It's amazing that a few years ago I opened my Etsy shop and it was fabulous. I was really excited to start selling cards and I really threw myself into it; I created lots of sentimental and inspirational pieces and I enjoyed it greatly. My favourite and most successful cards were listed last Christmas and they all sold within a few weeks. This was so exciting for me. Around the same time, I received a custom order for over 200 Christmas cards to be used as place cards at a wedding. A few other custom orders for births, valentines day and weddings came in and I enjoyed that people thought my work good enough to represent them on such special occasions.
This little journey of creating and producing items that people want to buy is an amazing experience but there is something to be said about enjoying the process and the creation. I kept trying to design, paint and produce items that I thought people would like and love but often it wasn't 'me'. I like detail, texture and colour that wasn't overly present in the first things I created. It's not that I dislike the items I produced but I didn't feel like they reflected me or the full extent of my abilities.
One of the best things about creating items that weren't me was that I had many opportunities to push myself and explore more, to create more and develop my style. Although I haven't consistently posted my work online or on Etsy, I have been showing them off in real life. The feedback has been inspiring, amazing and touching, from people telling me that they would recognise my work outside of my shop to those people who were surprised when I told them my background did not include a degree in Fine Art. It's been a process.
I loved that people were enjoying the items I created and that they wanted to buy them. However, Etsy takes up a lot of time and a lot of work. The hours that go into maintaining and promoting an Etsy business is insane and although it is rewarding there was something that just didn't feel right. A single card takes hours to brainstorm, design, create, photograph and promote and for a while it just felt exhausting. Yes, it is a labour of love but it is also a goal of mine to price my items reasonably. Under-pricing and under-valuing my product means that I am undervaluing my skills, talents and time. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking to make millions from illustrating card, plant pots and whatever else I want to put my hand to, but I would rather take longer to create a piece that brings me a deep sense of satisfaction and price it accordingly than create things that I can afford to sell at such low prices.
Having such a wonderful mentor/friend/supporter is helpful. This lady has encouraged me to price accordingly, increase the quality of my product and, generally, given me that inspiration to keep creating and, as she puts it, "put it out there for people to actually see". Initially, I was reluctant to price as all the pricing formulas have suggested but, as she correctly put, if people want to pay $5-7 for a card they'll go to Hallmark and buy a standard printed card. This is true and if I want to make my art into a business then I just can't compete with those prices but I can compete with the unique, quality and originality aspects.
I'm wondering if anyone else has struggled with finding a balance in a creative business...have you? Do you have any resources
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