Crickets to Cha-Chings

Gold City Ventures

Crickets to Cha-chings is a podcast for handmade and digital entrepreneurs wanting to uplevel their Etsy shops and grow their business. Join us as we talk marketing for your business, strategy to drive traffic to your shop, how to stand out on Etsy, and running an online business while maintaining flexibility for your family.

  1. 6d ago

    217. Your Etsy Printables Look Outdated (Try These 5 Trends)

    Etsy trends change fast — and the sellers who spot them early are the ones getting the clicks and sales. In this episode, Lizzie Smiley breaks down how to use vintage aesthetics, nostalgia, boho styles, and trendy fonts to make your print-on-demand and digital products stand out in crowded Etsy search results. 👉 Subscribe for weekly tips on Etsy, print-on-demand, and digital product success.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Lizzie's Entrepreneurial Journey 01:12 From Corporate to Etsy Success: Lizzie's Story 02:22 Scaling Etsy Handmade Signs to $12K Months 03:26 Transition to Teaching and Digital Products 03:56 Trend Report Focus: Q3 and Q4 Design Strategies 05:00 Vintage and Grand Millennial Aesthetics 06:20 Applying Vintage Trends to Printables and Gifts 09:25 Nostalgia Trends: 80s, 90s, and 70s Influences 11:13 Incorporating Nostalgic Elements into Designs 13:25 Doodle and Naive Core Trends in Design 15:40 Creating Trend-Driven Printables and Gifts 20:58 Wildflower and Boho Trends for Fall and Winter 23:35 Using Wildflowers and Earth Tones in Products 25:24 Trending Fonts: Retro, Varsity, and Hand-Drawn Styles 27:57 How to Improve Graphic Design Skills 28:37 Building Your Market Research Brain Cache 31:23 Lizzie's Trend Spotting Resources and Offerings 32:17 Closing Remarks and Final Tips   Resources ✨ Trendspotting Membership: Learn how to spot winning Etsy trends before they get saturated. Get your first month for just $17 with code KEEP20. Etsy Trend Reports 🎨 20 AI Design Courses for $20: Learn how to create better digital products and print-on-demand designs faster with AI tools. 20 AI Design Courses for $20 | How to Sell Your Stuff 👉 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zKej7mLSnLU   --------------------  Follow Lizzie on:  YouTube: @howtosellyourstuff Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/howtosellyourstuff/   Follow Julie and Gold City Ventures: Instagram: @goldcityventures Facebook: @goldcityventures

    32 min
  2. May 12

    216. Build Long-Term Wealth with Digital Products - Cody Berman of Retire By 30

    Want financial independence faster? Learn how digital products and smart investing can turn side hustles into long-term wealth with Cody Berman, author of Retire By 30. https://retireby30book.com In this episode, Cody Berman shares how he reached retirement by 30 using scalable digital products, resourceful strategies like house hacking, and consistent investing. Discover how small wins from passive income can grow through compound interest, and why retirement is less about age and more about your numbers and cash flow. You'll also see how simple mindset shifts—and even family communication—can accelerate your personal finance journey and help you build sustainable wealth over time.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Financial Independence 02:21 The Journey of Digital Products 04:56 Investing for the Future 08:11 Understanding Retirement as a Number 09:44 Maximizing Income and Minimizing Expenses 13:10 Resourcefulness in Financial Independence 15:21 The Power of Compound Interest 17:44 The Future of E-commerce and AI 19:26 Starting the Journey to Financial Independence 20:44 The Importance of Micro Goals 22:39 Building Momentum and Confidence 24:12 Investing Basics for Beginners 27:53 The Role of Family in Financial Goals 30:57 Creating a Family Financial Vision 34:00 Encouraging Young Entrepreneurs   Resources 👉 Retire by 30 Book 👉Cody's Podcast: The Financial Independence Show 👉 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/h6XtKlVA_nc   --------------------  Follow Cody on:  Instagram: @codydberman Follow Julie and Gold City Ventures: Instagram: @goldcityventures Facebook: @goldcityventures

    36 min
  3. Apr 27

    215. I Found Etsy's Hidden Gem for Q2 2026 POD Sales

    Want to win Q2 with Etsy print on demand? Discover how personalized seasonal gifts can drive real sales for Mother's Day and Father's Day. 👉 Join Emily LIVE on April 29 for an exclusive Print-on-Demand training where you'll learn how to turn ideas into income. https://event.webinarjam.com/kn3pk/register/8m43zunm?webinar_id=45&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=partypod&utm_content=chris 👉Get the Free 30-Day Trial of Anywhere POD when you use code GOLDCITY30: https://go.goldcityventures.com/anywherepod/ In this episode, Chris from Anywhere POD reveals a hidden product opportunity and shows how AI-powered personalization can transform simple items into high-converting listings. Learn how to use tools like Variant Wizard to offer more options, streamline your workflow, and stand out in a crowded e-commerce space. If you're looking to grow your Etsy shop with smarter product strategies, this is a must-watch. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Anywhere POD and Seasonal Products 02:47 Exploring the Deco Plate: A Unique Product 05:57 Personalization and AI in Print on Demand 08:43 Leveraging AI for Unique Designs 12:00 Variant Wizard: Simplifying Product Listings 15:05 Engaging Kids in the Creative Process 18:01 Conclusion and Resources for Sellers Resources 👉 Sign up for the April 29 POD Training with Emily: https://event.webinarjam.com/kn3pk/register/8m43zunm?webinar_id=45&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=partypod&utm_content=chris https://goldcityventures.com/gift-lab-podcast - The Gift Lab Course ($100 off through May 4th at Midnight Eastern) 👉 Watch on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/vPEnUBHHVmM   --------------------  Follow Chris on:  YouTube: @AnywherePOD   Follow Julie and Gold City Ventures: Instagram: @goldcityventures Facebook: @goldcityventures

    22 min
  4. Apr 21

    214. She Sold 22,000 Etsy Candles..Here's How

    Want to sell candles on Etsy using print on demand—even with zero design skills? In this episode, Emily Odio-Sutton reveals how simple candle labels and smart niche marketing helped her turn ideas into thousands of sales. 👉 Join Emily LIVE on April 29 for an exclusive Print-on-Demand training where you'll learn how to turn ideas into income. https://event.webinarjam.com/kn3pk/register/8m43zunm?webinar_id=45&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=partypod&utm_content=emily Learn how to create clean, high-converting designs, use templates to scale faster, and connect with your audience through words that resonate. You'll also see how product testing and understanding your customer can transform your small business and online selling strategy—without overcomplicating the process.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Emily's Etsy Success 01:04 The Power of Simple Candle Designs 02:28 Using Templates for Consistent Branding 04:22 Color and Background Trends in Candle Labels 07:38 Understanding Your Customer and Niche Marketing 09:35 Testing Variations and Product Experimentation 11:34 Managing Variations and Product Testing Strategies 13:27 Upcoming Webinar on Etsy Niche Selling 14:49 Emily's Road to Nearly $900K in Etsy Sales 16:05 Community and Collaboration in Print on Demand   Resources 👉 Sign up for the April 29 POD Training with Emily: https://event.webinarjam.com/kn3pk/register/8m43zunm?webinar_id=45&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=partypod&utm_content=emily https://goldcityventures.com/gift-lab-podcast - The Gift Lab Course 👉 Watch on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/wd6qwqaOIyw --------------------  Follow Emily on:  Instagram: @ecommemily YouTube: @ecommemily   Follow Julie and Gold City Ventures: Instagram: @goldcityventures Facebook: @goldcityventures

    17 min
  5. Apr 20

    213. Etsy Printables: The Top 1% Etsy Seller "Strategy" That Beats Picking a Niche

    Summary Join Julie Berninger and Etsy expert Courtney Buteau as they explore her journey from handmade ornaments to top 1% Etsy seller of digital printables. Discover strategies for niche selection, product creation, shop organization, and balancing business with family life. Signup for the POD Webinar with Courtney & Emily on 4/29: https://event.webinarjam.com/kn3pk/register/8m43zunm?webinar_id=45&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=partypod&utm_content=courtney   Takeaways Etsy shop success strategies Product research and niche selection Balancing family life with entrepreneurship Chapters 00:25 Starting on Etsy: Handmade Beginnings 00:55 Transition to Digital Products and Success 06:01 Finding Profitable Printables: Keyword Research 09:52 Using Etsy Favoriting and Snooping for Insights 10:59 Understanding Shopper Behavior and Trends 15:21 Expanding into Print on Demand 17:12 From Handmade Ornaments to Digital Success 18:47 Editable vs. Non-Editable Printables 20:10 Customer Feedback and Product Pivoting 22:30 Current Trends in Kid and Party Products 24:03 Upcoming Webinar and Closing Remarks Resources ➤ Signup for the POD Webinar with Courtney & Emily on 4/29: https://event.webinarjam.com/kn3pk/register/8m43zunm?webinar_id=45&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=partypod&utm_content=courtney ➤ Free Digital Products Workshop: https://goldcityventures.com/workshop-pdcst Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LA8y8w0m9nU -------------------- Follow Julie and Gold City Ventures: https://www.instagram.com/goldcityventures https://www.facebook.com/goldcityventures

    21 min
  6. 210. Steal This Etsy POD Strategy from a $725K Seller

    11/26/2025

    210. Steal This Etsy POD Strategy from a $725K Seller

    Summary 👉 Join The Gift Lab for the lowest price ever: https://goldcityventures.com/gift-lab-podcast Want to turn your Etsy shop into a thriving gift-product business? In this episode, Emily shares how she launched The Gift Lab from her own Etsy experience and reveals the secrets behind creating products buyers can't resist. Learn how SEO, photography, and market research can transform your listings, why positioning items as gifts skyrockets appeal, and how print-on-demand can give your shop flexibility. Discover actionable strategies to understand your audience, build a unique brand, and continuously adapt for long-term online selling success. 👉 Subscribe for weekly tips on Etsy printables and print-on-demand success.   Takeaways The Gift Lab was born from selling on Etsy. It teaches how to start an Etsy shop from scratch. Researching buyer preferences is crucial. SEO and photography are key components. Positioning products as gifts enhances appeal. Understanding the target audience is essential. Gift products can cater to various relationships. Print-on-demand offers flexibility in product offerings. Creating a unique brand identity is important. Continuous learning and adaptation are necessary. Chapters 00:00 – Emily's POD Success Story 02:00 – Q4 Sales, Momentum & Starting Strong 03:55 – Why Gifts Sell Better Than Apparel 06:55 – What Are "Giftable Products"? 08:55 – Why Candles, Journals & Ornaments Explode in Sales 09:47 – How AI Changed POD Workflow 11:40 – Evergreen vs. Trend-Based Designs 13:52 – The Two Things That Grew Emily's Revenue 40% 15:57 – The Events Niche Deep Dive 17:26 – Automating Personalization With AnywherePOD 19:03 – Breaking Seasonality With Event-Based Products 21:19 – What Is The Gift Lab? 22:50 – Bonuses Inside The Gift Lab 25:31 – AI Lab Assistants (Custom GPTs for Students) 28:01 – Bonus Workshops & Advanced Tutorials 29:43 – Student Wins & Success Stories 33:14 – Emily's Advice for Beginners 35:10 – Bite-Sized Lessons for Busy Schedules 36:56 – The Black Friday Challenge 38:26 – Final Thoughts + Black Friday Offer Resources https://goldcityventures.com/gifting-gold-podcast - Free Workshop to learn the basics of selling POD https://goldcityventures.com/workshop-pdcst - Free workshop to learn the basics of selling digital products online https://goldcityventures.com/gifting-gold-podcast - Emily's Free POD Webinar https://goldcityventures.com/gift-lab-podcast - The Gift Lab Course 👉 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/msgpszdjLvY   --------------------  Follow Emily on:  Instagram: @ecommemily YouTube: @ecommemily   Follow Cody and Gold City Ventures: Instagram: @goldcityventures Facebook: @goldcityventures

    39 min
4.9
out of 5
406 Ratings

About

Crickets to Cha-chings is a podcast for handmade and digital entrepreneurs wanting to uplevel their Etsy shops and grow their business. Join us as we talk marketing for your business, strategy to drive traffic to your shop, how to stand out on Etsy, and running an online business while maintaining flexibility for your family.

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