James and Cissy welcome Robin Bennett Freebairn back to the show to discuss how he’s successfully expanded his nonfiction “birth year” book series into the gifting market via Etsy. Robin shares how selling direct through a marketplace platform has rapidly grown into a major revenue stream, now rivalling Amazon income and explains the practical realities of becoming not just an author, but a retailer. From managing stock and print runs to offering gift wrap and personalised editions, this episode dives deep into how indie authors can future-proof their businesses by building human connection, diversifying platforms, and embracing direct sales.
Key Talking Points
- Why Etsy is proving to be a powerful platform for gift-focused books, with largely organic growth and strong margins.
- The mindset shift from author to retailer - managing stock, customer service, fulfilment times, and repeat buyers.
- Profit breakdown: hardback pricing strategy, production costs, Etsy fees (significantly lower than Amazon), and upsells like gift wrapping and personalisation.
- How direct sales create stronger reader relationships and “superfans” through exceptional customer service.
- Diversifying beyond Amazon as protection against AI disruption and platform risk and building a sustainable family-run publishing business.
Links & Resources Mentioned
ProWritingAid (Sponsor – code IWC15 for 15% off annual subscriptions): https://prowritingaid.com
Etsy (Marketplace discussed): https://www.etsy.com
BookVault (Print-on-demand service mentioned): https://bookvault.app
Short Run Press (UK short-run printer referenced): https://www.shortrunpress.co.uk
