Opportunity Wework Creator Awards is Giving Grants for Big Ideas

Don't miss this Opportunity! The WeWork Creator Awards is giving over $20+ million in grants both locally and Nationally! The deadline is this Monday June 12th 11:59 ET. Here are the top reasons you must enter.  Makers, artists, small businesses and non-profits are eligible.  The application is super easy and takes less than 10 minutes. There are multiple grants being awarded. It's idea based. The bigger and better the idea the more likely you are to win.  The awards are selected in Austin June 27th - just a few weeks away and so close to home! APPLY HERE

Pop Shop Houston June 10th & 11th 2017

June 10th 10am – 8pm
June 11th 11am – 5pm
at Silver Street Studios
2000 Edwards Houston 77007

$8 Admission All Weekend! Kids 12+Under Free.
Sunday Free After 3pm.

With generous support from: The Washington Avenue Arts District, Double Trouble Caffeine & Elixirs, Copydotcom, and Kickin Kombucha.

First 25 each day get a Free Pop Shop America canvas tote with handmade goodies! Second 25 each day get a regular goodie bag!

Artfully curated shopping of Modern Handmade Goods. Visual Art Exhibitions. Small Bite Tastings, Loads of Vintage, Handmade, One of a Kind, Antiques & Unique Shopping. Live Music and Cool Cocktails.

Featuring Cocktails by Double Trouble Caffeine & Elixirs with live musical performances and more.

Small Bite Tasting Lounge Features coming soon!

We think that everything in life should be meaningful and made with care. At Pop Shop you’ll find an artfully curated festival of handmade and vintage shopping, art exhibitions, craft workshops, and fun times that showcase handmade & vintage fashion, art, and indie products. Our goal is to create a super fun setting in which artists can earn a living and shoppers can find products that they’ll love for a lifetime. 

How to Start a Subscription Box Business with Cratejoy

Subscription Boxes are hot right now!  There are so many cool boxes like Birchbox, Barkbox, A Beautiful Mess’ Happy Mail or Dollar Shave Club. It’s so fun to get mail every month. The surprise of Subscription Box unveilings is exciting! And with many boxes you can get goods for significantly less than normal price.

It’s also the perfect way to try new things. Like tea? Get a Tea subscription and try puerh teas, white teas, and holy basil teas. Like beauty products? Well you have all the choices in the world. There’s so many more than Birchbox or Ipsy. There are dozens to choose from that cater to men, all natural chem free consumers, and boxes that specialize in African-American hair care products. It’s amazing.

We were inspired to start our first subscription box, The Earring of the Month Club, because we love the magic of subscription boxes so much. And as a business, the subscription box model is really interesting. If we always surprise and delight our shoppers, we have the potential to have a customer for life!

We’ve had such a great experience and want the encourage all the handmade makers we work with to consider how they could make their creations into a subscription box. Do you make prints? How about a Pretty Print Box full of cool cards, small prints and special items just for fun? Do you make candles? How about a Candle Collectors Crate with new scents and cool vessels in each order. So cool! The possibilities are endless and they can change and grow over time.

If you are ready to get started with a subscription box now, check out Cratejoy which is like the Etsy of Subscription Boxes. Cratejoy is a platform where you can set up a website for your subscription box with a super easy drag and drop software. It’s simple to use and makes really beautiful and professional designs. You do not have to be an expert web designer or have experience with coding to set up a Cratejoy.

Read the Rest of this blog at PopShopAmerica.com

Free Event Tuesday Jan. 12th 2016 - SEO for Etsy Sellers

****** A free event exclusively for Etsy sellers ******

Tuesday Jan. 12th 7-8:30 pm
at The Art Space at TX/RX Labs Hackerspace
205 Roberts St. Houston 77003

Link to Google Maps!

Let’s meet & discuss how to grow your Etsy shop in 2016. We’ll talk about:
- 6 SEO pointers that get you sales
- the step-by-step process of buying from buyer’s perspective
- how to implement 1 & 2 together to increase relevant organic traffic (hands-on workshop) 

Natwar the founder of https://around.io/ is coming to Houston as part of his Etsy Seller Meetup Road Trip (across 14 cities in US, ~4500 miles).

At this (free) event, he will be meeting a lot of Etsy sellers to discussing how you can grow your shop in 2016.

With all the recent changes in search algorithms, there are a handful of SEO pointers that are super-relevant to your shop. We will talk about 6 of those that can increase organic traffic to your shop.
For example, long tail keywords are still super-important, and we will discuss how to find the most relevant long tail keywords for your listings.

We will dig deep into the step-by-step process of buying and then connect each step to an action to optimize your shop.

Think of this event as a launchpad to optimize your shop for maximum sales.

About Natwar:
Founder of Around.io, a social media marketing tool for Etsy sellers.

Cities visiting:
Washington DC
Huntington WV
Atlanta GA
New Orleans LA
Houston TX
Austin TX
Dallas TX
Albuquerque NM
Las Vegas NV
Los Angeles CA
San Francisco CA
Sacramento CA
Portland OR
Seattle WA

The Etsy Team and Around.io hope to see you in one of these meetups :)

Join Etsy Houston at the Annual Holiday Bash December 11th

Join Etsy Houston at our new annual holiday bash!

December 11th 7pm - 9pm at
TX/RX Labs Hackerspace
in the Art Building
203 Roberts Houston, 77003

Bring your handmade goods to trade & swap with other makers for other handmade goods. It the friendliest way to finish your holiday shopping without spending a dime.

Each maker determines the value of their items. Makers can say yes or no to deals that are presented to them! You can also bring giveaway and goodie items that you want to give away for free!

Bring a drink, dish, or just bring yourself and mix and mingle with other makers, hear about their handmade goods and how they're created. You can also tour TX/RX Labs Hackerspace - which is full of cool equipment to help you realize your creative destiny.

You do not have to bring handmade goods to swap if you just want to come, mix, and mingle!

Got questions? Please reach out to our Sponsor/Host Pop Shop AmericaOr RSVP on Facebook Here.

#crafttalk Twitter Chat continues December 8th

#crafttalk Twitter Chats for Creative Businesses

Topic: Plan Your 2016 

December 8th 8:00 -9:00 pm CST ( that’s 6 pm PST and 9 pm EST)

Join Pop Shop America on twitter for ongoing conversations and Make your Handmade Business Sparkle! They are focusing on a new topic each chat with a casual and friendly dialogue. In the next #crafttalk December 8th, discuss how to plan your year 2016. Pop Shop America will offer tips and tricks and answer questions along the way. #crafttalk will be a bi-monthly twitter chat every second Tuesday of the Month. It is hosted by Pop Shop America and features different Craft Fair Organizers, Bloggers, and Handmade Professionals from across the globe. Want to suggest a topic for a twitter chat? Email them at hello@popshophouston.com

Follow Pop Shop on Twitter here or check out the last #crafttalk Twitter chat but putting #crafttalk in your twitter search.

#crafttalk Twitter Chat Begins Thursday Sept. 24th

#crafttalk Twitter Chats for Handmade Businesses

Topic: Make the Most of the Holiday Season

September 24th 8:00 -9:30 pm CST ( that’s 6 pm PST and 9 pm EST)

Join Pop Shop America on twitter for ongoing conversations and Make your Handmade Business Sparkle! We’ll focus on a new topic each chat with a casual and friendly dialogue. In our first #crafttalk Sept. 24th, we’ll discuss how to Maximize Your Sales and Minimize Stress through the Holidays. We’ll offer tips and tricks and answer questions along the way. #crafttalk will be a quarterly twitter chat hosted by Craft Fair Organizers, Bloggers, and Handmade Professionals. It will include Brit Charek from Craftymart, OH, Grace Dobush from Crafty Supermarket, OH, & Brittany Bly from Pop Shop America. Want to suggest a topic for a twitter chat? Email us at hello@popshophouston.com

Follow us on Twitter here.

Date Change: Learn about Etsy Workshop

The Intro to Etsy Workshop Hosted by Pop Shop Houston & Jessica Von Braun has been rescheduled to:

Thursday July 23rd 7 - 9pm
at TX/RX Labs Hackerspace
205 Roberts Houston 77003

Join us to learn some awesome tricks to having a great Etsy Shop! It's perfect for the SEO obsessed, beginners, people with product shots ready, people without product shots ready, any handmade or vintage media. It's only two hours and you will get lots of hand outs so don't stress if this sounds overwhelming. Our goal is to make this easy and fun for you.

Learn more here.

Culturemap Social is Set for Mid Main June 24th

The CultureMap Social happy hour series is a exclusive parties that take place 4 times a year. Next up is The Music Edition Set for The Continental Club Wednesday June 24th 6-9pm.  The Socials take place at the coolest places in Houston like hotels, bars, restaurants and art spaces and each one has a unique theme focusing on the cultural aspects of Houston like food, art, and more.

On June 24th get ready to hear tunes by DJ FXBOX and DJ Mishka with a special appearance by Eddie Akhmetchine on the saxophone. Attendees will be indulged with bites by Mid Main's best eateries, including The Breakfast Klub, Natachee's, Tacos A Go-Go and unique Caribbean from Reggae Hut Cafe. Get a little boozy with vintage inspired cocktails by Double Trouble and craft beer by Saint Arnold Brewing Company. And make your night at the Culturemap Social a memory that lasts with Smilebooth's Recording Studio presented by Cadillac and find out for yourself.

Read more here.

Get Ready to Craft Party!

Join us at the Official Etsy Houston Annual Craft Party!June 5th 7pm - 9pm at TX/RX Labs Art Space. This year's Etsy Craft Party theme is "collage" and people from all over the country will be exploring this year's theme to put a new spin on it. 

The Etsy Craft Party a crafting-with-cocktails kind of environment in which you can explore TX/RX and learn about all of their 3d printers, laser cutters, CNC routers and other equipment. 

Pop Shop Houston will also be there simultaneously teaching a workshop in which you can learn to make eco friendly cleaning products. You are welcome to sign up for a structured craft party evening. Bring your own project to work on, bring supplies to share with other, bring snacks or drinks, or just bring yourself. Come anytime between 7pm and 9pm and stay for a few minutes or stay the whole time!

Please RSVP Here!

Learn about this event on Facebook Here.

Learn about Etsy at Pop Shop Houston's Intro to Etsy Workshop

In this workshop, students will learn the basics of how to set up their own Etsy Store. Students will work from their own laptops while we walk you through step by step and answer questions. Learn about tag words, groups, social media, photos, about me, etc. Bring an iphone for a brief discussion on getting Etsy-worthy photos quickly.

This workshop is $42 and can be purchased here.

Your Teachers for this Workshop will Be:

Jessica Von Braun – Jessica is in the top 1000 handmade sellers on etsy (out of 2.4million) and ranked 54th for art sellers on etsy worldwide. Her work consists of digital paintings, photo-manipulations, photo-collages (made with either personal photos, stock or work that is in the public domain). Most pieces include all of the above techniques combined for a finished artwork.  She can’t wait to teach students the tricks of the trade when it comes to Etsy sales. Read more about Jessica Von Braun here.

Brittany Bly – 2 Time Etsy Fellowship Winner and Etsy Houston Street Team Leader, Brittany Bly has also sat in on Etsy Development Meetings and has been paid to advertise for Etsy. Her two shops couldn’t be more different and she’s adding a 3rd shop to Etsy soon. One shop Math Attack is all gamer themed jewelry. The other, Potions, is quite magical. She looks forward to walking you through the Etsy community and answer Etsy FAQ’s.

Pop Shop craft workshops take place every first Friday of the month at TX/RX Labs. These workshops are lo-fi, beginner friendly, fun and cocktail friendly in which you will create your own stylish and modern design goods. It is in conjunction with TX/RX weekly open house so you can also tour the building, say hi and learn about all the awesome equipment they have.

TX/RX is a makerspace that allows membership access to 3d printers, a rapid prototyping lab, woodshop, machineshop, electronics lab and more. Our Pop Shop Workshops take place every first Friday of the month in the TX/RX Labs Art Building. This workshop is $42 and can be purchased here.

TX/RX Labs Hackerspace

203 Roberts
Houston, TX 77003

Learn about Pop Shop Houston Summer Festival June 13th-14th

Stay Cool this Summer with the Biggest and Most Cozy Summer Festival in Houston

This June 13th and 14th, Pop Shop Houston will be back to Silver Street Studios for the last event of the season. It’s been Pop Shop’s biggest year with over 6,000 in attendance at it’s Holiday Festival and over 15,000 at their events last year. Pop Shop Summer Festival will feature over 90 Houston-based artists, small businesses and makers of unique design goods. In addition there will be a live mural by Up Art Studios, life size sculptures by Jon Clark, murals by Nicky Davis, open artist studios at Silver Street Studios, Dj Ceeplus Bad Knives, No Fun, and FREDster, and food tastings by local eateries like Whole Foods, Topo Chico, Pistolero’s, cool tech projects from TX/RX Labs, and DIYs by Pop Shop America.

Learn more here.

Get VIP Passes Here.

Purchase a craft workshop pass here.

Sunshine & Green Grass: An Etsy Treasury

Check out our latest Treasury, called Sunshine & Green Grass, featuring goods made exclusively by Etsy Houston Team Members. We included notebooks, jewelry, cards, and lots of different types of handmade goods. Everything is the color of sunshine and green grass with bright bursts of yellow and green. This treasury is full of florals and outdoorsy scenes. All of these items are handmade in Houston and available for purchase on Etsy.






Click to view the Treasury Here.                      

DIY Fest Saturday April 18th at North Houston Skate Park

Join Blake Jones, Pop Shop America, O'Douds and lots of other artists and DIYers for a completely free event at North Houston Skate Park April 18th 12-8pm. Make loads of free art, DIY your own stickers, make men's grooming products, build terrariums and alter t shirts. There are endless possibilities of what to DIY at the Fest. You can also skate, hang out, and drink Mountain Dew. DJs all day. Don't miss out!


DIY Fest
North Houston Skate Park
12351 Kuykendahl 77090
April 18th 12-8pm

Learn more or RSVP Here.

Discussion Recap: Etsy Houston Meetup April 1st

The Etsy Houston Street Team Hosted their first Meet Up at TX/RX Labs Makerspace

Every time we meet we get into a hot discussion full of great ideas about how to grow our businesses. Here are the things we discussed April 1st and a few questions we came up with. Please comment on this blog if you would like to continue the discussion.



Apps are crucial to having strong Etsy Shops. We all had different favorites. You can find official Etsy Apps here: https://www.etsy.com/apps/. There are a ton of apps with lots of different functions. You can browse by popular apps or search by category. Make sure you browse the Sellers Apps - look at the top right where you can distinguish between buyer and seller apps.
       Recommended: https://www.etsy.com/apps/1039482342/bestautorenewcom
       Recommended: https://www.etsy.com/apps/343185661/shipstation
       Recommended: http://www.etsyonsale.com/
       Recommended: https://www.etsy.com/apps/505670/1-product-photography-fotofuze

Why Auto Renew? Etsy has it's own internal SEO. It wants shops that are the most active to appear at the top of the pages. Funny thing is, it doesn't know the difference between a sale and reposting or just a reposting. Auto Renew will help you repost your listings - at a fee of course - which will rank you higher in searches.

Why Ship Station? The best shipping fees for USPS, Fedex, UPS, and DHL with easy at home printing. It automatically links with your Etsy and notifies the buyer. It can give you statistics about who is shopping and where they live.

Why Etsy On Sale? You can manage multiple shops at once. You can autorenew or run sales on multiple items all at once. This could be especially useful for Cyber Monday - style sales in which multiple items, or multiples shops are being changed at once.

Why Fotofuze? Product photography means everything on Etsy. This app helps whiten the backgrounds of photos without losing color in your foreground. AMAZING! Plus it's made by a company in Dallas and supporting local businesses is our thing, right?



Other apps we <3:
Fotor for Mac - Whitagram for Iphone

Questions for the Group that Came Up:
Do people prefer Society6 or Etsy? Why?

Want to join the conversation? Join us at our next meet up May 6th at TX/RX Labs 205 Roberts 77003.

Do's & Don't For the Etsy Houston Meet Ups Beginning April 1st

You DON'T need to be "a member of Etsy Houston" to join us! If you are an artist, maker, designer that is interesting in growing your business and selling goods this group is for you.

You DON'T need to stay the whole time! You are welcome to come and go as you please between the hours and 7-9pm.

DO Bring a project to work on. We'll talk, network, and work on our craft projects together.

DO Bring snacks, drinks, for just yourself or for others. Of course you are not obligated! You are welcome to just bring yourself!

DO Bring questions that you have about Etsy, Selling Online, or Selling at Craft Fairs. We'll try to work through them as a group.

DO Think about what your goals are and how the group can help you.

Now let's have some fun and make together!
April 1st (and every first Wednesday of the Month)
7pm-9pm
at TX/RX Labs Art Space
205 Roberts 77003

Etsy Houston Meet Ups Begin April 1st

Join us April 1st 7pm -9pm and Every First Wednesday of the Month

TXRX Labs Hackerspace

205 Roberts Houston, 77003

It's been a long time coming and we're so excited to announce that the first ever Etsy Houston Meet Ups will begin April 1st and continue each first Wednesday of the Month. Bring a project to work on, or just bring yourself. Snacks and drinks (BYOB) are always welcome. 

There are so many benefits to having a strong centralized non-profit group to support and network with other makers and sellers. With a strong group we could blog more and thus bring more awareness and traffic to our etsy stores. We can better facilitate our social media, make treasuries, learn from each other, and develop a professional community.

So let's do this! See you April 1st.

Mini Pops + Etsy Houston Holiday Bash this Sunday Dec. 14th!

Please join us at the 2nd Annual Etsy Houston Holiday Bash in conjunction with Mini Pops
Handmade Market!

There will be craft and handmade goodies by local makers, delicious feasting with Koagie Hots & live performance by Moji and more! RSVP on FB here.

Get Free Passes to Culturemap's First Ever Holiday Market Dec. 7th

On Dec. 7th, let's head to Silver Street Studios to finish our holiday shopping in style! Lexus presents the 1st Annual Culturemap Holiday Pop Up Shop this Sunday December 7th from 12-6pm at Silver Street Studios (2000 Edwards 77007). 

We have exclusive free passes while supplies last! Just click to eventbrite here and use the code 'popshop'. This event has a beautifully curated line up of hip retailers offering everything from men's and ladies clothing, accessories, housewares, pet products and more.

Some of our favorites are the Big & Juicy Juice Bar so we can get a tasty treat while we are browsing. New Living has a big vision to create a swimming hole right here in Houston and will have sustainable home goods available at the pop up shop. Space Boutique, which you can learn about here, will have art, clothing, jewelry and accessories. Manready Mercantile is one of our favorite picks for guys who are difficult to shop for. We love Saint Cloud Boutique with their mix of super hip and luxury high end.

The Culturemap Holiday Pop Up Shop also includes Phoenicia Deli, Tootsies, Pomp & Circumstance, Ten Thousand Villages and more. Don't miss out on this holiday shopping experience Dec 7th 12-6pm at Silver Street Studios (2000 Edwards 77007).

A Comprehensive Guide to Holiday Craft Fairs in Houston, TX

Rice Village Flea Dec. 13th and 14th, 5504 Morningside, Houston, 77005

Hello Lucky Craftacular, Dec. 13th, 1025 Studewood, Houston, 77008

Mini Pops/Etsy Houston Bash Dec. 14th, Pavement Clothing, 1657 Westheimer St. 77006

Maker Market at Houston Makerspace, Dec. 20th, 100 Hutcheson, Houston, 77003