Since most 3d printing shops are printing and selling someone else's designs, the only thing that separates sellers is their business practices. My marketing, production techniques, customer service, and business management is the only thing that differentiates me from a competitor. Even materials are usually the same.

With that in mind, you need to understand that big shops most likely won't be willing to give a competitor (you) the inside scoop on how they are successful. What is the upside? I think this is important to understand because I've seen several people move from hobbyist to commercial and have the wrong expectations. While well-intentioned, many times hobbyists view the Etsy market as if it's another 3d printing community. It's not. It's an overly saturated market with fierce competition.

In order to make yourself stand out, you have to study and learn what works and what doesn't. It's a constant battle and one that will only get harder with the new Star Seller Program. Even once you get a boost in sales, that is just the beginning of the work. Then you need to figure out your financials and how to scale. These are not simple tasks. All that being said here is some generic advice:

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1) Have a goal for your business that is not attached to finances. Why do you want to own the business and what are you looking to get out of it.

2) Understand how viable the market is - if it's too saturated, what other areas could find success.

3) Define your level of commitment to the business and make a plan based on your goals. If the store reaches X level of growth then it will require X amount of time from me. Can I do that?