Shop Update: January 2024

2023 had some challenges to say the least, most right at the end of the year.

Craft Fairs

I participated in only two craft fairs in 2023, and while I did make a profit, it wasn't enough to be sustainable for the future of my business. I will have to look at vending in much larger cities.

The Misery of TikTok Shop

TikTok Shop was something I was definitely on the fence about adding to my business, but decided to open it up to the public in November on a three-month trial run. It took until the end of November to receive my first sale, and in total I received three sales that month. 

A lot of the challenge had to do with how TikTok set things up in my shop. Many of my products were placed into categories that were nowhere NEAR where they should have been placed (a cuff bracelet ended up in the category "Ear Tags" which is used for livestock), and I received a shop violation for a sticker pack that was posted to a "restricted category." TikTok put that pack in that category yet I got penalized for it. I appealed the violation but was denied. That was the last straw for me, and thus my three-month trial ended just after one month, and I have permanently closed the shop. 

TikTok has absolutely no idea what they're doing when it comes to ecommerce. 

What's Coming in 2024

I will be working on getting the rest of my inventory placed online, plus creating more designs for bookmarks, stickers, and jewelry. 

I am currently stepping into the foray of comic book conventions. I have currently applied to two different cons in Kansas City and Chicago and am waiting for their decision, and also waiting for one con in Dallas to start accepting vendor applications. This is a huge investment for my business, and I hope it will be a fruitful one!

Stay YOU-nique!

~R