Why I'm opening a shop - Audrey Ra Design

The answer to why I’m opening a shop is probably one of the most important answers this year because it’s a result of things I’ve been discovering about myself the past few years. You might be surprised at my response, so read on or watch the video to find out!

Audrey at the center with her arms spread out, palms up. she has a bright smile on her face. Text on photo reads "Why I'm opening a shop"

The History

This actually isn’t the first time I’m opening a shop. So let me backtrack a little bit and tell you what happened previously.

I started my business back in 2017, and my first product ever was a simple e-book on how to paint loose florals. I sold it on Etsy and actually got a few dozen sales to my surprise. I think at that time, there wasn’t as much approachable, easy educational content concerning watercolors. I was getting a lot of questions on my instagram about how to paint certain things, my supplies, etc. So I thought I’d create an e-book about it. I ended up adding a few more listings to my Etsy, but it never really took off. Probably because I didn’t really know anything about SEO. I was also only doing this as a side hustle. And by mid to late 2017, publishing educational courses sort of took me in a different direction.

And then in 2020/2021, I decided to open a shop again because I was starting to accumulate a lot of artwork. I was digitizing a lot. And I wanted to make more “bang for my buck”. Why not monetize what I already have?

But that was exactly the problem. I was doing it for the money. Unfortunately I was actually in a bit of a financial bind at that time. And I needed to make additional income. While I did make several sales here and there, I couldn’t sustain it. I was burning out.

Why I’m opening a shop now

So why am I opening a shop now? I “failed” twice. Why try again?

The biggest difference between the past and now is my motivation for opening the shop. In beginning it was because I thought other people wanted it. It was because I needed the money. Now, it’s because I know who I am. I’m proud and obsessed with my work. And creating these products is actually what my younger self would have always wanted to do.

For you see, I grew up making my own notebooks. Doodling on scrap pieces of paper. I built my own planner (before bullet journals were a thing). I collected stickers and accumulated enough pens to basically be my own stationery store. I hand wrote letters to friends and created scrapbooks.

I finally embraced who I was and who I am now. And that’s why I’m opening a shop. It is literally everything I’ve always loved to do. And I want to share that joy with you.

What to expect in my shop

I have several products that I will be producing on my own: greeting cards, stickers (sheets and die-cut), notepads, art prints, and my 2024 calendar.

I would describe my work as charming, clean, refreshing, and simply elegant. Right now since I’m doing my 100 day project on YouTube, I’m a little bit obsessed with fruits and vegetable patterns. But I also love to paint animals, greenery, landscapes, and I’m always up for learning new things.