Crickets to Cha-Chings, Episode 211: The April 30-Day Etsy Challenge

Host: Gold City Ventures (Julie Berninger, Cody Berman)
Guest: Sasha Hutchinson (Head Coach, VIP Printables)
Date: March 23, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode introduces and details Gold City Ventures' "April 30-Day Printables Challenge" for Etsy sellers, particularly those new to selling digital products. Co-founder Julie Berninger and head coach Sasha Hutchinson guide listeners through what the challenge entails, the strategy behind it, the resources provided, and why April is a key month for printables. The episode is packed with practical advice, success stories, and insights on how to leverage the upcoming seasonal trends for Etsy growth.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. What is the 30-Day Etsy Printables Challenge?

• Purpose: To help new and existing Etsy sellers consistently create and list new digital products, building momentum and cultivating habits that lead to sales growth.
• Structure:
  • Four weeks of action, focusing on manageable steps each week ([02:07]).
  • Recommended pace: one new product per week, for a total of four by end of April.
  • Emphasis on quality over quantity: "You always want to create something with the intent of selling it." – Sasha ([02:16]).
• Challenge Tracker:
  • A visual accountability tool; participants color in progress as they check off tasks ([03:31]).
  • Encourages regular, visible progress and momentum-building ("It becomes addictive." – Sasha, [02:55]).

2. Step-by-Step Weekly Breakdown

• Weekly Workflow:
  • Day 1: Research on Etsy
  • Day 2: Find relevant keywords
  • Day 3: Create the product based on research
  • Day 4: Make listing images
  • Day 5: List the product
  • Rest days built in to avoid burnout ([02:24]).
• Cumulative Growth:
  • "If you list one product a week after, at the end of a year, you will have 52 new products in your shop." – Sasha ([02:51]).

3. Template & Product Highlights for April

• Curation Philosophy:

  • Mix of evergreen and seasonal products (evergreen = sells all year, seasonal = peaks during events/holidays) ([04:28]).
  • Focused on high-margin, beginner-friendly products and big seasonal opportunities (Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduation).

• Featured April Templates: ([04:28–10:28])

  • Adult Coloring Swatch Test Charts: Hidden gem niche; simple to create, big demand ("These product bundles sell for like $5 a piece and get insane sales volume." – Sasha, [05:08]).
  • Father’s Day Questionnaires and Handprint Crafts: Custom art and examples provided; handprint crafts especially lucrative for "women buying gifts for men" ([07:51]).
  • Barbecue Season Party Games: Two trivia-style game formats for bachelor/bachelorette, Father’s Day, birthdays, pool/summer events.
  • Editable Canva Invitations: Dual aesthetics (colorful & minimalistic); highly adaptable for various occasions (baby showers, engagement parties).
  • Summer Camp-at-Home Activity Bundle: 20+ page resource, easily adapted for multiple holidays and themes.

4. Teaching, Coaching & Community

• Live Events:
  • Sasha hosts walkthroughs for each template, showing how to customize and expand them into multiple listing ideas ([09:47]).
  • Emphasis on turning one template into "20 ideas" to maximize value.
• Mockups:
  • Provided for every product, allowing members to market professionally and efficiently ("31 pages of mockups... sometimes I do like 60, depending on what I think." – Sasha, [11:46]).

5. Accountability, Prizes, and Support

• Pomodoro Timers:
  • Prizes awarded via live event participation ([13:03–14:47]).
  • Recommended as a productivity tool: "Sometimes all you need is a timer to set for five minutes to help you get started." – Sasha ([13:21]).
  • Timers help users focus without phone distractions.
• Community Aspect:
  • Support via a private Facebook group; RSVP to events to be eligible for prizes ([14:47]).
  • "The more you show up for yourself and your business, the more successful you'll be." – Sasha ([14:43]).

6. Upcoming Opportunities

• Live Workshop:
  • Cody Berman will host a workshop on March 24th, explaining how he scaled a brand new Etsy shop to $4,000/month through template and listing expansion ([15:36]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On building habits:
  • "Little action steps, they grow, they add up, and they create a lot of growth. It's like a snowball effect, and it becomes addictive." – Sasha ([02:53])
• On finding 'hidden gem' niches:
  • "Adult coloring is huge. People want it for anxiety relief, relaxation, stress relief. And this is a really good product for beginners to create because you could just swap out these shapes." – Sasha ([05:17])
• On the depth of community expertise:
  • "She's got over 30,000 sales. She's good at finding these." – Julie about Sasha ([06:31])
• On mockups and resources:
  • "If you are in our VIP group and you are not downloading these, what are you doing? This is so valuable." – Julie ([11:52])
• On coach support:
  • "Who would you call if you had an Etsy question? A lot of people would call you. So if you want access to Sasha, if you want access to the amazing events..." – Julie ([13:04])
• On accountability and showing up:
  • "The people who show up, even if you're a fly on the wall...those are the people who do the best and they win prizes." – Sasha ([14:36])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:45] Introduction to the April 30-Day Printables Etsy Challenge
• [01:10] What the challenge entails and resources included
• [02:07] Weekly breakdown and challenge tracker explanation
• [03:31] The power of visual tracking and habit building
• [04:28–10:28] April template highlights and product walkthrough
• [11:46] The role of mockups and added value for participants
• [13:03–14:47] Prizes, Pomodoro timers, and community events
• [15:36] Invitation to live workshop with Cody Berman

Episode Takeaways

• The April 30-Day Challenge offers actionable, step-by-step guidance for growing an Etsy printables business in a supportive, resource-rich environment.
• Utilizing seasonally relevant products and effective workflow habits is key to driving sales, even for beginners.
• Community involvement, accountability tools, and live coaching significantly boost participants' chances of success.

If you're looking to build your Etsy printables business, this episode is full of practical steps, hidden product gems, and inspiring advice—directly from experienced coaches and sellers.