Rise Up Designs

One of the things you get used to when you run a small business is feedback. It comes from everywhere — customers, friends, family, people at craft fairs, people who see something online. And honestly, most of the time it comes from a good place. People want to help. But if you’ve ever tested a product idea with different people, you know what usually happens. One person will say, “I love it!” Another person will say, “It’s nice, but I’d change this.” Someone else will say, “I like it… but I’d remove that.” And suddenly you’re sitting there thinking, Okay… so what exactly am I supposed to do with all of this? Feedback can be incredibly helpful, but it can also be a little exhausting if you let every opinion pull you in a different direction. What I’ve learned is this: feedback is information, not instruction. Just because someone suggests something doesn’t mean you have to implement it. But it does give you insight. It shows you how people see your work, what catches their at...

On February 12, I quietly celebrated one full year on Etsy. One year of listings. One year of late-night packing sessions. One year of figuring it out as I go. One year of truly stepping into my business. And I’ve learned a lot. Not the flashy, viral-growth kind of lessons. The steady, grounded kind. The kind you only learn by doing. 1. Stay in Your Lane If you start a business, especially a creative one, everyone will have advice. “Try this.” “You should sell that.” “Have you thought about adding…?” “You’d make more money if…” And listen — most of it comes from a good place. People mean well. But here’s what I’ve learned: You don’t have to make everything. Just because something sells doesn’t mean it’s yours to sell. Just because someone else is successful doing it doesn’t mean it belongs in your shop. There were ideas I chose not to pursue — not because they weren’t good, but because they weren’t me. And that clarity matters. Your lane is powerful when you stay in i...