Maker business strategy & AI tools

Great at making.

Tired of everything else?

You didn't start this business to spend all day on Instagram, spreadsheets, and guessing. I help makers build the AI tools, systems, and strategy to handle all of that — so you can get back to the work you love.

Already enrolled? Log into your courses →

Stephanie Desaulniers
Community
AI-Driven Makers
$79/year · Join now →
Before your next event
Run the Revenue Forecast →
As seen on PALive!
Business News Daily
Co-founder, Covation Center
10+ Years Coaching Makers
AI Tools Educator
Sound familiar?

You're working hard.
Your business should show it.

Most makers don't have a product problem. They have a systems problem.

01

Making product but not profit

You're moving inventory, taking orders, showing up — and your bank account still doesn't reflect it. Pricing and margin are almost always the culprit.

02

Online but not converting

You're posting consistently and still seeing sporadic sales. Visibility isn't your problem. Your funnel has a leak — and we can find it.

03

Growing but still grinding

Things are finally working, but you're doing everything yourself and running on empty. Time to build systems that can grow without you holding every piece.

Work with me

Find your level of support.

Community
AI-Driven Makers
$79 / year
For makers who want to use AI tools — without the overwhelm or the jargon.
Tutorials, templates, community, and monthly live Q&As focused on AI for product businesses. Less than $7/month.
Workshop
Know Your Customers
$37 · Instant access
For makers who feel like they're shouting into the void with their marketing.
A focused 2-hour workshop. Walk away knowing exactly who your buyer is and what message makes them click buy.
Course
Profitable Creators
$497
For makers ready to commit to building a structured, profitable business.
The full system: money mindset, ideal buyer, pricing, growth planning, and selling — designed for ADHD and neurodivergent brains.
1:1 Strategy
Operations Strategy Package
$1,000–$5,000
For established makers ready for a strategic operations overhaul — not more generic advice.
4-week intensive: ops audit, revenue analysis, systems build, and a 90-day roadmap. Application-based.
Free tool for makers

Before your next vendor event,
run the numbers.

Most makers lose money at craft shows without knowing it. The Market Revenue Forecast tells you exactly what you need to sell to make any event worth your time and inventory.

  • See your break-even point before you commit to a booth fee
  • Calculate realistic revenue based on your price points and traffic
  • Know whether any event is actually worth your time

No spam, ever. Unsubscribe anytime.

Market Revenue Forecast
revenueforecast.netlify.app
Estimated event revenue
$1,840
Break-even point
$620
Profit potential
Net projected profit
$1,220

Based on your prices, booth cost & estimated foot traffic

Results

What makers are saying.

"

Working with Stephanie helped me finally understand my pricing. I'd been undercharging for years. Within 3 months of fixing it I added a second production day — I had the revenue to justify it.

⚑ Client Name
⚑ Role / location
"

I rewrote my captions after the Know Your Customers workshop and ran my first $2,000 week online. I was posting every single day before and barely getting sales. One shift, completely different results.

⚑ Client Name
⚑ Role / location
"

The AI tools Stephanie taught me cut my content creation time in half. I use them every single week. I finally feel like I can actually keep up without burning out.

⚑ Client Name
⚑ Role / location
woman shopping in an empty store

Surviving Slow Business Months

June 22, 20234 min read

Surviving Slow Business Months

As business owners, especially makers and creatives, we have to realize there will be slow months in business. There will be months where we are pushing forward and growing, but having the space for reflection and improving your internal operations has an equally important place in building your business. 


So let’s talk about these slow seasons and how we can use them to your advantage.

how to survive the slow months

The moment that changed my business (and it can for you too!)

It’s important to recognize the slow seasons so you can avoid frustration.

As I look back in the past years when I was stepping into my handmade business full-time I started to notice a pattern.

Every July I would begin to get so overwhelmed and in tears wondering if I could even do this. I just wanted to throw in the towel because I couldn’t figure out why I was struggling so much.

The thing is by mid-September I would start to feel ready to buckle down again. And that’s when my business grew steadily from then until June.

But as soon as July came I started struggling again.

Then eventually it hit me.

As a mom, my kids are home, and even if I've got them involved in activities, I just don't have the bandwidth to continue to actively push my business forward in those months.

It may be the slow summer months or another time for your business, where maintenance is fine, but pushing forward and growing just doesn't happen.

Regardless when this happens for you (and it’s bound at some point) it’s better to recognize these slow patterns and plan ahead strategically rather than watching your revenue and belief in your business steadily decline.

Reflecting on past data and what works best for your personal life and family situation will help you become aware of the seasons where it is best to focus on areas other than sales.

As product-based business owners, this awareness will help you put together a plan so you know exactly what to do the next time around while avoiding unnecessary burnout and exhaustion.

Staying busy during the slow seasons 

Accepting the fact that you’re gonna have some months that are lower in revenue than others is good. It allows you to put your energy in another area of your business so you don’t keep pushing without seeing the return you are looking for.

During your busy months, is the time to create a buffer in your bank account so that you aren’t worrying about your living expenses and can focus on the following four areas in your slow seasons. 

Finances

I know thinking about finances may make you cringe. As an artist or creative, looking at the numbers in your business is probably your least favorite thing to do. 

But understanding the difference between gross profit and net income will be such a game changer for you. 

How to fix a common mistake when pricing your handmade products is a great place to start if you know this is something you struggle with. 

And that’s just one piece of your finances to consider. 

Marketing and Visibility

Taking time to think through your marketing message and visual presentation of your products will greatly benefit you when things pick up again. 

This might look like working on your website, hiring someone to do photography, or developing an email list. 

Product development 

Now is the time to prepare and create the pieces you'll sell during your next busy season. 

You can be testing out new recipes, creating new products, or finding new suppliers. 

Growth 

Lastly, consider your process and systems. 

Do you feel able to grow and sell more? Or are you at your limit? 

If you're feeling maxed out, consider how you can make changes that will allow you to increase your revenue. That’s definitely something worthy of your attention. 

Next Steps

If you’re ready to go from exhausted to energized for the next quarter, then take some time to consider the seasonality of your business. 

It’s this big picture planning that makes a seasonal business survive even in months without a high volume of sales. 

If these four areas got you thinking about the possibilities, but you're not sure where to start then check out my free business assessment. This checklist will allow you to rate yourself and decide what you should tackle first. 


blog author image

Business by Dezign

Published by Business by Dezign

Back to Blog
Stephanie Desaulniers
Meet Stephanie

I've been exactly
where you are.

Maker. Strategist. AI educator. Covation Center co-founder.

I spent over a decade helping product businesses stop guessing and start growing — using real operations strategy, not cookie-cutter advice. I've coached makers through recessions, a pandemic, and a complete shift to AI-powered business tools. I teach from real results because I've built it, tested it, and run it myself.

10+
Years coaching makers
PA
Based · Covation co-founder
AI
Tools educator & practitioner
Meet Stephanie →
Featured in PALive! Business News Daily

Ready to stop guessing
and start growing?

A 20-minute call is free. The clarity is priceless.

SD
Also by Stephanie Desaulniers
AI-Driven Makers
A community for makers using AI tools to grow smarter — tutorials, templates, monthly live Q&As, and a group of people who actually get it. $79/year.
Explore AI-Driven Makers →