Podcast Summary

How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy

Host: Lizzie Smiley
Guest: Preston Cox
Episode: 198 | From Hobby Shop to Full Time Handmade Etsy Seller
Release Date: September 11, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features a deep-dive conversation between host Lizzie Smiley and recurring guest Preston Cox, who shares his inspiring journey from managing multiple side hustles and small-town jobs to becoming a full-time, successful handmade seller on Etsy. The discussion covers Preston’s rapid growth (from 100 to 1,000 sales in 9 months), key strategies behind his niche laser-engraved patch hats business, integrating local and online sales, lessons in scaling and setting boundaries, and managing logistics in a handmade business.

Key Discussion Points

1. Preston’s Rapid Etsy Growth

Timestamps: 08:00–11:31

• Preston hit the milestone of 1,000 Etsy sales on his birthday, nine months after having just surpassed 100 sales.
• The inflection point was during Q4 last year, with personalized name patches for Christmas stockings taking off.
• Preston’s average gross is at least $3,000/month, even through slower summer months.
• Local connections and bulk orders (e.g., an order of 150 patches, another for 200) played a huge role in his exponential growth.

"I hit a thousand today—a thousand orders in my Etsy shop. It will likely be my biggest order. And it’s my birthday. How about that?"
— Preston Cox (08:01)

2. Product Strategy & Niche Focus

Timestamps: 08:25–13:24

• Preston experimented with printables, then shifted to laser-engraved patches and hats—finding success by meeting customer requests.
• Bulk pricing and partnering with local sellers helped establish recurring revenue streams.
• He continues to expand offerings, now planning more stocking designs for the coming Q4.

"I heard Cassie Johnson talk...about making some things that can be bulk ordered. I hadn’t expected my patches to be as bulk ordered as they are."
— Preston Cox (11:31)

3. Bridging Online & Local Markets

Timestamps: 13:24–22:02

• Local sales are primarily through Facebook community groups, where informal rules allow business promotion.
• Facebook posts highlight recent work for local businesses or sports teams, and direct communication is through DMs and invoicing via tools like Square or bank payment systems.
• Local sales are less frequent but highly profitable, especially during high town spirit events (e.g., playoff football).

"Our town lives and dies on Facebook...I share regularly in those groups—'Hey, I have hats this week for our sports teams or businesses'—and usually get several sales."
— Preston Cox (13:29)

4. Logistics, Finances, and Scaling a Handmade Business

Timestamps: 15:20–34:59

• Bookkeeping and business finances were daunting; Preston learned via YouTube, ChatGPT, and local bookkeepers.
• Moved from trying to offer free shipping to charging $4.50 flat rate after advice from Lizzie—standardizing box size, simplifying shipping workflow.
• Encourages other handmade sellers to experiment, standardize processes, and seek help from local postal staff.

"Go make friends with your postal service workers. They are there to help you...They’re just trying to make ends meet like the rest of us."
— Preston Cox (34:59)

5. Transformative Life Changes

Timestamps: 38:27–44:24

• Preston transitioned from balancing four jobs to working full-time on Etsy, after Etsy income surpassed his main part-time jobs.
• Made conscious decisions to offload non-Etsy jobs, reclaiming family time and weekends.
• Now works set hours in his shop (8am–5pm), prioritizing work-life balance and creative fulfillment.

"We’ve actually had free time, gone to football games...done stuff we want to do rather than what’s required of us at a job."
— Preston Cox (39:47)

6. Integrating Embroidery, Print on Demand, and Diversification

Timestamps: 44:24–49:27

• Acquired an embroidery business to add hats and shirts to his offerings; views embroidery as a supplement rather than a replacement for core laser-engraved products.
• Started a print-on-demand (POD) sister shop to test passive, scalable income models.
• Strives for systems that allow vacation and flexibility, experimenting with extending production times rather than using Etsy’s vacation mode to protect algorithmic standing.

7. Boundaries, Burnout Prevention, and Healthy Entrepreneurial Habits

Timestamps: 49:27–52:21

• Describes the importance of setting boundaries, such as fixed work hours and turning off notifications/apps.
• Developed habits like morning journaling/brain-dumping, reading instead of checking messages, and honoring downtime—especially with the support of his wife.
• Stresses not letting the business consume life and guarding against burnout.

"Set some good habits early on because when it does take off, you want to have good mental health...I’ve learned a lot about burnout the last couple of years."
— Preston Cox (51:19)

8. Mindset: Patience, Iteration, and Comparison

Timestamps: 54:45–68:30

• Lizzie emphasizes the need to be patient and not treat Etsy as a quick fix for financial woes.
• Preston’s journey had several pivots (printables → woodwork → hats → patches) before sustainable growth.
• Urges listeners to avoid unhealthy comparison with established sellers and instead focus on gradual, personal progress.

"Stop comparing yourself to businesses that are seven years ahead of you...I’m on my own timeline. The only competition I have is me right now."
— Preston Cox (66:24)

9. Key Lessons & Advice for Handmade and Etsy Sellers

Testing and Iteration:

• Try, adjust, and repeat—there’s rarely a ‘perfect’ setup from the start.
• Standardize as much as possible for efficient fulfillment and happier customers.

Healthy Boundaries:

• Don’t let the business take over your life; set work hours and unplug outside of those.
• Communicate expectations with family and make time for yourself.

Scaling Smart:

• Only take the leap to full-time when the business financially supports it.
• Diversification (adding embroidery, print on demand, etc.) creates multiple income streams and resilience.

Comparison and Community:

• Focus on your progress, not on others’ timelines, and celebrate wins at every stage.
• The Etsy community and coaching groups can provide support and invaluable camaraderie.

Notable Quotes

• "Just stick with it. It may not work out. Your product may not be what people are looking for. It happens...The best entrepreneurs are light-footed and can transition easily."
  — Preston Cox (56:42)

• "It is not work for me to test things and have them not work. It is play...That mindset is what makes the entrepreneur able to stick it out."
  — Lizzie Smiley (54:45)

• "Being able to be agile and light-footed and certainly open-handed with it...There’s some stuff I’ve made that I was certain was going to be a hit, and people didn’t want it. That’s how you learn."
  — Preston Cox (56:42)

Memorable Moments

• Preston reaching 1,000 sales on his birthday (08:01)
• The difference bulk orders made for his business (11:31)
• Transitioning from four jobs to working Etsy full-time and regaining weekends (38:27, 68:30)
• Practical tips for local sales and friendly local postal workers (34:59)
• Honest reflection on the realities of burnout and mental health for full-time makers (52:21)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 08:00 | Preston announces 1,000 sales | | 11:31 | Bulk orders and exponential growth | | 15:20 | Posting and selling locally via Facebook | | 19:42 | How to process payments for local orders | | 27:08 | Standardizing products & shipping | | 34:59 | Making friends with the postal workers | | 38:27 | Transition from multiple jobs to Etsy full-time | | 44:24 | Integrating embroidery and print-on-demand | | 49:27 | Setting boundaries and fighting burnout | | 54:45 | Healthy mindset: patience and iteration | | 66:24 | Overcoming comparison and focusing on personal progress | | 68:30 | Celebrating regaining weekends and creative fulfillment |

Closing Thoughts

Preston’s candid and relatable story illustrates the power of focus, experimentation, and resilience in building a sustainable Etsy business. His journey is a reminder that steady, iterative growth—combined with a willingness to learn, pivot, and set boundaries—can transform both a shop and a seller’s life. Whether you’re a new Etsy seller or a seasoned maker looking for renewed motivation, Preston’s experience offers practical strategies and a dose of reassurance that success is a marathon, not a sprint.