We were lucky to catch up with Taylor Huggins recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Taylor, thanks for joining us today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

Am I happy as a business owner? The short answer is yes, of course!

Being a small business owner is something I truly love, but it’s also one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I get to create things that bring people joy, and that’s incredibly fulfilling—but at the same time, I’m constantly reminded that I’m selling products people don’t need. I’m not offering a necessity; I’m offering something that makes life a little brighter. And in tough times, that can feel like an uphill battle.

There have been so many moments where I’ve wondered if I should just give up, especially when I’m not making enough to survive. It’s scary not having the stability of a regular paycheck, and I think all the time about how different my life would be if I had a “normal” job. There’s a certain kind of exhaustion that comes with constantly having to market yourself, hoping the right people find you at the right time, and never really knowing if you’ll make enough that month.

And yet—I keep going. Even when it’s hard, even when doubt creeps in, I can’t seem to walk away. Because at the end of the day, this is what I love doing. Creating, connecting with people, bringing small bits of joy into the world—it makes all the struggle worth it. So I keep pushing forward, hoping that all the effort, all the late nights, all the moments of uncertainty will eventually lead to something bigger.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started my small business during the pandemic after losing my job and needing to find a way to make income fast. I knew that job hunting during such an uncertain time would be difficult, so I turned to something I already had experience with—selling my art. As a graphic designer, I had the skills to create and produce designs, and I saw an opportunity to use those skills to bring a little joy into people’s lives when everything felt uncertain.

I started with stickers and home goods, things that could brighten up someone’s space or make them smile during a really tough time. What started as a way to survive quickly grew into something much more meaningful. Over time, I expanded my product line and built a community around my work. It’s been a journey filled with challenges, but also so much fulfillment. I never expected this to become my full-time focus, but looking back, I’m grateful that I took that leap when I did.

Fast forward to today and I am selling more different products than ever before. I make stickers, polymer clay earrings, art prints, sun catcher window clings, glass can cups, magnets, keychains, trinket dishes, hair clips, and have many more ideas in the works. I still put heavy focus into spreading joy and positivity with every product I make. I don’t want to be like everyone else. I want people to walk into my booth and feel welcome, safe, and full of joy because you never know what people are going through and how much impact you can truly have one someone’s day.

My growth over the last several years is incredible to see and I’m proud to still be here doing what I love with so much support from my community.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

I chose to sell my products on my own website vs on a marketplace style platform because it gives me complete control over my business, my brand, and my customer experience. I built and manage my website myself, which means I can design it exactly how I want, set my own prices without worrying about extra marketplace fees, and communicate directly with my customers without a third party getting in the way.

Marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon can be great for visibility, but they come with a lot of challenges for small businesses. The fees add up quickly, and with so many sellers competing in the same space, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. Plus, marketplaces often change their algorithms and policies, which can impact sales overnight. I didn’t want to build my business on a platform where I had little control over how my shop was seen or run.

Having my own website allows me to grow my brand on my terms. I can create a more personal shopping experience, build relationships with my customers, and drive traffic to my business instead of a marketplace that takes a cut of every sale. It’s more work to maintain, but in the long run, it’s worth it to have that independence and stability.

You can build your own e-commerce website with little to no experience with website builders such as Squarespace or Wix. It’s easier than you might think and you’ll be so proud of yourself when you get it done.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

My side hustle did turn into a full-time business—but honestly, it was pretty much full-time from the start. When I began, I didn’t have another traditional job since I lost it during the pandemic, so I poured all my time and energy into making it work. I’ve always done freelance graphic design on the side, but my business quickly became my main focus.

I focused on stickers and home goods (like wall decor) and quickly learned what sold and what didn’t. From there I just kept growing and trying new things. From resin art to macrame shelves, I learned a lot of new skills in that time. After learning about the dangers of using resin, I moved on to learn polymer clay and that’s been a major focus of mine since. I spend a lot of time researching and developing new skills to be able to offer new things down the road. Still I learn what works and what doesn’t work and grow and expand from there.

It wasn’t a simple or easy transition—building something from the ground up takes time, and there have been plenty of moments where I questioned if I could keep going. But I kept pushing forward, growing my product line, improving my website, and finding ways to connect with my audience.

Now I’ve had thousands of sales, have sold my products in nearly 20 different places around the world, and have successfully created a business that helps my family thrive. I am extremely proud of my growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thesageandoak.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesageandoak
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesageandoak
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-huggins/