Hopping through May with Erin Livermore Owner of ObEnterprises!

Greetings! This is week we will be featuring Erin Livermore, owner of ObEnterprises on Etsy.com.

Building Bridges: Tell us a little bit about you, your family, and what you like to do for fun!

Erin Livermore: I'm 21 years old. I have a 2 year old daughter, & I currently live in Idaho. I'm from a small town in Montana & I left soon after my high school graduation.  I also lived in Seattle for a short time with my boyfriend.

Lately I've been sewing a lot, building furniture, and making board/party games in my spare time. I am the owner of ObEnterprises, and I help deliver newspapers, & I breed chinchillas, in my spare time. I'm also working on earning an associate’s degree in fashion design & I have a certificate in 2D animation. I also have a webcomic that, unfortunately, has not been updated in a while (because of some technical issues).

Building Bridges: Did someone encourage you to start a business?
 

Erin Livermore: When I was 15 I started selling online. Unfortunately my circle of family and friends were busy with their lives and did not really dedicate too much time to my entrepreneurship efforts. After high school, my mom encouraged me to work harder at making my business profitable.

Building Bridges: When did your shop officially open?

Erin Livermore: My Etsy shop opened March 3, 2011 but I was selling on eBay for a few years before that.

Building Bridges: Do you have any shop promo discounts, if so when do they end? 

Erin Livermore: 10% off orders of $50 or more with the code SOMEBUNNYSWATCHINGME with no expiration date.

Building Bridges: Do you take custom orders?

Erin Livermore: Actually, almost everything I sell is custom made. I LOVE CUSTOM!

Building Bridges: Do you remember your first product that sold, what was it?

Erin Livermore: The first thing I ever sold was tiny origami boats, birds & hats when I was 8 or 9. On eBay my first sale was a tutu, and on Etsy my first sale was a pair of polymer clay bunny head earrings.

Building Bridges: What is your favorite part about owning your own business? 

Erin Livermore: The best possible part is that I am my own boss. There is no boss above me. I don't like living by other people's schedules or even really leaving my apartment. 

Building Bridges: Do you have a product that you prefer to design/create over others? 

Erin Livermore: Lately I'm enjoying making party dresses. Clothing products are my favorite items to make. 

Building Bridges:  Why make handmade products? 

Erin Livermore: I grew up fairly poor so I learned how to make most things I wanted; that mixed with disliking formal employment make selling handmade items the perfect job for me! Plus, I get to stay home with my daughter and make someone else's day that much brighter.

Building Bridges: What do you love or hate about selling?

Erin Livermore: I love getting new orders and having something to do; when people know exactly what they want & it's different from my stock photos, it's so fun making it turn out just right. I hate the gaps between sales.

Building Bridges: Do you have any advice for other crafters who would like to start selling their creations? 

Erin Livermore: Find your target market, research, and don't give up.

Building Bridges: Did you always see yourself becoming an entrepreneur?

Erin Livermore: I suppose in a way I always knew I wasn't meant for the usual 9-5 job so the entrepreneur life for me!

Building Bridges: What is your most popular product on the market right now? 

Erin Livermore: Fleece animal hoodies with extra long sleeves. The generic bunny style is the most popular.

Building Bridges: What is the favorite item you make and why 

Erin Livermore: My line of Pegasus party dresses, because they are just so darn cute. It’s different from my other products, and it's the newest design I have right now. I also love making shoes.

Building Bridges: Thanks Erin for the sit down! Glad we could catch up with you! Best wishes on your Etsy and comic venture! If you would like to follow Erin on Facebook, or view her comic series, be sure to let her know Building Bridges sent you! Also she can be found on Intagram under Obenterprises. Until next week – PEACE!