Episode 280
Etsy Shut Down Her Account Permanently. She Built a Multimillion-Dollar Business Anyway With Amanda Wittenborn
Amanda Wittenborn was making $3,000-5,000 a month on Etsy—the first time in her marriage she'd ever had all the bills covered with money left over. She'd built the business from absolute broke (parking the car in debt at the front of the driveway so it couldn't be towed overnight) to finally breathing financially.
Then one morning, while still in the newborn fog with her third son, she got an email: copyright infringement flag. She'd respond later. A week went by (sleep deprivation is real), and Etsy shut down her account. Permanently.
Just like that, years of work—gone. Financial security—gone. Her dream job—gone.
She quit. For nearly a year, she gave up entirely.
But then she got an email from another party brand looking for a designer. She took the job, started designing for a "competitor," and something sparked. That little voice whispered: You're supposed to be designing party supplies.
So she tried again. But there was a problem: Amazon (the biggest audience) doesn't allow digital downloads like Etsy does. She had to pivot from digital invitations to physical products—fill-in-the-blank invitations people would have to handwrite.
She thought: No one's going to buy these.
She was wrong.
In this conversation, Amanda reveals:
The $750 Gamble: Her first inventory order felt impossible to pay back. But Prime-eligible products sold 10-to-1 compared to ones she shipped herself. That bet changed everything.
The 2-Hour Morning Rule: Amanda starts every day with 2 hours of creativity (crocheting, painting, reading)—NOT business work. Just joy. It transformed her entire life. Minimum: 30 minutes. Optimal: 2 hours. No exceptions.
From Broke to Multimillion-Dollar Business: Today, Amanda runs a multimillion-dollar-per-year business with over 8,000 products (all designed by her). She sells on Amazon, Shopify, Oriental Trading, and is expanding to Walmart.
The Whimsical Secret: Rollerskating llamas. Outer space kitty cats. Snow leopard princesses. Amanda connects with kids' wild imaginations—and that's why her products sell when thousands of competitors don't.
The Hurdles She's Jumped:
- Etsy account shut down permanently
- COVID wiping out party supplies overnight (she lost the business TWICE)
- Counterfeit products copying her designs
- Getting sued wrongfully
- Copyright infringement battles
None of it stopped her.
The Mindset Shift: Amanda's friend recently said: "I love when things are hard because that means not a lot of people are doing it." Amanda's willing to do the hard things—and that's why she's still standing when others quit.
The Creator Unleashed: Amanda now mentors female entrepreneurs in her new community, helping them build businesses that don't run their lives—businesses where they get to play, create, and feel joy instead of drowning in tasks.
The Bottom Line: Every hurdle is an opportunity to decide: Is this the one that stops me? For Amanda, the answer has always been no. She's been through the ringer—and she keeps going.
Sometimes the universe is working in your favor even when it feels devastating. Losing her Etsy store was the worst thing that happened to her—and the best thing that ever happened to her business.
ABOUT AMANDA WITTENBORN:
Amanda Wittenborn is the founder of Amanda Creations, a multimillion-dollar party supply business featuring over 8,000 whimsical, kid-approved designs (rollerskating llamas, outer space kitty cats, and mermaid unicorns included). After losing her thriving Etsy business overnight, Amanda rebuilt on Amazon, Shopify, and Oriental Trading—proving that the hardest moments can lead to the biggest breakthroughs.
She's also the founder of The Creator Unleashed, a mentorship community helping female entrepreneurs streamline their businesses so they can play, create, and enjoy life instead of being buried in tasks.
Amanda lives in snowy Illinois with her husband (who quit his job 8 years ago to work for her) and three sons. She's a personal growth junkie, crochet enthusiast, and firm believer that 2 hours of creative time every morning changes everything.
Connect with Amanda: 📧 Email: amandawittenborn@gmail.com
📘 Facebook: Amanda Wittenborn (business page)
🌐 Community: The Creator Unleashed
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