Day 10 – A Change of Plans, A Shift in Strategy

Today brought a little curveball — the kind that every entrepreneur faces sooner or later. I’ve been working hard building my product line and was all set to sell physical nursery art through Printful, but I hit a major wall: shipping costs to Canada. What should’ve been a simple product ended up doubling in price due to crossborder shipping fees, taxes, and import duties. It simply wasn’t sustainable — not for me, and definitely not for my customers.

So, I pivoted.

🎨 A Digital Turn: From Physical Prints to Instant Downloads

Instead of getting discouraged, I shifted gears toward digital wall art — and I’m so glad I did.

Today, I:

• Set up my Etsy store with my very first digital download listing
• Updated my store theme to reflect a more refined, bestseller-worthy aesthetic
• Posted another YouTube Shorts, this time focused more on family and emotion, less on entrepreneurship
• Fell in love (again) with MidJourney — it’s an investment, but the images are breathtaking and truly open up creative freedom online

This move to digital is already feeling more aligned — no shipping delays, no customs headaches, just art straight to inboxes.

The Hidden Truth: Crossborder Costs Are Changing the Game

For those in Canada (like me), or anywhere outside the U.S., you’ve probably noticed that import fees and taxes on products from the U.S. are getting steeper. Here's why:

Quick Breakdown of New Realities:

• De Minimis thresholds (the value under which products aren’t taxed) are being lowered or more strictly enforced.
• Many couriers now collect GST/HST and duties upfront, making “free shipping” a myth for Canadian buyers.
• Print-on-demand (POD) and dropshipping models relying on U.S. or international suppliers now come with hidden costs that are often passed to your customer or eat into your margins.
• Platforms like Etsy and Shopify may now calculate and remit sales tax/VAT automatically, but you still have to understand where it hits you as a seller or buyer.

The result? Products that looked affordable during planning suddenly feel overpriced or not worth the wait.

Mompreneur-Friendly Business Ideas That Avoid These Pitfalls

This inspired me to think about online business models that aren't affected by shipping or crossborder taxes — especially for mompreneurs in Canada, Europe, or anywhere outside the U.S.

Here are a few resilient ideas:

1. Digital Downloads
   Like wall art, planners, eBooks, activity sheets for kids — no shipping, no customs, 24/7 delivery.
2. Online Courses & Workshops
   Teach what you know: organization, self-care, budgeting, productivity for moms, etc.
3. YouTube or Podcasting
   Build an audience through authentic storytelling and offer sponsored content, affiliate links, or digital products.
4. Affiliate Marketing
   Recommend useful tools and earn commissions without holding inventory.
5. Virtual Services
   Think: Pinterest management, VA work, copywriting, or social media services for other moms and solopreneurs.

Final Thoughts

Today reminded me why flexibility is the ultimate superpower in business. What started as a frustrating discovery turned into a creative breakthrough. I’m more excited than ever about what I’m building — and this shift toward digital, emotional, meaningful content feels 100% aligned.

I'm learning as I go — especially with MidJourney, which I love — and the more I use it, the more I see how powerful it can be for my content creation on Etsy, YouTube, and beyond.

To every mompreneur reading this: your path might not be linear, but every twist brings you closer to something stronger and smarter. Trust the process, and pivot when needed — that’s where growth lives.