7 Things You Can Sell on Etsy to Support Your Doula Business

Challenges to Building Your Doula Business

Working as a doula is very fulfilling, but it also comes with challenges, especially when it comes to building a steady client base. This task can be daunting, especially for newbies who lack extensive experience or referrals. Additionally, if you are more introverted or have a limited social media presence, you may find it challenging to gain traction in your doula business.

Adding Additional Components

By utilizing your skills, you can grow your doula business and gain more clients. While attending births no doubt is your main focus as a doula, it’s worth exploring other talents you possess. This article looks at strategies for improving your birth business and explains how Etsy can serve as a valuable platform to support these efforts.

Navigating Growth and Opportunity on Etsy

Using Etsy to supplement your business is no guarantee of immediate financial success, as it’s a competitive marketplace, especially for birth professionals like doulas. Sometime after starting my doula business years ago, Etsy was a go-to place to look for resources, albeit with limited options in my niche. Ultimately, I began creating some of my own marketing designs. However, today Etsy offers a plethora of products, from digital resources to self-care products tailored specifically to doulas, suggesting that there are ample opportunities for newbies to find their niche.

Etsy a Strong Community for Your Doula Business

Still, there are many opportunities for you to bring your unique creativity and ideas. While I’m still exploring and learning my own Etsy shop, it’s clear that Etsy provides a powerful platform to showcase your offerings to a worldwide audience. This global reach increases your chances of attracting more customers and growing your business. The Etsy community of buyers actively seeks out handmade and digital creations, making it an ideal marketplace for doulas offering personalized services. By setting up your shop on Etsy, you can connect with your target audience and build a loyal customer base with time and effort, so don’t quickly give up.

Etsy Elegance: Creating a Warm and Inviting Shop

Because doulas support expectant mothers and their families, the design of your Etsy shop should exude a warm and nurturing atmosphere. Use soft colors, natural motifs and images that radiate comfort and security. Clear, concise product descriptions and high-quality images are crucial to effectively showcase your services. Now let’s move on to the possible specialties for your Etsy shop.

Balms and Creams

Integrating balms and creams into your doula practice can greatly enhance the support you offer your clients. Not only do these products alleviate common pregnancy discomforts, but they also personalize your services. Educate yourself on the different types of products and their benefits, offer customized blends, and focus on quality and safety for your clients. This way, you’ll not only increase customer satisfaction, but also stand out in the competitive Etsy marketplace.

Birth Kits

A well-prepared doula must have the most important tools for the birth at hand. This includes a well-equipped birth kit, which contains important items for both the mother and the baby and ensures comprehensive care. A birth kit not only shows that you are ready and organized, but also improves your ability to provide optimal support. Key items typically include gloves, sterile gauze, scissors, a bulb syringe and a peri-bottle, which are essential for the various stages of labor and postpartum care. In addition, items such as a heating pad, massage oil and other essentials for the mother and birth partner should be included for added comfort and support.

Now that we understand the importance of a doula’s birth kit and its essential contents, let’s explore how to set up and maintain one for your business. Start by choosing a sturdy container or bag that can hold all the necessary birth essentials. For a personal touch, you can personalize the kit with the client’s name, or for B2B scenarios, the company’s name.

Digital Products

Digital products are any type of content that is downloaded or accessed online, such as e-books, online courses or digital templates. One of the main benefits of using digital products in your doula business is the potential for passive income. Unlike physical products, digital products are created once and sold multiple times, with no additional effort required. This means that you can earn money with your digital products even when you are not actively working with clients. You can also reach a larger audience with digital products.

As a reminder, to create and sell digital products effectively, it’s important to identify your target audience, understand their needs and problems, and create high-quality and valuable content. With the right approach and a little diligence, digital products can be an asset to your doula business.

Massage Tools

As a doula, it is good practice to have a variety of tools and techniques to support clients during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. If you have the appropriate training and certification for the jurisdiction where you live, you can offer massage to your clients. Massage is an effective way to relieve discomfort, reduce stress and promote relaxation for your clients. One type of massager that may be of benefit to your clients is a handheld massager. Handheld massagers come in different shapes and sizes and are used to target specific areas of the body. They are great for deep tissue massage and can help relieve tension and sore muscles.

Another useful tool is a massage ball. You can use massage balls for trigger point therapy and myofascial release. These small, portable balls are ideal for use on the go to treat specific areas where your clients have discomfort. Another option, if you are skilled at working with wood, stone or other natural materials, you can use this expertise to make massagers using these materials.

Music

If you’re a composer or musician, you can compose soothing melodies that mothers can use during labor, birth and the postpartum period. Music is an effective tool for both mothers and doulas to ease the labor process. It helps to alleviate anxiety and pain and is therefore an essential part of a doula’s arsenal. Choosing soothing, uplifting music that is familiar to the mother can promote a calm atmosphere during labor. Music also helps doulas stay focused and present during the long and intense labor by reminding them to breathe deeply and stay in the moment.

Now that we understand the benefits of incorporating music into doula practice, let’s look at creating personalized playlists. Start by considering the different stages of labor and choosing music that fits each stage. At the beginning of labor, opt for slow, soothing tunes to promote relaxation and conserve energy. As contractions become more intense, you should switch to more lively, stimulating tunes to keep the mother motivated and concentration.

Rebozo

The Rebozo, a traditional tool with centuries of history, offers invaluable support to women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. During pregnancy, it promotes relaxation and serenity through gentle rocking and cradling. During labor, the Rebozo helps maintain various birthing positions, such as squatting or sitting on a birthing ball, and provides pain relief while promoting optimal fetal positioning. In the postpartum period, it continues to provide support and reassurance to the new mother.

The Rebozo is a beautiful and versatile garment that you can make at home with a few basic sewing skills. Traditionally, rebozos are made from cotton or silk, but other lightweight fabrics such as viscose or linen can also be used. Make sure to choose a soft and flowing fabric to give your rebozo a nice drape. Next, you need to measure the fabric and cut it to the desired length and width. You can make a standard size rebozo or customize it to your liking.

Once you have cut your fabric, you can start sewing. First hem the edges of the fabric to prevent fraying. Then fold the fabric in half lengthwise and sew the two long edges together, leaving a small opening to turn the fabric inside out. After you have turned the fabric, sew the opening closed and press the edges to create a neat finish.

Sewing

Can you sew or are you skilled with a needle and thread? If you offer additional services such as sewing, your doula business can benefit greatly. With this expertise, you can make personalized items for your clients and generate additional revenue. For example, you could make baby blankets, nursing covers, bras or even maternity clothes, like dresses for expectant and new mothers. When choosing your services, consider the preferences and needs of your target market to maximize appeal and value.

Determine what type of sewing services you want to offer. Next, you will need to set up a space for sewing and invest in the necessary equipment and materials. This includes things like a sewing machine, fabric and other sewing tools. It’s also important to set a pricing structure for your services and market them to your customers. 

By integrating sewing into your business, you can attract more customers and stand out in the competitive doula market. Remember to carefully consider your services, set up a dedicated sewing room and establish a pricing structure to successfully integrate sewing into your doula business.

In Conclusion

In order to remain competitive, I initially resorted to frequent discounts and price reductions, which diminished my enjoyment of designing. Now I focus on high quality designs and fair pricing, not focusing on what others are doing, which benefits both my customers and myself. Regardless of whether you do the same, you should strive to create designs that resonate with your potential clients and bring you personal fulfillment. While it may seem restrictive, this approach can lead to greater satisfaction and sustainability in the long run.

To get the most out of Etsy to grow your doula business, focus on optimizing your shop and listings. Create designs and products with professionalism and heart that you can be proud of. Use crisp, high-quality images and create detailed descriptions enriched with relevant keywords to increase visibility in search results. By strategically offering special offers and discounts, you can attract new clients and encourage repeat business, which improves your strategy. Maintaining active customer contact and responding promptly to customer inquiries in accordance with Etsy guidelines is crucial to building a positive reputation on the platform. These steps can help increase your presence and success on Etsy.

RESOURCES

These are affiliate links to the How to Style Your Brand, by Fiona Humberstone and the Frida Mom Birth Kit, Traditional Mexican Rebozo. Purchasing these products through our affiliate link, helps to support Fertile Optimism and our to continue providing useful services to women and those that assist them. We strive to only share with you products or services that we use or feel confident about.