Side Hustle School Ep. 3358 - TBT: Rosary Beads Count Off Extra Income
Mar 12, 2026
Maria Lauren, Chicago-based maker behind Willow and Bee who crafts faith-based jewelry like rosaries and First Communion pieces. She recounts starting on Etsy, landing boutique and Amazon Handmade placements, and expanding with subscriptions. She talks about outsourcing challenges, inventory testing, and focusing on serving repeat customers to grow income.
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From School Mom To Retail Seller
- Maria started Willow and Bee making rosaries and First Communion pieces for parents at her kids' religious school in West Chicago.
- She expanded from Etsy to selling in retail stores like Von Mar and also uses Amazon Handmade, growing from parent requests to boutiques.
Scaling Can Mean Serving Differently Not Selling More
- Expanding channels (Etsy, Amazon Handmade, boutiques) increases reach but also reveals that scaling often means shifting to serving existing buyers differently.
- Maria concluded growth doesn't always require more products; it can mean new formats like subscriptions.
Outsourcing Backfire And Local Hiring Pivot
- As sales grew Maria began outsourcing production but experienced a bad run where outsourced pieces needed to be remade.
- That failure pushed her to consider hiring locally, college students, or retirees to find reliable help.