Etsy Seller Interview with Anna of annatrimmeldesigns

How annatrimmeldesigns got started

Introduce your Etsy shop and tell us your story. How did you begin and decide on what to sell on Etsy, and how do you create your products?

Hi, my Etsy store is AnnaTrimmelDesigns, and I started it about 12 years ago. I was always very creative and made myself a lot of costumes, jewelry, and dolls, always experimenting with materials, designing patterns, and drawing fun little characters. I first heard about Etsy when I moved to NY (Queens), and from there the inspiration started to flow, and I focused on a specific idea: to make my cute drawings into felt characters. When I first made keychains, hair accessories, and earrings, I was all over the place because I was too excited about this new journey and lacked experience. The first year I made about $120, but that did not discourage me; I tweaked, learned, and paid more attention. Little by little, every year was better than the last one, and I came to a point where now I have a few best sellers and an all-time customer favorite, the felt bat. I do everything myself to this day, from designing, cutting, sewing, photographing items, promoting, shipping, and even making my own coffee. It’s a one-woman show.

Favorite items

What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?

I have a few favorites: the bats, the pincushion cat, and the NYC rat. In third place, the Pincushion Cat is a sweet little and useful item; it really holds pins and needles and can be worn on the wrist. From my reviews, it’s comfortable, secure, and absolutely loved by its owners, making it a favorite among seamstresses and designers.

In second place, the rat Why the NYC rat? Well, living in NY back then, the inspiration came directly from riding the train. I kind of admire the resilience in these creatures, so I made my version of them with felt. I used to add a train letter necklace to them to identify the lines or neighborhoods they supposedly lived in; later, I added a "I  NYC" little sign; and the latest one is the ridiculously famous Pizza Rat, with this last one being the most sold. I shouldn’t brag about this, but when singer Brian Adams himself bought two subway rats to give to his daughters, I was over the moon, and he told me he found my rats on Instagram. This gave me a bit more confidence to keep doing what I was doing.

And in first place, of course, was the infamous Bat. "The bat lady" is what most of my customers call me, many of them becoming heavy collectors of this fantastic item, which I make for every season and holiday and even for a whole wedding decoration. I am a bit Gothic in personality and style, so every rejected creature is welcomed in my heart (in a way, I've always felt as a rejected creature myself), so I decided to make a bat as an ornament to hang around anywhere. Later, I read on a FB page how important this animal actually is for our natural world and how terribly endangered it has become, so I decided to help with my little grain oats. It became a mutual and effortless exchange of good vibes and helping each other out that has lasted for about 6 years now. I have also done this with a few other bat rescues right here in the United States. As a result, the ATD felt bat became a mini-ambassador for real bats.

Getting sales on Etsy

How long did it take for you to earn your first sale and how do you currently attract customers to your Etsy shop?

My first sale on Etsy took a few months; I had to learn a lot about how to photograph and present an item, how to use titles and tags, what a niche was, how to keep track of goods and materials, how to promote online, etc. I did well at in-person crafts and fairs, but online selling and Etsy were a whole new world for me. It took a lot of patience, effort, and learning (and a husband with a good job and a supportive heart). It took around 4-5 years to start seeing at least $500 per month in sales. And then 2020 happened, and it’s been a hard road to recover. We all got hit with this major life interruption, but I am slowly getting back on track. I have decided this year to change a few things in my store and am going to offer a few new things and take out a few others so I can focus on what was always my dream to begin with, which is my art. I have a second Etsy store that I want to focus on a bit more to give it the same amount of time and love it deserves and to bring it up to pair with AnnaTrimmelDesigns so I can offer my art and paintings as well with AnnaTrimmelArts. These two are my babies.

Managing annatrimmeldesigns

How do you manage your shop? Are you running solo or do you have any team members? What tools or services do you use to run your shop and how do you handle fulfillment?

Yes, it is only me. In the morning, I start with two cups of coffee, no milk, no sugar! Then I check my sales and messages and start working on what needs to be done. I use different apps for editing videos and photos; I promote on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. I use sticker apps to create labels with my logo; it makes it all look so cute and professional, and I also use them to create small business cards. Shipping takes place twice a week and is one of my favorite parts. I have a whole system to make it easier and faster, and I enjoy writing little notes and adding stickers to each order when available; it always gives me a chance to say thanks. I have made dozens of return customers that way.

The future of annatrimmeldesigns

What goals do you have for your shop in the future?

There is only one way to go, and it’s up, up, up. I want to maintain all my customers and gain many more. I’m always full of new ideas, and every time it becomes more artistic and elaborated, I’d love to add tons of new things, but I am focused now on the best sellers. As I mentioned before, I have two Etsy shops, and I have new goals for each one: to see them grow and bring joy to all customers with my creations.

Advice for new sellers

What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?

1: Do what you really love doing; don’t try to copy another Etsy seller; there’s tons of space for everyone; find your niche.

2: Quality of workmanship is key; do your best, pay attention to details, and that will make your customers come back every time.

3: Customer service! I can’t stress this one enough. Reply to every message you receive as soon as possible; be courteous and respectful (even if they are not); you are putting your name out there. Resolve issues as fast and best as you can; be fair and honest. That being said, do not allow people to take advantage of you.

4: Photos are the face of your work; use simple, clean, and bright backgrounds; focus on the item; show different angles and uses. Tags and titles are equally important; learn how to work with them. The Etsy Seller Handbook has lots of information about this, and the sooner you learn about it, the better.

5: Packaging is an extra point when done well. It can be simple and cheap, but think of it as opening a gift; it adds overall quality to the buyer’s experience.

6: You don't need a lot of money to get started; just your creative skills, a little patience, and a serious attitude if you want to make it your business and lifestyle while also having fun. 

Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.

Question: How much is your monthly revenue?

Answer: It varies from month to month and depends on the season, it can go from $400 to $5000.