After graduating from Full Sail University with a degree in music production, Francisco Rivera struggled to find a job in the industry. He worked at an Apple Store and for an online tutoring company before starting his own print-on-demand candle business on Etsy in February 2023. Initially, Rivera only made a couple hundred dollars a month, but his side hustle gained popularity two months later when he received over 70 orders in one day. Now, with over 5,000 reviews on Etsy, Rivera’s shop brings in $38,500 per month, totaling $462,000 in sales last year.
Rivera estimates that 30% to 50% of each sale is profit, which has allowed him to quit his tutoring job and focus on managing his successful Etsy business. He spends just 20 minutes a day on customer relations and has used his extra time to travel and work on personal music projects. Leveraging skills from his past jobs, Rivera learned how to multitask, build relationships, and solve problems, which he applies to his online business. His customer service skills have helped him accumulate positive reviews and boost his reputation on the platform.
In order to stand out in a saturated print-on-demand market, Rivera has experimented with different strategies learned through trial and error and YouTube tutorials. He frequently updates product descriptions, photos, and invests in internal marketing to reach as many users as possible on Etsy. Despite his success, Rivera only spends less than an hour per day on his business while traveling and dedicates two hours a week to researching platform trends when he’s home in Orlando. He focuses on appealing to hyper-specific groups like hockey moms, new parents, bridal parties, divorcees, and people in long-distance relationships.
Looking to potentially expand his business, Rivera is considering leveraging his tutoring expertise to produce his own print-on-demand YouTube videos. Although he would have to sacrifice some of his free time and music and traveling pursuits, he values the flexibility and time his business provides. Rivera believes there is value in time and flexibility, and he is willing to take a pay cut if it allows him to continue doing what he loves with his free time. He recognizes the importance of balance and prioritizes maintaining his passions and interests while running his profitable Etsy business.
