Dresden. Cindy Fuchs did not expect that she would one day earn money with her drawings when she shared one of her works on Instagram for the first time. The Dresden resident works as a surgical assistant and draws in her free time. That goes down well. 16,000 people now follow Fuchs on Instagram. What began as a hobby in childhood has grown into a small business: “Over time, more and more people have asked whether you can buy my drawings as a print or on a T-shirt,” reports the 30-year-old. So in 2018 she opened an online shop, through which she still earns a nice pocket money to this day.
Cindy Fuchs is not alone with her success story: Vanessa Mundle from Leipzig originally only wanted to design flyers for an association and thus discovered her passion for drawing and design. She now works full-time as an illustrator. And the old sewing machine that Sarah Wagner bought during her apprenticeship is now in her little shop in Dresden’s Neustadt. Earning money with the hobby is therefore possible. But how do you actually do that?
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Here you will find useful tips and the latest news about shopping and gifts from your region.
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Does anyone even want to buy my products?
First of all, it is important to find out whether there is any interest in the self-made product. Platforms on which homemade products can be offered are best suited for this. The largest such platform is called Etsy. You can upload your own products there and offer them in your shop. When uploading the products, a fee of around 20 cents is due. In addition, Etsy keeps a commission on the sale of the items. Online marketing consultant Timon Pahlitzsch recommends the sales platform especially for newbies: “This is how people become aware of the products. In addition, a lot is already regulated there, such as returns and payment processing, for example. You practically don’t have to be familiar with anything, it is carried out step by step. “
Alternative platforms that work on a similar principle are, for example, Palundu and productswithlove.de. However, if you don’t want to depend on a platform, you can open an online shop yourself, as entrepreneur Sarah Wagner did. Such shops are particularly easy to create with Shopify and Wix, for example. However, you have to acquire customers yourself here. A bit of patience is required, especially at the beginning. “In the beginning I might have sold something every few months,” recalls illustrator Vanessa Mundle. “But sales have been rising steadily for three years.”
How do I make customers aware of my online shop?
According to Toni Großmann from E&E Starthilfe, it is important to understand the search engine optimization of the site and to use it for yourself. Tips and tricks can often be found in blog posts by freelance artists and, for example, on Facebook and Youtube.
Sarah Wagner likes to tailor – meanwhile in her own little shop in Dresden Neustadt. © Ronald Bonß
If you have the budget, you can also rely on paid advertising. “You can advertise directly on Etsy and increase the number of shop visitors with a relatively small budget,” says consultant Timon Pahlitzsch.
It is also important that the shop is designed in an appealing way for customers. “Nice product photos and descriptions are crucial. I would recommend a reasonable number of articles. Unfortunately, my shop is sometimes a bit too full. You should actually clean it up regularly, ”says Cindy Fuchs.
How important is a social media presence?
If you have your own online shop, you can attract customers to your website via your own social media channels. For example, if you regularly publish posts on Instagram, you can build your own community.
“I know some women who really got off to a flying start in this field,” says Timon Pahlitzsch. “But they definitely do twenty stories a day and always show their latest products. They also use the platforms to collect customer requests directly and interact with their target group. ”However, that can also build up a lot of pressure. “If you are not often active on Instagram and Facebook, the inquiries drop in,” reports Sarah Wagner.
Vanessa Mundle confirms: “You have the feeling of being part of everything and really having to deliver something every day. I try to take the pressure off myself personally. Because I believe that if you produce something good and stick with it, then you grow on your own. “
How can I still draw attention to myself?
In addition to the online shop, you can of course also offer your goods analogue. “In the last few years there have been more and more handmade markets where I have been selling. To do this, I sometimes drove to Leipzig, ”says Sarah Wagner. The entrepreneur has also decided to move her workshop from the living room to a shop in Dresden’s Neustadt.
“It is also helpful to enter into cooperation with other people – both online and offline. For example, when I make invitation cards for weddings, everyone who has the same target group as me is a good choice – for example, photographers and flower shops who make bridal bouquets, ”explains Pahlitzsch.
Products can also be made available to friends if they are willing to draw attention to the gifts on their social media channels. “For example, if you make the wedding invitations for a friend and she mentions it in her story, it can be very helpful. Because among the followers there are certainly many women of the same age, some of whom are certainly currently planning a wedding. “
Wagner, Fuchs and Mundle also recommend networking with like-minded people. “This way you get another look at potential problems and are brought back to the ground,” says Wagner.
How much time should I plan?
Cindy Fuchs works full-time as a surgical assistant. Nevertheless, she consciously takes time for her art on a regular basis. “I do a lot after a 24-hour shift because I have a full day off. When I am on duty, I sometimes get great ideas for motifs.
I actually use every free minute, especially when I have the weekend off and my husband is at work. ”However, it is also important to set limits. “I always say, I’ll definitely go to bed at midnight. No matter what else is on my to-do list. “
What prices can I ask for my products?
If you have a full-time job, you don’t have to worry too much about prices at the beginning. After all, as long as the costs are covered, there is no financial risk.
Nevertheless, today Vanessa Mundel would like to give her former self the tip: “Hey! Don’t sell yourself below value! Make reasonable prices. ”If the hobby is to become a full-time job at some point, you should roughly get an hourly wage of 40 euros, according to start-up aid consultant Großmann.
When do I have to report my sales to the authorities?
“You only need to register if you have a permanent intention to make a profit,” explains Toni Großmann. “Then you should register a small business.” Artist Cindy Fuchs advises you to think carefully about this step. “You have to make a tax return, document everything precisely and keep every receipt. You really have to know if it’s worth it. “
Should I reduce my main job?
Sarah Wagner decided to work part-time. This is the ideal solution for them. “The employment relationship gives me financial security, and through my shop I can live my life and have my freedom.” But you have to be careful that you don’t suddenly earn more money with the part-time job than with the main job. “Then you would have to pay for your own social security, and that would be quite expensive,” said Grossmann, a start-up advisor.
And what if I want to turn my hobby into my main job?
Vanessa Mundle has noticed over the years that she would like to make her part-time work as an illustrator her main job. When she had to break off her studies due to the corona pandemic, she took the risk and now works full-time as an illustrator.
According to Toni Großmann, anyone with similar goals should continue to work full-time for as long as possible and then start their own business straight away. “Because if you manage to get fired by your employer, you will first receive full unemployment benefits and possibly a start-up grant.”
Those who receive unemployment benefit can continue to earn as much in their secondary job as they did before they became unemployed. “But if I convince my clerk that he will approve my start-up grant, then I will receive unemployment benefits for six months and an additional 300 euros start-up grant and can earn as much as I want,” says Großmann.
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