Podcast Episode 186: Building a Sticker Empire on Etsy -with Sweary Carrie

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/Y_3ZDobYsCE 

About Carrie:

Carrie is a multi-passionate, millennial entrepreneur from Iowa City, IA. She is the founder and QEO (Queen Executive Officer) of Sweary Carrie Designs. Much like Lizzie, Carrie’s had the entrepreneurial spirit since she was a little kid! She got her start selling [admittedly heinous] pony bead jewelry at age 8, and went on to run her own custom keychain business out of her backpack later in elementary school!

Carrie formed her LLC in 2021 and has done freelance graphic design work and pop-up markets since then. She’s been selling on Etsy since 2022, with a mixture of handmade, POD, and digital designs. Her favorite things to create are currently stickers and buttons, although that changes frequently with her neurodivergence! She specializes in merch of a sarcastic, sassy nature—primarily in the horror and feminist niches.

EPISODE SUMMARY:  

In this exciting episode of "How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy," I, Lizzie Smiley, am thrilled to welcome the incredibly talented Carrie, the "queen of stickers," to the podcast. Carrie and I met on Instagram a few years ago, and our friendship has blossomed over our shared passion for entrepreneurship and creativity, despite our contrasting personalities.

We dive deep into the world of selling stickers on Etsy, where Carrie shares her journey from selling pony bead jewelry as a child to becoming a successful multi-passionate entrepreneur with her own Etsy shop, Swery Carrie Designs. She discusses the challenges she faced when starting out, particularly the importance of understanding profit margins and the value of selling sticker packs to increase average order value.

One of the key topics we explore is the power of Etsy ads. I emphasize the importance of having a proven product before diving into ads, while Carrie shares her personal success story of how Etsy ads helped her double her sales. We also touch on the significance of public relations and how it can elevate your Etsy shop, referencing a previous episode with PR expert Gloria.

As we transition into the nitty-gritty of stickers, Carrie explains the various methods of creating stickers, from print-on-demand services to manufacturing in bulk. She highlights her preference for quality and control, opting to have her stickers produced in bulk so she can ensure they meet her high standards. We discuss the importance of packaging and presentation, as Carrie shares her strategies for creating an unforgettable unboxing experience for her customers.

Carrie also reveals her creative process for designing stickers, emphasizing the importance of staying true to her niche—sassy, horror-themed, and feminist designs. We discuss how she gamifies her SEO research to make it more enjoyable and effective, using tools like Allura and Everbee to find the best keywords for her listings.

Throughout the episode, Carrie shares invaluable insights on pricing, shipping strategies, and the significance of including freebies in her orders to delight customers and encourage repeat business. Her passion for her craft and dedication to quality shine through, making this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to launch or grow their Etsy shop.

Join us for this fun and informative conversation, and be sure to check out the resources and links mentioned in the episode to help you on your Etsy journey!

EPISODE DETAILS 

Sweary Carrie is a wizard at creating stickers that her niche is obsessed with-- and her Etsy results are proof positive that it's working! Tune in to hear alllll the details about how to create a booming sticker business-- from the best supplier, the best quality stickers, packaging, and so much more. She's also sharing her hacks for productivity with her beautifully neuro-diverse brain and how niching down to her fellow sweary, sassy customers has been a recipe for great success.

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

STUFF I MENTIONED: 

➡️ Free Etsy Ads Training: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/request-etsy-ads-masterclass

➡️Lizzie’s Etsy Seller Coaching Group (one time fee = lifetime access):

^^Carrie’s Link to Join us!

Learn more about the group: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/lizzie-smiley-s-coaching-group

STUFF CARRIE MENTIONED:

Where to connect - Follow Sweary Carrie on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/swearycarriedesigns/

✅ Sticker Mule (Sticker manufacturer)  - Use Sweary Carrie’s link to save $10 on your first order:

https://www.stickermule.com/unlock?ref_id=8509444701&utm_medium=link&utm_source=invite

Packaging – All the supplies + materials Sweary Carrie uses for stickers, shipping, and freebies:

https://amzn.to/4mzRfeu

Packaging – GotPrint – Sweary Carrie uses them to print the backing cards for her sticker packaging, as well as the glossy inserts she puts in with every order. Try their free sample kit! It’s actually 100% free, you don’t even have to pay for shipping to check them out:

https://www.gotprint.com/home.html

 Productivity app – Finch - Sweary Carrie uses this Tamagotchi-esque app to gamify any sucky tasks. Using her link will get you a free spooky micropet!

https://app.befinch.com/invite_v6/aQ1J

Mock-ups for stickers + pinback buttons – Creative Fabrica

https://www.creativefabrica.com/promo/8993/0P1242-FGHIJKLMNO/ref/4522725

Button press + parts – M Pro - Great starter kits and bulk discounts:

https://mprousa.com/?ref=swearycarrie

SEO - Alura - Sweary Carrie’s favorite [FREE!] SEO tool:

http://app.alura.io/sign-up?id=388073

AI + Graphic Design – Kittl:

https://www.kittl.com/invite/swearycarrie

✅ NEW RESOURCES:

 1,000 Done-for-you Digital Products you can bundle and sell (only $27): 1000 DFY Digital Products | How to Sell Your Stuff

2,000 Digital Product Prompts (only $7): 2000 Digital Product Prompts | How to Sell Your Stuff

Ultimate Niche Bundle (only $27): https://lizziesmiley.samcart.com/products/niche-secrets

Trend Guide (only $5): https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/offers/T2Y8zR6S

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Learn from Lizzie:

NEED ONE-ON-ONE HELP?

🎉 Lizzie’s Coaching Group (one time fee = life time access): https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/lizzie-smiley-s-coaching-group

➡️ Beginner Course: Six Figure Secrets to Getting Started on Etsy: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/six-figure-secrets  

Use code SAVE50 to save $50 

➡️Trendspotting Membership: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/offers/JxNYgLnw  

Use code KEEP20 to save $20 on your first month 

Get weekly emails with a trend report,  over 160 high demand listing suggestions (POD/Digital), and a monthly group coaching call!

➡️ Lizzie’s AI Workshops: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/ai-workshops

Save $50 with code SAVE50 

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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/186              

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

Trendspotting

Receive a weekly trendspotting report from me with all the biggest trends and a video showing how to use them!

➡️You’ll also get access to over 140 hot, low competition products in the POD and Digital Product space—with more added weekly.

➡️Need one-on-one support? I host a monthly group coaching call where you can ask questions and request a live shop review.

Grab your spot: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/offers/JxNYgLnw

Save $20 on your first month with code KEEP20

*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