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How To Be A Handmade Boss

How To Be A Handmade Boss

By: Steph Cole-Lewis
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About this listen

Whether you’re a complete beginner on Etsy, or want to scale your handmade business to multi-6 figures, the “How To Be A Handmade Boss” podcast gives you actionable advice and workshop style full length episodes to grow your handmade business on Etsy and beyond.

We get it. Starting or growing a handmade business can be really overwhelming, and sometimes you feel like you have an expensive hobby rather than a profitable business. If you have questions like “How can I make sales in my business?” “How do I start a handmade shop?” “How can I make this passion my full-time gig?” or “How do I sell my crafts online” then you’re in the right place boss!

I’m Steph, a multi 6-figure handmade business owner (in the top 0.1% of all shops on Etsy), bestselling author of “How to be a handmade boss”, visionary and coach behind Handmade Bosses.

However, It wasn’t always rainbows and unicorns though. Today, my business(es) are bustling, but way back in 2014 when I started, it was HARD. Favourites but no sales, slow sales and low profits seemed in the beginning, like the trajectory of my business. Luckily following the system I’ve now curated, All of that changed and I went full-time in my handmade business in 2016.

Let’s focus on turning your passion into profit, because the world really does need these special creations that you only bring to life.

© 2026 How To Be A Handmade Boss
Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • #99 - How to Start Selling on Etsy in 5 Simple Steps (Etsy Shop for Beginners Step by Step Walk Through)
    Jan 28 2026

    Want to start selling on Etsy but feel completely overwhelmed by SEO, fees, rules, and everyone shouting different advice at you?

    In this video, I’m walking you through how to start selling on Etsy in 5 simple steps, without melting your brain, overthinking your shop, or feeling like you need a business degree to get started.

    This is a calm, beginner-friendly Etsy setup guide for 2026 and beyond, especially if you’re:

    • Brand new to Etsy

    • Stuck in research mode and not actually opening your shop

    • Confused about what you’re allowed to sell

    • Worried about SEO, pricing, or “doing it wrong”

    We’ll cover:

    • What you can (and can’t) sell on Etsy

    • How to set up the business basics without a massive faff

    • Opening your Etsy shop without obsessing over perfection

    • Creating products that actually have a chance of selling

    • Writing listings and starting marketing so people can find you

    By the end, you’ll know exactly what to do next, instead of spinning in circles on Pinterest and Facebook groups.

    I’m Steph. I’ve been a full-time handmade business owner since 2016, and I now coach makers through Etsy, marketing, and turning side hustles into proper income.

    ☕ Grab a cuppa, hit play, and let’s get your Etsy shop open.

    🔗 Need help keeping up with social media once your shop is live?

    My Social Media Sidekick membership gives you plug-and-post captions, Canva templates, hooks, hashtags, and a full content calendar built for handmade sellers:

    👉 Join the SMS today

    👍 Like, subscribe, and check the next podcast once your shop is open and ready to grow.


    Insta CTA

    🪩 If social media feels way harder than it should… this is for you. 🪩

    Fix Your Socials Week starts 26th January… it’s a free challenge for handmade business owners who are fed up overthinking content and still not seeing sales.

    Give me 10 minutes a day for five days and I’ll help you get clear on what to post, what to stop doing, and how to show up online without it taking over your life.

    No fluff.

    No pressure.

    No trying to keep up with everyone else.

    Just practical support that actually makes sense.

    Sign up now at www.handmadebosses.com/fixyoursocials.




    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • #98 -The Etsy 2026 Trend Report
    Jan 21 2026

    You keep hearing people talk about Etsy trends for 2026…

    but what does that actually mean for your Etsy shop, your products, and your income?

    In this video, I’m breaking down the handmade economy in 2026 and the trends that actually matter for handmade sellers. Not vague predictions. Not Pinterest aesthetics. Real shifts in buyer behaviour and how to turn them into products, listings, and content that sell.

    We’ll cover:

    • What the handmade economy really looks like heading into 2026


    • The biggest consumer behaviour shifts affecting Etsy sellers


    • Trend buckets you can plug your existing products into (without starting from scratch)


    • How trends show up on Etsy search, Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok


    • How to research Etsy trends yourself so you’re not guessing


    • A simple, calm action plan to get your shop 2026-ready without overwhelm


    This is about positioning, not panic.

    Trends are seasoning, not a personality transplant.

    If you want your Etsy shop to feel relevant, useful, and desirable in 2026 (without burning yourself out), this one’s for you.

    🔗 Need help turning trends into consistent content?

    The Social Media Sidekick gives you plug-and-post captions, Canva templates, hooks, hashtags, and a full content calendar designed for handmade businesses:

    👉 https://www.handmadebosses.com/sms

    👍 If this helped, hit like, subscribe, and check out the next video to future-proof your Etsy shop even further.


    Insta CTA

    🪩 If social media feels way harder than it should… this is for you. 🪩

    Fix Your Socials Week starts 26th January… it’s a free challenge for handmade business owners who are fed up overthinking content and still not seeing sales.

    Give me 10 minutes a day for five days and I’ll help you get clear on what to post, what to stop doing, and how to show up online without it taking over your life.

    No fluff.

    No pressure.

    No trying to keep up with everyone else.

    Just practical support that actually makes sense.

    Sign up now at www.handmadebosses.com/fixyoursocials.




    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
  • #97 - Future-Proofing Your Etsy Shop: Navigating 2026's Secret Unannounced Updates
    Jan 14 2026

    You keep hearing rumours about Etsy updates, fee changes, algorithm tweaks and “big changes coming in 2026”… and it’s enough to make any seller panic.

    In this episode, I’m breaking down how to future-proof your Etsy shop without trying to predict every update or burning yourself out in the process.

    We’ll talk honestly about why Etsy is always changing, what you can and can’t control, and how to build a business that doesn’t fall apart every time Etsy moves a button.

    You’ll learn:
    • Why waiting for Etsy to “settle down” is a trap
    • What future-proofing actually means (and what it doesn’t)
    • How to stop relying on Etsy search as your only traffic source
    • Simple ways to start owning your audience with email
    • Product and SEO strategies that survive algorithm changes
    • How to build a money safety net so slow months don’t derail you

    Helpful resources mentioned in this episode:

    👉 The Makers List Kickstart Kit
    Learn how to build an email list that you actually own (without tech stress):
    https://www.handmadebosses.com/offers/KM79eUH7/checkout

    👉 Social Media Sidekick (SMS)
    Done-for-you monthly content so you can show up consistently without overthinking:
    https://www.handmadebosses.com/sms

    This episode is for handmade sellers who want to move into 2026 feeling calmer, more prepared, and more in control of their business.

    🎧 Plus, I’ll give you simple, practical homework you can actually do this week.

    If Etsy changes make you nervous, this one will steady your head.

    Insta CTA

    🪩 If social media feels way harder than it should… this is for you. 🪩

    Fix Your Socials Week starts 26th January… it’s a free challenge for handmade business owners who are fed up overthinking content and still not seeing sales.

    Give me 10 minutes a day for five days and I’ll help you get clear on what to post, what to stop doing, and how to show up online without it taking over your life.

    No fluff.

    No pressure.

    No trying to keep up with everyone else.

    Just practical support that actually makes sense.

    Sign up now at www.handmadebosses.com/fixyoursocials.




    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
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Steph is so down to earth and honest plus a joy to listen to. Her aim is to get you started in your handmade business journey.

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