AVAILABLE FOR:
– Expert Interviews
– Podcast Guest Appearances
– Speaking Engagements
– Written Quotes & Commentary

 

What Makes James Different:

Most craft business “experts” quoted in media have been selling for 3–5 years. James has been building, teaching, and writing about craft businesses since before Etsy existed. He sold at juried shows when the internet was dial-up, ran a gallery during the 2008 recession, and has watched every platform cycle from eBay to TikTok Shop. That depth of experience means he can put today’s headlines in context and explain what will actually last versus what’s hype.

James Dillehay is a craft business expert with 30+ years as an artisan, gallery owner, and author of 15 books. He has helped tens of thousands of makers build profitable creative businesses. Seen in The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo Finance, and HGTV’s The Carol Duvall Show.

BIO **150-Word Extended Version:**
 James Dillehay has spent over 30 years helping artisans and makers transform their creative passions into thriving businesses. As the author of 15 books on craft marketing and entrepreneurship, he has guided tens of thousands of students through every aspect of building a handmade products business.

James brings real-world credibility to his expertise: he has sold his own handmade products at top juried shows across the USA, operated a fine crafts gallery, and successfully sold on platforms including Etsy, Amazon Handmade, and eBay. He has been interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Yahoo Finance, Family Circle, Working Mothers, Entrepreneur Radio, and appeared on HGTV’s The Carol Duvall Show.

He has developed and presented craft business marketing programs for the University of Alaska, New Mexico Community College, The Learning Annex, and the National Association of Independent Artists. James works from his hand-built studio next to a national forest in New Mexico.

CURRENT FOCUS & TIMELY ANGLES (2026)

Why James Right Now

The craft and handmade economy is in a period of rapid upheaval. Etsy’s shift to AI-driven personalization has upended seller strategies overnight. Platform fees have climbed past 22% of gross sales. Nearly 30 million Americans now identify as solopreneurs, with craft sellers forming a significant and underserved segment. Most of the “experts” covering these shifts have been in the space for 2–3 years. James has been doing this for three decades and brings pattern recognition that only comes from having weathered every cycle since the pre-internet era.

James is currently researching and speaking on:

• The Margin Squeeze: How Rising Fees, Tariffs, and Shipping Costs Are Crushing Small Sellers

  Etsy’s take rate has climbed above 22%. Carrier rates jumped again for 2026. The end of the de minimis tariff exemption is raising supply costs. James explains how craft sellers can restructure pricing to survive without racing to the bottom.

  • The “Human Premium”: Why Handmade Authenticity Is the Counter-Trend to Mass Imports

  As Temu and Shein flood online marketplaces with factory goods listed as “handmade,” genuine artisans face an identity crisis. James speaks to how makers can prove authenticity, command premium prices, and why the handmade value proposition actually strengthens during economic uncertainty.

  • From Side Hustle to Real Business: What the Headlines Get Wrong

  One in three Americans has a side hustle. The media loves the success stories. James provides the reality check: what the transition from hobbyist to business owner actually requires, why most fail within 24 months, and the fundamentals that haven’t changed in 30 years.

  • AI Tools for Craft Sellers: Opportunity and Threat

  Etsy is rolling out AI-powered listing tools. Sellers are using ChatGPT to write descriptions. James brings a practitioner’s perspective on how creative entrepreneurs can use AI as leverage without losing the authenticity that makes handmade products valuable.

  • The Solopreneur Economy and the Creative Entrepreneur

  Nearly 30 million solopreneurs generate $1.7 trillion for the U.S. economy, and 64% are over 45. The conversation is dominated by tech and digital-service solopreneurs. James brings the maker and craft perspective to this massive economic trend.

  • Teen Entrepreneurship Through Upcycled Crafts (New Book)

  James’s newest book teaches teens business fundamentals through hands-on upcycled craft projects, combining entrepreneurship education, environmental responsibility, and real-world skills.

Ongoing Study:

• Etsy algorithm changes and seller strategy

• Craft show and in-person selling tactics

• Multi-platform selling (Etsy, Amazon Handmade, Shopify, TikTok Shop)

• Pricing strategy for handmade products

• Craft business burnout, failure patterns, and recovery

Available for immediate commentary on:

Etsy policy changes | Platform fee increases | Tariff impacts on small sellers | Craft fair trends | Maker movement | Side hustle economy | Solopreneurship | AI tools for small business | Teen entrepreneurship | Upcycling & sustainability

HOT TOPICS (High Current Media Demand):

• Etsy’s algorithm shift to AI-personalized search and what sellers should do

• The margin squeeze: rising platform fees, shipping costs, and tariff impacts

• Side hustle to sustainable business: the reality behind the hype

• The “Human Premium”: authenticity vs. mass imports flooding handmade platforms

• AI tools for craft sellers: leveraging technology without losing your voice

• The solopreneur economy and creative entrepreneurship

EVERGREEN EXPERTISE:

• Pricing handmade products for sustainable profit

• Multi-platform selling strategy (Etsy, Amazon Handmade, Shopify, TikTok Shop)

• Craft show strategies and booth presentation

• Design theft and IP protection for makers

• Burnout recovery: why makers quit after 3–5 years

• Marketing handmade products effectively

• Getting repeat business and building customer loyalty

EMERGING / NICHE TOPICS:

• Teen entrepreneurship through upcycled crafts

• Exit strategies: selling your craft business for profit

• Sustainability and the circular economy in craft

BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS

Author of 12 books on craft business topics, including:

• Sell Your Crafts Online
• Teen’s Guide to Making and Selling Upcycled Arts and Crafts
• How to Price Crafts and Things You Make to Sell
• Make Money with Wood Crafts
• Guerrilla Marketing for Direct Selling
• Total books sold: 70,000 in 8 languages

NEWEST BOOK AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW

Teen’s Guide to Making and Selling Upcycled Arts and Crafts

This book teaches teens entrepreneurship fundamentals through hands-on upcycled craft projects – combining business education, environmental responsibility, and real-world skills. Perfect for media covering:

• Parenting (teaching teens money skills & entrepreneurship)
• Education (alternative to traditional academics)
• Environment (upcycling, sustainability, waste reduction)
• Business (Gen Z entrepreneurship trends) 

Now expanding to broader media. Available for:

• Book reviews (print or digital review copies)
• Author interviews (teen entrepreneurship, upcycling, sustainability)
• Excerpt permissions
• Expert commentary on Gen Z business trends

Purchase on Amazon

SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Getting Started:
– What’s the biggest mistake people make when starting a craft business?
– How much money do you need to start a handmade products business?
– What’s the first step someone should take to turn their hobby into income?

Pricing:
– Why do so many crafters underprice their work?
– What’s your formula for pricing handmade items?
– How do you balance staying competitive while making a profit?

Current Trends:

• Etsy’s algorithm now prioritizes AI-personalized shopping over keyword search. What does that mean for sellers?
• Platform fees keep rising while cheap imports flood marketplaces. How should craft sellers respond?
• Everyone talks about AI tools for small business. Where’s the real opportunity for makers, and where’s the hype?
• “Solopreneur” is the buzzword of 2026. How are craft sellers different from tech solopreneurs, and what do they need that’s not being addressed?

STATISTICS 

• Nearly 30 million Americans operate as solopreneurs, generating $1.7 trillion in economic output (Source: Branch/Mastercard Solopreneur Report, Jan 2026)
• Etsy’s platform take rate has risen above 22% of gross merchandise sales, up from roughly 15% just a few years ago
• One in three Americans now has a side hustle, with craft and handmade selling among the fastest-growing categories
• 7+ million active sellers on Etsy, up from 4.4 million in 2020

MEDIA INQUIRIES & BOOKING

Email: JD@Craftmarketer.com
Response Time: Within 24 hours
Location: New Mexico (Available for remote interviews)

Interview Formats:
✓ Phone interviews
✓ Video calls (Zoom, Teams, etc.)
✓ Written Q&A
✓ In-person (New Mexico area)

Turnaround Time:
– Same-day quotes available for urgent requests
– Scheduled interviews: Flexible availability

Recent & Notable Media:

• Yahoo Finance — Commentary on handmade seller profitability
• The Wall Street Journal Online — Expert source on craft business
• HGTV, The Carol Duvall Show — Featured craft business expert
• Entrepreneur Radio — Interview on selling strategies for makers
• Family Circle, Working Mothers — Expert commentary on home-based craft businesses