🎧 Listen to this blog post as a Podcast instead #83 - Here's why your Etsy shop is stuck.

Are you working harder than ever, but your sales graph just… won’t budge? 😩
You’re not lazy. You’re not failing.
You might just be stuck in what I call the Plateau of Busywork and it happens to almost every handmade seller at some point.

In this episode, I’ll walk you through how to:
⚠ Spot the 3 most common plateau signs
📉 Understand why your to-do list isn’t growing your business
🧠 Make small, strategic shifts that lead to actual progress
✨ AND stop wasting time on things that feel productive, but don’t move the needle

We’ll cover:
1️⃣ Why “doing more” isn’t the answer
2️⃣ How to focus your energy on what actually converts
3️⃣ The real reason your shop’s stuck and how to get unstuck fast

You’ll hear real-life examples from sellers who were posting daily, making products constantly, or jumping platforms… but still not growing and what changed it all.

💥 Whether you’re in full-on burnout or just feeling stagnant, this episode will give you clarity and confidence on what to fix next.

Plus: I’ll give you a simple homework task to separate busywork from growth work (so you can stop doing the stuff that’s draining your energy).

💛 Day 0: Welcome to the Listathon - Let’s Get Those Listings Working for You

What a way to start a Monday! A few tech gremlins (because of course 😂), but we made it.

Today’s live was “Day 0” - the warm-up session for our Free 4-Day Listathon Challenge, and it’s all about setting you up for success before we dive into the action next week.

If you missed it live, grab a drink, take a breath, and here’s the recap 👇

🌟 What the Listathon Is All About

The Listathon is our most loved free event of the year.

It’s a 4-day, hands-on challenge that helps you finally fix your Etsy listings so they stop sitting still and start selling.

It’s not another fluffy “watch and forget” workshop.

Every single day includes short, practical lessons (40 – 60 minutes) plus daily homework that actually gets you moving.

Because let’s be real - the only way your sales will change is if your actions change too.

📅 What We’ll Cover

Day 1 – Magnetic Product Creation

Discover how to make products your ideal customers actually want (and can’t scroll past).

Day 2 – Listings That Sell

Learn the words, photos and SEO that turn views into sales.

Day 3 – Multiply Your Listings

Make more of what’s working - without burning out.

Day 4 – Simple Marketing That Works

Take control of your own traffic so you’re not just waiting for the algorithm to notice you.

And yes… the Handmade Bosses Success Academy (HBSA) opens for the final time this year on Day 4 🎉

🔗 Bookmark This: Your Resources Page

All videos, PDFs and replays live here:

👉 handmadebosses.com/listathonresources

Make sure you’ve saved it, because that’s where everything from the challenge will be uploaded as we go.

💪 Show Up Like You Paid £1,000

Here’s my challenge to you:

Treat this free training like you paid serious money to be here.

When you commit, you’ll see changes.

If you half-watch while doing the dishes or drop off halfway through, you’ll only short-change yourself.

This system works - we’ve run it three years in a row and thousands of makers have transformed their shops with it.

💭 Why You Started Your Business Matters

During the live, we talked about your “why.”

Maybe you started your handmade business because:

• you want to earn extra income doing something you love
  
  
• you’re done with the 9-to-5 grind
  
  
• you want more time at home with your family
  
  
• or you simply crave creative freedom
  
  

Whatever your reason, hold onto it.

Screenshot it. Write it down.

Because when next week gets busy (and it will), that reminder will keep you going.

🧠 My Own “Enough Is Enough” Moment

I shared my story of sitting at the top of a tower in Portsmouth years ago, notebook in hand, determined not to leave until I figured out how to make my handmade business work.

That plan became the foundation for everything I teach today inside the HBSA.

Back then, I tried everything - SEO “experts,” paid followers (yep 😅), under-pricing, craft fairs… and nothing stuck.

But once I simplified, focused, and built a clear system, things changed fast.

I went from struggling to six figures - and now I help other handmade sellers do the same.

🔍 Why This Challenge Works

Your listings are the gateway to your shop.

If they don’t connect with your perfect customer, they’ll bounce - and you’ll never even get a chance to wow them.

That’s what we’re fixing next week.

We’ll cover:

• how to get found in search (Etsy + Google)
  
  
• how to make your photos and descriptions click-worthy
  
  
• and how to present your products so people actually buy
  
  

🎯 Your Homework Before Day 1

Watch the free “Handmade Business Growth Roadmap” class here:

👉 YouTube – The 7 Stages of Growing a Handmade Business

It’s about an hour long and shows you what stage you’re in right now and exactly what to focus on next.

Trust me - it’ll make next week make so much more sense.

💬 Final Thoughts

Running a handmade business doesn’t have to feel like chaos.

You don’t need 1,000 products, secret hacks, or to chase every algorithm update.

You just need a simple system that works for you - and that’s exactly what we’ll build together inside the Listathon.

So if you haven’t already, join us now 👇

👉 www.handmadebosses.com/listathonweek

See you inside, maker 💛

- Steph & Team Handmade Bosses

👋 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.