Podcast Summary

Podcast: How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy
Episode: 212 | How leaning into Data changed everything - with Trista Pagel
Host: Lizzie Smiley
Guest: Trista Pagel
Date: December 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode is a deep dive into the journey of Trista Pagel and her family, who went from side hustles and ministry work to building a thriving Etsy shop in just four months. The main theme centers on how “leaning into data”—using research-driven, database decisions and tools like Profit Tree and Everbee—enabled Trista’s rapid Etsy growth, profitability, and resilience. Lizzie and Trista discuss practical strategies, mindset shifts, and actionable tips for Etsy newcomers or anyone ready to scale their handmade or digital business.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Trista’s Story: From Hardship to New Beginnings

Background: Trista and her husband John are Midwesterners with five boys, homeschooling and formerly in full-time ministry. After leaving ministry, they faced severe financial hardship, with job inexperience and major family set-backs.
- Memorable Moment: Trista recalls her debit card being declined with a negative balance, motivating her new Etsy journey.
  [04:08] Trista: "I will never forget the day I checked out at our grocery store and my debit card declined... there was negative 400 in that account."
Side Hustle Roots: Trista had sold crafts since 2017 through farmers markets, fairs, and even Shopify. She found the most fulfillment in handmade goods and embraced family entrepreneurship.
Transition to Etsy: After a successful local farmers market run (including products by their twin sons), Trista realized selling to friends/family wasn’t sustainable and searched for ways to scale—discovering Lizzie’s podcast. [10:29] Trista: “I remember as the farmer’s market came to a close, I literally googled, ‘Lizzie, how do I sell things on Etsy?’”

The Early Etsy Approach: Data-Driven Decisions

Research Before Listing: Rather than listing products based on personal preference, Trista used research tools (Profit Tree, Everbee) and Lizzie’s podcast to assess what was already selling well on Etsy.
- Example: She found that “tallow” products, not just generic skincare, were in high demand, so focused listings there. [11:10] Trista: "I just knew if I want this to work, I need to lay aside what I know and what I like making and focus on what the research shows sells well for now."
Multiple Listing Types: Trista embraced a mix—handmade, print-on-demand, and some digital—rather than getting hyper-niched from day one. [13:11] Lizzie: "You just gave people a lot of freedom who are sitting there like, I can't decide..."
Shop Growth Strategy: Launched with around 10 research-backed products, then added new listings almost daily in the first three months.

Leveraging Trends and “Trend Combining”

Tracking & Applying Trends: Trista credits Lizzie’s podcast for trend-spotting (e.g., “coquette bows”), even when the trend was unfamiliar to her. [15:27] Trista: “When I jumped onto your podcast, you were talking about coquette bows...I have five boys, so I don’t have any bows in my house.”
Trend Combining: Trista’s first sell-out item was a quilted coquette bow blanket—a fusion of two hot trends which brought immediate sales across Etsy, fairs, and storefronts. [19:18] Lizzie: “When you did those blankets, you actually did something called trend combining...that’s where the sweet spot is.”
[21:35] Trista: “I’m at, I’m over 300 [sales]..."
Rapid Growth: In four months, Trista surpassed 300 mostly handmade sales—a life-changing result.

SEO, Listing Titles, and Understanding Demand

Keyword Strategies: Using research, Trista learned to title listings not just by what they are but by the need they fill (e.g., “custom gifts for boys” instead of “fishing pole”). [22:55] Trista: “What I learned...you don’t necessarily need to describe the product. You more need to describe the need that the product is filling.”
Lizzie’s Hybrid Approach: Lizzie suggests a mix: clearly state what the product is (for clarity in search) and use purpose-driven keywords.

Mindset Shifts and Overcoming Challenges

Embracing a New Mindset:
Trista highlights the importance of seeing Etsy as “a financial playground” where pricing shouldn’t be limited by your own budget—the right audience will pay for quality and uniqueness. [31:36] Trista: “Etsy is a financial playground...what is my reality of a budget is not necessarily someone else’s.”
- Example: Raising advent calendar prices led to even more sales.
Facing Imposter Syndrome:
Trista and Lizzie discuss feeling “anyone could do this” and the importance of recognizing the value, expertise, and customization handmade sellers provide. [29:05] Trista: “I can sometimes have imposter syndrome...Why would someone pay me to do this?...because it takes time to figure all of that out." [30:43] Lizzie: "Haters gonna hate. And I'm just going to keep going because there's plenty of people like me who aren't going to take the time to make something handmade..."
Learning New Skills and Tools:
Trista dove into learning laser engraving, admitting to mistakes and the steep technical curve as both challenging and necessary for success.
Working Through Hardship:
Building the shop required sacrifices—time, lifestyle shifts, and initial low profits (thanks to early discounts/running sales), but delivered great reward and growth. [45:50] Trista: “There were things in other areas...we said no to when we needed to so we could get orders fulfilled...We ran sales...if the customer said, ‘can you do this,’ we said yes.”

Actionable Tips & Takeaways for New Sellers

Research Before Creating:
Use data-backed tools (like Profit Tree, Everbee) to validate product ideas—don’t just create what you feel like and hope for sales. [35:14] Trista: "Accept this idea of database research decisions. It has changed everything for us."
Adopt Growth Mindset:
Focus on “what if it works so well that we can’t keep up?” instead of “what if it fails?” [35:36] Trista: "Try asking the other question. What if this, it works so well that we have to figure out how to keep up with all of this."
Persistence & Iteration:
Lizzie notes that the key is to keep going and iterate—no one starts perfect, and repeated attempts lead to progress. [39:14] Lizzie: "If you do not give up, you literally cannot fail...do a thousand [designs] and then we'll be approached."
Etsy as a Positive Platform:
Trista’s experience with Etsy fees and support has been positive—she encourages others not to be discouraged by misconceptions.
Let Etsy Guide Scaling:
Trista uses Etsy’s data (bestsellers) to decide what to scale or try on other platforms (e.g., bringing products to Faire).
Meaningful Rewards:
Beyond sales, handmade work enables truly meaningful, personalized products for customers—examples include turning a century-old family farm’s walnut tree into cherished gifts. [42:07] Trista: "They shipped the wood to me and said, we don't care what you make, just make gifts out of this...that's priceless."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Shifting from Hobby to Business:
[10:13] Trista: "If I treat our hobby like a hobby, it will pay us like a hobby. If I invest in it like the business we want it to be, then it can pay us like a business."
On Handcrafted Resilience:
[13:05] Trista: "I just cannot get away from working with my hands. I just can't do it."
On Trend Combining:
[19:18] Lizzie: "You took coquette and you trend combined it with...the quilted grand millennial look. That’s where the sweet spot is."
On Pricing & Value:
[31:36] Trista: "Etsy is a financial playground...don't box yourself in. Try different price categories."
On Mindset for Success:
[35:36] Trista: “We just made the decision to ask the question of if the opposite problem happened...What if this is so fruitful, we can't keep up on orders?”
On the Power of Iteration:
[39:14] Lizzie: “People might want to look at me and be like, your results Lizzie, you're so lucky. You have not catch all the tears, my friend...I fail left and right...But I know I will get there because I am going to iterate and iterate."
On Strategy over Luck:
[41:11] Trista: "[With Etsy] there's Rhyme and there's reason and there's strategy and there's lots of help. And Lizzie, you're a great example of that."
On Customer Meaning:
[42:07] Trista: "[My customer] shipped the wood to me and said...make gifts out of this. And this is going to be our parents' memory of the farm. I mean, that's priceless."

Important Timestamps

[00:58] Introduction of Trista, preview of her story and focus on data
[05:13] Trista’s family background and entrepreneurial journey
[10:29] Discovery of Lizzie’s podcast, shift to data-driven product decision making
[12:33] Strategic product selection process for Etsy launch
[15:27] Adopting trends (e.g. coquette bows), “trend combining,” and first big sales
[22:55] Deep dive on keyword research, titling, and product positioning
[27:13] Biggest learning curves, embracing new tech (laser engraver)
[31:36] Letting go of limiting beliefs about pricing—Etsy as a “financial playground”
[35:14] Top actionable advice for brand new Etsy sellers
[39:14] Iteration, persistence, and normalizing the “messy middle”
[41:11] Etsy is not luck; there are real strategies for success
[42:07] Most rewarding, meaningful custom order story
[45:50] Real talk on what’s “hard” about Etsy growth (sacrifice, low early profits, learning new systems)
[48:36] Vision for the future: scaling, employing others, and giving back

Where to Find Trista

Instagram: @pagelansons
Facebook: Pagel and Sons

Final Thoughts

This episode is a powerful testament to the impact of data-driven strategies and unwavering perseverance in Etsy business building. From starting at zero to surpassing 300 sales in four months—without prior retail or marketing experience—Trista’s story proves that actionable research, product-market fit, and the right mindset can change everything. Whether you're just starting, pivoting, or scaling on Etsy, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom, encouragement, and real-life proof that “everything is figureoutable.”

Memorable Closing:
[52:43] Lizzie: “Please just don't give up. When you're in the messy middle, you've got to just push through.”

Podcast Summary

Podcast: How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy
Episode: 212 | How leaning into Data changed everything - with Trista Pagel
Host: Lizzie Smiley
Guest: Trista Pagel
Date: December 18, 2025

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Trista’s Story: From Hardship to New Beginnings

Background: Trista and her husband John are Midwesterners with five boys, homeschooling and formerly in full-time ministry. After leaving ministry, they faced severe financial hardship, with job inexperience and major family set-backs.
- Memorable Moment: Trista recalls her debit card being declined with a negative balance, motivating her new Etsy journey.
  [04:08] Trista: "I will never forget the day I checked out at our grocery store and my debit card declined... there was negative 400 in that account."
Side Hustle Roots: Trista had sold crafts since 2017 through farmers markets, fairs, and even Shopify. She found the most fulfillment in handmade goods and embraced family entrepreneurship.
Transition to Etsy: After a successful local farmers market run (including products by their twin sons), Trista realized selling to friends/family wasn’t sustainable and searched for ways to scale—discovering Lizzie’s podcast. [10:29] Trista: “I remember as the farmer’s market came to a close, I literally googled, ‘Lizzie, how do I sell things on Etsy?’”

The Early Etsy Approach: Data-Driven Decisions

Research Before Listing: Rather than listing products based on personal preference, Trista used research tools (Profit Tree, Everbee) and Lizzie’s podcast to assess what was already selling well on Etsy.
- Example: She found that “tallow” products, not just generic skincare, were in high demand, so focused listings there. [11:10] Trista: "I just knew if I want this to work, I need to lay aside what I know and what I like making and focus on what the research shows sells well for now."
Multiple Listing Types: Trista embraced a mix—handmade, print-on-demand, and some digital—rather than getting hyper-niched from day one. [13:11] Lizzie: "You just gave people a lot of freedom who are sitting there like, I can't decide..."
Shop Growth Strategy: Launched with around 10 research-backed products, then added new listings almost daily in the first three months.

Leveraging Trends and “Trend Combining”

Tracking & Applying Trends: Trista credits Lizzie’s podcast for trend-spotting (e.g., “coquette bows”), even when the trend was unfamiliar to her. [15:27] Trista: “When I jumped onto your podcast, you were talking about coquette bows...I have five boys, so I don’t have any bows in my house.”
Trend Combining: Trista’s first sell-out item was a quilted coquette bow blanket—a fusion of two hot trends which brought immediate sales across Etsy, fairs, and storefronts. [19:18] Lizzie: “When you did those blankets, you actually did something called trend combining...that’s where the sweet spot is.”
[21:35] Trista: “I’m at, I’m over 300 [sales]..."
Rapid Growth: In four months, Trista surpassed 300 mostly handmade sales—a life-changing result.

SEO, Listing Titles, and Understanding Demand

Keyword Strategies: Using research, Trista learned to title listings not just by what they are but by the need they fill (e.g., “custom gifts for boys” instead of “fishing pole”). [22:55] Trista: “What I learned...you don’t necessarily need to describe the product. You more need to describe the need that the product is filling.”
Lizzie’s Hybrid Approach: Lizzie suggests a mix: clearly state what the product is (for clarity in search) and use purpose-driven keywords.

Mindset Shifts and Overcoming Challenges

Embracing a New Mindset:
Trista highlights the importance of seeing Etsy as “a financial playground” where pricing shouldn’t be limited by your own budget—the right audience will pay for quality and uniqueness. [31:36] Trista: “Etsy is a financial playground...what is my reality of a budget is not necessarily someone else’s.”
- Example: Raising advent calendar prices led to even more sales.
Facing Imposter Syndrome:
Trista and Lizzie discuss feeling “anyone could do this” and the importance of recognizing the value, expertise, and customization handmade sellers provide. [29:05] Trista: “I can sometimes have imposter syndrome...Why would someone pay me to do this?...because it takes time to figure all of that out." [30:43] Lizzie: "Haters gonna hate. And I'm just going to keep going because there's plenty of people like me who aren't going to take the time to make something handmade..."
Learning New Skills and Tools:
Trista dove into learning laser engraving, admitting to mistakes and the steep technical curve as both challenging and necessary for success.
Working Through Hardship:
Building the shop required sacrifices—time, lifestyle shifts, and initial low profits (thanks to early discounts/running sales), but delivered great reward and growth. [45:50] Trista: “There were things in other areas...we said no to when we needed to so we could get orders fulfilled...We ran sales...if the customer said, ‘can you do this,’ we said yes.”

Actionable Tips & Takeaways for New Sellers

Research Before Creating:
Use data-backed tools (like Profit Tree, Everbee) to validate product ideas—don’t just create what you feel like and hope for sales. [35:14] Trista: "Accept this idea of database research decisions. It has changed everything for us."
Adopt Growth Mindset:
Focus on “what if it works so well that we can’t keep up?” instead of “what if it fails?” [35:36] Trista: "Try asking the other question. What if this, it works so well that we have to figure out how to keep up with all of this."
Persistence & Iteration:
Lizzie notes that the key is to keep going and iterate—no one starts perfect, and repeated attempts lead to progress. [39:14] Lizzie: "If you do not give up, you literally cannot fail...do a thousand [designs] and then we'll be approached."
Etsy as a Positive Platform:
Trista’s experience with Etsy fees and support has been positive—she encourages others not to be discouraged by misconceptions.
Let Etsy Guide Scaling:
Trista uses Etsy’s data (bestsellers) to decide what to scale or try on other platforms (e.g., bringing products to Faire).
Meaningful Rewards:
Beyond sales, handmade work enables truly meaningful, personalized products for customers—examples include turning a century-old family farm’s walnut tree into cherished gifts. [42:07] Trista: "They shipped the wood to me and said, we don't care what you make, just make gifts out of this...that's priceless."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Shifting from Hobby to Business:
[10:13] Trista: "If I treat our hobby like a hobby, it will pay us like a hobby. If I invest in it like the business we want it to be, then it can pay us like a business."
On Handcrafted Resilience:
[13:05] Trista: "I just cannot get away from working with my hands. I just can't do it."
On Trend Combining:
[19:18] Lizzie: "You took coquette and you trend combined it with...the quilted grand millennial look. That’s where the sweet spot is."
On Pricing & Value:
[31:36] Trista: "Etsy is a financial playground...don't box yourself in. Try different price categories."
On Mindset for Success:
[35:36] Trista: “We just made the decision to ask the question of if the opposite problem happened...What if this is so fruitful, we can't keep up on orders?”
On the Power of Iteration:
[39:14] Lizzie: “People might want to look at me and be like, your results Lizzie, you're so lucky. You have not catch all the tears, my friend...I fail left and right...But I know I will get there because I am going to iterate and iterate."
On Strategy over Luck:
[41:11] Trista: "[With Etsy] there's Rhyme and there's reason and there's strategy and there's lots of help. And Lizzie, you're a great example of that."
On Customer Meaning:
[42:07] Trista: "[My customer] shipped the wood to me and said...make gifts out of this. And this is going to be our parents' memory of the farm. I mean, that's priceless."

Important Timestamps

[00:58] Introduction of Trista, preview of her story and focus on data
[05:13] Trista’s family background and entrepreneurial journey
[10:29] Discovery of Lizzie’s podcast, shift to data-driven product decision making
[12:33] Strategic product selection process for Etsy launch
[15:27] Adopting trends (e.g. coquette bows), “trend combining,” and first big sales
[22:55] Deep dive on keyword research, titling, and product positioning
[27:13] Biggest learning curves, embracing new tech (laser engraver)
[31:36] Letting go of limiting beliefs about pricing—Etsy as a “financial playground”
[35:14] Top actionable advice for brand new Etsy sellers
[39:14] Iteration, persistence, and normalizing the “messy middle”
[41:11] Etsy is not luck; there are real strategies for success
[42:07] Most rewarding, meaningful custom order story
[45:50] Real talk on what’s “hard” about Etsy growth (sacrifice, low early profits, learning new systems)
[48:36] Vision for the future: scaling, employing others, and giving back

Where to Find Trista

Instagram: @pagelansons
Facebook: Pagel and Sons

Final Thoughts

Memorable Closing:
[52:43] Lizzie: “Please just don't give up. When you're in the messy middle, you've got to just push through.”

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Ep 212 | How leaning into Data changed everything -with Trista Pagel

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Summary

Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Trista’s Story: From Hardship to New Beginnings

The Early Etsy Approach: Data-Driven Decisions

Leveraging Trends and “Trend Combining”

SEO, Listing Titles, and Understanding Demand

Mindset Shifts and Overcoming Challenges

Actionable Tips & Takeaways for New Sellers

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Timestamps

Where to Find Trista

Final Thoughts

Summary

Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Trista’s Story: From Hardship to New Beginnings

The Early Etsy Approach: Data-Driven Decisions

Leveraging Trends and “Trend Combining”

SEO, Listing Titles, and Understanding Demand

Mindset Shifts and Overcoming Challenges

Actionable Tips & Takeaways for New Sellers

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Timestamps

Where to Find Trista

Final Thoughts