Laurie Caffery grew up in Boone, North Carolina, a small town surrounded by the peaks and valleys of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Encouraged by her creative parents – a painter mom and a custom home designer and builder dad, Laurie spent her childhood enthusiastically exploring different mediums, primarily painting and drawing. Laurie received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Studio Art with an emphasis in ceramics in 2014. Her artwork is exhibited and collected nationally and internationally. Currently, Laurie continues to create her narrative-driven, deco ..read more

Rebecca Haas has been an independent jeweller for over 20 years. She has a small jewelry design studio based in idyllic Southern Vermont. Each unique piece is handcrafted with skill and care by Rebecca in her hilltop studio from ethically sourced metals. Rebecca makes simple, nature inspired jewelry with bold yet delicate lines. Her work is designed to fit seamlessly into your life, and skillfully crafted with the strength to be worn and enjoyed every day. Her aesthetic is understated yet refined, creating a look that is elegant and timeless. In today’s episode she shares how ..read more

What happens when your business evolves? This is a central theme of my interview with Chereen – formerly of Smeeny Beanie Knits, now Smeeny Made Wild. We discuss her beginnings – from making a few beanies to sell at a local store – to now having a full-time business with multiple sales channels, product categories, and marketing strategies. Chereen sells on Etsy, her own website, in shops and at markets – and her product line and offerings have diversified over time. She got her start selling online with the Set Up Shop course (starting Feb 5th, 2024!) – and she has this to say about her exp ..read more

Registration for my flagship course –  Set Up Shop  – is now open. Join over 1,400 makers who’ve already used the Set Up Shop system to set up stellar handmade shops online! What is Set Up Shop? It’s a 30-day LIVE e-course that will teach you exactly what you need to know in order to set up – or overhaul – an online shop for your handmade goods. I’ve had the honour of guiding over 1,400 creatives through this course over the past ten years, and I’m looking forward to helping you create or turn your online handmade shop into something that you can both be proud of, AND that sets you ..read more

If you’re moving from employment to self-employment, there are some essential money management practices that you need to be aware of right from the get-go. Today I’m going to share a few crucial steps you need to take to ensure you’re setting yourself up for long-term financial success and security as a creative business owner. I’ve been 100% self-employed since 2010, and have followed these practices myself to ensure I meet all my financial obligations – and so I’m saving for retirement, as well! For a more in-depth look at how I actually manage my money day-to-day, please check out this vi ..read more

Welcome to 2024! If you’re ready to have your best year in business yet, you might like to join me for the Handmade Business Boot Camp – starting January 8th! In the Boot Camp, you’ll find clarity, focus, and a make rock-solid plan that will move your business forward! Find out more or sign up now here. In this video & podcast, I’m getting you ready for a new year by reflecting on the past. Taking the time at the turn of a brand-new year to look back over the year just gone, we can find amazing clarity that will illuminate the path to start our journey into the new year with strength and ..read more

Hey Thriver, It’s been a tough year. I’ve seen so many handmade businesses struggling. I’ve seen some close. I’ve seen makers having to get part-time (or even-full time) jobs to stay afloat. Truly – it’s been the most economically challenging year I’ve seen since I started my business… and that was in 2008 during the GFC! Here in Australia, many people are struggling to pay their mortgage, put food on the table, and pay their rent (or even FIND somewhere to rent). I saw a lot of this coming in the last quarter of 2022, and Nick & I started to put some strategies in place in our own lives ..read more

There are 2 types of handmade products you can sell.  Reproducible and one-of-a-kind (OOAK). Reproducible products are where you make a prototype, and then basically copy it over and over again (this is what I do in my jewellery shop, Epheriell.com). OOAK products are actually unique – you only ever make one that looks like it does, and it can’t be reproduced. I generally encourage my students to sell reproducible products if their focus is online selling – and I outline exactly why that is in today’s video. I’ll also cover all the challenges of selling OOAK items online, and discuss how ..read more

You may be wondering if you should start or continue your business on Etsy in 2024. Today I’m outlining pros and cons when it comes to selling handmade items on Etsy, and I’ll give you my thoughts on whether it’s worth it in 2024. Download your FREE Etsy Quick-Start Guide here. You can listen to the podcast below, or on your fave podcast app – or you can watch it on YouTube! Watch on YouTube… Support the show You can make a secure donation (of the amount of your choice) via the Paypal button below. Each donation helps cover the cost of hosting, show-note writing, research, interviewing, r ..read more

✨ Get 30 Reel Ideas for Makers! FREE Download.   Makers – do you struggle to come up with ideas for Instagram Reels? Reels are one of the best ways to grow and get seen on Instagram, but it can be exhausting to come up with new ideas for Reels. This week I’m going to share 7 ideas specifically for handmade business owners – all of which you can use without showing your face if you don’t want to be on camera! If you want more ideas, grab the FREE download – 30 Reel Ideas for Makers – right here. Also! If you want help to kick-start (or re-start) your marketing with Reels, don’t miss the R ..read more