Crickets to Cha-Chings: Episode 193 Summary

Title: Will Emily Hit $500k in 2 Years on Etsy? Her Holiday POD Tips
Host: Julie Berninger
Guest: Emily, Coach at VIPE Printables Community
Release Date: November 18, 2024

Introduction

In Episode 193 of Crickets to Cha-Chings, host Julie Berninger welcomes back Emily, a standout coach within the VIPE Printables community and a highly successful Etsy seller. Known for her impressive achievement of nearly $400,000 in Etsy revenue within her first two years, Emily shares her insights and strategies for scaling an Etsy shop, particularly focusing on Print on Demand (POD) during the crucial Q4 holiday season.

Background and Current Success

Julie Berninger opens the conversation by highlighting Emily's remarkable success on Etsy. "Emily was famous on the Internet for making almost $400,000 in her first two years on Etsy revenue," Julie remarks at [00:25]. Emily confirms that with the Q4 holiday season inflating her numbers, her revenue is approaching the $500,000 mark.

Emily elaborates on her current performance, stating, "My print on demand store is about 450k at this point, and with Black Friday and other big holiday shopping days coming up, hopefully, that will go up" ([00:55]). She emphasizes a healthy profit margin of approximately 30%, underscoring the viability of her POD business model.

Secret Sauce for Print on Demand Sales in Q4

As the conversation delves deeper, Julie and Emily explore the strategies that have propelled Emily's Etsy shop to success, especially during the high-stakes Q4 holiday period.

Tip 1: Sell Evergreen, Non-Holiday-Specific Items

Emily dispels a common misconception in the Etsy community: the necessity of offering holiday-specific items. "You don't have to spend a lot of time creating holiday themed items," she advises at [03:48]. Instead, she advocates for creating evergreen products that remain relevant year-round, such as journals, mugs, and ornaments. This approach not only broadens the potential customer base but also reduces the need for seasonal redesigns.

She explains, "People are buying gifts that connect with the person they're giving it to as opposed to the holiday itself" ([05:29]). This strategy allows sellers to maintain consistent sales without being confined to seasonal trends.

Tip 2: Diversify Beyond Apparel

While apparel like T-shirts and sweatshirts are popular, Emily recommends incorporating more universally gift-friendly items. "Apparel is hard for people to give as gifts for the holidays if they don't know someone's size or style," she notes at [06:33]. Instead, items such as ornaments, journals, and pet products can serve as versatile gifts that appeal to a wider audience.

Emily shares her personal sales distribution: "98% of my sales are not apparel items. I focus mostly on home decor, gift items, different things like that" ([08:41]). This diversification not only enhances giftability but also minimizes customer service issues related to sizing and returns.

Tip 3: Personalization is Key

Personalization stands out as a crucial factor in driving sales on Etsy. Emily emphasizes, "If you are able to offer personalized items, that would be a huge driving force for making more sales to be able to make your product unique" ([09:27]). Personalized products resonate deeply with customers seeking unique, thoughtful gifts.

She discusses the added workflow personalization entails: "When it's personalized, you get that order on Etsy, and you then have to go back to Canva or whatever your design tool is, do the personalization, download that file, then upload it to Printify and attach it to that order" ([11:07]). Despite the extra steps, Emily highlights the benefits of building a streamlined process to efficiently manage personalized orders.

Tip 4: Excellence in Customer Service During Q4

Q4 brings a surge in orders, which can lead to increased customer inquiries. Emily advises maintaining exceptional customer service to manage this influx effectively. "Create a really clear shop announcement with important information, especially during the holiday season," she recommends at [12:38].

Key strategies include:

• Setting Clear Deadlines: Inform customers of Printify’s holiday deadlines (around December 9th-10th) to manage expectations.
• Automated Responses: Implement automatic replies covering frequently asked questions to reduce the burden of individual inquiries.
• Transparency: Be honest with customers about potential delays to maintain trust and satisfaction.

Emily asserts, "That's how you get good reviews and build relationships with your customers" ([12:38]).

Tip 5: Invest in Your Shop Year-Round

Preparation for Q4 shouldn't be limited to the months leading up to the holidays. Emily stresses the importance of continuous investment and development throughout the year. "Pouring into your shop throughout the first nine months helps identify what will be successful during the holidays" ([17:19]).

She advocates for:

• Regular Research and Listing Updates: Keep the shop fresh with new, trending products.
• Testing and Iteration: Continuously experiment with different designs and products to find what resonates with customers.
• Planning for Future Holidays: Begin strategizing for post-Christmas events like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day to sustain sales momentum.

Emily concludes, "Slow and steady wins the race. Just take your time, research, design, list, and don't lose sight of January coming up after this" ([17:19]).

Upcoming Projects and Announcements

In the latter part of the episode, Emily shares exciting news about an upcoming collaboration. "I am partnering with Julie and Cody and Gold City Ventures to launch a print on demand course," she announces at [19:56]. This course aims to help aspiring Etsy sellers launch, optimize, and scale their POD shops with a focus on profitable, giftable products.

Julie chimes in, "We are working on it right now and really excited to bring this course to the market to be able to help aspiring Etsy sellers" ([20:37]). The course promises to deliver Emily’s proven strategies and secret techniques that contributed to her substantial revenue growth.

Final Thoughts and Community Support

Julie and Emily wrap up the episode by sharing their personal experiences as Etsy customers, reinforcing the sense of community and mutual support among sellers. They highlight the importance of supporting fellow small businesses, especially during peak shopping periods like Black Friday.

Emily reflects on her own Etsy purchases, mentioning a variety of products she enjoys buying from other sellers, from personalized ornaments to unique mugs ([21:17]). Julie adds her own shopping anecdotes, emphasizing the joy of discovering creative and heartfelt gifts within the Etsy marketplace ([22:18]).

Conclusion

Episode 193 of Crickets to Cha-Chings offers invaluable insights for Etsy sellers aiming to elevate their POD businesses, especially during the critical Q4 holiday season. Emily’s expert tips on focusing beyond seasonal themes, diversifying product offerings, leveraging personalization, maintaining stellar customer service, and consistently investing in your shop provide a comprehensive roadmap for achieving significant sales growth. Additionally, the forthcoming POD course collaboration promises to further empower entrepreneurs in the handmade and digital marketplace.

Key Takeaways:

• Evergreen Products: Focus on non-seasonal items that remain attractive year-round.
• Product Diversification: Incorporate diverse, gift-friendly products beyond apparel.
• Personalization: Offer personalized items to enhance uniqueness and customer appeal.
• Customer Service: Maintain clear communication and manage expectations during peak seasons.
• Year-Round Investment: Continuously develop and refine your shop to prepare for high-sales periods and future holidays.

Stay tuned for more episodes of Crickets to Cha-Chings to continue learning from successful Etsy entrepreneurs like Emily.