10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Art Business

Mar 4

“If you build it, they will come.” That’s cute. When I started my art business, I thought if I made something beautiful, people would find it. That is not how this works.

Here are 10 things I’ve learned the hard way, buckle up!

1. Being Successful Is Only 10% Talent

Talent helps. Secret about me: I’m really not that talented…. I just have honed in on my craft and I’m a hustler! I will out hustle just about anybody, ask around! Talent without:

Consistency
Marketing
Thick skin
Persistence

…doesn’t build a business.

Plenty of talented artists never make money. Plenty of average artists build thriving businesses (I think that’s me, I’m the latter, perhaps in the future… thriving). The difference? They treat it like a business.

2. You Can’t Get Too Attached to One Idea

You might set out to sell candles. But then suddenly your random acrylic earrings experiment outsells everything.

Customers will tell you what they want. They will show you what they value. Even if it’s not what you originally envisioned — pay attention.

Go with what’s working. Don’t cling to what you wish would work, or worse yet, what you’re emotionally attached to.

3. The Internet Is Completely Saturated- Duh, there’s like 5 people reading this blog total.

The internet is full of people just like us, trying to make an extra buck with a little talent and a bit of gusto. So what’s the strategy for being seen?

Start an Instagram account
Start a Facebook page
Collect reviews
Ask for testimonials
Do pop-up markets
Network
Tell your story
Show up repeatedly

Visibility is created. You have to put yourself out there (I still hate this part. I don’t like to be judged!) They are always going to judge you, but you can’t just sit back and wait or expect family and friends to spread the word. You need actual fans and customers that are not your friends.

4. Failure Is Inevitable

Rejection is coming. You will get:

“No” from stores and market organizers
Free advice from strangers
Wasted money on bad markets
Failed product launches
Ideas that flop
Maybe even straight-up insults

It’s part of it. If you’re not failing, you’re probably not trying enough new things. My motto has always been, “try things before you’re ready”. Plan for the worst and set your expectations low.

5. Consistency and Persistence Are the Real Keys

This is the ugly truth. Keep going when:

Sales are slow
Posts get no likes
You feel dumb or like no one cares
You question everything

Most people quit too soon. The ones who don’t? They win, because every year you do this, you get better and more experienced. Think about another career you have had. Maybe you started waitressing in high school. How were you at age 16? By the time you were 21, you had learned a lot and gotten really good at it! When you get good at things, you bring home more bacon too! You are inexperienced in the beginning if this is your first business. We have all been there believe it!

6. Diversify Your Income Streams Once You Get Traction

Do not rely on one thing. I see a lot of Facebook posts from people saying their Etsy shop totally dropped off and now they have no money, or they didn’t get into a pop up show that they had done the last 2 summers and they were counting on it! Do not rely on just one income source.

What if:

Etsy shuts down your shop? (Yes, it happens.) Do you have a website?
You get injured and can’t physically do pop up markets?
Social media algorithms tank your reach?
You started a retail shop ALL IN, and you have 0 foot traffic. Now you’re draining savings to pay bills.

Multiple income streams protect your future. Here are mine right now:

Etsy
My website (squarespace, by the way… if you sell products- use SHOPIFY, not squarespace, anyways…)
Faire (wholesale platform)
In person markets (especially longer holiday shows)
Direct wholesale accounts ordering through email (boots on the ground kinda stuff)
Consignment (why are people so against it?)
Painted Tree Boutiques (meh…. it works for me, see my blog post about it HERE)
Facebook buyers
Custom wedding and business orders
And I’m always looking for more. Some ideas I’m considering:Craft workshops, online classes, rental services, new product lines, in person laser engraving events, investing profits some other way.

Long-term businesses are layered.

7. Keep Throwing Spaghetti at the Wall

Experiment. Test. Try things that might flop. If something sticks — double down. If it doesn’t — move on.

You don’t have to be emotionally attached to every idea. You have to be good with constant change. Stop doing the same thing that isn’t working. NOW!

8. Be Prepared for Crickets

You will launch something and hear nothing. Trust me, people are still watching even if they say nothing. After years of doing this, people say- yeah I saw your post last week! Or oh yeah, I read your blog. I’m like… really? Awesome! They are watching even if there’s no engagement.

No likes.
No comments.
No sales.

Overnight success is incredibly rare. Products going viral is not normal. Quiet growth is normal, slow and steady wins the race as they say. A slight holiday boom is great, and then January hits. This is going to be a roller coaster ride!

9. Obsess Over Customer Service in the Beginning

In the early stages, your reputation is everything.

Respond to messages quickly, fix mistakes immediately, own it when you mess up and make it right.

Consider:

Handwritten thank-you notes
Small surprise freebies
Personal touches

Reviews build credibility—» Credibility builds trust —» Trust builds sales.

10. Don’t Spend Every Dollar You Make

If you make $500 in one great holiday week — that doesn’t mean you’ve “made it.” Sales fluctuate.

I wish I had been smarter in the beginning about:

Saving for slow months
Reinvesting strategically
Planning for taxes

Cash flow management is just as important as creativity if this is actually a business and not a hobby.

Quick side story: After 5.5 years in business, I just had an older man “explain” (cough… mansplain) to me that my business is a hobby, not a business. Thanks man! You have walked up, judged my products, maybe the way I look, my brand, and in 4 minutes told me “you know this is a hobby right?”. I chuckled and brushed it off. This man has no idea. These outrageous and bold comments are PAR for the course. I share them because I want you to know you are not alone. Be proud of how far you’ve come!

Final Thoughts (I feel like Jerry Springer here all of a sudden)

Starting an art business will stretch you. It will humble you & it will test you. Be authentic and be strong in the face of disappointment.

Build up tough skin because you will have to listen to people’s opinions every year.

If you’re willing to learn, adapt, and keep going — you can build something sustainable and rewarding. You will grow as a person, and inspire others too. Most importantly for me: FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS. As Luke Combs says “The dream won’t chase you back.” Yes I did.

I dare you to comment! I’ll know someone read it :)