Today, I’m sharing a second post in the series, Small Business Tips.  You can catch the first post on fear.  I’ll do my best to make these posts both relevant to small business and life so that non-business folks can reflect and enjoy, too.  It comes from my journey with my online shop, Gadanke.  Who’s ready?

I’ve recruited my lovely volunteers again.  As soon as I can get them focused, we’ll be ready.  (And any of you big sisters know, younger brothers and sisters NEVER listen.)  ”Hey guys!  Focus for a second!”

Sheesh.

Here’s Anna’s question:

Hi Katie.  I am curious and would like some ‘tips’ if you could help me. I am also a creative person. I would be interested in working for myself, doing something creative.  Anyhow, what I would like to know is how you went about your shop. I am aware of etsy , but I wonder if it’s really worth it for us in europe. I mean I looked into shipping cards to the USA and that would cost 6€! Is it quite expensive to start up an online shop? What is required?

Let me start from the beginning.  My first shop was on Etsy.  It was the perfect place to launch my ideas.  I made my books in the US, shipped them from the US, and ran a US company.

When I was ready to expand, we were living in Europe.  I researched and researched prices.  Should I go for it in Europe?  Could I somehow do it from the US?  I spoke with other Americans creating their own businesses in Europe (or US businesses while living in Europe).  Martin was researching in German and talking to German professionals.  I even spoke with the Etsy team that had just opened a branch in Berlin.  I wanted to know as much as I possibly could because here’s the thing:

• I know the American system; I don’t know the European one

I felt like I would be walking like this through the rest of my business.  Everything felt so upside down.

You know what?  It didn’t feel upside down because I was thinking of business in a country foreign to me.  It felt upside down because starting new things is never easy.  It doesn’t matter where you live or who you are.  You’re entering a new territory with fear and doubt.  You have to research like crazy, and when you want to quit, well you still have a list of like 10 more things to figure out!

I’m still constantly researching all the time.  Who has the best recycled paper?  Where can I shop locally for my materials?  On and on.

In the end, Martin and I were starting to sense that something was seriously wrong with our dear friend back in the United States.  Our visit home has turned into something much longer.  I focused my research to the US only.

Okay… this picture is actually of me reading fairy tales in German.  But you get the idea!  I was always the serious kid in the family.

If you’re not like a little frog hopping between several places like me, you’re at an advantage, even if it is a system that you’re not familiar with.  Here’s what I suggest:

1. Start researching materials. There’s got to be a cheaper solution than buying something like your envelopes one at a time at McPaper in Germany, for example. And there is – trust me!
2. Learn about local shipping. The price jumps and drops depending on the size of your package in any country.  How can your idea fit those guidelines to be most affordable to where you think your primary audience resides?
3. Bring out your local flavor. People will be more understanding and accepting of higher shipping and prices if you can offer them something unique that they can’t find in their own country or that feels “Walmart-ish”.
4. Include your personal character. For example, I’m not using 100% recycled papers because they’re more available or because it saves me money.  Of course they are neither.  I’m using recycled papers in my journals because the decision to be more eco-conscious matters soooo very much to me.

I have no idea what kind of personal character these two would shoot for.  Do you?

Tell yourself to stop saying, “I know what I would do if I were back home.”  Or “back home, these would be…”  I say it like this:  ”I’m here.  This is home. How am I going to make this work?”  Then I keep researching until my idea can come together or I turn to another idea that can.

I walk myself through it in the pages of my {She} journal from the shop.  Writing is when I discover so much about the direction I want to take deep in my heart.  (I think I wrote about 5 pages this weekend, inspiring this post.)  It’s the perfect remedy when my brother and sister are otherwise occupied and not able to chat and chat (or focus on something serious!).

What limits you?