Late to the Party, but I’ve Finally Opened an ETSY Shop

Introducing Lemonade Lolly!

I know, I know—I’m late to the party on setting up an ETSY shop. In fact, I’m probably too late. It’s probably the same as deciding to start a YouTube channel in today’s market. But here we are.

And while I would never blame my other half, this was definitely her fault. You see, she’s an interior designer by day and a design wizard by night, whipping up artwork for our kids’ school events—from Summer Fetes to Santa’s Grotto’s. I think they look fantastic, and she spends hours making them perfect. So I suggested, why not sell them on ETSY in case anyone else wants to enjoy them too?

Only problem—she didn’t know how to save them as an editable document. And just like that, the whole thing ground to a halt. Much like the time she wanted to start a Vinted shop: researched clothes, bought stock, lost interest, and now I have a box of random dresses in the loft among the other clutter. Ah, the joys of domestic entrepreneurship.

However, today’s the day. I finally figured out the tech side of ETSY, so I’ve taken over that element of the conveyor belt. And so, LEMONADE LOLLY has been born.

Lemonade Lolly

I’ll admit, I’ve never had much success with side hustles. Substack included. I start off strong, full of energy and ambition, then the chaos of daily life creeps back in and the project disappears down the never-ending “to-do” list. Maybe I just don’t get that instant gratification, so I give up too easily? Who knows.

But this time, hopefully, it’s different. Most of the heavy lifting is done by my partner, and we have a backlog of designs ready to go. Plus, there’s motivation beyond profit. I haven’t taken the family abroad in seven years, and my youngest has never been on a plane. I want to change that.

Now, this isn’t a “poor me” sob story. Like millions of others, I’ve fallen into the mortgage trap where rates keep climbing alongside bills, making life feel like a constant balancing act. This is about spotting opportunities in the white spaces, creating a little leverage for myself, and keeping myself accountable. If I put in the work, maybe this little shop leads to a Jet2 holiday. Maybe it disappears into the ether like all my other half-baked ideas. Either way, it’s worth a shot.

I’m genuinely excited to see where it goes. And if you fancy swinging by, even just to give me some feedback as a new ETSY seller, I’d massively appreciate it. Meanwhile, I’ll be down a rabbit hole researching ETSY SEO, trying not to get lost in the abyss of keywords and algorithm hacks.

So here it is: Lemonade Lolly. A small, family-driven shop, built out of necessity, curiosity, and a little bit of stubbornness. It’s a reminder that even when life feels expensive, chaotic, and overwhelming, there are ways to carve out your own little corner of creativity and opportunity.

Here’s to creating something from nothing, learning as you go, and maybe—just maybe—making a holiday happen for the kids while having a laugh along the way.