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The ceramicist behind Vines & Vessels, a small LA business making wall-hung vases, first used ChatGPT to price pieces from the time and materials that went into them. Later the artist shared longer-term goals and had it break each into steps, which they say gave them guidance when self-doubt crept in.
I make [PRODUCT] by hand. One piece takes about [HOURS] hours and [MATERIALS COST] in materials, and I'd like to pay myself [HOURLY RATE] an hour. Work out a price that covers costs and my time, show the maths, and suggest a sensible range. Then help me with this goal: [E.G. SELL ONLINE BY SPRING]. Break it into small, practical steps for the next [WEEKS] weeks.
Replace the [PLACEHOLDERS] with your own details before you send it.
How to try it
- Write down your real costs for one piece, including your time.
- Ask ChatGPT to show the pricing maths step by step so you can check it.
- Share one bigger goal and ask for a short, ordered list of next steps you can tick off.
More small business use cases
Brainstorm shop slogans and product descriptions with ChatGPT
A ZDNET writer set up a print-on-demand Etsy shop in under a week, using ChatGPT to brainstorm slogans, product names and descriptions that he then edited heavily. He's candid that sales were poor and ChatGPT didn't help with Etsy SEO.
Write 20 [TONE, E.G. WITTY] slogans for a shop called [SHOP NAME] that sells [PRODUCTS]. Then write a product description for [PRODUCT] covering [MATERIALS, SIZES, CARE] in a [STYLE] voice, under 150 words.
Turn your business facts into a brochure with Claude
One user asked Claude to make a brochure for their family business, giving it just the key facts and access to a few files in their Google Drive, and was amazed by what came back.
Create a [ONE-PAGE / TRI-FOLD] brochure for our business, [NAME], which [WHAT YOU DO] in [AREA]. Facts to include: [SERVICES, PRICES, OPENING HOURS, CONTACT DETAILS, WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT]. Our customers are [WHO]. Write a friendly headline, short sections and a clear call to action, and suggest where photos should go.
Handle a buyer asking for a partial refund with ChatGPT’s help
A fairly new eBay seller had a $500 sale go sour when the overseas buyer asked for a big partial refund. Instead of reacting, he asked ChatGPT what an experienced seller would do; the advice was to stay calm, not argue or offer a discount, and ask the buyer to open a return through eBay, which then handled the case.
I sell [ITEMS] on [PLATFORM]. A buyer who paid [AMOUNT] says [THEIR COMPLAINT] and is asking for [WHAT THEY WANT]. Here's their message: [PASTE]. What would an experienced, fair seller do here, based on how [PLATFORM]'s returns and buyer protection usually work? Then draft a short, calm reply I can send. Tell me what I should check in the platform's own policy before I reply.
Reference: Worklife