Podcast Episode 198: From Hobby Shop to Full Time Handmade Etsy Seller – with Preston Cox
Sep 10, 2025
WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/i_nGFLu0aV0
About Preston:
Preston is a small town kid who loves supporting the local economy.
He lives in Stamford, Texas and is husband to Sarah and fur-dad to three dogs and a cat. In the past three years, he has served as the Chamber of Commerce manager in his hometown helping small and local businesses grow and succeed.
He also has a rapidly growing laser engraving business with a niche in making locally themed leather patch hats. Since we last spoke to him November 2024 - His Etsy shop now has over 1000 sales and is grossing $3000 average monthly sales. He has now transitioned from working 3-4 jobs to focusing on Etsy full time - acquiring a small, local embroidery shop to add to his ever-growing product line and testing his skills with a Print on Demand side hustle.
EPISODE SUMMARY:
In this exciting episode of "How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy," I’m thrilled to welcome back Preston, a remarkable entrepreneur who has experienced incredible growth in his Etsy shop since our last conversation. We dive deep into his journey, exploring how he has transformed his side hustle into a thriving business, achieving over 1,000 sales in just nine months.
We kick off the episode by discussing the new tools available for Etsy sellers, particularly Profit Tree's Etsy Radar tool, which offers invaluable product research insights for a one-time fee. I emphasize the importance of having the right tools to streamline operations and maximize profits, especially for those feeling overwhelmed by subscription costs.
As we transition into Preston's story, he shares his background as a small-town kid from Stanford, Texas, and his passion for supporting local businesses. He reflects on his journey from managing multiple jobs, including his role as the Chamber of Commerce manager, to focusing solely on his rapidly growing laser engraving business. We discuss the pivotal moment when he realized his Etsy shop was generating more income than his part-time jobs, prompting him to make significant changes in his life.
Preston reveals how he capitalized on seasonal trends, particularly during Q4, by offering name patches for stockings, which became a game-changer for his sales. He also shares insights into his local sales strategy, utilizing Facebook groups to connect with customers and promote his products. We discuss the importance of building relationships with local postal workers and how that has helped him streamline his shipping process.
Throughout the episode, Preston candidly discusses the challenges he faced, particularly with bookkeeping and managing his finances as a solopreneur. He highlights the importance of learning and adapting, using resources like YouTube and ChatGPT to navigate the complexities of running a business.
As we wrap up, Preston shares his excitement about the future, including his plans to expand his product offerings and continue growing his Etsy shop. This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone looking to launch or scale their Etsy business, especially those in the handmade space. Join us as we celebrate Preston's journey and inspire you to take action in your own entrepreneurial endeavors!
EPISODE DETAILS
Remember Preston?! He was one of my very first Etsy students and he recently went full time on Etsy with a handmade shop. Tune in to hear his story of gradually figuring out his product and niche—and scaling from a hobby shop to replacing his 4 jobs worth of income on Etsy.
**“How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy” is not affiliated with or endorsed by Etsy.com
STUFF I MENTIONED:
➡️Check out ProfitTree’s new product research tool ETSY RADAR: https://lifetime.profittree.io/?via=lizzie87
Get the best profit tracking tool to help you know your numbers AND a product research tool for a one time fee of $67. (completely insane)
✅FREE Etsy Ads Masterclass: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/request-etsy-ads-masterclass
➡️ LIVE SEO Workshop on Thursday, September 25, 2025 from 7-8:30 PM Central time: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/offers/VRBvPQKH/checkout
➡️Join the Trendspotting Membership (get your first month for just $17): https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/offers/JxNYgLnw
Trendspotting Bonuses are HERE for active members:
🗓️ September 15 – Niche Bundle
🗓️ September 22 – Double Opportunities (that's 10 for the week, instead of 5!)
🗓️ September 29 – Christmas Trendspotting Bonus Video
🗓️ October 6 – 5 Free Design Templates
🗓️ October 13 – Mindset Visualization Audio
LINKS:
⭐ FIND PRESTON:
Instagram: @277Creative
Check out Preston’s previous appearances on the podcast:
Ep 156: What happens if you don’t give up on Etsy: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/blog/156
Ep 164: Preston Interview’s Lizzie (Coach in the Hot Seat) https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/blog/164
Ep 183: Local Resources to Help Your Etsy Shop https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/blog/183
FAN FAVORITE RESOURCES:
🎙️Apply to be on the Podcast: https://sprw.io/stt-xfsV5fhDxxT3NJGVBghmWp
✅ 2,000 Digital Product Prompts (only $17): https://lizziesmiley.samcart.com/products/2000-digital-product-prompts
🎉 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 200 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
Apply to be on the Podcast: https://shorturl.at/skDBs
HOW TO SELL YOUR STUFF WEBSITE: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/
HOW TO SELL YOUR STUFF SHOWNOTES: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/blog/198
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
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