I recently got a Cricut and have been getting into crafting. As a bridesmaid, I’ve seen how much brides spend on weddings and I think there’s a real opportunity to offer beautiful and affordable stationery without the designer markup. I’m thinking of creating invitations, place cards, welcome signage, seating charts, and similar items.
I have a graphic design background so it feels natural to do this as a side hustle. My plan is to start on Etsy and Facebook Marketplace and grow it into a legit side business with a goal of scaling enough within a year to eventually leave my 9 to 5. I dont wanna be a slave to the corporate world anymore lol.
For anyone who’s built something similar (or any small business owner who’s been through the early stages), I’d love your honest advice:
• If you were starting over, what’s one thing you wish you’d known?
• How do you save on paper, materials, and supplies without sacrificing quality?
• How did you land your first sale and first review?
• What actually works for getting to the top of Etsy search results?
• How do you find and attract clients beyond Etsy?
• What does it realistically take to scale a small product business to the point where it replaces a full-time income?
Any advice, even the not so glamorous side of business is appreciated!