Episode Summary: Ep 166 | Inspiring Success on Michael’s Makerplace with Carolyn Murray

Podcast Title: How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy
Host: Lizzie Smiley
Guest: Carolyn Murray, Founder of Lakeshore Rock Art
Release Date: January 30, 2025

1. Introduction

In Episode 166 of How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy, host Lizzie Smiley welcomes Carolyn Murray, a top seller on Michael's new MakerPlace platform. Lizzie sets the stage by sharing updates about her Etsy Shop audits and an upcoming AI workshop for coloring pages, highlighting the growing opportunities for Etsy sellers to diversify and scale their businesses.

2. Meet Carolyn Murray

Carolyn Murray, the creative mind behind Lakeshore Rock Art, transitioned from a stressful career in finance to pursue her passion for rock collecting and art. Based near Lake Michigan, Carolyn crafts unique, personalized rock portraits that have garnered attention from major publications like Better Homes and Gardens. With years of success on Etsy, Carolyn has now become one of the leading sellers on Michael’s MakerPlace.

Notable Quote:
"I never thought that leaving my corporate job and turning my hobby into a full-time career would lead me to where I am today, doing a podcast with you over the success of it."
— Carolyn Murray [07:17]

3. Michael's MakerPlace vs. Etsy

Carolyn introduces Michael's MakerPlace as a superior alternative to Etsy, emphasizing its exclusive focus on handmade items. Unlike Etsy, MakerPlace excludes print-on-demand, digital products, and drop shipping, catering exclusively to artisans who create unique, handcrafted goods.

Notable Quote:
"Maker Place is their online selling platform similar to Etsy, but in my opinion, it's much better."
— Carolyn Murray [07:52]

4. Fee Structure and Sales Success

One of the standout features of MakerPlace is its competitive fee structure. MakerPlace charges a 4% referral fee, which drops to 2% with a professional plan priced at $9.99/month. Importantly, there are no listing fees, making it more cost-effective than Etsy's 6.5% base fee.

Carolyn shares her impressive sales metrics, having completed over 1,700 orders (~1,900 items) within a year on MakerPlace, effectively tripling her Etsy sales.

Notable Quote:
"Since I've been on MakerPlace, I've done over 1700 orders for just shy of 1900 items."
— Carolyn Murray [11:17]

5. Exceptional Customer Service

A major differentiator between MakerPlace and Etsy is customer service. MakerPlace offers responsive support through dedicated sellers' Facebook pages, direct emails, and even phone support. Carolyn praises MakerPlace's team for their prompt and effective assistance, contrasting it with her less satisfactory experiences with Etsy and Amazon.

Notable Quote:
"MakerPlace has a dedicated official sellers Facebook page... They have direct email for MakerPlace sellers with live human beings ready to help."
— Carolyn Murray [14:31]

6. Simplified Listing Setup and SEO

Setting up listings on MakerPlace mirrors the process on Etsy, which eases the transition for existing Etsy sellers. Carolyn advises keeping titles concise yet keyword-rich without the need for excessively long tags. Both platforms prioritize tags, titles, and attributes for SEO, but MakerPlace offers a more streamlined approach.

Notable Quote:
"It's very similar to Etsy. If you know how to do Etsy, you should have no problem setting up a listing on MakerPlace."
— Carolyn Murray [18:18]

7. Robust Marketing and Traffic Generation

MakerPlace excels in generating traffic through comprehensive marketing strategies. The platform invests in off-site ads on Google, Facebook, and Instagram at no additional cost to sellers. Additionally, MakerPlace conducts site-wide promotions, such as seasonal sales, funded entirely by Michael’s, ensuring sellers retain their profits.

Carolyn highlights the impact of these marketing efforts, noting that MakerPlace sellers earn 39% more per sale compared to other marketplaces.

Notable Quote:
"MakerPlace sells via millions of visitors every month... Their brand campaign is 'Respect the Handmade,' which really resonates with customers."
— Carolyn Murray [23:43]

8. Tools and Resources: Creative Fabrica Promotion

Lizzie Smiley introduces Creative Fabrica, a valuable resource for sellers needing unique fonts, graphics, and digital assets. She shares a special offer for her listeners to access a free trial, emphasizing the platform's extensive library and commercial licenses.

Notable Quote:
"Creative Fabrica has over 6 million fonts, graphics, and other digital resources that you will have full access to at any time."
— Lizzie Smiley [28:20]

9. Final Advice and Closing Thoughts

Carolyn urges sellers to embrace MakerPlace early, leveraging the platform's lower competition and robust support to build a loyal customer base. She shares her excitement about the potential for exponential growth and the seamless integration with Michael’s supply discounts, which significantly streamlines her production process.

Notable Quote:
"MakerPlace has been a total game changer for my career, my business, for my life in general. I am Team Michaels all the way."
— Carolyn Murray [48:12]

Lizzie expresses her enthusiasm for MakerPlace and plans to expand her own presence on the platform, encouraging listeners to stay tuned for future updates and insights.

Key Takeaways:

• Michael's MakerPlace offers a focused, handmade-only marketplace with lower fees and robust marketing support.
• Customer Service on MakerPlace surpasses that of Etsy, providing responsive and dedicated support.
• Marketing Efforts by MakerPlace significantly boost seller visibility without additional costs.
• Tool Recommendations like Creative Fabrica can enhance product uniqueness and streamline business operations.
• Early Adoption of MakerPlace presents opportunities for sellers to become established 'OGs' with a loyal following.

For more insights and resources, visit howtosellyourstuff.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to support the podcast!