Podcast Episode 212: How leaning into Data changed everything -with Trista Pagel

WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/qHKyombBGkg 

About Trista:

Hello! I am Trista Pagel and along with my husband Jon we are proud Midwesterners. We currently live in Iowa. We have 5 little boys who are our pride and joy! I homeschool the boys :-) Personally, I have been selling handmade crafts since 2017. Growing up, my questions wasn't "Why?" it was "How?" Specifically "How do you make that." Over the years I've done pretty much every single side hustle imaginable. You name it, I've tinkered in it. And I always always always come to find my way back to homemade. 

Together, we've been in full time vocational ministry our entire marriage. Over the past several years we were introduced to this idea of owning a family business. We started asking questions like "what if we had a family business that supported the ministry INSTEAD of the ministry supporting our family?" 

Eventually, our time in ministry came to a close and we found ourselves completely unemployable. We had no work experience. No resume. We had no idea how to make money. We're a big family and we live in an expensive city, my husband finally got a job working insurance at the bottom of the totem pole. Our family vehicle died, our furnace system needed replaced, my husband had two back to back surgeries. And I will never forget the day I checked out at the grocery store and my debit card declined. When I called the bank, they informed me we were -$400 in the hole. And that brings me to our Etsy story! 

EPISODE SUMMARY:  

In this episode of "How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy," I had the pleasure of welcoming Trista Pagel, a remarkable entrepreneur who has made incredible strides in her Etsy journey in just four short months. Trista, along with her husband John and their five boys, has transitioned from a life in full-time ministry to launching a family business that not only supports their family but also allows them to create meaningful handmade products.

We kick off the episode by discussing Trista's background and her journey into the world of handmade crafts, which began in 2017. She shares her experiences with various side hustles and how her family's passion for creating together led them to establish Pagle & Sons, a family mercantile focused on curating handmade goods that foster family togetherness.

Trista dives into the importance of data-driven decision-making in her Etsy shop. She emphasizes how tools like Everbee and Profit Tree have been instrumental in helping her identify what products are in demand. By leveraging data, she was able to launch her shop with confidence, focusing on items that were already selling well on Etsy, such as tallow skincare products and custom engraved gifts.

Throughout our conversation, Trista shares her insights on trend combining, illustrating how she successfully integrated the popular coquette bow trend into her product offerings. She recounts her experience of creating quilted coquette bow blankets, which quickly became bestsellers, demonstrating the power of aligning with current trends while staying true to her handmade roots.

As we discuss her sales journey, Trista reveals that she has achieved over 300 sales in just four months, a feat she attributes to her commitment to research, experimentation, and a positive mindset. She encourages listeners to shift their perspective from fearing failure to envisioning success, reminding us that asking the right questions can lead to incredible outcomes.

Trista also touches on the challenges of navigating the Etsy platform, including overcoming imposter syndrome and embracing the idea that Etsy is a financial playground with opportunities for high-end products. She shares her excitement about expanding her product range and the importance of not limiting oneself based on personal budget perceptions.

In the latter part of the episode, we discuss practical tips for new Etsy sellers, emphasizing the significance of database research, mindset shifts, and the value of persistence. Trista's journey serves as a powerful reminder that success on Etsy is achievable with the right strategies, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to creating quality products.

Join us for this inspiring episode filled with actionable insights, success stories, and the encouragement you need to take your Etsy shop to the next level!

EPISODE DETAILS 

She went from -$400 in her bank account to a thriving handmade Etsy shop within 4 months—completely changing the story for her large family. Tune in to hear how Trista followed my success steps one-by-one and used data based decisions to create one of the fastest Etsy success stories I’ve ever heard.

**“How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy” is not affiliated with or endorsed by Etsy.com 

 STUFF I MENTIONED: 

➡️Check out ProfitTree’s new product research tool ETSY RADAR: https://lifetime.profittree.io/?via=lizzie87

Get the best profit tracking tool to help you know your numbers AND a product research tool for a one time fee of $67. (completely insane)

Profittree Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO7Ra18ZPTw&t=1s

FAN FAVORITE RESOURCES:

🎙️Apply to be on the Podcast: https://sprw.io/stt-xfsV5fhDxxT3NJGVBghmWp

✅ 2,000 Digital Product Prompts (only $17): https://lizziesmiley.samcart.com/products/2000-digital-product-prompts

 🎉 Lizzie’s Coaching Group (one time fee = life time access): https://www.howtosellyourstuffonetsy.com/lizzie-smiley-s-coaching-group

➡️ Beginner Course: Six Figure Secrets to Getting Started on Etsy: https://www.howtosellyourstuffonetsy.com/six-figure-secrets  

Use code SAVE50 to save $50

➡️Trendspotting Membership: https://www.howtosellyourstuffonetsy.com/offers/JxNYgLnw  

Use code KEEP20 to save $20 on your first month

Get weekly emails with a trend report, over 200 high demand listing suggestions (POD/Digital), and a monthly group coaching call!

➡️ Lizzie’s AI Workshops: https://www.howtosellyourstuffonetsy.com/ai-workshops  

Save $50 with code SAVE50

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FIND LIZZIE:

Find me on Instagram and TikTok @HowtoSellYourStuff 

Apply to be on the Podcast: https://shorturl.at/skDBs

HOW TO SELL YOUR STUFF WEBSITE: https://www.howtosellyourstuffonetsy.com/ 

HOW TO SELL YOUR STUFF SHOWNOTES: https://www.howtosellyourstuffonetsy.com/blog/212          

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY:

The Six Figure Secrets to Getting Started on Etsy beginner course

Use code SAVE50 to save $50

https://www.howtosellyourstuffonetsy.com/six-figure-secrets

AND

Trendspotting

Receive a weekly trendspotting report from me with all the biggest trends and a video showing how to use them!

➡️You’ll also get access to over 140 hot, low competition products in the POD and Digital Product space—with more added weekly.

➡️Need one-on-one support? I host a monthly group coaching call where you can ask questions and request a live shop review.

Grab your spot: https://www.howtosellyourstuffonetsy.com/offers/JxNYgLnw

Save $20 on your first month with code KEEP20

 💛 A quick heads up — this episode includes a paid sponsor mention.

*Some of the links above are affiliate links which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. You can see my affiliate disclosure here: https://www.howtosellyourstuffonetsy.com/affiliate-disclosure