From selling your digital resources on your own website to podcasting to affiliate marketing and more, there are so many ways to diversify your teacher business income! But have you ever considered selling physical products? My guest today, Christina Spencer, is here to share how she does just that.

Christina and I first met while working on our Master’s of Education for Early Childhood at The Ohio State University. Since then, Christina has gone on to teach in Abu Dhabi, launch her business selling physical products, and travel around the world. While teaching, Christina saw a huge lack of representation in educational products, so she created them herself! 

In this episode, Christina dives into the mission behind her company, ABSee Me, and how it’s making a big impact on students, teachers, and parents. She also explains how she got started with selling physical products and the pros and cons of taking this route. You’ll even hear the details that come with selling physical goods such as where she houses the products and how they get to her customers.

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/episode156/

Resources:

🎧 Listen to more episodes about diversifying your teacher business

🔥 Join Ignite today: https://schoolofsellers.com/ignite

💻 Follow along on Instagram @school.of.sellers.

❤️ Loving this podcast? Rate and write a review on Apple Podcasts here!

🗣 Continue the conversation in The School of Sellers Facebook group.

Connect with Christina:

• ABSee Me website
• Instagram: @absee.me

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 151, Diversify Your Teacher Business: Unlocking the Potential of TikTok for TPT Sellers with Nancy Chung
• Episode 144, Diversify Your Teacher Business: Affiliate Links, Podcast, & More With Brittany Naujok
• Episode 141, Diversify Your Teacher Business: All About Memberships With Lisa McHargue
• Episode 66, Outside-the-Box Offers: A Tale of One Seller’s Success (with Special Guest Amanda Cardenas)

Welcome to The School of Sellers Podcast, a teacher business

show that is short on time but big on action. Full time,

part time, or just getting started? No matter where you are in

your teacher seller journey, there's something here for everyone,

making your online teacher business feel doable every step of the

way. Here's your host, Erin Waters.

Hello there, my seller friends. Welcome back to another episode of The School of

Sellers podcast. Today's episode is one that is special

to me. I get to sit down with a friend and former classmate and

colleague, Christina Spencer, to talk about her incredible journey

from teacher to business owner and world traveler. Christina

is the founder of ABC Me, which is a company that is dedicated to

crafting culturally responsive teaching tools that embrace diverse

backgrounds. Christina and I met when we were both in the masters of

education for early childhood at the Ohio State University, and we were not

only classmates in the same cohort, but we were also placed at the

same elementary school where we got to teach kindergarten next door to each

other. So we go way back, but it's been a really long time since we've

sat down to catch up. So this was a really nice conversation. In this

episode, we're going to dive into Christina's unique path from teaching in

Abu Dhabi to launching her business and selling physical products

and the inspiring mission behind her work. She's also going to share insights

about her digital nomad lifestyle and what it's really like running a business

from literally anywhere in the world. So get ready for an honest,

heartfelt, and incredibly motivating conversation. Let's jump in.

So today, as I have told you all, I have a very special

guest on my podcast today. Christina, welcome to the

show. Thank you. So happy to be here. So we go way,

way back. Christina and I did our student teaching together

in college. We did the same master's program track. And

I am so excited to have Christina on the show today because she has

a story that I've never shared on the podcast today.

So, Christina, before we dive into all of the amazing

things that you've done with your business and the path that you've taken, can you

just give our listeners a quick overview of

just, like, your path starting with education, how you got into it,

what you've done along the way, and what you do currently

in life and just in the education space. Yeah. So

I started off as a teacher. Obviously, that's where you and I met. My dad

was a teacher. My sister's a teacher, so I just kinda come from a family

of teachers that was just in me, I guess. So I taught in a couple

schools in Columbus, Ohio. And then my school district,

we had a levy that failed. So I was told that at the end of

the school year, I was gonna be let go due to seniority. And so I

randomly got a teaching job in the Middle East, So I ended up in

Abu Dhabi, which was interesting, and, actually, it played a big

part in my journey as where I am today also. But when I was there,

I was actually teaching at a local Emirati school, so all of my

students were local students, But I was actually teaching American curriculum, so

using, like, journeys and everyday math and things like that with those

students. And from there, I ended up being an

instructional coach, and then I was head of curriculum. And then

COVID hit, and then it actually gave me some time to work on the idea

that I had with my current business, which is ABC Me. And after

COVID, I ended up creating this business where I now create

educational games, resources, classroom

things that really focus on representing black and brown

learners. So that's what I'm doing now full time, and I have been doing that.

My business will be 3 years old in February, so I've

been doing that since. Amazing. And currently, you

are in Vietnam. Correct? Today. Yes. Today. Today.

Okay. So are you just are you living like the because the one of the

great things, obviously, about having a business like this is the flexibility. So Yeah.

Are you do you have business where you are right now? Are you traveling and

simultaneously running the business? Yes. So I am traveling

simultaneously running the business. So my partner and I, maybe

almost 2 years ago, we decided that we wanted to try the whole digital

nomad thing because I can run my business from my computer because I have

someone who does the shipping. I have a company that does the shipping and all

that stuff. And he left his job, so he was able to do,

like, his things from his computer. So the plan was to just go

for 6 to to maybe 6 months to a year and just travel

and then just, I guess, figure out where we wanted to live, but that has

turned into now 2 years. And we're still trying to figure out where's the next

step, where are we gonna settle down and move to. But, yeah, so

today, I'm in Vietnam. Last week, I was in, Bali.

So it's kinda been exciting and fun. Yeah. I was joking that I

was living the dream because I just live, like, the most basic suburban suburban life.

But you are truly, I think, living the dream, especially from the business

side of things. So I feel like that's a lot of the reasons why we

get into, you know, self employment in business is to have that flexibility.

But Right. I think that way more important than

that, you saw a need for this product and you

saw a huge lack of representation in products

that kids are using on a day to day basis and interacting with on a

day to day basis. And we know it's it's 2024 representation

in products, especially that kids are using, is a nonnegotiable.

Can you talk to us more about the mission of ABCme and

what needs you saw and how that really was the catalyst to you

starting this business? Yeah. For sure. So, really, the goal for me is just

to make learning fun, relevant, and relatable for children of color, because

when I was a teacher, I could not find these types of things for my

students. I couldn't find simple things to hang up on the classroom walls

that just had lots of shades of brown and that wasn't, like,

superficial, right, with just a couple round faces sprinkled in because that wasn't

enough for me. As a teacher, that wasn't enough for me. As a future parent,

that's not enough for me. I feel like kids need to actually see themselves and

be able to connect with the products that they're learning from. Making things

myself for my own students really kinda gave me that drive and

said, you know what? I know I'm not the only one creating things to

hang up on the walls or, creating these printables or

activities for my own students. Because when I was teaching in the US my

last few years, I had the cluster of English language learners. So I

had the most diverse class in the school in a in

a district that wasn't very diverse. And I actually couldn't find any types of things

that I needed, so it was like me creating a lot of things. And then

when I moved to Abu Dhabi, we were given American made

resources and things that did not relate to those kids at all because that is

a very different culture, and they could not see themselves in anything that we

did because we're using books from Journeys about, Statue of Liberty

and 4th July, so it just, like, didn't make sense. Right? So it's me constantly

creating things. So I always knew that that there has to be a

need for these types of things. So that's what really gave me the drive to

really set out and create ABC need because I knew it was needed

because it was something that I couldn't find myself. I love that. And I think

that's how every good product or product line starts is when you see the need

and you see what's working then on your end with your kids and your

classroom and your students. And I love that mission. I think that's

definitely been an increased focus, and you know that I serve mostly the

TPT seller community, and that's been a huge Mhmm. Conversation just

over the last, I would say, 5 years. And I think it's really important to

consider in digital products as well as hard goods, not like you said

too, not just showing representation of what those kids look like

because there are so many shades of black and brown, but also giving them experiences

that they can relate to. Like and that's the problem with so many of these

boxed curriculums, right, is that it's just a one size fits all, and that just

isn't how teaching or it is. And just just making things, like, relatable.

Right? Because, like, even I have, like, an alphabet puzzles where, like, r is for

wrap and, like, p is for hair put pick. And that's, like, stuff that kids

would see in their everyday lives. Right? Yes. So just trying to

make learning more relatable in that way so kids can actually connect in a way

that's deeper than just seeing something that, like I said, it can be a little

bit superficial at times, making it more meaningful and not so cheesy.

Absolutely. I I love that because I can I can picture exactly the types of

things that we were using, and it's like, oh gosh? What were we thinking with

some of these? Right. Right. So how have you seen the

response before those products? Because I know that you market to

educators and parents alike. So Mhmm. Do you have any favorite

stories or, like, amazing feedback that stands out to you? Because I imagine if

you're looking for it, so many other people are too. Right. Honestly, it's been

amazing, the feedback I've received. I would think the the main one that

stood out the most was the first time I got a video from a parent

who they have bought. I have these number bulletin board sets, which

are basically just these giant flashcards that have numbers 0 through 20, but

they've got the fingers and so kids can learn to see the finger

representations. But they're just in all shades of brown. And you would think that that

wasn't something crazy and new that would have been done already, but here

we are. But, anyway, so the kid was unwrapping the the

package and going through the different flashcards, and he was like, mommy, these hands look

like my hands. And I was just like Oh. Like, something as simple

as that. You know what I mean? It was it was like a 3 years

old. And just to be able to see yourself and feel valued and,

feel recognized in something that is not only just there to help

you see yourself, but then also to help you build these skills that we know

are super important. It's like a mix of both. Right? So I

I get really good feedback, and it it keeps me going on the hard days

because, obviously, running business as I know, you know, is very difficult. But

it's like that really good feedback that you get back from the teachers and the

parents who are just who see the value in what I'm doing and what I've

done and what I've created just is very validating for me

and gets me through. I love that. That, like, gives me that brings me to

tears a little bit to think. And it's kind of like with your products, it's

like the academic learning is almost the icing on the cake. Like, that piece of

feeling seen and represented is just is so good to

begin with. So for them to also then be able to develop economics off of

that is Right. Just so fun. And I try to tell people also that, like,

my products aren't just for black and brown kids. Right. Anybody can learn from them.

Right. Right? Like, all kids deserve and need to be able to see kids who

are different from them, who look different from them, who have different ways of life.

So the good thing about it is that there is so much educational

thought that goes into them because, obviously, I am I I was an

educator. So I'm very intentional about how I create things and

the things that I use in them. So any kid can actually learn and build

skills from them. You'll just be doing it, seeing lots of shades

of black and brown. So As it should be. That's amazing. Right. So

I love the story behind your business. And like I told you when we were

started talking about you coming on the show, we're doing this series on the podcast

about diversifying our business because a lot of my audience started on TBT

and now and for a while now has been at the point where what else

can we do? Where else can we sell our products? How can we expand? How

can we diversify our platforms and things like that? So

your path isn't directly aligned with that because

you didn't you never sold on TPT. Right? You'd never did the TPT thing?

No. I've thought about dipping my toes in there. I just haven't had the time

to do it yet, but I haven't. No. I think this is really, really cool,

and I think a lot of people are gonna listen and be like, wow. I

kinda wish I would've just bypassed TPT in the beginning and just done my own

thing because there is some beauty about being in control of your product

and your sales and all of that stuff. So I'd love to chat more

about selling a physical product because that's definitely new,

you know, different than digital and your experience

with that. So can you give us a deeper look into the exact

products that you offer? I know you mentioned a couple, but what

types of things do you sell? Where do you sell them? How do they get

their goods once they are bought and things like that? Yes. So I

sell game or so, basically, games. So, like, domino games

or card games, I sell puzzles, and I sell

what I call, bulletin board sets, which are things you can just hang on the

wall as reference charts, but then a lot of them are reversible and you can

write on them. So I've got a set for, like, blends, for example, where they've

got 20 different consonant blends for beginning blends, so you can hang them up

as a chart in the classroom or whatever. But on the back side, they've got

things like, fill in the blank activities that kids can use in whiteboard markers. So

those are the main things. So I have paper goods, basically, flash cards,

blend like I said, like the, educational chart things you put in the

walls. I've got puzzles and I got games. Where I'm I selling, I'm

selling mostly on my website and on Amazon right now, but then I also

sell directly to schools. So that is a whole different

process. That is that is a process for sure. But coming a vendor with a

school district and even making contact with the people

who are making these decisions, that is a whole different process. So those are the

3 ways I'm I'm basically selling right now. How would people get my

products when they order it? Like I said, I use 3PL services, so third

party logistics, people who house my products for me

because I haven't lived in the US full time for, like, 8 years

or so. So I had to, when I started the business, find

someone who could do that warehouse storage and then also the shipping.

So I'm not because since I can't go to the post office every day, that's

very helpful. But I will say that that is also a very

cost heavy and it definitely eats into your profits, but I didn't really have a

choice. So like I said, so that's really where I'm selling

and then I guess that's how they get there. They just somebody sends it for

me and then shows up. Yeah. Yeah. I love it. I feel like there's some

freedom in that system whether you're in the US or not. The thought of having

to go to the post office daily is sounds Yeah.

Miserable. Oh. But with where if you were to see how much I spend on

the 3PL service, it's also like, ugh. So it's it's hard. It's

hard. I get it. We dipped our toes into the hard goods last year, me

and my business partner, and it was just it was a lot. So when you

sell them, when they get to your website, what sort of like, can you talk

a little bit about the back end? Do you have, like, a Shopify, a WooCommerce,

or is it different because it's hard goods? No. I sell on

on Shopify. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Interesting. Oh my gosh.

This is so so would you say, in terms of audience, do

you think you sell more to parents,

teachers, or schools? Like, what is your biggest

That's that's tough. Right? Mhmm. In the beginning of the business, I would definitely say

it was more to parents as I started adding things for higher grade

level. So right now, the majority of my products for are for preschool, kindergarten, and

1st grade. Okay. And as you kinda go up in in the grade levels, especially

once you get to the 1st grade stuff, it becomes more teacher y, I

guess, if that makes sense. Not necessarily things that parents would be using at home

with their kids, but I've got things like time puzzles to help teach time to

the half hour or, like, counting to 120 or for

or silent e words. So those are things that are more used by teachers. So

I definitely have I feel like the business has or my customer

has kind of evolved a bit to become more teachers.

And but sometimes it's hard for me to know because if they're just buying from

my website, I'm not sure if it's a teacher buying or is it a parent

buying. Right. But as I'm sure I don't know if you know, but a lot

of school districts are now setting their teachers up with accounts on Amazon and

giving them that money for them to shop at the end of the year. So

I can see when, like, a purchase order has been used by a teacher.

So I do notice, like, quite a few of my Amazon sales are from teachers

because they're attached to those kinda, like, purchase orders that they have. So I

would say that the majority are teachers. I get fewer

sales from school districts and schools, but those are,

like, the big ones. Right? So that is where

the the bigger money comes from. Those are the ones that are much appreciated.

Yeah. I like hearing about the Amazon. I think TpT is trying

to make, like, a similar program where teachers kinda just have a

wallet on the site. I love when the money goes into the hands of the

teachers. Obviously, that's just so much more so much more satisfaction. Way better.

Because I remember when we were teaching, we had, like, this giant catalog, right, where

we just had to choose from the catalog and Yeah. As what it was. But

I think it's nice that they can just shop from anywhere now, especially if they're

on Amazon and get what you need. So Right. I mean, trusting the teachers,

imagine imagine that. True.

So how do people find you? Do you do advertising? Do you do

in person conventions or events or things like that? What is your biggest way of

getting customers? So I started off

doing more of the bit bit in person conventions, but I will say that those

can be quite costly, especially when you're starting out. Depending on which

ones you go to, it might be a couple thousand just to get a table.

And then when we're talking about flying and if I'm not in the US, that

means I have to be in the US. So I'm flying to the US to

go to these conventions and these, things. So

they're they can be very costly, but they can also be a good place

to be in the same room as the people that you need to be in

the rooms with. I've had some of my largest orders come from

school districts and things who I met at these events

who nothing came about at first. But 2 years later,

they remembered who I was and they needed something, so that's helpful.

So I will say that that they can be helpful for meeting people, but that's

definitely a large expense that you have to be ready for for sure.

So I have met them that way. I do a lot of my marketing

and things, I guess, just like on social media, on Instagram, to be

honest. Like, just by posting and people sharing. It naturally happens that

way. I do run some ads, especially during, like, back to school

time or during holiday times and stuff like that. So I'll also get

customers that way. I do. I you have a great Instagram

presence. I feel like the way you show your products and just

your overall I don't know. I I love it. Like, it draws me to your

products. I'm actually gonna link to your Instagram below this episode

so other people can see. Yeah. Thanks. That doesn't surprise me to hear that you

get a lot of business from Instagram because you definitely do it well.

Thank you. We'll just see. So I know you mentioned a couple of pros and

cons, like the cost of shipping and the cost of conventions and things like

that. Are there any more, like, huge pros or huge

cons that stand out in your mind if someone is considering

selling physical goods? Inventory is very

difficult. That is definitely I'd say that's the biggest con. Because when

you're ordering things from China or sorry. Not that maybe you don't get them from

China. I get I order my things from China. But when you're ordering things common.

Yeah. Yeah. So just going through that whole process and finding

a manufacturer that you can trust and that that

that's a lot. But then when you need to order things, obviously, you can't just

order, like, a small amount of things. You have to order a lot at once.

And just that upfront cost is can be a lot.

And then it's also difficult because the more you order, the cheaper each

unit becomes. So you wanna order a bunch to make

your to make more of a profit on what you're selling, but Mhmm. You don't

wanna spend that much upfront. So really just the whole inventory thing is definitely a

struggle. And then again, just running out

of inventory. If I'm out of something that happens to be inside of, like, my

kindergarten bundle, for example, that means I can't even offer the whole kindergarten bundle

until I get it remade, which can take or it

takes usually about a month to have something created or have it manufactured,

and then it could take anywhere from 6 weeks to

about 2 months to have it shipped.

So it it your your wait time. Right? So it

it's a big process for sure. That is a lot.

Wow. What would you say the biggest benefit to

selling things the way you do? What what would you say that is? I think

that it's nice because they're attractive to schools,

and those are the types of sales that are the most profitable for

me because they're buying the most at once. I don't

know. I could be making this up, but I don't know if I had a

digital product. Just, let's say, for example, if I'm creating worksheets or

resources or things like that, I don't know if I can necessarily sell those types

of things to schools and have those purchases. So having these physical

products that, I guess, their teachers can use in centers or

use in intervention, things like that, I can market it to 2

schools, which I feel like is definitely helpful, when I'm talking

about the type of customer that I would love to have. Yeah.

And I can see that with, like, maybe the preschool parent crowd too, just,

like, to have that tangible thing to show that you bought it.

I could see that. Yeah. For sure. For sure. Way as well. This is

also interesting. My wheels are just turning. So I'm really curious

to hear about going back to just your kind of day to day since

you do have such a unique lifestyle. What's like a I'm sure

it's not the same every day, but what's a tip Yeah, though. Day

in your life for Christina Spencer these days? Typical day would

be me waking up and making coffee first thing. And then as

I'm having my coffee, I'll go through and check emails. And

then before I kinda get my day started, I always try to do some type

of guided meditation. I'll write in my gratitude journal, just kinda get me

grounded before I have to start for the day. Then I will work up

until lunchtime, and then I will keep working. And then at

sometime in the middle of the day, I will go to the gym or do

a workout at home. So I always try to make sure I do some some

type of workout or something, just to keep my mind going because it can

just be sitting in a chair all day behind a computer is just very, like,

you have to keep you have to keep up with myself or at least I

feel like I have to. And then I usually work

throughout the day up until the evening. A lot of days are spent honestly just

working all day, and it feels like you can never do enough,

especially because it's just right now, it's still just me. I don't have

help. It's I do everything on my own except it unless I

might need some like an artist or something that I work with, but I don't

have anyone who's doing my social media. Like, that's on me. If I don't post

on today, well, that's because I didn't get around to it. So it's just like

there's so much being a solopreneur, right, that needs to be done. So lots of

the day is spent working. But I'm fortunate enough that we've been living kind

of a fun lifestyle, so some days don't have to be about work. So, like,

this morning, we did touristy stuff, and then I got back to work when I

got home. So not every day is the same, but I a lot of it

is spent trying to run the business because it does mean so much to me,

and I am trying to really make a difference with what I'm doing. I love

that. Well, I know people listening are, like, nodding their heads because we talk a

lot about just how it is. You're a you're a one man band. Like, there's

Right. No. There's only so many hours in a day. And when we're the only

ones doing it, that's a lot. It helps to have that passion and you're

so invested in this that it's hopefully, most days, it still

feels fun. I know there I know there are days though.

But, yes, some days are depressing, but, yes, most days are bad.

Which is why we have to force ourselves to get up and exercise because Exactly.

So what's next for ABC me? Do you have any like, are you working on

new product developments? You don't have to, like, share obviously inside details. But

what do you see, you know, in the next 6 months, a year, 5 years?

So it's interesting because I feel like there's there's a few different things I was

thinking about. I thought I could either go up in grade levels, because right now,

I said that I offer mostly products from preschool to 1st grade.

So I thought about adding a second grade line, or I could stick with what

I'm already doing and just go out and add more products to those pre k

to 1st grade. So I've I've been going back and forth with what to

do that way. I don't know. I also considered starting something like a

digital product, but maybe more of like, I don't know, something more

like an app or something. So I've been toying with it, but I

think now I've been working on a kindergarten

readiness thing. I think that is what I'm focused on next.

Since back to school season has been over, it's given me a little more time

to kind of sit and chill and just be. It's an idea that

I I'm thinking about testing, some kindergarten readiness stuff because we

know how important that is. And I do get a lot of good

traction with my preschool stuff. So

I am thinking about going that route next, but we'll see. We'll see. And

that's just another thing you can dip into the parent market with too. I feel

like parents are parents will spend any amount of money on their

children. I think they're a good a good money source to tap

into. Okay. So this is awesome. I'm so I just like I

said, my wheels are turning. I love hearing about different business models. So thank you

for sharing all that. I always like to end the show with some just for

fun questions. So I have 3 quick questions. First

one is, what is something you find overrated? Can be

anything, a show, a celebrity restaurant. Starbucks.

Starbucks. I don't get it. Like, what are we paying for? And especially, like,

these pumpkin spice lattes and things. I I don't get the hype at all.

So perfect. It's not it's not my thing unless I'm at the airport, like, 5

in the morning, and there's literally nothing open. So that's when I will hit it

up. Besides that, like, what am I paying for? I love that.

Okay. So we went to Ohio State together. What is the one thing you missed

the most about Ohio State? For

sure, game days. The football game days on a Saturday. Like, I

felt like there's nothing like it. My partner, he went to school at

USC, and I tried to tell him, like, no. You you think you know what

football is, but you don't know what, like, a football home game is

like until you've experienced in the shoe. And then if you've done it during a

Michigan game, like, that's a whole another thing. So That's just I miss

football so much at Ohio State. So that's Have you been back

anytime, like? I have. Not to a game. I've been up to,

Tailgate a couple times, but I haven't been back to a game yet because I

have I'm usually not in the States during that time of the year, especially when

I was teaching and I couldn't. And I was working in schools, I couldn't, but

I haven't. But I definitely have to keep up with it. It's also hard being

in different time zones, not being able to watch it on TV and not being

to keep up. So it's just like, oh, I miss I miss football Saturdays at

Ohio State for sure. Yeah. Man, that's a good point

about the time difference. Well, speaking of the time difference, since you've been such

a world traveler over the last few years or probably more than few

years, of all the places that you've been, if you could

visit one place and just stay there for an hour, where would you go

and what would you do while you were there?

That's hard because I've been to some really awesome places.

I really love these I really love the beaches in Zanzibar. I I don't

know if you it's an island off of Tanzania

in Zanzibar and just sitting there with an umbrella

drink and sitting at a beach and the water is so

amazing and eating the food. I think that is, like, my favorite place in the

world for sure. Either that or, like, a winery in South Africa or something.

Uh-huh. That would probably be my two favorite places, but yes. Those

both sound like heaven. Mhmm. Well,

thank you again, Christina. It was so nice to reconnect with you, and thank you

for sharing all of your experiences about

shipping and selling physical products. I am excited to follow along

and see what you do next. So thanks. Andrea Wien Thank you so much. Thank

you for the invite. It was good catching up. Andrea Wien Thanks again to Christina

for lending us your time. And thank you so much to you, the listener, for

taking the time to tune into this episode. I think that

Christina's journey reminds us all of the power of seeing a

need in our market, in our niche, or the world around us, and stepping up

to meet it. If you want to connect with Christina or check out her amazing

products, you can follow her on her Instagram, which is linked in the show notes

along with her website so you can dig even deeper into the products that she

offers. Thanks again, friends, and I will see you next time.