Rise Up Designs

 While everyone’s out here planning pool days and vacations, small biz owners? We’re over here thinking about seasonal trends , inventory shifts , and how to make summer sales sparkle . This week’s Flex Friday isn’t about slowing down — it’s about leveling up with intention . Because if you’re an Etsy shop owner (or building any creative biz), summer is the perfect time to: ✅ Refresh. Rethink. Realign. Here’s what I’m doing right now (and maybe you should too): ✔️ Auditing my listings – Are my photos clear? Are the tags and titles still working? What needs a glow-up? ✨📸 ✔️ Looking at seasonal trends – Am I aligned with what people are shopping for right now? Think: weddings, travel gifts, end-of-school, sun + fun! ☀️ ✔️ Checking analytics – What’s selling? What’s not? What needs to be featured more? (Yes, data can be cute.) 📊 ✔️ Planning content – From social posts to product drops, summer is a great time to get ahead — or at least feel a little more in control . 📅 ...

Let’s talk about the past couple of weeks… because WOW. I hit two milestones that made me pause, sip my coffee, and maybe get a little misty-eyed (in a good way). ✨ 100 sales on Etsy ✨ 250 new Instagram followers Like… WHAT?! I’m not saying I ugly cried, but I definitely did a happy dance in my craft room. 100 Etsy Sales = 100 Reasons to Keep Going Every single order represents something way bigger than the product: ✔️ Someone trusted me ✔️ Someone chose my work ✔️ Someone is out there sipping from my tumblers, using my bookmarks, or gifting something I made That never stops being surreal. 250 New IG Followers = A Growing Community I’ve been sharing more of myself lately — not just the products, but the process, the chaos, the craft fair prep, and all the glittery highs (and shattered glass lows). And it’s working. More people are showing up, engaging, and feeling the Rise Up vibe. So if you’re new here — hi! Welcome! I'm so glad you're here. If you’ve bee...

Let’s talk about something that’s not often covered in the small biz playbook: Donating your work. Not just for kindness (though that’s a big part)… but as a meaningful, strategic , and feel-good way to grow your brand. ✨ Recently, I donated some of my products—tumblers, shirts, and bags—for giveaway bags at an event. And let me tell you… it wasn’t just “oh cool, free stuff.” It was purposeful, branded, and impactful. 💡 Why I Did It I love supporting good causes—and if my work can bring someone joy and get my name out there? Even better.  Here’s what I focused on: Making sure every donated item represented my brand vibe Including a thank you card or branded tag with each piece Using it as a way to show people the quality of my work in a hands-on way No pressure to buy—just a moment of “oooh, this is cute!” that connects them to Rise Up Designs. 🧠 It’s Not Just Free Stuff… It’s Brand Awareness Think about it: That person uses the tumbler at work Someo...

Let’s be real—running a small business doesn’t stop just because you’ve got plans, a trip, or in my case… a weekend cheering on my superstar niece Gracie at her roller skating competition. (She crushed it, by the way. Proud Tia Moment™.) But even while I was away from home, my shop didn’t slow down—I got four or five Etsy orders in a matter of days. And you know what? I made it work. You can absolutely handle orders while you’re on the go—with a little planning, a little communication, and a lot of grace. Here’s how I do it: 🕰️ Step 1: Build in Buffer Time Before I even packed my bag, I updated my Etsy processing times. I always give myself a cushion—usually 1 to 2 business days—so that if life throws me a detour (or a glitter explosion), I’ve got time to breathe and still meet expectations. That extra day of processing time? It’s not about slacking—it’s about delivering without panic. 💬 Step 2: Communicate Like a Human (Not a Bot) Etsy does automatically notify customers when you sh...

Let’s get something straight: I love running my small business. I love my tumblers, my wraps, my kits, my customers. But sometimes… the universe throws me a big ol’ glitter-covered curveball. 🥎✨ And that’s when I remind myself: “Jecca, it is not about perfection—it’s about powering through the mess with a hot glue gun and a prayer.” 🙏🏽🛠️💁🏽‍♀️ So today, we’re talking about the chaotic moments behind the scenes that don’t make it into the Etsy thumbnails. 💥 Exhibit A: The Craft Fair Catastrophe Setting: sunny day, cute booth, charcuterie on deck. Me: “Everything’s perfect!” Mother Nature: “Hold my wind.” 🌪️🫠 One gust….very large one. ONE. And my shelf of glass tumblers? Yeeted. TWO shattered glasses, a straw massacre, and me trying to act calm while scooping shards like I’m auditioning for Survivor: Craft Booth Edition. 🫳🏼🧼🥴 Customers tried to help (angels!) but I was like, “Nooo there might be glass, please don’t bleed at my booth!” So yeah—I packed up early. Did I cry late...

When I started blogging every day, I honestly didn’t know how long I’d keep it going. I just knew I had a LOT to say—and a lot happening as I launched my Etsy shop, juggled a full-time job, and figured out what the heck UVDTF even stood for. Now that I’ve officially passed my one-month Etsy-versary (Feb 12, thank you very much!) , I’m stepping back to reflect—and to make a slight but mighty shift in my blogging routine. Why the Change? Let’s be real: posting every single day takes work. And while I LOVE sharing the journey—wins, flops, glitter explosions, weird messages, and all—I also know that: Quality > quantity Real life is busy And creativity needs a little breathing room What’s Next? Moving forward, I’m planning to blog three times a week —a schedule that gives me space to keep creating, keep learning, and still share the behind-the-scenes of growing my small biz with all of you. Expect the same real talk, same laughs, same sparkle… just on a rhythm that fi...

 Let’s talk about one of the sneakiest stressors of running a small business: People you know asking for free stuff. Or deep discounts. Or that classic: “Can you just make me one real quick?” Yeah. That. 😐 🎁 “You Should Just Make Me One!” This sentence right here? It’s the uninvited guest at every crafter’s cookout. Don’t get me wrong—I love when people support my business. I really love when people buy from my business. But I’ve learned that support doesn’t mean expecting a hookup.  Making a tumbler isn’t like waving a wand and poof! a glittery glass appears. It takes: 🕒 time 💸 materials 🧼 prep 🙃 and patience I sometimes don’t even have for myself So when someone slides into my DMs with “Can you just make me one?” What they’re really saying (without meaning to) is: “Your time, talent, and tools should cost me nothing.” 💬 What I Say Now (Versus What I Used to Say) Past me: “Oh sure! Just cover the cost of materials.” 😬 (Cue me quietly eating the...

 Let’s talk about what happens when you go from cha-ching-ing every day to… crickets. Yep. I hit that moment this week. For a solid stretch, I was doing an order or two every day . It was exciting, validating, and if we’re being honest… kind of addicting. Then suddenly? Nothing. And I’d love to tell you that I handled it with total grace and chill vibes—but, I’m human. So yes, I panicked a little . And yes, I stared at my Etsy dashboard like it owed me an explanation. But then something really unexpected happened:  I stopped spiraling and got to work. The Slow Days Gave Me Room to Breathe (and Catch Up on the Stuff I Usually Avoid) Because let’s be real—when I’m busy making, selling, and shipping, I’m not exactly sprinting to balance my QuickBooks. But during this slow stretch, I: ✔️ Cleaned up my inventory. What I had on hand didn’t totally match my Etsy listings ( oops ), so I reconciled everything. ✔️ Organized my receipts and logged expenses into QuickBooks. I ...