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Hey there, maker. Welcome to the Thriver Circle.

If you've ever found yourself thinking...

'I wish I had a step-by-step guide to everything I need to do to get my handmade business up and running.'
'I really want to be part of a mastermind of makers who are serious about growing their businesses.'
'I want to learn from someone who has done what I am trying to do.'
'My business is doing okay... but I want it to grow faster.'
'I'm willing to work hard - but I'm not quite sure what I should work on next?'
'I want business help and advice that is specific to makers.'

...then you're in the right place.

Join the The Thriver Circle and become part of an amazingly supportive membership community of hundreds of fellow makers who are serious about building thriving & profitable handmade businesses.

"Great information! It's so obvious how much work and research you put into your Podcasts and Workshops.

I've actually unsubscribed to all my other similar groups and just do the Thriver Circle now."

~ Elise Butler

"Joining the Thriver Circle has been a real turning point in the development of my business.

I've gained so much insight in the few months I've been a member and love the support and encouragement from the group.

I would recommend it to anyone just starting out or who has been in business for a while as there is always something new to learn and a direction to grow in."

~ Tamsyn Simmonds

Does this sound familiar?

Time Crunch...

You want practical, step-by-step strategies that are proven to actually work - not just theoretical, 'you can do it' fluff & motivational 'ask the universe' rah-rah.

You want information that's relevant to you right now, that you can consume in your own time, and fit in around your existing commitments - because you are already busy, right?

You want to learn about more than just how to have a successful Etsy shop. Etsy's awesome, but you know it's only part of the story. You want a successful business, not just an 'Etsy business'.

Analysis Paralysis...

You've been trying to make this happen for so long, but keep coming up against your own self-doubt, and this keeps holding you back.

You're a bit skeptical about all the expensive courses out there that make big, seemingly unrealistic promises of success. You want help, but you think $2,000 for one course is asking a bit too much (and honestly, so do I)!

You wish you were part of a genuinely caring community of makers who are supportive, knowledgeable, and uplifting, without the drama and selling you see in so many free facebook groups.

Failure to Launch...

You've been wanting to turn your handmade hobby into a business for ages, but just can't figure out how to get started. What should you do first?

You feel a bit lost and frustrated with your progress - you just don't know what do to next to move your business forward. You want someone to give you a roadmap!

You find the idea of marketing & selling a bit uncomfortable and overwhelming.

I hear you.

I know how overwhelming, frustrating, and isolating it can be to grow a handmade business.

I've been there!

I want to help you fast-forward your business growth.

I firmly believe that the best way to learn is to tap into the knowledge of mentors and colleagues who have already figured out the what, how, why, and when of what really works.

I created the Circle to share my knowledge with you - and to give you access to other people who are serious about the growth of their handmade businesses.

No matter how you sell your craft, or where you are in the world, the Thriver Circle is for you.

Don't you deserve to see your dream become reality?

"SIGN UP!! Even though I haven't set up a shop yet, the sharing of information from the community is amazing!

I am so happy that I joined the Thriver Circle! You won't see another bunch of talented handmade artists who are so supportive, encouraging and helpful!!"

~ Adeline Tien

"The Circle is here when I need support and encouragement, and it allows me to do the same for others.

I love it when we can 'brain-dump' ideas or thoughts related to our business and have other people who just 'get it'."

~ Donna Duncombe

jess in stripy jumpsuit at computer smiling

Who am I?

I'm Jess Van Den, and in 2015 I created the Thriver Circle - this private membership community for makers - to help you create your own successful handmade business.

I've run my own successful handmade business - Epheriell - for since 2008.

In that time, I've made hundreds of thousands of dollars from selling my craft, and I've been fully self-employed since 2010.

I've also helped thousands of makers - just like you - to create thriving & profitable handmade businesses since 2013.

In the Thriver Circle, I teach you the exact steps to follow in order to craft the business you've dreamed of.

I've done it - I want to show you how you can do it, too.

The Circle is about SO much more than 'how to sell on Etsy'.

Don't get me wrong - Etsy is awesome, and I sell there to this day.

But having a sustainable, long-term business means you need to think beyond just selling on Etsy.

Will I teach you how to sell on Etsy successfully? You betcha!

But I'll also teach you so many other fundamental business skills that will help you grow a thriving handmade business no matter where or how you want to sell your creations.

The Circle will give you step-by-step education and support that will help your handmade business grow and thrive - starting today.

When you join the Thriver Circle, you get access to...

Your Year to Thrive - a year-long online program

Where could your business be this time next year?

This is the course I wish existed during my first 5 years in business.

Do you want access to a a step-by-step process that will guide you through what need to know and learn in order to start, grow, or reinvigorate your handmade business?

That's exactly what Your Year to Thrive is - it's not just a course, it's a system for business growth and development.

I have used my 12 years of handmade business experience to create this year-long online program, exclusively for Thriver Circle members.

It is 13 modules, 52 lessons - one lesson a week for an entire year.

You will begin this program upon joining the Thriver Circle - look out for the first lesson via email.

This program is deliberately designed to fit into your busy life – with one lesson every week for a whole year, it is at a pace you can actually enact, and will help you to make informed, epic progress on building your business.

Say goodbye to wondering ‘am I missing something’? Or ‘am I doing this right’? Or even ‘is this even possible’?

Yes. It is possible. I did it, and so have many, many others. You can, too.

See the full course outline here.

"I'm so glad I joined the Thriver Circle.

I figured I'd join and see what it was all about and probably cancel after a month or two. Once I started getting involved though, I decided it was well worth staying on. Not only is Jess a wealth of knowledge, the suggestions and support from the other Thrivers is invaluable.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend joining the Circle to anyone running (or wanting to run) their own crafting business."

~ Sarina Cunningham

"Loving the Thriver Circle for the community.

It's so great to know that there are others in the same boat. When any one has a question there is always some one with a solution or a suggestion. And I'm really learning a lot from everyone who is further a long in their creative journey than I currently am."

~ Joanne James

A huge library of handmade business workshops + monthly LIVE workshops!

As soon as you join the Circle, you get immediate & exclusive access to 40+ handmade business workshops - available in video, audio, and written format.

The workshops cover topics including:

How to effectively use Instagram, Facebook & Pinterest to market your biz.
How to work out who your ideal customer is and how to connect with them.
How to effectively price your creations so they sell - and allow you make a decent profit.
Exactly how to set up - and run - an effective email newsletter.
How to manage your time so you actually get stuff done.
How to improve your SEO... and many more topics!

See the full list of workshops here.

These workshops are not available to the public - they are for Thriver Circle members only.

If I was selling these workshops separately, they would be $75 each.

(Currently over $3,000 value)

"Thrivers, I just want to say THANK YOU.

An interview I did last month was published today, and in it I spoke about the importance of finding your tribe. Well: You're my tribe!

It's great to be able to duck in and out of this group for insight, inspiration, advice and just to feel like I'm not alone in all of this when some days just feel like I'm in struggletown: population zero! It's easier knowing we're all dealing with variations of the same things, and can offer support, guidance and hope. It is SO beneficial on this journey.

I'm only 15 months into my business journey but there's been so much synchronicity, that I know I'm on the right path. Thank you for cocreating this journey."

~ Suzanne Cleary

"I'm so, SO happy to be in this group.

When I opened the email introducing the idea of the circle, I almost cried. Almost. You see I've been bumbling my way along the micro handmade business road for the last 2 year. Good bumbling, learning things the hard way (as is my wont), but I'm weary of it. I'll be 100% honest: I've spent more time trying to figure out how to make it work than I've spent actually making work to sell. Fear of making the wrong move has gripped me so hard. I'm trying to move past it.

This group as seems to stem from a place of abundance rather than a place of fear, while offering real knowledge and growth instead of "all the answers" or a quick fix.

I can't wait to grow and learn with you all."

~ Sara Bistrian-Park

As well as...

A positive & supportive community of hundreds of fellow makers

This community is based in a private Facebook group - so it's easy for you to use and access. We are all ourselves in the Circle - no anonymous members or trolls in here!

If you've been yearning for a safe, private space, full of handmade business owners - both new and seasoned - with whom you can connect, learn from, and share your own discoveries, then the Thriver Circle is what you've been looking for.

It is a place for support, care, positivity and education - it's a Circle for those who are upbeat and serious about growing their handmade business - negativity and pessimism don't help anyone grow.

You are also, of course, able to ask questions, share useful information, ask for feedback etc. from your fellow members in the Circle at any time. This is YOUR space.

And, a whole bunch more, too!

Live Chats with Experts

I regularly invite successful makers and experts in the industry to join me for live chats in the Thriver Circle.

Get the chance to pick their brains during these sessions!

Monthly Live Coaching Call

Get the chance to work with me 1-on-1 as part of our monthly coaching calls.

This is the only way I offer personal mentoring and support.

Choose from a deep analysis of your business, or a live critique of your shop/website!

(This is only available to those who have been members for 3 months or more.)

Accountability Partner

Every quarter, I give members the opportunity to apply and be matched with an Accountability Partner - someone who you can bounce ideas off and work with to make sure you're both doing the work you've commited to!

I’ve been a member of the Thriver Circle for a few years now and the knowledge I have learnt from the workshops, podcasts and monthly challenges has been pivotal in the growing success of my business.

When running your own business there is always something that can be improved or further developed, and the resources that Jess to members provides the perfect framework for every handmade business owner’s needs, no matter whether you’re just starting out or have an established business.

Everything is presented in an easy to follow format with clear actionable steps.

I view my membership in the Thriver Circle as an investment in myself, after all the most important part of your business is you!

~ Stacey Howard

A community and educational resource for makers - created by a maker.

Before I was a maker, I was a qualified teacher, and I worked in education for a number of years.

I started my handmade business – Epheriell – as a hobby, and through years of intense study and experimentation, I worked out how to make my business a success – so much so that I not only support myself, but also employ my husband full-time.

I’ve been helping makers just like you navigate the waters of handmade business for years via my website Create & Thrive – which features a blog, podcast, ebooks, and courses.

I have spoken at numerous conferences on the topic of building a successful handmade business – including being invited by Etsy Australia to teach new sellers the fundamentals of selling online through their Etsy Resolution program in both 2015 and 2016.

In January 2015 I started the Thriver Circle – this membership community for makers – which has grown into a vibrant community of hundreds of people from all over the world who have just one thing in common – the desire to turn their handmade hobby into a thriving business.

I have not only taught myself everything I needed to know about running a successful business, I’ve been helping others do the same for many years.

Over 4,000 makers from all over the world have taken my courses and workshops, and my mission is to reach as many makers as possible and help them grow thriving businesses.

I want to help you to make your business dreams a reality.

That is why I’ve created the workshops, courses, and podcast episodes available in the Circle - to teach you the things I wish I'd known when I was starting and growing my own business.

My goal is to help you build a handmade business that fits you, your life, and helps you find the success you’ve been searching for – whatever that means to you.

You don't need to go it alone any more.

What's My Investment?

Membership to the Thriver Circle is currently just $29 AUD per month.

No big up-front payment. No lock-in.

Sign up for a month and see if the Circle is for you - if it is, your payments will be automatically deducted each month, and you can stay in our community as long as it is serving you. If it's not for you? You can leave any time. No worries.

What did you last spend money on to grow your business? Did it truly provide value?

If you join the Circle and do the work, you WILL make more sales; grow your business; and earn back your investment many times over - every month.

Join Now!

The Circle is for you if...

You believe in collaboration, not competition.

You know that by helping each other out, we can all be successful - there's enough pie for everyone.

You know success takes time and dedication.

There's no such thing as a 'quick fix' when it comes to business - it takes patience and persistence to be successful - and it helps to surround yourself with other positive, proactive people!

You know that no matter where you're at in your journey, you have something to contribute.

We've all taken different paths, and learnt different things - by pooling our knowledge together, we increase our chances of success exponentially!

You've been yearning for a safe space, full of people who 'get' you, to share your frustrations, successes, and 'aha' moments.

We're all in this together!

Frequently Asked Questions...

Does it matter where I am in the world?

Not at all! We have people in the Thriver Circle from all over the world. It doesn’t matter where you live, or what timezone you’re in, you can take part in the program.

What is $29 AUD in My Currency?

The currency conversion will always vary, but as I write this, $29 AUD is approximately:

$18 USD | 18 Euros

To check the current conversion to your currency, visit xe.com.

Can I pay you for the whole year up-front?

No. There is no upfront option or discount available. I want everyone to be on equal footing, and that means paying by the month.

It also means that if your life changes, and you no longer want/need to continue your membership, you can leave without being out of pocket.

What if I join, but decide it just isn't for me? Will I get a refund?

You can leave the Circle at any time - no hassle, no problems. Just click on the 'Cancel Your Membership' page under Log In and you can cancel with 1 click.

Therefore, I do not refund past monthly payments.

If you leave within 7 days of signing up, I will refund you your initial membership fee.

Does the content in the Circle overlap with your other courses and guides?

There is some overlap with the other courses and guides I offer – especially YYTT & SHIFT (which is no longer available).

However, if you’ve done any of my other courses, there will still be tons of content that you haven’t yet covered in this program – and, vice versa, if you complete YYTT and then go on to do any of my other courses, you won’t find yourself repeating much content.

My other courses are all very niche – meant to take you deeply into a particular topic, whereas YYTT is more over-arching and aims to cover everything – and therefore doesn’t dive as deeply into those topics.

The workshops, of course, are not available anywhere else.

What happens if I leave the Thriver Circle before I finish the YYTT program?

If you cancel your Thriver Circle membership before you finish the program, you’ll get the lessons up to the week you cancel, and then you’ll stop receiving them.

What happens if I leave the Circle before I finish the YYTT program, then come back again later?

If you leave before you complete the program, then come back again in future… you’ll have to start from the beginning again. I can’t add you back in where you left off.

So please think carefully about leaving early if you really want to complete the program.

How will I access everything, and what format is it in?

To access the Workshops, you will simply log into the member portion of this site. They are all available on a 'Workshops' page, immediately upon completing your signup. Each workshop is available as a video to view, and audio and pdf slides you can download.

All the past calls area available for download on a 'Calls' page.

The Circle discussion happens in a private Facebook Group. This is where the monthly Project disucssion, the text chats, and the chat thread with the monthly calls happens.

For the YYTT program, you will receive each lesson via email – 1 lesson per week for 52 weeks.

How do the Live Videos, Chats, & Calls work - will I miss out if I'm not in your timezone, Jess?

No, you won't!

I run at least 3 live events each month - a live workshop, a call, and a chat, and I change the times of these each month so people in different timezones will all have the opportunity to join in.

You probably won't be able to access every live opportunity every month, but there will be at least 1-2 a month (unless you like getting up at 3am!). Because we're a global community, I'm doing my best to ensure no-one misses out.

If you can't make a live event, you can submit a question to be answered during it (or just leave it in the Circle group on FB and tag me).

All the calls and videos can also be watched/listened to later - I upload the calls to the 'Calls' page here on the site (just scroll to the bottom) and the workshops will be available on the 'Workshops' page.

Jess, do I get one-on-one time with you as part of my Circle membership?

The short answer is no. If you are randomly chosen to be on one of the Business Intensive calls, then yes, you will, but that isn't something that everyone will have the opportunity to do.

I will be hanging out in the Facebook group whenever I can to give my input (just like everyone else), but as honoured as I am that you would like my personal advice, I simply won't be able to help everyone directly with their biz outside of these 2 avenues.