Team News -- Welcomes and Congrats!

There's so much amazing stuff going on in the SF Etsy Team these days -- it's very exciting! We're working on two team shows, having meet ups, planning a holiday sale, and welcoming new members All The Time. Did you know our team has added 25 members in the last five weeks? Almost every weekday, we get somebody new! Like I said -- exciting!

I'd like to extend a very warm welcome to all our new members. We're very glad you're here!

And I'd also like to welcome and introduce the newest member of our SF Etsy blog team: Genevieve from Lightbox SF! She will be filling in the Savvy Entrepreneur shoes since Helene from Divine Orchid has had to take a break from the column.

Genevieve offers consultation services for artists (her favorite item in her shop is this One Hour Consultation) and she says:

I love talking to artists about how far they want to take their business. I get
so inspired and can't wait to help them reach all their goals. Sometimes I have
to reign myself in. My favorite part is when I share that bit of information
that they didn't even know they were looking for, but puts everything into
perspective. It's the lightbulb moment, or maybe the "Lightbox Moment".

We are very grateful to have Genevieve here on the team! Look for some very exciting posts coming from her in the near future.

While we're on the subject of how absolutely awesome this SF Etsy team is -- I'd like to shout out a big CONGRATS to Christl Hansman of fiberpuppy, whose work is appearing in Juxtapoz Handmade!

Christl tells us that this awesome publication will be available in many fine venues. Very cool!

Look out world, these SF Etsy folks are a-comin'!

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

The Savvy Entrepreneur

Bonsai Sunset

Today, one of my students asked me to print out a Johnny Cupcake. I had no idea what it was. I thought it was a band. Turns out, it's a t-shirt company. I just read his twitter bio and it states "Dropped out of school + started a family run, ltd edition multi-million dollar t-shirt brand w/ no start-up loans, education, investors, advertising + wholesale". Wow. Double wow, when I read his story. It was so inspiring and cool, I wanted a Johnny Cupcake t-shirt right then and there. Even more so, I wanted to visit his store, with vintage bakery equipment as display cases.

The first store in Hull, Massachusetts.

I love this shirt, it's cute and with a message.

Reading his story, it seemed things came together at the right time and place. Of course nothing is without it's up and downs, and serious choices to be made, but it almost seems he was meant to do what he's doing. I took a closer look at his prices, t-shirts and designs. I love the cohesiveness of it all! The concept of the cupcake company that doesn't sell cupcakes, but sometimes has free cupcakes with purchase. It's a great business model, so much in fact, he has three (YES THREE) stores!

Entrepreneurs can learn something great from his business model. Of course, you'd have to begin with a concept, a nickname (in his case it was Johnny Cupcake), a niche that needs to be filled, then run with it. Be creative, think outside the box and use your skills! Everyone also needs a support system. Johnny Cupcake was lucky, because his support system also happened to be his family. Make sure you trust the right folks. People you work with have to bring something to the table you are unable to do for yourself. No need for lechers, or folks who don't fully believe in the dream.


Being an entrepreneur has it's ups and downs. It's not about the educational background, or who you know, it's about the ganas you show in the things you do. It's about believing in yourself and those around you, taking chances and being able to understand and see the big and small picture. I love being an entrepreneur, it gives me the freedom to follow my dreams, believe in myself and be creative. Like in Ratatouille, where the chef states, "anyone can cook", I believe that anyone can be an entrepreneur (and artist). Do something you love everyday, don't allow daily struggles get you down, and pray, meditate, relax.

Till next week, see above. =-)

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

The Savvy Entrepreneur

It's awesome how things come into your life at the right time. I have always thought about doing a blog, but never got around to it. Then I joined sf etsy, they needed some bloggers and I took the chance. I didn't get to write a blog last week, and I missed it! Thank you to sf etsy for giving me the chance to do what I love...saying what I want!

I've been blessed with many of these "right time" opportunities. When I accept them, I push forward with vigor. And although those times were tough, and at times I wanted to quit, I didn't, and the rewards were/are life changing.

We recently were offered an opportunity to vend at a really amazing event, in a happening place, with one of our targeted audiences. We cannot pass this opportunity up, no matter what we need to do to make it happen.

Funding, in my experience, is what stops a lot of great things from happening. In the past I've sold my belongings, took on more than one job, and a couple times went without. Now that I'm older, wiser and have more resources, I am able to use my skills and knowledge to make the money I need. Shoot, it's a hustle for sure. I have to be on my game to bring in the money that is needed. When the companies make money, I make money.

A photograph I took for the men's line, Reyes Muertos.

Brining others, of like mind, into the mix can also ease the transitions of small business to big things. Being able to create a small community within a business, to bounce ideas off of, to build with, and most of all, create prosperity for all, is a great idea. With the up coming vending opportunity, our second thought was to involve those already building with us. Creating a collective of like minded artists, who are pushing the limits of what it means to be an artist. We are artists, community workers, entrepreneurs, music lovers and friends. It feels great to have them by our side. Together, we can create movement!

That's what business, and life, should be like...looking forward to what we do with our daily life and surrounding ourselves with those who empower us.

Till next week...take care, love more and remember to breath.

www.twitter.com/Cr84empowerment

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If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!