Still no full time work for Lissa Cunneen, so she’s taking steps to become her own employer.
I’ve been thinking about entrepreneurship, and whether it is the way back for our economy. If no one will give you a job, go make one yourself is the thinking.
It certainly is an appealing idea. Set your own hours, charge what you think is fair, own the means of production, etc. What is generally glossed over though is that being your own boss is hella lotta work for a not so much return and big risk. It’s ideal for a certain wild-eyed, likes-to-bungee-jump-with-their-money, type of person, or those who have a will of iron and possibly a large family, either here or abroad, depending on them. The rest of us? We’re kind of spoiled.
Most of us really benefited from being cogs in the capitalist machine even while we bitched about it. We didn’t have to take out taxes from our checks, or negotiate personally with insurers (those of us with benefits that is). When it was quitting time it was quitting time and the buck, for the most part, stopped waaaaaay up the chain of command. Now many of us, trying to rebuild our financial houses, are starting from scratch and learning to wear all the hats involved in participating in an economy. It’s a lot of hats. Many are unattractive and some are itchy.
I am one of those people trying on new hats. I got myself a business license and set up a shop on Etsy and am in the process of setting up a website as well to market my cards and costume-design services. I am nervous that I will somehow mess up and bring the wrath of the IRS down on me. I am nervous that no one will what my product. I am nervous that too many people will want my product and I won’t be able to deliver.
I am pretty sure I need to streamline my production time and figure out how to make my cards more cheaply or I’ll be out earned by children in Chinese sweatshops. These are just a few of the things that I, as a budding entrepreneur, need to think about, and it’s actually really exciting. Maybe I’ll be part of the vanguard of a new economy, doing what poor women around the world have always done when times get tough. Make something pretty, and try and sell it.
Have an unemployment story to share? Write to jobless@thestranger.com.
Hi Lisa –
If you want any tips on selling and distributing your card lines give me a call. I do all the card buying at my bookstore and I’d be happy to talk to you what I know about the retail part of the biz…
Kudos to Lisa! At least you aren’t taking red wine from corporate controled grocery stores in Seattle !!
Be sure to read all the seller’s tips in the Quit Your Day Job posts on Storque. There’s lots of wisdom to be gleaned from other’s mistakes.
I’d love to see your Etsy store when you open!
This may be an insanely NAIVE question but I have to ask how bad is the unemployment problem in Seattle. I’m on the East Coast and thinking of quiting everything and moving to Seattle. Are there like NO JOBS, not anthing for say a bright and eager late 20’s liberal arts grad with lots of experience in public health, advocacy, theater and education????
The city is overflowing with unemployed eager, late 20s liberal arts grads with lots of experience. You’re about 5 years too late. Or, maybe 10 years too late.
Unless you have a large savings account, stay in Boston.
@4, DO NOT DO IT. There are no jobs in public schools and the ones that exist are being filled by teachers already in the district, displaced by school closures. The non-profit sector’s job offerings are few and far between, and the majority of “vacant postings” for those on Craigslist are really jobs where you stand on the corner with a clipboard for Greenpeace. And as for theater….the arts are hurting just as much if not more than anyone else. Seriously, if you have a job and can stand it, KEEP IT.
@4, ditto what Wynootchee and Lauren said. Stay put. Plus Boston’s waaaaaaaaaaaay cooler than Seattle.
Definitely hand out the link when the etsy store is up and running. (I am a fiend for cards)
@4 – yes, and some of them are zombies. Last night tens of thousands of those zombies dressed up in blue and green and destroyed NY’s team.
Seriously, you should move someplace with tons of jobs like Miami …
I thought I saw a bunch of adverts for Snohomish and Island county teachers in the Seattle Weekly …
But the real question is: does she still have cable?
Oh, Lissa, you should include ballroom dancers in your audience for costume design services. Those of us who compete regularly (and we are legion) spend upwards of $1000 annually for good costumes. The requirements are fairly specialized but anyone with good customer service and dressmaking/design skills can do quite well with a web-based business. I usually buy my dresses from a lady in Hong Kong (Rainbow Shiu) but if I had someone local, I’d be thrilled, since as you can imagine, alterations are a nightmare.
@7 – you are confused about Boston’s coolness vs. Seattle, but still, for now I would similarly advise 4 to sit tight. Hell, my friend’s moving to frickin’ Alabama to get a job. Shit’s crazy here.
“Are there like NO JOBS, not anthing for say a bright and eager late 20’s liberal arts grad with lots of experience in public health, advocacy, theater and education????”
You mean the bullshitter arts? No, Seattle only has opening in real jobs: technology, biotech, computer sciences.
“where you stand on the corner with a clipboard for Greenpeace”
That’s hitting it big time for Evergreen State Colllege grads!
If you’re looking for a support system of other entrepreneurs, check out Sprout Point. The group is related to students who have come through the Entrepreneur’s Workshop at UW-Bothell and the Center for Student Entrepreneurship there, but membership is open.
The Workshop has seen the launch of nearly 40 companies in the last nine years, something those of us involved in the program are pretty proud of.
http://sproutpoint.com/
I guess I would be one of those wild-eye bungee-jumping entrepreneurs, but I have enjoyed the ride. Sure the first two years are hell, and insurance is lousy, but the hours are great and the freedom is great.
One tip, once you start netting a couple thousand dollars of profit (after expenses) set up an LLC to help with tax breaks. Otherwise you’ll give half your hard-earned money to the government. I started 4 years ago…a much better time to start a business because consumers were actually buying loads of product. Now is more challenging, but it’s definitely worth the effort.
Another tip, do as much research to see what your competition is doing and then beat them by 10%. That will help your client base grow and then you can raise your prices. It worked for me! Good luck to you!