It's been about 9 months since Enchantedmemories joined Etsy, and we'd like to know more about her work, her shop, and her insights into success in the wonderful world of handmade.
Q. How did you find Etsy? What are the advantages, for you, in selling (and buying) online in general, and on Etsy in particular?
A. I was first told about Etsy by another mom who was a addicted to Etsy, she gave me the link and I was hooked! I am fond of online shopping because it is not easy to shop with two toddlers in tow and for my shop being digital, online is the way to go.
Q. How does your work fit into your day-to-day life? Do you have a routine to accommodate work and creative demands with real life?
A. I have a very flexible routine. With small kids around you have to be flexible. I normally do all of my deigns at night after i put my toddlers to bed. It is hard to be creative when you have a little person next to you demanding a refill on their sippy cup.
Q. Did you take classes or courses to learn the skills you need to make your work, or were you self taught?
A. I am completely self taught. I have never taken one digital design or graphics art class. I have drawn as long as I can remember. In high school during the boring classes, my class mates use to have me draw cartoons on their book covers lol, but I have never had any sort of formal training.
Q. What are your inspirations?
A. My inspirations are definitely my kids. That is how I started. I like that I can create them unique designs for invitations and I even have made a few digital art pictures for their rooms. They get really excited when they can decide what they want a picture to look like and I make it happen for them.
Q. How long did it take you to make your first sale on Etsy? How did those early sales go for you?
A. My shop was opened and sat unloved for about 2 1/2 months. My baby got really sick right after I opened so it made for a slow start the first few months. But from when i created my account to when I got my first sale was less than 2 months. Sales were scattered at first but once all was well again and I started promoting my shop and adding items it has been pretty good.
Q. What have been your most successful approaches to promotion or advertising? What promotion strategies haven't worked as well?
A. I have found that blog giveaways and blog ads are not very successful for my shop. The best advertising I get is referrals and repeat customers.
Q. As a seller and a buyer, what do you find to be important aspects of customer service?
A. I think providing a well made product and conducting business in a professional manner is important. Even though I am at home , at my computer, my customers rely on a quality product to represent their business delivered in a timely manner and I always worked hard to make sure they receive it.
Q. What advice would you give to a new seller, or to someone who wants to give their established shop a boost?
A. I would recommend that shops have clear pics that are taken tastefully, make sure everything written in their shop is spelled properly and easy to read and to keep in mind that people like to feel confident in products they are buying. Well put together shops that are visually appealing give people the feeling that you are putting your all in your shop and product. And for any shop that want s a boost I would definitely recommend taking a look at my shop for a custom banner or shop package ;p
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