“Our mission at Grows Up is to build a global family-friendly marketplace that supports Mompreneurs and growing businesses everywhere.” - Stephanie Robesky

Entrepreneurs creating businesses to help other entrepreneurs…AWESOME. “Grows Up is an online marketplace that showcases and sells unique, high-quality baby and kids goods – directly from the makers to you.” They carefully select their boutiques from smaller production line manufacturers to give Moms the best variety of original clothing, toys, books, and goods for their children and themselves. It’s a niche concept that really focuses on those entrepreneurs out there with a passion for creating for mothers and their children. The founder, Stephanie Robesky, is an experienced dot commer who has worked at Skype, Sega, and Netscape. We had a brief interview with Stephanie to get a better idea about Grows Up, her experiences, and asked her for some advice for fellow entrepreneurs.  Enjoy…

 How’d you come up with the idea for Grows Up?

 I became interested in the Mommy market when I was looking around and seeing that all of my friends were having children.  I began to notice that there were a lot of Mompreneurs around.  My background is in e-commerce, so I have always had an interest in marketplaces so I thought it would be fun to create a marketplace that is specifically for children’s clothing and goods.

 What are your goals for Grows Up?

To become a destination site for all things kid, including e-commerce and community.  

How has your initial plan for Grows Up changed since you founded it?

There have been several changes in our initial plan.  When we started, we were looking more into the secondary market for used children’s goods and we have changed that plan to focus on the marketplace concept.

What does success mean to you?

Success means to me that we have built a great company and a great product that serves its customers so that they want to keep coming back and also tell their friends about us.

Why will companies choose Grows Up over competitors?

We think that we are uniquely positioned for customers to choose Grows Up over competitors because we are helping to promote other Mompreneurs. We choose our sellers from companies that have their own unique story.  We believe that other Moms will want to support the businesses that we choose because they are sustainable and eco-friendly.  For Moms by Moms!

What about Grows Up makes you so passionate about it?

I am most excited about meeting and helping out the growing business community of women entrepreneurs that we host on the site.  There are so many inspiring stories that they have shared with us and it makes me thrilled to be able to help foster a community that can support them.

What advice can you offer to an aspiring entrepreneur?

My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to just get out and do it.  Sometimes when I have thought of all that needs to be done, I have been completely overwhelmed, but I have found that by focusing everything into much smaller, easily achievable goals that really helps to lighten the load on your stress levels.

Please check out GrowsUp.com
Like them on Facebook
Follow them on Twitter

What is Tweak.com?

With no requirement for creative or technical skills, users can create print-ready artwork with choices of hundreds of thousands of designs, in just a few minutes. The company has created proprietary technological solutions to allow this groundbreaking technical revolution and has built a considerable creative team to scale the range of content. The Tweak.com library is the largest range of customizable creative design available globally.

Jerry Kennelly, Tweak.com Founder

Prior to launching Tweak.com, Jerry Kennelly founded Stockbyte and Stockdisc, two companies based in Tralee, Ireland that captured 10% of the global royalty-free stock photography market in ten years. In April 2006 both companies were sold to Getty Images (formerly GYI) for a consideration of $135 million. Kennelly’s companies produced the highest pro-rata profit and profitability per employee in this worldwide industry.

Today, Kennelly is passionately working on Tweak.com, a project that has been in his mind for many years. With his immense entrepreneurial success, their is little doubt in anyone’s mind that Tweak.com will be a smashing hit. Entrepreneurs and business people have a great opportunity here receiving the utmost quality and professionalism without breaking the bank. Enjoy the interview with this serial entrepreneur as he explains his experience with Tweak.com, what success means to him, what makes a great entrepreneurs, and offers some very valuable advice.

How’d you come up with the idea for Tweak.com?

I’ve been in the publishing and creative business since the eighties and always figured that people would love to have control for themselves.

Just a few million people in the world understand the craft of design and have access to the high quality software applications that are needed.

So I thought it would be so much fun for people with no design skills to create the images  they really love for their own businesses.

And have all the world’s best professionals give them a great start with wonderful design, stunning image and compelling copy.

What are your goals for Tweak.com?

To be the premier global source of creative design and print. To offer the most relevant selection of advertising and marketing materials specifically around the needs of small business owners.

How has your initial plan for Tweak.com changed since you founded it?

The core ambition is just the same as when we started, but our plans became more and more ambitious. It became very clear to me how much we could make life better for small and medium business owners.

When we got into the detail there was so much complexity that we had to deal with. What was really difficult was simplying this complexity and delivering customizable design in an interface that’s easy for everyone to use.

What does success mean to you?

Knowing that Tweak has made life better and easier for entrepreneurs everywhere. That’s a bigger buzz than money could ever give you.

Plans to eventually sell Tweak.com?

I’ve nurtured this dream for 11 years, spent the last three years creating it. I think there’s so much fun we can all have with Tweak that I can’t imagine myself letting go of this baby!

You’ve been so successful as an entrepreneur. In your opinion, how can someone become a great entrepreneur?

You really only get known as ‘a great entrepreneur’ after the fact. Success, jobs and wealth are all just outputs. An entrepreneurial journey starts as a desire to create something great and to change lives. So, I think it’s really  important that people focus on areas they’re really interested in. Then you’re never working, just seeing how you can make something you’re really passionate about work better. And it’s easy to spend lots of time and inspire other people to help create your dream.

Why will companies choose Tweak.com over competitors?

Because we make them look better in print and do it at a really fair price.

What about Tweak.com makes you so passionate about it?

The fact that we’re about to empower many millions of people to do something they’ve never been able to do before and that we are certain to improve the design standards for so many people.

What advice can you offer to an aspiring entrepreneur?

Always look at your business from the outside in – as a customer. Think long term – appreciate that every transaction from a customer is building your relationship. And finally – always do what you say you are going to do.

Thanks Jerry!
Be sure to check out Tweak.com
Check out the Tweak.com Facebook page

This is the 4th in a series of stories where entrepreneurs tell how they kept the bills paid, during the lean times.

In this installment, you’ll meet Rob, who along with blogging about his entrepreneurial experiences, runs 10 small online businesses, Ron, a Diverse Attorney /Lobbyist Recruiter, and Althea, owner of Gown Chic. Read on to learn how these tenacious entrepreneurs are keeping their dreams alive. Continue Reading

This is the 2nd in a series of stories where entrepreneurs tell how they kept the bills paid, during the lean times.

In this installment, you meet Michael, Steve, and Adam.

Michael Lewis, Chief Concierge and Owner of Suite Arrival said, “I think one of the biggest mistakes a poor startup founder can make is attempting to operate at current capital expenditures. Meaning, trying to bootstrap a startup and still maintain the new car payments, weekend bar binges, movies at $12/ ticket, etc.

The lifestyle at least in my case had to change. The first thing I did when starting Suite Arrival was I saved money for 6 months like a squirrel stores acorns for winter. I then cashed out my 401k, and minimized my lifestyle. I got rid of everything and went all in. I sold my car, put away the Xbox and lived with a laptop, on a futon mattress and paid low rent for a room in someone’s house. No more expensive bar tabs or $20 lunches.

Entrepreneurs that are all in must realize that seeking out the discount lunches, clipping coupons and being frugal will extend the time they have to focus 100% hustle into the company. That’s why Suite Arrival has grown so much in just 6 months. I am on it 24/7 with everything I have. Plan, save, reduce, cash in and be frugal.”

For more information about Michael and Suite Arrival visit http://suitearrival.com/
Follow Suite Arrival on Twitter at http://twitter.com/suitearrival
Become a Facebook Fan at http://tinyurl.com/397cs4n
Follow Suite Arrival’s Blog at http://blog.suitearrival.com/

Steve Kamb, Founder of Nerd Fitness said, “I launched Nerd Fitness in the spring of 2009, and continued working my day job (I worked for a company that produced music cruises), for the next 18 months while building my audience for the website. I would work all day at the office, go to the gym, and then come home and work on the website from 8PM to midnight or 1AM, every day.

In June of 2010, despite not pulling in any money yet through my site, I made the decision to quit my job and concentrate full time on it. Over the past two months, I’ve picked up odd jobs here and there (I worked as a production assistant on a music video shoot for two nights, helped a friend work a concert another night, did some marketing research for a company another night, etc.). I recently launched my first money-making part of my company, but I still plan on picking up odd jobs here and there while growing the business.”

For more information on Steve and Nerd Fitness visit http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/
Follow Nerd Fitness on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nerdfitness
Become a Facebook Fan at http://tinyurl.com/2ewozsx

Adam Kruse, Real Estate Broker with Hermann London said, “To keep the bills paid when I was starting in Real Estate I did a few things.”

1. Kept my day job for awhile.
2. Sold things for people on eBay and took a cut.
3. Cut overhead as much as possible by working from home, driving an old car, and utilizing interns.

For more information on Adam and Herman London visit http://www.hermannlondon.com/
Follow Hermann London on Twitter at http://twitter.com/hermannlondon
Become a Facebook Friend at http://www.facebook.com/StLouisRealtor

Julie Barnes is the author is this post. Julie is excited to be living in Generation E – the age of the Entrepreneur. As a writer, she enjoys writing about all aspects of the entrepreneurial journey. She enjoys interviewing entrepreneurs whose experience and wisdom can inspire others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron, lovable dog Hank, and sweet kitten Sammy. You can visit her site at www.julieabarnes.com. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieBarnesKS. Become a Facebook friend at Julie Barnes.

Since everyone is talking about Heidi and Spencer because there is nothing else important going on the world, Heidi Montag will be presenting this weekend roundup.

YouTube stars make big money — but why? [Technolog on MSNBC]
Are You Plunking Down Real Money For Virtual Fun? [MPR NewsQ]
How Justin Timberlake Could Bring Sexy Back to Silicon Valley [Forbes Blog]
An Indian-origin entrepreneur takes car restoration to a new level [Business Line]
Blogging and Venture Capital (An interview with VC, Fred Wilson) [A VC]
Boob Apron: ‘Cami Secret’ Commercial Gets Hilarious Parody [Huff Post]
Wendy’s Training Videos From the Eighties Are Delicious (Video) [urlesque]
Entrepreneur Corner: 5 startup pitfalls to avoid, and how to position yourself against your competition [Venture Beat]
Can suicide bombing be funny? [The Sydney Morning Herald]
Top 10 ultra-luxury cars [IBN]
Here’s The New Brabus Mercedes SV12 R iBusiness – When Luxury Is A Must-Have [mibz]
‘Jersey Shore’ recap: 25 life lessons, like how to handle a pesky hippopotamus in your zoo/house [Entertainment]
20 Hilarious Google Voice Transcription Bloopers, Flubs, and Fails [Technologizer]

This series is for my awesome readers. Some of the feedback I’ve been getting from my readers is – “I love your articles and interviews. They are so inspiring, but what I want to know is – how are these entrepreneurs keeping the bills paid while chasing their dreams.” So, this is the first in a series of stories where entrepreneurs tell how they kept the bills paid, during the lean times. In this installment, you’ll meet Jennyvi, Nancy, and Colleen.

Jennyvi Dizon, owner of Jennyvi Dizon Couture said, “When I started my company Jennyvi Dizon Couture, I was in accounting. The very first time I decided to take the leap was when I worked in the tax industry for an accounting firm. I was upfront with my bosses, the busier I got. The busier I got with my gown orders, the less I was interested in working another tax season on a full-time basis. I quit the job to look for a part-time position and sure enough I was able to get an accounting job with a weddings magazine. It was perfect because I was able to keep up with the bridal trends. I was dreaming of dresses I could design and make at work and then going home to sew the designs I thought of. Eventually, I was working more hours at the magazine, but I quit when I was booking more gowns at $3000 a dress. It was a sign, it was time to let go of the day job.

For more information on Jennyvi and her designs visit www.jennyvi.com
Follow Jennyvi’s blog at www.jennyvidizon.blogspot.com
Become a Facebook Fan at http://www.facebook.com/jennyvicouture
Visit Jennyvi’s Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/jennyvi

Nancy Williams, Owner of Gift of Travel said, “I have actually launched two different companies. My first entrepreneurial effort launched in 1995 www.honeyluna.com. Initially, I kept my day job until we had positive revenue flow. Slowly I cut back my hours at my day job to part time. After I received an angel round of investing I was able to devote full time (and then some!) to HoneyLuna. Then after my divorce, I needed to earn a bit more income than I was able to pay myself with HoneyLuna. I lived in Marin County – expensive! Most of my revenue went back into the company to expand. HoneyLuna was viable, but I just needed more dollars for myself, so I waitressed for 2 years. (LOVED IT!) After selling HoneyLuna I launched a new company Gift of Travel. In order to pay the bills as Gift of Travel grows to positive cash flow, I am consulting for the company that is currently running HoneyLuna. I definitely love being an entrepreneur and would rather do whatever it takes to make my companies work than be employed by/for someone else!”

For more information on Nancy and Gift of Travel visit www.giftoftravel.com

Colleen Lloyd-Roberts, owner of Top Notch Nail Files said, “I continued another home based business, a network marketing company so I could grow a team and earn residual income. I knew that residual income would provide me long term working capital for my dream business. In months where it was really tight, I paid the most important bills first. I knew how long I had until the phone, lights, gas, etc. would get cut off, so I would rotate each month what bill needed to get paid. I needed money to reinvest in inventory and only the bare necessities to grow my business – nothing extravagant. By rotating my monthly payments, I never got cut off on anything, I was able to grow my business, and now I have a very successful web-based business. I also did do some trade shows, because that was instant money as well, that I could use to reinvest in my business and pay the most pressing bills.”

For more information on Colleen and Top Notch Nails visit www.nailfile.net
Become a Facebook Fan at http://tinyurl.com/39ke9ey
Follow Colleen on Twitter at http://twitter.com/teamtopnotch

Julie Barnes is the author is this post. Julie is excited to be living in Generation E – the age of the Entrepreneur. As a writer, she enjoys writing about all aspects of the entrepreneurial journey. She enjoys interviewing entrepreneurs whose experience and wisdom can inspire others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron, lovable dog Hank, and sweet kitten Sammy. You can visit her site at www.julieabarnes.com. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieBarnesKS. Become a Facebook friend at Julie Barnes.

This is the 6th and final installment in a series of stories from entrepreneurs who have not let limitations in life and business stop them from reaching their goals of owning a successful business.

In this installment, you’ll meet Gabrielle, who went from stay-at-home mom to successful business woman. Keely, who is building a business on limited funds, Isabelle, who knew there was no alternative, but to succeed, and Jamal, who decided to create his own job opportunity after a lay-off. Read on to get your inspiration and remember – With determination and hard work; the road can lead you to Success!!

Gabrielle Napolitano, Owner of Still Hip, a kid’s resale boutique said, “Boy have I overcome some crazy things! The short of it is, I opened my business with a partner and a year later my husband left me, he ruined my credit and my business partner decided she no longer wanted to be a part of the store!” Gabrielle went from stay-at-home mom to single parent running a business completely on her own.

Visit Still Hip’s website at http://stillhipbrooklyn.com
Follow Still Hip on Twitter at http://twitter.com/stillhip
Become a Facebook Friend at http://tinyurl.com/28c7hzc

Keely Capel, Owner of BidABooking, an online auction for holiday property rentals said, “I set up my business 15 months ago even when the banks only offered 50% of the capital investment we required. I have managed to get the business off the ground by being resourceful and negotiating as much as I can on fees for services and purchasing and where ever possible looking for free options. Growing the company with such a limited budget has been tough. I have had to rely on friends and family to support me and have used personal credit cards when funds have not been available to us. We are currently seeking external investment as a way to expand the business as the banks are not prepared to increase their lending to us and personal funds are now limited. Although this is also proving a challenge. The experience however has taught me to think outside the box, never except the first offer and has provided me with even more determination to succeed in what I am doing.”

For more information on Keely and BidABooking visit http://www.bidabooking.com/
Follow BidABooking on Twitter at http://twitter.com/bidabooking
Become a Facebook Fan at http://tinyurl.com/2dk5jqn

Isabelle Thomas Duston, the Founder of Apps of All Nations LLC, a producer of applications for the iPhone and the iPad said, “I live in the US, but I am French. In the height of the recession, I realized I needed to leave my husband but had no way of supporting myself financially. Additionally, I wanted to stay in the US to continue raising our two young children. These were limitations I was able to overcome by starting my own company, Appsofallnations. I realized that by starting my own business I could both obtain my own visa and become financially independent so I could support my family. This proved to be very challenging because in order to be approved for an E2 visa you need to invest about $100,000, hire 2 people, and be profitable within 1 year. However, I was able to do it and my business is going extremely well. It enables me to use my creativity and ingenuity, as well as to apply my philosophy of life to my business and management style. This philosophy focuses on the importance of empowerment, collaborative team work, virtual and international teams, and giving to important causes. 5% of the sales of my applications are donated to important causes of my choosing. I believe that bad economic times are actually the best times to start your own business. If you are out of job and need to support yourself like I was, that’s when you get the highest level of personal implication, because you have to make it. There is no easy alternative, so you are driven to find the energy within yourself.”

Visit Apps Of All Nations at http://www.appsofallnations.com/
Follow Isabelle on Twitter at http://twitter.com/iCooking

Jamal Hipps, a marketing and advertising entrepreneur, launched his company MPYER (“empire”) with a specific vision in mind: to help their clients find their own niche or personal ‘secret’ within their industry. Jamal, who uniquely can always be seen wearing a touch of orange (his company’s color), leads MPYER with the marketing mantra of uncovering those hidden treasures of clients – discovering the secret that strengthens the bond between clients and customers and identifying the specific wants and needs between the two.

Surprisingly, MPYER was born thanks to a major setback. In April of 2008, Jamal was laid off from his job at Regions Bank as its Area Marketing Manager – after being with the company since his college years. That’s when he was given the opportunity to enter the industry on his own, determined to establish his own marketing and advertising agency (a goal of his since he was 25). Through diligent networking and several phone calls and emails, Jamal was able to meet with industry professionals who provided insight and direction for his future plans. He decided to create his own job opportunity, and MYPER was born. The company assists its clients with a wide array of services, including event planning, crisis management, graphic design throughout Nashville and nationally. Now, Jamal boasts excellent clients and a great team to work with, and advises that everyone take the risk and jump into entrepreneurial waters themselves.

For more information on Jamal and MPYER visit http://www.mpyer.com
Become a Facebook Fan at http://www.facebook.com/MPYER
Connect on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/jamalhipps

Julie Barnes is the author is this post. Julie is excited to be living in Generation E – the age of the Entrepreneur. As a writer, she enjoys writing about all aspects of the entrepreneurial journey. She enjoys interviewing entrepreneurs whose experience and wisdom can inspire others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron, lovable dog Hank, and sweet kitten Sammy. You can visit her site at www.julieabarnes.com. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieBarnesKS. Become a Facebook friend at Julie Barnes.

This is the last in a series of interviews with Etsy entrepreneurs.

It was through social media that Kathy Swenning first heard about Etsy. Kathy is a polymer clay artist that specializes in custom beads and jewelry. In this interview, learn how Kathy started her Etsy Shop – Roz Petalz Studio.

What brought you to become an Etsy shop owner?

I heard about Etsy from a fellow crafter on a social networking site. I was tired of the high fees on Ebay, so I gave it a try.

How do you market your business?

Facebook, My Space, Business cards handed out at local fairs & included in my packaging (from all online sales).

How has social media helped your business? What have you found works best for your store?

Facebook has proven to be helpful. I can link my Etsy items to post when they go up in my shop. They also have a helpful Etsy app. I have gotten several custom orders that way – my page is set to public so anyone can view it.

What is your favorite part of being an Etsy store owner?

Low fees – no charge for store setup, etc. I especially like the “Street Teams”. I belong to two – PCAGOE (polymer clay artists guild od etsy) and Ct. Etsy Team I have participated in promotions and shows as a result of this.

What are some of the ways that you find Etsy helps in your success as a store owner?

Etsy promotes alot on their own – our success is theirs! Also the Virtual Labs has lots of good tips and ideas that have helped me along the way with suggestions for picture taking, tagging & more. The Custom section has also allowed some additional sales.

What advice would you give new Etsians just starting out?

List a few items each day instead of all at once, so you don’t get buried in the “pile” of new listings. Also, make sure your name reflects your business. I changed mine as a matter of fact due to advice from fellow Etsians. I was using my Ebay I.D. (KathyS711); decided it was better to be more recognizable to Etsy customers. Buyers on Ebay want something for nothing. Etsy buyers appreciate handmade!!!!!!

How did you come up with your shop name?

Roz Petalz Studio is the name of my business – named for my daughter, Hannah Rose.

How do you brand yourself to make your shop unique?

I make my product speak for itself. My items are one of a kind and affordable.

Do you feel a sense of community among the Etsy shop owners?

Yes! I have had strangers contact me with advice, etc just because they wanted to help a fellow “Etsian”. I have also done the same.

How do you connect with your buyers?

I respond ASAP to purchases and custom requests, etc. I include a thank you note and small “freebie” with every item. I also wrap my items with attractive packaging, etc. Most importantly, I ship FAST & leave feedback as soon as I get paid.

Visit Kathleen’s Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/RozPetalzStudio
Follow the Roz Petalz Studio blog at http://rozpetalzstudio-kathys711.blogspot.com/
Visit the Roz Petalz Studio website at http://www.rozpetalzstudio.com/
Become a Facebook Fan at http://www.facebook.com/RozPetalzStudio

Julie Barnes is the author is this post. Julie is excited to be living in Generation E – the age of the Entrepreneur. As a writer, she enjoys writing about all aspects of the entrepreneurial journey. She enjoys interviewing entrepreneurs whose experience and wisdom can inspire others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron, lovable dog Hank, and sweet kitten Sammy. You can visit her site at www.julieabarnes.com. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieBarnesKS. Become a Facebook friend at Julie Barnes.

This is # 12 in a series of interviews with Etsy entrepreneurs.

Ella Averbukh, a New York-based knit apparel and accessories designer, was on a quest to figure out how she could earn a living using her creative skills. She found the answer in Etsy. In this interview, learn how Ella is building a brand using her combined creative skills and interest in her Etsy store – Ellita’s Flying Snail.

What brought you to become an Etsy shop owner?

I have always been interested in design, fashion, and art; continuously searching for my own artistic identity, and questioning how one can earn a living by honing their creative side. When I heard about Etsy, my interests merged, and I found the answer. So here I am!

How do you market your business?

There are many ways one can promote their business online. Besides Etsy, I also post my work on such sites as www.trunkt.org, www.senseoffashion.com, www.dawanda.com, www.wholesalecrafts.com. Facebook is another site that is quite useful, as I can upload images of my work on the assorted fashion communities’ pages and interact with people with similar interests, thus promoting my work. And of course, wearing my own designs draws immediate attention; and since I always have a batch of business cards with me—the marketing is also always on the go!

How has social media helped your business? What have you found works best for your store?

Social networking definitely helps my business. I often attend NYC fashion events where I mingle with people interested in style and fashion, thus assembling either creative collaborations or business connections, while promoting my work at the same time. I also attend various trade shows and trunk shows in and around NYC, and I try to plan attending similar events—when I travel—in Europe.
　
What is your favorite part of being an Etsy store owner?

My favorite part of being an Etsy store owner is playing the major role in the little world I created, combining all of my skills and interests. I love interacting with my customers and with the fellow Etsians. I draw constant inspiration through this communication, and not only for my creativity, but also for the appreciation of beauty in the minds and hearts of others.

What are some of the ways that you find Etsy helps in your success as a store owner?

Etsy has many promotional tools which are quite useful. One of such features is “Treasuries,” wherein the items from various stores are combined into a beautiful mosaic to be posted on the front page. Etsy shop owners can also promote their work by featuring one of their items in the “Showcases” and “Gift Guides.” Etsy administrators could also select Etsy shop owners to be the “Featured Sellers.” Featured sellers are asked to give an interview about their work and the experience of being the Etsy shop owners, and the interview is posted on the front page for two days. This usually attracts attention of many people to the shop, thus increasing popularity and sales. An interview about “Ellita’s Flying Snail” shop can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/featured_seller.php?featured_user_id=5311402

What advice would you give new Etsians just starting out?

My first advice to the new Etsy shop owners would be to come up with their own authentic look and style in their designs, something that can stand out among other products. Having good quality product photography is crucial, as the buyers want to have a clear image of what they are getting. Photography, as well, can help define the store’s brand style, so that when people browse the items on Etsy, the image of the product will let the customers recognize the store right away.

How did you come up with your shop name?

“Ellita” has been my nickname forever, and I always had an affinity to the symbol of the snail with wings (I have no idea what it symbolizes, I just love it!) Together it came to be “Ellita’s Flying Snail.”

How do you brand yourself to make your shop unique?

I have previously described how photography could be crucial in creating the brand image of the store. I can also add that I have an affinity towards Renaissance, Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Steam Punk influences in fashion, and my designs reflect it. Finding models for the pictures that resonate with these fashion periods in their look also contributes to the creation of the whole “feel” of the brand.

Do you feel a sense of community among the Etsy shop owners?

Absolutely. As I mentioned before, communication with other Etsy shop owners is one of the best Etsy features, as it contributes to the sense of community and provides continuous feedback.

How do you connect with your buyers?

I always attach a hand-made tag to each item with the shop’s logo and the name of the design. I also make sure to gift-wrap each item and include a thank you card with each order.
　
Visit Ella’s Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Ellita

Julie Barnes is the author is this post. Julie is excited to be living in Generation E – the age of the Entrepreneur. As a writer, she enjoys writing about all aspects of the entrepreneurial journey. She enjoys interviewing entrepreneurs whose experience and wisdom can inspire others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron, lovable dog Hank, and sweet kitten Sammy. You can visit her site at www.julieabarnes.com. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieBarnesKS. Become a Facebook friend at Julie Barnes.

Eric Gazin discovered Ebay was a great way to find collectables for his collections. Eric quickly realized that he could fund his hobby by selling items on Ebay. In this interview, learn how Eric went from hobby to business owner by launching Auction Cause. Auction Cause is the leader in cause marketing campaigns, branding, and fundraising. Auction Cause works with celebrities, brands, and nonprofits to put them on eBay, selling their items and experiences.

What made you decide to become an Ebay Seller?

In 1998, I had discovered eBay was a great place to indulge in finding items for my collections (I am a US history buff). I was buying more than I should and quickly realized I could fund my hobby purchases by selling all sorts of items on eBay.

How do you market your Ebay business?

We use a variety of methods – our in house email newsletter which we send out 2x a month to over 34,000 subscribers, press releases via PR Web, media alerts, fan sites, and eBay Giving Works featured auction page all help drive traffic and bidding.

How has social media helped your business?

Both Facebook and Twitter have opened up a huge world of philanthropic people to our charity auctions. Some bid, others help spread the word.

What would you say is your favorite part of being an Ebay Seller?

Selling is always different – meeting interesting people, learning why they bid on items or experiences, hearing how happy they are after winning, all make this job very fun.

What are some of the ways that you find Ebay helps in your success as a Seller?

EBay has been great, extending special promotional opportunities to help our auctions stand out, giving us Top Seller status, PowerSeller discounts, and using key words from our listings on Google to drive more traffic.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about becoming an Ebay Seller?

Make a decision if you want to sell as a hobby or do it for a business. Selling an item once in a while is fairly easy, and you are able to focus on that one thing. Selling as a business means you need to think through every detail – photography, shipping times, customer service, marketing, and more. There are great selling opportunities on eBay as a business, but one need to do their homework and take it serious in order to be successful.

In a sea of many sellers – how do you brand your store so that it stands out?

All about the design and marketing. We have great graphic designers on staff who incorporate eye catching images, video, and lots of detail to help the buyer know what they are bidding on. We also start low, with no reserve price. We even did this for our $2.1 million auction!

Do you feel a sense of community among the Ebay Sellers?

There used to be more of this in the past, and the community aspect is not as evident now. Still, sellers will share tips, and we ourselves are always happy to give some free eBay selling advice when asked to foster the community spirit.

How do you connect with your buyers?

Often times, on our higher value auctions, we call them to verify their sincerity to bid. This helps them also feel confident that their bid is being taken seriously and that what is being auctioned is for real.

Is there anything you would like to add?

EBay is still the best place to sell online. We love the fact that they have 100 million active accounts, all fighting potentially for what we are selling. I think people who buy or sell on eBay need to realize that there are many tricks to being successful, and that while the vast majority of the people on eBay are great, still keep your common sense when dealing with buyers or sellers who seem to be insincere. My best secret when having a problem with someone on eBay is to ask for their phone number. Anyone legitimate would be happy to clear up a problem with a quick chat rather than a drawn out email thread!

Learn more about Eric and Auction Cause at http://www.auctioncause.com
Follow Auction Cause on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/auctioncause
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Julie Barnes is the author is this post. Julie is excited to be living in Generation E – the age of the Entrepreneur. As a writer, she enjoys writing about all aspects of the entrepreneurial journey. She enjoys interviewing entrepreneurs whose experience and wisdom can inspire others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron, lovable dog Hank, and sweet kitten Sammy. You can visit her site at www.julieabarnes.com. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieBarnesKS. Become a Facebook friend at Julie Barnes.