Hi Everyone! I am excited to featured shop DirtyPrettyThings105. The shop owner is Christy Schultz and she opened her shop since 2010. Read her amazing story below and don’t forget to comment and share this story to inspire others!

1. Please tell us what you make and how you got into selling on Etsy?

“I’m a strong, badass chick with class and confidence.” -Kelly Clarkson

I wasn’t always, though. I spent most of my almost 15-year professional career nervous, scared, silently learning. When you are in the arts (photography and graphic design, in my case) there is a lot of scrutinies and even more opinions. It’s hard to not take some of it personally. Instead of using it to better myself, I let it beat me down. There came a point in my life, both personally and professionally, when I took a hard look at myself and knew I was stronger. I was better. And I needed to get there.

That is when I decided that in addition to my full-time job, I need something for me. A side hustle. On a whim, in December of 2016, I put a mug I had designed up on Etsy. It was a mermaid mug that said: “I’m done adulting, let’s be mermaids.” Seemed appropriate. Within a week, I had sold 2. I was excited, optimistic. I took a chance, invested in myself, and purchased everything I needed to run a mug business out of my home office, from start to finish. It took me 4 months to break even. I keep designing and adding products. It made me happy. It was mine. I called the shots. I had created it, all of it.

I managed my business and my full-time design job for nearly 2 years. Growing them both. It was hard, and I knew that my long-term goal was to make my side hustle my main hustle. I was violently shoved into that decision on October 16, 2018, when I was VERY unexpectedly part of a company-wide, attempt to save money, lay off. It didn’t take me long to take this as a blessing in disguise and run full steam ahead with Dirty Pretty Things.

And here we are, a few months later and So. Much. Happier. Not only am I working from home with my own schedule, I see my kids more. My work-life balance is in my control. As is everything else. It’s liberating, terrifying, and exciting. I have expanded to glassware, shirts, bags. I like to make people smile, and if it’s through a mug or funny shirt, I’ll take it. I love hearing people tell me how happy one of my products made someone when they gave it as a gift. It’s amazing what can happen when you believe in yourself and invest in yourself. I regret nothing and I am now that strong, a badass chick I always knew I could be.

2. A lot of people are interested in starting a business on Etsy for some money earning potential. What are some tips for people interested in making money from Etsy?

Be patient. Realize it’s going to take A LOT of work and be willing to put that work in. Have fun!

3. What have you had to overcome to make Etsy successful? Did you have to learn any new skills, hire help, etc?

Anything involving numbers or math. I am creative as heck but when it comes to budgets, and tax stuff, and anything number related I struggle. This has been the most challenging part, to be honest.

4. Can you give us three recommended tools/services that you use for Etsy?

I use the forums a lot. People are very smart and very kind on Etsy, always willing to help. I also use my dad. He has a Doctorate in business and has been very helpful for the business side of things.

5. What is your favorite thing about your business?

It’s mine! I don’t have to answer to anyone, I have creative levity and it allows me the freedom to make my own schedule and see my family so much more than I did with a 9-5 (usually 6).

6. How are you currently driving traffic to your Etsy Shop?

Instagram and Facebook. Through ads and regular posts featuring my products. I also still use business cards and hand them out whenever I get the chance.

7. What is your favorite social media platform to promote your products/services and why?

Instagram. I am very heavy into photography (that is actually what I went to school for) so using IG has been both fun and rewarding.

8. What is next for you? What can we expect in 2020?

Bigger and better things! Since the decision to be my own boss, I’ve been so much happier. It’s terrifying, don’t get me wrong, but the risk is so worth the reward. I hope to be financially stable and on my way to a storefront come 2020.

9. How can readers of my blog get in touch with you? ( You can share your website, blog, social media platforms, etc.)

IG: @dirtypretty_things_

FB: @dirtyprettythingsshop

Shopify: dirtyprettythingsshop.com

Thank you, Christy, for sharing your inspiring story with everyone! 

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