I applied for a VAT Number, signed the contract with a financial advisor, munched a gelato, opened youtube... And you uploaded this video that very minute. Is the universe watching me? Best of luck, you're an inspiration!

That is SO TRUE...... Just start.... That's what I did when I start selling plants. From posting only 2 plants. Now total I have sold 4K plants. I learned as I go.

Love this! I also feel that people shouldn't be too discouraged if their business doesn't pop off like a lot off the small, sticker or illustration businesses did during the pandemic. Not a lot of people talk about this. In 2020 most of these etsy shops started blowing up because everyone was stuck at home buying stuff and it helped them with their exposure today (myself included, although I am not an illustration biz) Learning or taking an online class to better market your business will be helpful to many. I hear so many people say they think they're simply not good enough or that no one wants to buy their art. There is ALWAYS a market for something you want to sell! It's just that if you do not market yourself if you don't put yourself out there, no one will know who you are. Making youtube videos is extremely helpful, but I also think TikTok and IG Reels can be super helpful as well.

"The target audience is usually ourselves." THANK YOU holy shit why do I feel like I just got slapped. I needed this. THANK YOU

"Just Start, Rest will follow" and "Don't compare" ...love it ❤

If possible (no pressure!) I'd love to see a video on explaining SEO bc it looks like something so daunting and one of the things among many others making me nervous about diving into etsy

You don't know how much I needed to hear the part about not putting pressure on yourself to know everything starting out. Thank you!!

I get so paralyzed thinking how to make my first YT long form video 😢 I just have to stop comparing and just do it. You are such an inspiration, Kat! ❤❤❤

It’s crazy to me that it’s been 9 years!! I’ve been following since the beginning and it’s amazing to see the progress you’ve made! Thank you for being so willing to help other creators!! 💗

Katnipp I have been following you for some time, and you have certainly been an inspiration to me and to many female entrepreneurs. Thank you for sharing your journey with us and motivating us not to give up! May God bless you and your company more and more every day. ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

I've been here for quite a few years and I've loved seeing your journey. You've always been one of the most beautiful, wholesome sweet people to watch on KZfaq and I always feel inspired by you!xx

I have so many product ideas and a business name in mind but social media is so overwhelming for me. It’s not exactly easy for me to keep up with cause of my mental disability. Does anyone know where I can find advice on running multiple social media accounts with ADHD/autism? Also love your videos Catherine! You were the first artist to inspire me to want to have my own business!

Thank you thank you thank you for being such a help, for being open and honest and just being you. You're da best!!!

I’ve been following your channel for years. It’s really nice to see how much your business has grown ❤️.

It's so smart of you to reinvest in your business. I do the same and have friends that also prefer to pay outright for equipment than go into debt; less worry and stress on that front. Thank you for sharing your journey with us you're a true inspiration.

Glad I found this video! I just started my Etsy sticker shop after procrastinating for months. Then I finally did it and I’m doing my first small market this weekend too! Everything you said helped and gave me confidence that I can do it. We can all do it. I haven’t had a sale yet but I know my first sale is going to be so special that someone likes what I created enough to buy it ❤

Hello, I love your videos and advice. I have been following your channel for years. You are always transparent, enthusiastic, and encouraging others. I am also thinking of opening a store. I have a Graphic Design degree that I never practiced, and I have gone through a different route in my life, but designing, coloring, painting, making craft items, and doing things on my own as you do are what I enjoy the most and make me feel relaxed. If I can make money out of it, I would dedicate myself to just that and eventually make a living, I can be anywhere int he world doing what I love and most enjoy in life. I would like to have a successful story like yours and eventually have my own store out from Etsy. I have a design, and I have already set up the Etsy store, but not sure what is holding me back from just posting my first listing; not sure if it is that I am afraid to fail, but if I don't try, I am already falling. I will continue watching your videos; in fact, I purchased your take out trash stickers, a mouse mat, and a couple book dividers from your Etsy store. I am in Fresno CA. I was like, I like her design. Let me support her work.🙏💙

Catherine, I just wanted to drop you a comment to say when I was listening to you talking about how you listen to so many podcasts and youtube videos etc, that you are my inspirational podcasts that I listen too whilst I work 🤭🤭 I have been a pretty silent watcher and supporter of yours for nearly 4 years now and you have taught me so much along the way! I'm sure there are so many other people who would say similar about you, so thank you so much for being that person for us ✨

Another lovely video if you have the chance would be seeing you do a bit of a roll back, go through your business back in time to see how much you’ve grown, stories from early days, and the big differences for your products, if you’d changed/updated any etc

oh I would love a planning video!! I am curious to see your different methods you use today but also I bet it would be interesting to see the methods you’ve previously used too

The just start advice is said all the time, but IT'S SO TRUE! Once I actually started and just did things without overthinking or being fearful, everything started to come together.

A great little video for sure! There's been times where I've gone back to see your older videos and the art style from then compared to now, and I like both of them! I know that styles and changes happen, and I absolutely am all for that should it be what you're wanting, but it also makes me feel good knowing that I do have my hands on some of the original designs of products from back when. The styling is very organic to me, and I love it just as much as I love how the characters and designs are made now. :) I am getting myself to the point of starting my journey, so seeing this video and hearing more about your adventure really does help and it boosts a lot of internal motivation, so thank you for that. Keep being amazing. :)

Please!! I would love a video about diversifying income streams! I think that its so hard to think of the many ways as an artist/content creator we get tunnel vision on that side of business!

Thank you! That helped me. Sometimes it's really overwhelming at the start, but I wish everyone good luck on their journey to a business.

It's nice to see the videos. I missed Monday but I got quite busy 😊 Hope you good 👍

Thank you for this video :) You and your channel have been such a source of inspiration for me for years and I am so grateful that you have been able to share your journey for all of us to watch and connect with. I’m really proud of how far you’ve come both with your business/art and your personal life, I feel like I’ve been watching an old friend improve and progress from afar. Keep doing what you do and thank you again for being you. ❤

Thank you for sharing, it has honestly been so nice seeing you and your business evolve over the years! Awesome x x

Love it! Thank you! 💖

Great advice. Would love to know more about other passive income ideas. You’re inspiring me everyday ❤

Hi! i've been seeing a few of yours videos as I wanted to come back to illustration and to start a little business. I wanted to thank you for your clear advices you are a real motivation. Thanks for the free trial too I've been looking a bit for some classes to take in order to put me back on track. Hope it'll be helpful for me :) I'm gonna go for it!

I can’t wait to see how far you take Katnipp!! You are such an inspiration Catherine!!! xoxo

ooh yes! I would love a video about your planning process please :) I love your art and your channel, thanks for these tips! ❤

Thank you for this ! Such an inspiration because sometimes I can doubt so much of my next step thinking that I need a bunch of equipment and the latest technology but you just told us that we can go step by step without rushing ! Congrats for all that you have achieved ❤

Thank you for this video❤ I hope to start a small business one day. Your videos inspire me to take each step towards this goal!

This was very very helpful thank you for posting this and it’s so true. Walt Disney did a lot of things other than drawing and I love the backstory to Walt Disney very inspirational. Good luck on all your new products. I’m starting out to open up more from just being craft shows. I’m going to be trying to do logos as well for clients, thank you again. You’re such an inspiration.❤😮

this is such a good video! so proud of how far you've come, i still remember your channel back in its early years. i've always wanted to start selling my own products, and i did (back in 2020)! but eventually closed my shop within like a month or two as i got scared, i thought i didn't have it all figured out and didn't have the skills to continue (my anxiety do be my biggest enemy 😂) but as of late, i've been meaning to relaunch my shop, thanks for the tips! they make a lot of sense and are very helpful ☺️💕

I just loved this video so helpful, I have been following you for a long time. You are one of my favourite small business and illustrator. I love how you put a product together. I’m thinking about starting a small business. Thank you for the video

I really love your channel, seeing you grow makes me so happy! Could you do a video on ads?

I would love to see how you plan your weeks in more depth. This video is very helpful, thank you ❤

So many useful gems of information in this video! So timely for me too. Thank you!! X❤

man I've never been this early to a vid lol, still watching

Always great see how other people got started and how the made it to the point they are now with their business😀

Awesome job explaining small business for beginners. You're doing a Fantastic job and helping others along the way. You are such a lovely person. You're definitely will become much, much bigger in the future. 🤗

This video series has been encouraging. Thank you. 😊🙏

Love your videos. Thank you for beeing you. You are my inspiration ❤ you make my day❤❤❤❤❤❤

Great video!

This was awesome!! I really appreciate these info sessions. I want to branch from YT, so this was so helpful. I'm also looking into things for my daughter and see how she can expand after Art school. Thanks again ❤

I love these bizniz chats! More pleases! ❤❤

I have the planner i love the crisp new pages too.. its ideal for schedule my youtube channel 🎉❤

This is so fascinating 😊😊

You always have the BEST advice!😊

You really inspire me 🥹❤️

I’m literally cutting my stickers by hand as I listen to you talking about cutting your stickers with scissors. I have a cricut but it totally glitched on me today, of course, because tomorrow I launch my website, so it had to glitch today of all days!!!

I would caution against just starting a business without some BASIC research because where you live can have financial consequences. For instance in my area, to sell you need a seller’s permit and in my town, a seller’s permit means you are required to obtain a business license. Business license has a flat annual fee and they don’t care if you only make 1 sale or are consistently making sales. Now if you’re filing taxes (I’m US based btw) you can include the business license fee in your deductions, but now we’re getting into the mess of self employment taxation processes… so at least research with your government regulations before you sell a sole sticker and find yourself $300 in the red.

thank you Catherine love you as always

Thank you for sharing all your knowledge. Looking forward to learning more from you.

Thank you for sharing this video and its content! 💕🎨✨

You’re amazing!! Thank you for being an inspiration 💫👍

This was sooooo freakin helpful! Thank you sooooo much!

Love these vidz!❤ It’s so helpful! I’d love to see how you developed your drawing style or a vid on how to start designing on procreate. Just got an ipad (late to the game) and don’t know where to start.

Thanks Catherine, this was helpful. ❤

Thanks for all your answers and tips 💖

Thank you 💛🩷💛🩷💛🩷

once i figure out what i want to sell and payment processing stuff (that's scary for me for some reason xD) i feel like as you said when i start the rest can be figured out along the way. you can say i'm in my business plan phase lol

Thanks for the great video :) I'm preparing now for launching my tiny business but the anxiety of trying to deal with all the little details sometimes feels overwhelming. Especially thinking about launching a website that might not earn as much as it costs, lol. But there's no way to know how things will turn out if you don't try, so I'm going to give it a shot.

Great tips! Thank you 😊

Do you make Daily planners in a dairy form with out dates, but a line to put a date if needed?

I have so many ideas for things like stickers etc. but not sure if I should build up a following before I make a product or just jump into making a product straight away 😢😢

How do you become a virtual assistant?

I am starting to design digital cards, what cardstock and envelopes would you recommend

I love your products. Do you have to be VAT Registered to sell content on Patreon?

Great advice!

Just Beautiful

Great informative vlog.

I am wanting to do a Patreon but I don’t know where to begin with that, how do you figure out what to offer there and not here on KZfaq to make it exclusive etc?

I would still like to know exactly , in detail, how to grow online. Yes I comment on others posts or hang out in their streams. I end up being part of their clique instead of them giving me shoutouts that help me grow cuz i am seen as another viewer/follower. So I want to know how to grow my audience and my brand.

So so sorry

I'm trying to do social media on tiktok and I still haven't received a sale on my big cartel 😂 I'm really trying you help me so much with my shop with routine and haven't given up like I did last year ❤

Firstly, I love watching your channel! ❤ How did you decide what products you were going to start with? Did you get your traction and consistent sales on Etsy by posting on FB & IG ?… I’m really struggling with traffic in my shop and what products to stick with.. 😕

The best investment is buying a house and used it as office and storage. The land is yours the house is yours and you can retired with that property.

I like ur video❤

I will have to add, whe. You make items. Make sure you own the copyright! If you make things on canvas for example, you don’t own the clip art etc.

Fluffy chicken 😂😊

Despite having designed lots of products, my problem is not having a credit card to be hosted on sites like Etsy, Amazon, etc. Is there a way around this sticking point because I'm not in the position to obtain a credit card.

U look beautiful

Fun fact, you’re holding a clip on mic. You can clip it on instead of holding it

do you need a business license?

Sometimes I miss the old days of youtube, now you are just like the others, selling a dream that not everyone can achieve and is not easy at all. To be honest, I've been following your work for years and I definitely recognize your work behind it, but not everyone can be as lucky as you were nowadays.

🌺🌻🌼

I would love to know more ways to have a passive income! Thank you for this video!

Thank you So much for this! 🫶🏼