TechBook

Times are tough, the economy is down, and once steady jobs are now on the chopping block. Maybe you just lost your job or maybe you just want to quit on your own terms rather than waiting for someone else to control your life, but more and more people are starting their own businesses. Etsy is an online marketplace that makes it easy for anyone to sell their handmade products online.

Whether you make soap, jewelry, wooden boxes, cards, or photographs, if you make it yourself, you can sell it on Etsy. For many, its a side business, a fun little something to make a few extra bucks. But for some its a way of life and a full time job. Since September, Etsy has been running articles featuring people who have quit their day jobs in order to work on their crafts full time. One such lucky person was Jeff of 2ReVert. He took the plunge into self employment and has sold over 700 items since joining Etsy a little over a year ago. His product? Jewelry made from recycled skateboards. From rings to cufflinks, his products are extremely eco-friendly.

Not everyone is as successful though, so be careful about quitting your day job. Amanda of BeadandBadger quit, then when her shop didn't take off, had to get a new job. After a few months, she quit again, and since then has been very successful, but she admits that it was "very intimidating" at first.

Full time is not the route for everyone though. There are many people who craft as a side business and do well. Although she's a full time high school student, Ashley of Green Eyed Gems, has managed to turn her passion for crafts into a side business. Her jewelry is handworked sterling sliver combined with semiprecious stones or crystals. Although she can't devote all of her time to her business because of her studies, she does find the time to participate offline as well. She has been to one craft fair already and is waiting to hear back from the Herndon Craft Festival. Ashley is also the co-founder of another shop: World of Whimsey. Her fellow co-founder is some guy named Phillip, who is an avid woodworker. His latest endeavor is in box making, and examples will soon be available online. These two best friends share in the work of running a shop on Etsy and find that being able to work with someone else makes it easier to manage.

Is starting your own business the right thing for you? You'll need to make sure you have enough money to really get into it, as it takes time for any business to gain a foothold. The general advice from successful shop owners is be careful, plan ahead, but don't be afraid to try it either. Stick with it and you never know how things will turn out.