Podcast Episode 166: Inspiring Success on Michael’s Makerplace--with Carolyn Murray

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/yZTwZefGuSg 

About Carolyn:

Carolyn Murray, the founder of Lakeshore Rock Art, transformed her childhood passion for rock collecting into a thriving business creating custom portraits from rocks and other natural materials. Based near Lake Michigan, Carolyn handpicks every rock used in her one-of-a-kind creations, offering personalized portraits for families and outdoor enthusiasts.

After pivoting from a career in finance, she followed her love for craftsmanship and built a successful, creative business that has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens. A successful seller on Etsy and one of the leading sellers on Michaels new  MakerPlace platform, Carolyn draws inspiration from nature, her family, and her late mother’s dream of starting a craft business.

EPISODE SUMMARY:  

 In this exciting episode of "How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy," I dive deep into the world of handmade selling with a special guest, Carolyn Murray, the founder of Lakeshore Rock Art and one of the top sellers on Michael's new Maker Place platform.

We kick off the episode with a brief introduction about my passion for helping aspiring entrepreneurs connect with their calling and overcome obstacles in their business journeys. I share my own entrepreneurial background, from my first lemonade stand to running multiple online companies while balancing family life.

The conversation quickly shifts to the main topic: Michael's Maker Place, a new online marketplace dedicated exclusively to handmade items. Carolyn shares her inspiring journey from a stressful career in finance to pursuing her childhood passion for rock collecting and turning it into a thriving business. She recounts how she started selling her unique rock art on Etsy and later transitioned to Maker Place during its beta phase.

Carolyn provides valuable insights into her experience on Maker Place, highlighting the platform's advantages over Etsy, including lower fees, no listing costs, and the absence of off-site ad charges. We discuss the marketing strategies employed by Maker Place, such as their "Respect the Handmade" campaign and partnerships with celebrities, which have significantly increased traffic to the platform.

Throughout the episode, Carolyn emphasizes the importance of being an early adopter on Maker Place, as it currently has less competition compared to Etsy. She shares her impressive sales figures, revealing that she has completed over 1,700 orders in just a year, thanks to the platform's robust marketing efforts.

We also touch on the supportive community behind Maker Place, including dedicated customer service and a seller's Facebook group where sellers can share feedback and suggestions. Carolyn explains how the listing process on Maker Place is similar to Etsy, making it easy for Etsy sellers to transition.

As we wrap up, I express my excitement about launching my own shop on Maker Place and encourage listeners to consider joining the platform. Carolyn's success story serves as a motivating example of what can be achieved in the handmade marketplace, and I can't wait to share my own experiences as I embark on this new journey.

Join us for this enlightening discussion that not only explores the potential of Michael's Maker Place but also inspires you to take the leap into the world of handmade selling!

EPISODE DETAILS:

Michael’s (as in the craft store) new handmade selling platform called Makerplace is giving Etsy some VERY healthy competition. Tune in to learn about Makerplace and how one seller has doubled her full time Etsy income by opening her shop on Makerplace too.

**“How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy” is not affiliated with or endorsed by Etsy.com 

STUFF I MENTIONED: 

🌟AI Coloring Pages workshop: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/ai-coloring-pages-workshop 

➡️Open a Makerplace shop: https://www.michaels.com/makerplace/sell

➡️Makerplace Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/993933228473875

➡️Support Carolyn: https://www.michaels.com/makerplace/storefront/lakeshore-rock-art

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FIND LIZZIE:

Find me on Instagram and TikTok @HowtoSellYourStuff 

HOW TO SELL YOUR STUFF WEBSITE: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/ 

HOW TO SELL YOUR STUFF SHOWNOTES: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/blog/166

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY:

The Six Figure Secrets to Getting Started on Etsy beginner course

Use code SAVE50 to save $50

https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/six-figure-secrets

AND

 FREE PDF DOWNLOAD: “4 Strategies I Used to Grow My Etsy Shop from $25 to $6000k/month”: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/site/4-strategies-opt-in

*Some of the links above are affiliate links which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. You can see my affiliate disclosure here: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/affiliate-disclosure