Portfolio Evolutions to Etsy

Let’s rewind to this past January when I was struck with the realization that my portfolio was in need of a major overhaul. With 2023 promising to be a defining year, I knew my portfolio had to reflect the growth I'd meticulously nurtured over the past three years. From crafting videos to designing eye-catching packaging, building landing pages that engage, and so much more, my creative endeavors were not fully showcased.

While I had updated my portfolio since 2020, it was more of a once-in-a-blue-moon touch-up. A sprinkle here, a dash there, but never the grand presentation I envisioned. So Since that day in January, and especially after I transitioned my portfolio to Squarespace, I find myself immersed in the back end at least once a week, sometimes even more frequently.

In the midst of on some revisions, when my energy was starting to fade, I had a realization. I needed an outlet – a creative vent that was separate from my portfolio. That's where memes, snappy content, and a little lightbulb moment come into play – opening an Etsy shop.

I know, I know, Etsy shops are as common as coffee shops on street corners. But hear me out. Yes, sales are a goal (and I've had a few since opening), but my journey with Etsy challenges my creative faculties and allows me to do a deeper dive into SEO and e-commerce.

Last week I decided to order a few samples of my products – a few t-shirts and a sweatshirt. And I have to say, the quality was impressive. It's not just the quality of the fabric or their printing job; it's the approach itself – print on demand. This concept was fairly new to me as before I thought minimum t-shirt orders needed to be around 25 units. However, by using a third-party partner, every order is brought to life without the need for bulk ordering.

The more I read into print on demand, the more I understood it. It’s not only more cost-effective for one-offs, but it allows a level of personalization that you can’t get from mass orders. And that resonates more than just a simple transaction.

So, here are two lessons that I’ve learned so far. Firstly, having a creative outlet has driven my desire to continue optimizing my portfolio. Secondly, this Etsy escapade isn’t just about crafting cool merchandise. It's about doing my own personal deep dive on e-commerce, which are skills that I can then bring for my clients.

It's all connected – the professional zeal and a dash of playfulness. And if you’re curious, you can check out my Etsy shop here.