🎧 Listen to this blog post as a Podcast instead - How Jen Turned Her Craft Hobby Into a Real Business – The Honest Journey of Indy Bee Crafts

In this uplifting episode, I’m chatting with the lovely Jen from Indy Bee Crafts, one of our Handmade Business Success Academy (HBSA) students, about her real and raw journey from craft hobbyist to small business owner.

Jen opens up about:
• How she found the confidence to start selling
• What helped her go from “I can’t do this” to “this is actually working!”
• The juggle of life, work, and creativity
• Her favourite HBSA lesson (and how it changed everything)
• Why she’s now excited for the future of her handmade biz

If you’ve ever doubted whether your tiny seed of an idea could grow into something more… this episode will light a little fire in you. Jen’s story is proof that you don’t need to have it all figured out – you just need to start.

Pour a cuppa, plug in your headphones, and get ready for some heart-led handmade business inspo 💛

How Jen Turned Her Handmade Hobby into a Real Business with HBSA

When you first start a handmade business, it can feel like you’re fumbling your way through the dark... guessing at what to post, how to price and whether anyone is actually going to buy your stuff.

That’s exactly where Jen from Indy Bee Crafts started. What began as a side hobby soon became a dream she couldn’t ignore. But like so many creative women, she hit a wall: how do I turn this into a proper business? 

In this episode of the How To Be A Handmade Boss podcast, Jen shares her inspiring handmade business journey... from self-doubt and pricing fears to hitting her first £1,000 month and finding her confidence thanks to the Handmade Business Success Academy (HBSA).

Here’s a peek into Jen’s story (and what you can learn from it, too).

From Crafting for Fun to Crafting for Profit

Jen had always been creative, but turning that creativity into a full-time income felt like a pipe dream. She was making gorgeous products, but the sales weren’t consistent and she wasn’t sure what she was doing “wrong.”

“I wanted it to be a real business,” she says, “but I didn’t know how to get from where I was to where I wanted to be.”

Enter HBSA.

How HBSA Changed the Game

Joining HBSA was Jen’s turning point. She learned not just how to make more sales, but why her previous efforts weren’t working. Pricing, positioning, SEO, content strategy... it all finally clicked.

“HBSA gave me structure and it gave me confidence,” Jen shares. “It felt like someone had handed me the map I’d been missing.”

With step-by-step modules, product reviews, live support and a community of like-minded creatives, Jen started seeing progress fast. Her photos improved. Her SEO started working. Her mindset shifted. And sales? They followed.

⛔⛔⛔⛔

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From Fear to First £1k Month

One of Jen’s proudest moments? Making her first £1,000 in a single month - something she didn’t think was possible when she started.

She credits HBSA not only for the tools but for helping her believe she could do it.

“I kept thinking, ‘Who would want to buy from me?’ HBSA helped me see that what I make is valuable. It’s worthy of being sold. I’m worthy of being a business owner.”

Jen’s Advice to Fellow Handmade Sellers

Jen knows what it feels like to sit on the fence, wondering if a handmade business can really work. Her advice?

“Back yourself. If you want this, it’s not silly, and it’s not selfish. There’s room for you. You just need the right support.”

She also encourages other makers to stop waiting until everything is “perfect.”

“You’ll never feel fully ready. Start where you are and grow from there. HBSA made that feel possible for me.”

Final Thoughts

Jen’s journey is a reminder that building a handmade business isn’t just about listings and reels... it’s about mindset, confidence and community.

And with the right guidance, like HBSA offers, it really is possible to go from hobby crafter to handmade boss.

🎧 Listen to the full episode with Jen here to hear her journey in her own words.

Keep going toward your handmade business goals boss, because the world really does need those special creations only you can make – Steph xox

👋 Welcome everyone! My name is Steph, I've been running my handmade business full time on Etsy since 2016, and I'm here to help you! 

🧡 I'll help you to start an Etsy shop, Etsy ads, show you how to sell more on Etsy, get to grips with Etsy SEO, Etsy branding, Etsy product ideas, finding your target market, identifying your niche and many many more.

🛍️ If you have an Etsy shop or your own website selling handmade products, or want to start one, this is THE channel you need to be subscribed to!

💰 I help makers start, run and scale their handmade businesses. Turning them from an expensive hobby to profitable businesses making 4 and 5 figure months on Etsy and your own website.

✨ Join the HBSA waitlist

✨ Free resources: Want to make headway in your business but don't want to pay yet? You're in the right place! 

✨ Work with us for deeper transformative results

✨I go live most Mondays on YouTube and in my Facebook group for mini workshops to help you make more money from your handmade business! You can see our upcoming events here

That’s all for now! Be sure to subscribe and follow us on IG for announcements of new videos, workshops, content and more.