Starting a Profitable Glowforge Laser Business - a conversation with Sarah Heep of Heep Design Co.
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- čas přidán 10. 07. 2024
- Sarah shares all her BEST secrets for starting your profitable Glowforge business. We also discuss upgrading to a larger, more powerful Thunder Laser - you won't want to miss any of this conversation!
Want to learn how to use your Glowforge - FAST - check out my mini-course here:
thingskatiemakes.com/5-projec...
Catch up with Sarah and shop her DIY kits!
Instagram: @heepdesignco
Website: www.heepdesignco.com
10% Discount (valid on website only): use code "KATIEMAKES"
Ready to buy your Glowforge? Save up to $500 here: glowforge.pxf.io/Y90K3O
Chapters:
Intro- 00:00
Sarah's 1st business - 00:57
Buying her 1st Glowforge - 2:59
How to Focus your ideas - 5:36
Photography Tips - 7:40
Getting started $ expectations - 9:18
Babysitting the Glowforge - 10:35
Etsy or your own website - 11:25
Getting a Thunder Laser - 13:05
Considerations on which laser to buy first - 16:40
Ideas that didn't work - 20:17
Managing costs to maximize profit - 22:00
Did you follow any advice - 25:00
Social Media and Advertising - 26:36
Favorite things to do day to day - 29:17
Least favorite business tasks - 30:00
Inspirations - 32:00
Best advice for beginners - 34:27
Ready to buy your Glowforge? Save up to $500 here: bit.ly/glowforgeTKM
How can I support you?
* Tips/tricks straight to your inbox, starting with a KERF guide? Head here to get the goods: bit.ly/TKMKerfGuide
* A Guide for the Products you need to get started? Get my FREE guide here and join my newsletter: bit.ly/GlowforgeGetStarted
* A fun place to bounce ideas off other Laser Business owners? Join my Facebook group: bit.ly/LaserMakerSchool
* A Mentor supported program to help you get your business started? Get on the waitlist for when our membership opens again! bit.ly/TKM_LaserFocused
* The Suppliers, Software and Tools I use to run my Laser led small business here: www.thingskatiemakes.com/reso...
* Amazon links to products I use: www.amazon.com/shop/thingskat...
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I participate in various affiliate programs. Some links that I share may provide me a small commission if you make a purchase. This is at zero cost to you. I only recommend products I use personally!
CONNECT WITH ME:
Instagram: / thingskatiemakes
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Email:katie@thingskatiemakes.com
Ready to buy your Glowforge? Save up to $500 here: bit.ly/glowforgeTKM
Disclaimer: I am not a professional - just an everyday maker! This is what I found worked for me and my project. Yours may need a little different approach. Safety first!
FTC Disclaimer: This video was not sponsored - all opinions are genuinely my own. This post may contain affiliate links and I earn a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my links at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your continued support! - Jak na to + styl
I am loving these interviews! As I eagerly await the delivery of our laser! We jumped from a Cricut directly to a Thunder Nova 51/130!!!😂🎉
That’s awesome!
So happy to have found your channel! Thanks for all the helpful information!
Welcome, glad to have you here and let me know if there is anything specific you want to learn about - K
Thanks for the inspiration and such a well made video! Looking forward to the next guest.
My Pleasure! OOOH - the next one is a good one :) Stay Tuned!
Thanks for this. So fun to see other people’s success!
Totally agree - and the advice to start small, we sometimes think we have to get it all right at the start, but we don’t!
What an AWESOME interview. I absolutely love listening to others that sound like what's in my brain. Keep working, love it. I also think you asked what inspires you, for me it's people like you both, I love CZcams and listening to other makers. Thank you both so much, it really means a lot.
THANK YOU - I really appreciate this so much. I feel super lucky that so many of my favorite makers have already signed up for interviews!! More to come soon!
❤️
Great interview, thank you both!
Our pleasure! Sarah is the BEST
How funny! We both literally posted our first interview videos on almost the same day! I might go back and trim mine up a bit since it’s over an hour long lol. Great stuff here, and looking forward to watching the next guest video!
Hey Joe! I’ll check it out as well - this was about an hour of interview and I had a hard time cutting!! Editing the next one now. Would love to add you to the list if you’re game :)
Great video!! Thank you for this!
Thanks Jaiden - we had a great time chatting!
Thank you, this is really helpful
Sarah is great, and she’s been so smart in her approach - glad it was helpful!
Great content, thank you❣️
Thank you!
I wish that Glowforge wasn't just wifi. Great interview.
it is probably one of the biggest complaints! I didn't think it was a big deal until I got my Thunder, but now I understand.
Eggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggslent ! Good Interview. I got a lot out of it. Thanx....Y'all Rock!
Great! These are so much fun to do
The issue I'm having with my Glowforge business is sourcing materials mainly wood .. I'm not in the US, & unfortunately in my country GF is not that well known & laser cutting & engraving is not as big of a thing (just in gift shops?) so people don't source out good quality wood here that is suitable for laser cutting + people don't appreciate hand/home-made stuff as much as they should .. so it's all really annoying in general not having local materials, cause I'm so sick of crazy shipping chargers 😪
On another note .. awesome video/interview, so interesting & useful, also, describing your product as if to a blind person, truly very smart .. thank you lovely ladies 🌹
Oh man - that's frustrating! We are very fortunate to have so many options for getting great materials at great prices here. Sarah is FULL of good tips, I was so glad she got to share them.
How awesome is Sarah??
This was a lot of fun listening to you guys, great info., I’ve actually been looking at the same laser Nova 35 100w. I’m very new to all of this stuff but I’m like if I’m going to fo this go big, am I wrong in thinking that. I’m also in the process of learning our new CNC machine too, I thought having both would be a good combination. I have a dumb question though, when you buy files from Etsy are you able to make those items in the file and sale. I see that ever one does that but I also see on some people who sell their files that if your going to sell items made from their files that you need to buy extended license. Just want to make sure once I buy files that I can make the items and sell them? I’m like Sarah, I don’t have that creative mind like so many of you all do😂. Thank you again for all the info given here. Also, how are you liking the Thunder Nova 35, sounds like it was a great purchase for you?
Thanks for checking us out! I don't think you're wrong to go big! Each seller on Etsy does things a little differently. I offer a commercial license for up to 500 sales on my files, and then ask for an additional license after that. I have yet to have someone need it. Other shops require a license to allow you to sell over a certain amount from their entire shop. The policies should be clear on their page, and if not - reach out to the seller - if they don't get back to you quickly - move on to someone else.
I bought an Outur. 3 Pro about 3 months ago and I haven’t even opened the box. I am 70 years old and I had no problems learning new software when I was younger but I am afraid to tackle something totally new to me. I wish I had seen this video before I ordered it. The Gloforge seems so much simpler. I am tempted to buy one and sell the one I have. It is a 20 watt diode model. Can you tell me if there are any significant features one each of them that would make the Gloforge a better unit to have? Are there any features that are exclusive to one or the other that would make it more versatile than the other one? I really should have researched this before I opened my wallet but I was so excited about something that I could do as a side hustle to beef up my pension I jumped in too quickly.
Hi Sherry - A diode laser vs. a CO2 laser definitely have different features to consider. I would say the Glowforge is very easy to use from a software perspective, pretty intuitive, especially if you've used die-cutting software before. Glowforge has the limitation of not being able to do a rotary for tumblers, but otherwise it is a pretty capable machine!
@@ThingsKatieMakes Thanks. I guess I jumped in too quickly. I might end up with one of each and learn on the easier one.
Hi , the link to get the $500 off on the glow forge doesn’t work no more ?
Oh my goodness, you're right - they changed the program and I need to update it - thank you for bringing it to my attention! Here's the updated one, and I'll update it in my videos as well! glowforge.pxf.io/Y90K3O - and even better - right now it is $1000 off the pro and $500 off the Plus!
Prize for whoever can count how many times I said "BOOM!" 😂
Hi, Is there a link to the Lowes Wood that she uses?
Hi - thanks for asking - Sarah's going to look and get back to us!
@@ThingsKatieMakes Thank you
www.lowes.com/pd/SoyStrong-NAF-1-4-in-HPVA-Maple-Plywood-Application-as-4-x-8/1000096494
Do you send to the UK?
Hi Susan - is that question for Sarah?
Glowforge is not for a hobbyist. The basic model is over 6k bucks and it doesn’t include the 2k for the fume extruder.
Hi Thomas - the basic Glowforge is 4K, still a big investment! And yes, if you want to use the air filter (not required) you need to add another 1.3k. The Nova 24 base model is very competitive to the price of the highest end Glowforge! Is there a machine that you think is a hobbyist machine in price?
@@ThingsKatieMakesthis is probably the closest laser cutter any hobbyist can get at a good price. This one includes the fume extractor in the price and while it has its own software just like the glowforge it has one major difference. You don't have to be connected to wifi or the internet to use it. The link below is from a reviewer that compared 3 different laser cutting/engraving systems.
czcams.com/video/jRKfJd3K7Gg/video.html
*Results not typical.
Yep - but you’d be surprised how many people I’ve met who have had similar experiences
Im just getting started w glowforge and a business! Im really struggling w marketing and how to get my products out! I make tumblers, decals t shirts custom jewelry, glowforge crafts and signs, ornaments and so much more!! I really need help! I have to get this going or ill go bankrupt! Im reaching out to you for help! I have been a widow for years and was a teacher public school for 20 years but was disabled in an accident and had to retire early! Would you pleas mentor me to get started!! The web site stuff sells and so much in marketing i am haven’t troubles w. And now im so busy trying to figure that up and I really haven’t had time to even do lives or videos lately! Can you please get me some help!!
Hey Monica - yep - there's a lot to learn when you are starting a business. I have a group coaching program that I will open up in the new year where I provide the kind of things you're looking for. Are you on the waiting list for when that opens up?
𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚖 🤦
Hi! not sure what you're asking/commenting - but if you have a question - I'm around!