing numbers that we can all make and, like, the niches you can get into and the designs and all that. But it's also, like, the thing that is not so attainable. And of course, like, when I do videos like that, nobody wants to watch them because everybody just wants to say, well, show me how to do it. But the thing is, like, if you are not coming in with, like, your realistic expectations, you're not able to focus, you don't have, like, a persistency, you're not consistent, like, you're just not going to, like, make it. I mean, it doesn't matter. And I say this a lot in my videos. Like, it doesn't matter how much I showed you, like, you know, how to design, how to research, you know, what mockups do well, like SEO, like, how many times I'll tell you this. Like, yes, great, you'll learn this skill, but you're still not going to be successful if you don't even believe that it's possible. And I know that sounds so cliche and people sometimes don't like when you say that, but I'm telling you, people that I found success in this industry or anything that they do in life is because they first believe that it was possible. They believe that they could do it. And of course, you match that with the skill that you need to accomplish whatever is it that you're trying to do, you are going to be successful. It's not a matter of, like, if you're going to, you know, it's a matter of, like, when.
- [06:36]
B
Yeah, I love that. And I'm just. Before we go deeper on that, because that's going to be really exciting there. And I know we'll get lost in that, in that thing that everyone needs to talk about mindset with this.
- [06:46]
A
Yeah.
- [06:47]
B
But I'm actually was looking at your stats too, while you're talking this. And which I love numbers, as we all know. And the last 30 days, you've done well over 23,000 in revenue and Then this year has been a crushing year already. It's not even Q. It's just about to be Q4, right? Or it is Q4 today, right. Over 170 grand in revenue this year. And last year your Q4 was huge, right?
- [07:20]
A
Yeah, I made six figures the. The October of December. Yeah.
- [07:25]
B
You're gonna have to finish up with us an amazing 2024.
- [07:29]
A
I know, I know. I'm kind of excited.
- [07:32]
B
Sure. Well, congratulations. I just want to tell you that.
- [07:34]
A
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
- [07:37]
B
Let's keep talking about mindset.
- [07:38]
A
Yeah.
- [07:39]
B
Completely agree with everything you said as far as people lack the belief that it's possible. That's what you were saying. And my question for you is, when you started this, let's call it three years ago, did you believe. Did you fully believe it was possible? Or where were. Where were your beliefs at?
- [07:56]
A
I think I've always had this mindset of, like, whatever I'm going to do, I'm going to go all in. I'm going to go hard, and I'm going to make it happen, and it doesn't matter how long it takes me, it's going to happen. So I think part of it is, like, I know not a lot of people come with that mindset of, like, you know, so you almost have to, like, become that person. I honestly feel like in order to find success, like, you can't just keep doing the same things that you were doing before. You have to create new habits, you have to create a new identity. So you have to almost, like, trick your brain, because your brain is meant to protect you and keep you nice and safe. Doesn't want you to come out of your comfort zone. But if you have been having this thing in your brain telling you that you're supposed to do something different, that you wanted to quit your 9 to 5 or whatever is it, you know, you kind of have to, like, almost like trick that and keep, like, telling yourself. Like, even though, like, maybe I might have some doubts or I don't think it might happen. Like, you keep acting, you keep moving forward, you keep taking those baby steps every single day, even though you're afraid. Because, I mean, all of us here, like, were afraid. I mean, I was afraid, but I did it anyways. And that's kind of also my message for my kids. Like, yes, you might be afraid. Yes, you might not know what's going to happen, but you do it anyways. Because my biggest thing and the thing that I want to tell people is, like, what is going to be the worst Thing that happens that you're going to look three, four or five years from now, and then you're going to regret that you didn't take that chance. And the thing is, like, you only get one life. You don't get to redo this. This is not a rehearsal. We live in the life that we have right now. And I don't want to look back and say, man, I wish I would have given print on demand everything that I could. I wish I would have went all in. I wish I would actually focus. I wish I would have done this. So that's kind of my biggest thing. And I think that's a big motivator for me. It's like, regret. I don't want to live my life with regrets. Because we only get one life.
- [09:55]
B
Do you think that you've always had that? Is it something that your parents instilled into you, or you saw your grandparents have this mentality, or where did this. Do you feel like it come from? Or did you have to, like, do you have to create this yourself?
- [10:08]
A
Right. I think part of it, my mom, she's always been that person that growing up, she was always like, if there's something you want to do, you go get it and you do it and you put your blinders on and you do it anyway. So that was part of it, too. And then I think another part, which I'm gonna get a little personal is like, after I had my first born, I had postpartum depression, and it was really bad, and I just didn't know, you know what I mean, what was going to happen. And I think after going through that experience of, like, you know, being everything, being so dark, and you come out and you start seeing life differently, that you start living differently. And I don't know, you know, whoever, like, people are going through, but sometimes when you're going through something that's, like, traumatic, it makes you start seeing life differently. So for me, after that, I started seeing, like, you know what? There's only one life. I only get to do this one time, and whatever it is that I'm wanting to do, I'm going to make it happen. So sometimes, maybe whatever is that you're going through, use that as, like, a motivation to help you, you know, grow and learn and come from. And come. Come out on the other side.
- [11:16]
B
I appreciate you sharing that. I. I do appreciate, especially as a. As a mom. Right you are. And a lot of people listening to this are mothers, maybe new mothers, maybe they're. Their kids are older. I told you earlier, before that we started recording that. I'm expecting my third. Right. So my wife will have. And I think it's. It's very relatable and I think it's special that you're willing to share that because there's a lot of moms that are full time moms or just moms in general, but they also have this dream of like doing something more or maybe right in this sort of like life freedom that they can maybe have a little more optionality to spend more time with that child that's going to be becoming older and more demanding and so. And they're struggling with their mindset is the truth. That's what you're saying is how long do you think it took you to kind of come out of that darkness and kind of become the person?
- [12:13]
A
I mean, I had it. I mean I was in complete denial because I'm a nurse. So I was like, well, I know. So I was in total denial. But I think what I've learned from that whole situation was just that it kind of woke me up about life and realizing that like we only here for like, you know, a certain amount of time. You know, like we're on borrowed time. So. And now that I have my son, it kind of make me see life differently. Like I'm like, what do I want to live? Like what kind of legacy do I want to like, you know, live him with? Like what do I want to teach him about life? And it was more about like, you know what? Yes, it's going to be hard because recip hard life is hard. These are going to be difficult, it's going to be challenging. But if there's something in you like that is telling you that you're meant for more, that you're supposed to do more, that you're wanting to do, whatever is it, whether it's print on demand or whatever it is, like go and follow that, you know, I mean you don't have to like do like huge steps and you know, feel like you have to conquer the world all in one day, but you just take baby steps every single day and it's kind of. You just chip like at it every single day, every single day. And you'll be surprised what you be, you know, in like a couple months or even like a year.
- [13:24]
B
Completely agree. I completely agree with that. Like having this definite aim in life is so important for our happiness, our fulfillment and obviously financially it works out really, really well too eventually. But I agree, like people get lost in this, including myself. We get lost in this big picture thing of, like, this is what I want to achieve one day. And of course it's going to look so hard, because it is. I have this mind, this mindset that I have in my head is I usually share is think big, but start small, right? So you can think so big. If I want to build this huge company or maybe I want to, like, build this right, know this huge building, well, guess what? You have to lay the. To lay the foundation first. And you have to do step at a step, step, step by step, and start chipping away. Like, your words completely agree with that.
- [14:15]
A
Yeah, for sure. Every single day, you just keep going. But it's also one of those things, too, that you are going to be shipping away. And if you're saying you're going to do something, there's also this whole, like, commitment. And there's also this whole thing of you have to develop discipline. Because I know sometimes life gets hard. Like, trust me, I'm a mom, I'm a wife. Like, I also homeschool my kids. So, like, my time is limited. But if you're saying you're going to be doing something, then you also need to be doing it. Like, for example, with Etsy, if you're saying you're going to be researching or you're going to be listening, then you also need to commit to that because things are also not just going to happen, you know, so, and I'm not saying that, like, you have to, like, burn out. And if you're exhausted, not, you know, like, that's not what I'm saying, but, like, you still have to put in that word, like, you have to become that person that shows up and do things. Even sometimes when you don't feel like it, because people that are successful, this is what they do. And this is why sometimes, like, I listened to, like, Alex or Mosi, I don't know if I'm familiar with it, but he says, like, sometimes it's like the people that, like, make it, and not necessarily the smartest people, it's the people that are willing to outwork you. So it's like, if you are committed and you're willing to put in the work, there's so much more that you can accomplish by just showing up and doing it than just saying, well, I want to do it, but you don't never do anything about it. So you still have to show up and do the work. And with Etsy, like, you have to put, like, kind of like, do the reps like you do at the gym. You show up and you do it and you do it and you do it and you do it, and that's how you get better.
- [15:46]
B
That's it. I completely agree. Like, have this, like, long time, long time. And then obviously you have to just show up because, like, at the end of the day, you're not going to want to go to the gym every single day. Like, I don't care who you are, you're always going to have the day of. I want to slip back into my comfort zone or I don't always want to make my kids breakfast, for God's sakes.
- [16:04]
A
Right?
- [16:04]
B
But guess what? I do it anyway. And that's what I do. And that's what makes me a good parent. That's what makes you a mom, is when you do the things that you don't really want to do all the time.
- [16:16]
A
Exactly. Yeah, you're right.
- [16:18]
B
Sure enough, you're good at it and people will look at you and you're like, wow, you're such a great mom. Well, it's not because you do the things, the right things when you want to. It's because you do the things you need to do when no one is watching and when you really don't want to. And it's the same thing for our business. It's literally the same thing. Same principles. We just need to apply ourselves repeatedly over time. And eventually you work as long as, as long as it. As long as you're focused for right period of time.
- [16:47]
A
Yes, that's, that's another key one too. Focus. Like, you do have to have focus. Like you can't. And I know in this world now there's so much distraction because, you know, there's like Instagram and Tick Tock. There's like videos that are 15 seconds or like even like, for example, we're print on demand. Like Printify offers like so many products, right? You can offer so many different products and there's so many things that you can do. Like, you still have to like, kind of like just stay focused, Focus on one thing at a time. Focus on learning one platform at a time. Because I mean, I go in so many groups and people are like, oh, Well, I made $5,000 though. Let me go open another Etsy shop and let me go open. And now let me go to Amazon and now let me do this and I'm just like, please just focus. Like, it only takes like one Etsy shop. Like, like, literally. I mean, you know this. I mean, I was watching giving like brand creators. He was interviewing Caitlin Minimalist. Minimalism husband.
- [17:44]
B
Okay.
- [17:45]
A
And he was talking about, like, they were on Etsy for, like, a couple of years before they even open a Shopify store. And these are the people that are, like, the number one Etsy seller. So they. And this. I'm saying this just to teach you, like, the power of focus. Like, when you get really good at, like, one thing and you get really good at that craft, like, you grow that and you focus on that one thing, then once you get to a certain period, then of course you can take it to other areas or go somewhere else. But you have to, have to, have to focus. And this is always the same thing that I tell people. If you really want to make money, you want to make a ton of money, focus on one thing at a time. Focus on that one thing, and then you can go and do the other thing or the next thing or move on to what you want to move on to, but get really good at that one thing that you're doing first.
- [18:35]
B
Bridget, that is golden. And no one talks about this enough. No one talks about this enough. And in fact, I was the opposite of this. I think everybody is kind of the opposite of this at first, right? Entrepreneurship. Because you have this shiny thing syndrome. And everything is like, oh, you should sell Tumblrs, you should sell shirts, you should sell hats, right? Like, everything, right? Drop shipping Etsy, then all this crazy stuff. And then you should, by the way, you should, like, definitely be investing in real estate, by the way, right? It. And if you don't, like, you're a fool. And it's like, so there's a lot. And the truth is, any of them can work. Any of them work, right?
- [19:16]
A
Yes.
- [19:17]
B
You focus on all of them, or even three at a time. None of them will work. And you're right. You need to pick one. This is what you going back to what you said. Discipline, fully disciplined. To say, I'm going to pick one for this year, this entire year, not for this month. And I'm gonna get so good at this. I'm going to take whatever courses I need to take. I'm going to join the groups. I'm going to watch all the YouTube videos, right? Practice on this one thing. And after I master this one thing, then I'm allowed. And I'll make this deal with myself. Then I'm allowed to pick one other thing after I master something. And I think it is completely underrated, this skill. Yeah, It's a skill you need to build.
- [20:03]
A
Oh, yeah. And it's not. It's not an easy one. I mean, I think I was kind of maybe given to it because my mom has always been like that and she kind of grade that in me. But I know it's not easy one, because my husband is like a Hubble entrepreneur and his brain kind of goes. And I'm just like, no one thing. So I'm kind of like the person that kind of rules him. That's what he was trying to get me to become an entrepreneur. And I was like, no, I'm going to die being a nurse. He was all like, you will be a really good one because you have this power to just go like this. And that's kind of how what has been like for us, like, even like I was just like, I'm just going to do this one Etsy shop. And even now, like, even like we open. Oh, that's what we talked about the last time we opened a Shopify store. And we kind of even had to put that on pause because I feel like my Etsy shop still has so much more potential that I was just like, yes, that could be successful. But I kind of let me just keep going with this and then let's go over there and then that's kind of. And even like now that Printify offers like Amazon, of course that's great and maybe eventually do it. But like, for right now, especially because Q4 is coming, I need to focus on this. And for some people, they might feel like, oh, well, I need to have multiple streams of income. But like, you know, Etsy is like, you can't control Etsy. But this is the thing, like, even if you were to decide, well, you can't control Etsy and you want to go to Amazon and Shopify and do this, you're thinking that having all these things is going to give you more money. It's just not because you're having master one thing. And I would much rather be like really good at, you know, focusing right now on Etsy. And it's like if something, you know, Etsy ever goes away, whatever happens, like, I still have this skill that I can go take somewhere else and trust me, I will be successful doing the other thing because I know what to do because I learned how to focus with one and I make sure that I did what I could with that one platform. So that's what I always want to tell people, especially when there's so many distractions going on. Focus if it's Etsy, if it's whichever platform it is, focus on that one platform. Really get really good at it. Really Learn it. I mean, know everything about it. Even like your customers, your niches, everything get really good. I mean, become like the master, like the go to person. And then like you're saying like, give it yourself like a year, whatever time. And then once you get to like a point, then you can stay. And like, it's not like there's a certain number. Like, because for me people might look like, but you made enough, you can just go somewhere else. And I'm like, yeah, but I feel like I'm still like a. You know what I mean? Like, I'm like my baby Steph. Like, there's so much more that I can still do with my Etsy shop that that's why I still pour into it.
- [22:39]
B
Yeah, completely agree. I was just talking to a friend of the friend of mine yesterday and we were talking about basically this shiny thing syndrome. And he was like, yeah, I am, I'm building this business here, but I really have this itch I need to scratch to like do something else in the meantime. Because, like, he didn't know what to do in that time of.
- [22:58]
A
Right, right.
- [22:59]
B
And I'm like, ah, that's something that people don't talk about. Completely agree and relate to this. Like, you get almost bored a little bit. Yeah, you're building this thing. You're like, oh, I only. How many listings should I do, for God's sakes? I already put up a hundred.
- [23:12]
A
Right.
- [23:12]
B
You know?
- [23:13]
A
Right, right.
- [23:14]
B
Then it's. Then so what, what he, what he wanted to do was basically like, I want to go start something new because. And I'm like, listen, I don't know if this is good advice or bad advice. This is my advice, myself. And it works, right? First of all, recognize where you're at. You're having the shiny syndrome, and that's okay. You're an entrepreneur, you're a builder, you're a creator. This is what you do. You create. Now if you're optimizing from, for creativity and just for. As a creative outlet, do it, do whatever you want to do, who cares? But if you're optimizing for money, then this is not going to work well for you. And so if you need to scratch this itch like by starting a new thing, then here you need to develop. You need to be hyper disciplined and create a, create a criteria list. And this is what I do. You need to say, you need to make a deal with yourself, like a contract. Say, like, I will allow myself to do this a new thing if it meets the following criteria. One, it Needs to be, needs to be able to make an income in a fairly short period of time. It could be six months, could be three months, whatever it is, two. It needs to take less than like $100 a month from me. Basically filtered out all your big investment to go buy a laundry mat, go buy this, you know, thing, this car, rent out. Next, it needs to align with my, my main business. So that means it needs to amplify somehow my main business. For example, if I sell bridesmaids, sell to bridesmaids on Etsy, then I'll allow myself to start a YouTube channel about weddings or something like this. And third or the fourth is I need to be, I need to be able to see myself doing this for the next five years. It's not a rich, quick scheme. This is something that will continually compound for the next five years. And it's going to be like no effort to me. Those are the only things that I would allow myself to do. And if I can't, if it doesn't meet the criteria, then it will not work long term for me. That's my thought. What are your thoughts?
- [25:19]
A
No, that's a good one. Because it really makes you think, you know what I mean? And then if you can't go through that, then it's like, you gotta scratch it. I think for me, I don't know, it's just, it's a skill. Like, you have to just, you have to work at this. I mean, you have to. Especially for people that are like, work already and they have limited time. You have to really think about and, you know, like, do you have the time to sit here and do all these different things? Like I would say, like, go and do your research if you already have an item. Like, if you sell T shirts and those already work for you. Like, keep seeing what else you can do. Like, you know, what niches are still working for you. Like, you know, maybe you can expand. Like if you have a design that's doing really well and if it makes sense, maybe adding it to like a other product. But I was just go more into, like going deeper with that customer. Because at the end of the day, it's like you have to learn your customers. You have to figure out, like, what they like, what they don't. Like, like, there's so much that you can do with one item because you can offer in different colors. You can change, like, design variations. Like, there's so many things that you can do. And you do this by doing research. So I would say, like, use that time that you're feeling icky, especially with Etsy, to do research. That's literally what I do. Because when you do research, you learn so many more things. You can not only learn, like, whatever, be like, learn what your competitors are doing, like, what's crushing for them, but you can also see, like, you know, see new trends, like, new things that are coming up. And if Etsy is not enough for you, you can go outside of Etsy. But I would say use that time to just pour instead of, like, feeling like you, oh, you have to list or you have to do, like, your designs, you have to do your SEO. Because I know that can be a repetitive. Use that extra time to go and research. Because if you want to make a ton of money on Etsy, you have to give people what they're looking for. And the way that you get better at doing that is by researching what people are looking for.
- [27:12]
B
You know what I love Bridget about this is it's interesting. I know your shop, and I see how successful you're doing. And, yeah, if I were to listen to this podcast, I would assume that Bridget said customer so many times. Understand your customer so many times. And then when I look at your shop and I'm like, oh, it's not actually. Not really specifically one niche that I can tell. But I'm. I'm curious, how do you view this? View your niche. Is it a specific type of person that buys your stuff, or is it, like, types of people?
- [27:42]
A
So when I first started, I was all over the place. And then once I started seeing, like, what was working, I went really deep with that. So, like, now I do have different niches, but, like, they still kind of, like, specific on its own. Like, I don't. I mean, I kind of do have a general shop, but it's not so general that I sell to every single person. And in some of my niches kind of do relate. But I think it's just, like, you still have to, like, go deep with that niche. Like, for example, like, if you're in a niche, like, you can't just offer, like, one design. Like, you have to, like, really go and, like, figure out what those people like. Because, for example, if I'm a nurse, right, And I might like something that's, like, really simple, but maybe, you know, another nurse might like something that's really bold or in your face. So, like, just because you're in the same niche doesn't mean you're gonna like the same type of things. So you do have to spend a ton of time in A niche, especially also because Etsy, when people find something, Etsy will also show them, like, other related items. So you want to have more things that they could possibly like. Or somebody clicks on an ad that you have, and they might not like that item, but you offer other items. You know, they might consider the other item or they'll come and buy multiples. So you're able to increase your order value because they'll come and buy two, three plus items at a time. So. And then that's how you really get to learn those customers, because then they'll also send you messages and then they'll ask you more questions like, oh, do you offer this? Or you offer that? And then you get to, like, expand on that. So that's why I was like, you can have, like, different niches, but I do tell people to kind of focus, like, maybe start with like, 1, 2, 3, like, umbrella niches at a time. Don't go and target all of them because you're gonna get overwhelmed. Start kind of like small, you know, create from there, see what works from there, and whatever is working. I would definitely add more to those niches because they're working for a reason.
- [29:36]
B
If you were to, like, let's say you said umbrella, Nisha. So, for example, nurse. Would you say nurse? Nursing is an umbrella.
- [29:43]
A
I would say nurse. And then, like, as a new seller. So this is the thing. As a new seller, everybody wants to sell in the nurse, right? Or like, mama. And you can so don't feel like, you know, a lot of people were like, well, I just want. Especially, like, with the mom niche. I just want to design mama things. And I'm just like, yeah, that's great. But in the beginning, your designs are not that great. And you have to be real with yourself. Like, they're just not. You're gonna get better, but, like, your mama design is just gonna get buried in the last page of Etsy because you don't have enough social proof or sales to compete with, like, the shops that have been doing it. You know, go more specific and you'll find your people because they are looking for those specific items.
- [30:27]
B
If someone were to go into the nurse niche, and then it's a labor. Nurse niche.
- [30:32]
A
Yeah.
- [30:33]
B
Using Everby. I mean, I know what I would do personally, but I'm curious what you would do, because I know that you use Everbee a lot. How would you recommend somebody does that? Let's say they're like, nurse, umbrella, labor and delivery. This is their first shop. What are they doing with Everby?
- [30:49]
A
So I like to start abroad every time I research. So I would just put on the Etsy output like maybe nurse shirt. And then I will see what shows up on the first page. I would use everbee to kind of show me like which products are like doing the, like which items are doing the best. And then I will go into that shop and see if they sell any more nursing stuff. So then because now you're trying to see if there's any more like specific types of nurses or if they're just like nurse or this is also something you can do. You can just stay in the nurse umbrella, use ever be then go into that shop, use ever be again to see what are their best products. Let's say their best product is like this nurse shirt. You can still use that like design all that aesthetic for inspiration. And then what you can do is then you can go more specific and then go onto Etsy to type in like labor nurse shirt and see what comes up. Because when you went bra, sometimes when you go Brad, some of the designs might not be the same as specific. So you can use some of those inspiration that you saw in the broad things to bring into the more specific niches to help you stand out. So that's why I always like to do my, you know, search like super, like broad even. Like sometimes I don't even research the niche that I'm in. I'll go like woman's gifts, a woman's shirts. Because sometimes you can get inspiration by looking at even items outside of where you sell.
- [32:12]
B
Like for example, I love example. And you typically type in, click product analytics and then you sort by monthly sales or total sales or total revenue or something like that.
- [32:20]
A
I like to look. So I like sometimes look at the listing age, monthly sales. Because sometimes if it's like a newer, like a newer shop and they're doing really well when you're new, that can help you. Because of course sometimes it gets overwhelming when you're seeing like, oh, the list. This listing has been there for like two years. But when you can see newer ones, it shows you for the people that still believe that you can make the money with T shirts, which you can, but it will kind of give you the whole boost of like, wow, like it is possible. So I like to do it like that too. And then of course go into that shop and then go deeper and see what actually items are doing really well for them. But I always start broad even. Like I even do gifts sometimes. I like to look at stickers, tumblers. I'm Telling you, I look at everything because there's things sometimes that those products have that you can bring into whatever you're selling.
- [33:10]
B
I love that. Okay. Yeah, we're already at 33 minutes and I want to get to rapid fire questions. You ready to kind of.
- [33:19]
A
Yeah.
- [33:22]
B
All right, so let me get it for you. Are you ready?
- [33:26]
A
Yeah.
- [33:26]
B
By the way, Bridget has not been prepared for these questions at all yet. So what is your favorite business book?
- [33:32]
A
I don't have. I like the Atomic Habits. I don't know if that's, you know.
- [33:36]
B
Yeah, that counts. Outside for sure.
- [33:38]
A
Yeah, clear.
- [33:40]
B
By the way, if anybody wants to pick that up, you, Bridget, you do seem like a person that would read that book because you mentioned like discipline and like all this other stuff, like doing the right things when no one's looking. Atomic Habits is a great read. Sub question on this. How many books do you think you've read on business?
- [33:58]
A
Oh.
- [33:59]
B
Or like mindset development, self development books?
- [34:01]
A
I mean, I would say more than 10. So this is the thing. I read books. I listen to podcasts, even like, especially when I'm in the car by myself without the kids. I listen to a lot of podcasts. A lot of the videos that I watch on YouTube, not only about printing the man, but I follow a lot of business people on YouTube, Instagram. Like I'm mostly. Yeah. So I'm constantly consuming. Whether I'm reading, I'm also watching or listening to.
- [34:26]
B
So 10, 10 self development minimum plus constant consume, consumption of growth minded stuff. Business minded stuff. Cool. That's a tip. By the way, takeaway for anybody listening to this that's trying to break in. Second question. What's the one thing that you wish that you knew before starting your business?
- [34:46]
A
I see. Well, this is a good one, I guess that you're just not gonna be, especially with print on demand, like it's heavy on designing, that your beginning designs are just not going to be as great as you think that they are because, you know, you spend a lot of time pouring into it and you look at them and you're like, to you they just look beautiful and they just, you're gonna put them on Etsy and they're going to sell. But it's, you know, coming in a little bit more realistic. Not like being so harsh on yourself, like, oh my God, this is horrible and I'm never going to, you know, make it. But having being realistic and being open minded that you are a beginner, like this is a new skill that you're having to learn and develop and it takes time and that your beginning designs are just not going to be great. And be honest with yourself. Because sometimes the reason why we can't move forward in this business is because we're not willing to be honest with the fact that our designs still need work. And we just say, oh, well, I've done everything, everything is great, and I'm still not making any sales. Well, if everything was great, then you would already be making sales. So, yeah.
- [35:54]
B
What would somebody. How do they get that honest feedback? Is it. Is there, like, groups that they could post it to? Is there, like, friends? But they have to be designer friendly friends or business friends. So it's like, people lack friends. So what would you suggest somebody does? Could they join something like this, right?
- [36:12]
A
Like, either join a group, like some type of membership, pay for a course, like audits, like, spend money, like, when I do, like, audit sometimes, like, I'll show people, like, side by side. Like, I'll show them their design and like, whatever nation they're in, I'll go and search that niche and I'll show them. I'm like, this is your design. This is what's selling. Because sometimes you need that visual to kind of help you be like, okay, like, this is mine. This is what's selling. Okay. I know what I kind of need to work on, so that's great. I would say more.
- [36:45]
B
Yeah, that's such great advice. Yeah, it's that right there. I've done it myself. I'm a terrible designer. And especially when I was first starting out, like, I was so, so terrible. And putting my design next to a product. Let's go to, let's say it's a nurse. Nurse sweatshirt.
- [37:01]
A
Right? Right.
- [37:02]
B
If I were to design this nerd sweatshirt, I'm like, oh, this is awesome. But it's not selling. Why? And then I would type in, let's say nurse sweatshirts on Etsy. And I look at, I find like a top seller with Everby, like, let's say, doing like $10,000 a month. Pair the two designs. I'm like, look at the images.
- [37:18]
A
Right?
- [37:19]
B
Look at, look at this. Look at this white space around it.
- [37:22]
A
There's too much.
- [37:23]
B
Like, the lighting is off. And you're gonna find, hopefully you'll find lots of things. And if you don't, then I highly do suggest this. The other thing you mentioned, which is like, join a group. It's a membership group. Do it for a while, figure out if it's helpful, and completely agree. All right, third question. What's the worst business advice that you've ever received.
- [37:48]
A
Worst business advice. Oh, that you need to have, like, multiple. Like, I don't know that you have to have, like, multiple things in order for something to work. Like, you have to, like, have, like, 50 billion streams of income and, you know, and spread yourself everywhere. And for me, a person that's like, I'm always like, this is like. And plus, it's like, yes, you can have 50 billion streams of income, but how much money are you making each one of them, if you're even making any money? And then I just feel like, again, going back to the whole focus, like, you gotta get really good at one thing and do that really well. And then, of course, then you can add maybe other things that make sense, but you have to get a master at your craft first. Like, most people that are being successful that make a ton of money, they literally are blinders. Like, they go with one thing, and then as they spend and maybe they add other things, but their main thing that made them money is, like, one thing that they focus on.
- [38:50]
B
That's such great advice. That's probably my same advice as well, because we. We get the advice. We've all heard this advice. Like, the average millionaire has seven. Seven streams of income.
- [39:02]
A
Yep, I know. And I was watching. It's funny because you said that, because Alex Hermosi literally put a reel about that. Like, you say, like what you just said, and he let me an example. It's like, yeah, you think that the average millionaire has this many incomes, but it's because they kind of like, you know, start with the one, and as they made all their money, then they kind of go and, like, into other little things, you know. But they first started with the one.
- [39:27]
B
1000% agree. I think that's terrible advice that we've gotten. And I think it's. It's probably not any one. One person had bad intentions. It was just. It's. It's out of context. Like, all those successful people have one solid stream of income. They've. It's very easy to create multiple streams of income after you have one solid stream of income.
- [39:45]
A
Right.
- [39:46]
B
Very difficult to create seven streams of income out of no income. It's almost impossible. So, all right, how many hours do you think you work in your business per week?
- [39:57]
A
Ooh. I mean, I would say a day. Maybe like four, five. I mean, I'm crazy about it. So I work a lot. I do a lot of my free time doing it because I do like it. I don't have to work as many hours as I do, but I just love it so much that I do.
- [40:18]
B
So four or five per day on average.
- [40:19]
A
Yeah. Yeah.
- [40:21]
B
And then how do you define work, just to be clear?
- [40:24]
A
Oh, so most of it is really doing. Again, most of it is doing research. Because I'm at the point that I just don't list, like, I mean, a lot of crazy stuff. Everything now has to make sense because it's all depending on what's working for me. So most of that time literally goes into, like, researching, just learning more about the customer, figuring out what maybe was new or, you know, what been trending. And, like, so a lot of it. Chunk of it goes into more into the whole research part of, you know, print on demand.
- [40:52]
B
Beautiful. And how I like thinking about business. Like, when you're not in front of your computer, do you consider that work or not? Not really work.
- [40:58]
A
I mean, I don't consider it work, but I guess my brain is always going. I mean, it's kind of hard to shut off. But I do think, like, it's always like, you know, because I'm always, like. Even, like, if I'm in the car, like, I'm saying, I'm maybe listening to a podcast. So, like, I'm constantly, you know, doing something to fuel me. Like, I mean, I do have some downtime where I do sit and watch Netflix, but, like, from where, like, what it used to be, like, is pretty insignificant. Like, now I spend more of my time doing things that are, like, productive, that feed my brain and my soul, that actually help me grow than just, like, feeling like, I'm just like, oh, I'm just gonna sit here and, like, you know, watch, you know, because I did. I don't know, I did some work. Then I'm just gonna sit here and, like, now watching Netflix and chill. I do do that, too, but I like to be, you know, productive with my time and make sure that I'm always, like, learning something or, like, and it doesn't have to be about print on demand. Just like me as a person, too, because we're always evolving and we're always growing 1,000%.
- [41:55]
B
I love that last question. If you. If your family and your friends and your customers all had to get together and write an honest article or a book or something about you without you knowing you're not involved at all, and they had to characterize, like, your traits and who you are as a person and all this stuff, what do you think? What do you think some of the things are that they would say?
- [42:22]
A
I would say focus this, use, determine Discipline that I care, you know, that actually care about people and was also, like, honest because I also like to live my life with, you know, truth and just kind of, you know, sometimes rip the band aids. Just say it. Like it needs to be said. I mean, not in a mean way, but, you know. Yeah. So I would say those would be like the main ones.
- [42:51]
B
I love that. Where can people find you? Where people learn more about you? Do you have. I know you mentioned audit earlier. You mentioned, you mentioned a group, like. Yeah, I haven't started.
- [43:04]
A
Yeah, I have a membership. Yeah, Scholar Stupid Easy Pod membership. And that membership was just started again to help people because I get a lot of comments on like, YouTube and Facebook groups that I've seen and even emails about people struggling with, again, research, design, mindset. So the membership has a ton, ton of videos about that to kind of help you, you know, kind of get out of that and kind of get that started. And then there's different levels of it where you can just get the information or you can just get access to me, like a group setting or like, even like one to one. But that's mainly my focus. And then also mostly on YouTube, like, stupid easy Pod. That's mostly where I am. I try to post like one video a week and it's about different things like designs, research, you know, so many different tutorials, but that's mostly where I am.
- [43:53]
B
I love that. By the way, for anybody listening to this, we will drop Bridget's links for both of those things in the show notes or the YouTube description, depending on where you're getting this. But Bridget, thank you so much for coming on again. I really, really appreciate it. It's always fun.
- [44:11]
A
Yeah. Thank you so much for having me. So happy to be back. And, you know, hopefully we can help some people, like, get their. Get their minds right 1000%.
- [44:21]
B
I guarantee this is helping at least one person, but probably a lot more, that's for sure. But even if it just serves one person right, well worth it.
- [44:30]
A
Yes. Right, cool.
- [44:33]
B
Well, Bridget, thank you so much. I'll see you next time.
- [44:35]
A
Sounds good. Bye.