On this episode of The Female Founder show, host Bridget Fitzpatrick sits down with Dylan Jahraus, a multi-six-figure Etsy seller who has transformed her online shop into a source of lasting wealth for her family. As a mother of two and a military spouse, Dylan’s journey into entrepreneurship was shaped by her corporate e-commerce experience with brands like Zappos and Zulily. She discusses the lessons she’s learned, her approach to customer-driven product development, and how she’s aiding others to achieve financial freedom through e-commerce.
Raised on a Minnesota farm, Jahraus grew up surrounded by her parents’ entrepreneurial spirit. She embarked on her business journey unexpectedly, but after marrying her military spouse and relocating, she actively sought new opportunities. With no e-commerce scene in San Diego. She also started experimenting with side hustles, including selling on Etsy.
Her first Etsy sale came from a customized floral letter for her wedding, which, after two months, led her to apply the corporate strategies she had learned—especially the importance of understanding the customer. Within eight weeks, her shop was generating over $10,000 a month. Jahraus’s success stemmed from listening to her customers and tailoring products to their preferences- a lesson she learned while working as a buyer for Zappos.
In addition, the growth of her Etsy shop led to over a million in profits within six years, though it also came with challenges. These challenges include, but are not limited to, health issues related to long working hours.
Jahraus then turned her attention to coaching, helping other entrepreneurs succeed by sharing her e-commerce expertise. Her coaching business rapidly grew, reaching eight figures in just 14 months. Additionally, she organized a summit for Etsy sellers, highlighting the importance of community building and in-person connections, which she found essential for entrepreneurs working independently.
According to Jahraus, she notes how balancing work and family is essential to her success. She also encourages other entrepreneurs to thrive in imperfect conditions by advising women to embrace chaos and break down big tasks into manageable chunks. Her approach focuses on resilience, adaptability, and finding small wins each day.
"One of the biggest things that I've seen, and honestly, like whether you have a family or not, or whether you're married or not, there's always different priorities... the biggest thing is when you learn to thrive in imperfect conditions." – Dylan Jahraus
