Razzle Zazzle Don't Get in a Frazzle

I've been selling on Etsy now for sometime.  I actually opened the shop in 2010 but that was just the beginning of my artist journey.  Back then I hadn't developed my skills or found my niche as an artist so the shop just set there until 2017. I had to work to create a brand and build an online following first.   In 2020 I opened a 2nd Etsy Shop so that I could add downloadable art and print on demand gift items.  

I had high hopes for both these shops and my partnership with Etsy.  I've done all the right things to get my shops off the ground and to sell my art on this platform. I made the decision to open and push my website shop and in 2022 put in the hard work to get all my listings up there.   This year of 2023 has been a tough one.  Etsy sales have slowed way down and just sort of trickle in.  I think it is the economy and the fact that the country is back open after the 2 year crazy COVID time.  

Whatever the reason, I've decided to reevaluate my time and focus. I spend far too many hours creating the art and marketing myself for such little monetary rewards.  I can't have all my eggs in one or two Etsy baskets.  Afterall, Etsy just isn't the only platform out there.  

This past month or so, I've gotten kind of excited about creating designs on the Zazzle marketplace.  I opened a Zazzle shop many years ago but found it not to be very user friendly and I quickly shut the door on that shop and let the cobwebs take over. The exciting thing about Zazzle is that they have over 1500 cute products that you can put designs on and they can all be personalized.  It's a go to site for fun gifts and invitations.  

Now with over 1500 products it is easy to go down a rabbit hole and waste a lot of time designing random products that just collect dust on the shelves of your Zazzle store.  I did some thinking at the beginning about what I'm passionate about and I just kept coming back to office supplies.  This girl walks into a store and heads straight to the office supply aisles.   I love looking at all the paper, pens and file folders.  I decided to focus right now on creating collections of desk accessories.  I mean, who wouldn't want all my cute critters hanging out with them at the office?  I think your desk could quickly become the envy of all your co-workers or the fascination of your students in the classroom.  I've got some pretty cute ideas.  

So far my focus has been on notepads, sticky notes, file folders and large desk mats but there are so many more things I can add to each of the collections.  I also want to expand to party supplies and garden decorations down the road.  

Go on a head and check out what I've been working on this past little while and be sure and follow my Zazzle store so you can keep up with all my new designs. Let me know what you think!

Julie Townsend Studio on Zazzle