Etsy Seller Interview with Tatiana of ARTISUNtis

How ARTISUNtis 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?

My name is Tatiana Slavkova, and I am the owner of the ARTISUNtis store on Etsy. In 2006, I graduated in fashion design, and at that time, my eldest son was three years old. While I was raising him, I worked in different places, doing whatever I could find, but my heart wanted its own and I was always drawn to my passion—the handmade things. I've been doing it for as long as I can remember. In 2011, I also gave birth to my little son, and while raising him, I kept doing different things, such as hand-drawn and sewn pajamas for the whole family, baby items, etc. At the end of 2013, I stumbled upon handmade jewelry made of glass cabochons and bought two sets of them as gifts. When I saw them live, I was so impressed that I thought I should make some myself. Jewelry has always been my favorite accessory. Both fashion shows with which I presented my graduation projects featured a huge collection of jewelry. And it began... Since I did not have the budget to buy all the materials at once, I bought a little at a time, made the jewelry, sold it, and used the money to buy new materials. At the same time, I was taking care of my two sons on my own, and I didn't stop to create in the literal sense—7 days a week. In the beginning, I was only selling in my home country of Bulgaria on a small handmade site. Back then, I made jewelry from ready-made bases covered in paint and resin. One day, a client bought a pair of earrings from me, and later on, we started texting each other and became friends. I have told her many times that I feel like she is a magical godmother to me because she shared the Etsy site, which I had never heard of before, and it changed my life for the better.

I decided to try my luck on this site and researched the conditions for creating a store and listings. Gradually, I began to change the design of my models and the way I made them because I found out that many people are allergic to metal and asked me if the metal bases I used were harmless. My resin and flake collection is specially designed for these people.

Subsequently, I also started working with copper, as I had some left over from my father, who is a refrigeration technician and also uses copper in his profession. To this day, he helps me recycle the wires that are left over from his work. I think copper is a very underrated material that can make some very beautiful jewelry that could last a lifetime with its owner. I started collecting stones from all over the world and was so inspired by them that I transferred their beauty to resin jewelry. All my jewelry is handmade, and the process is long for both resin and copper. Each product is unique, with a different pattern or a unique stone. I always try to make the jewelry that I make appeal first to me and then to the customers. I put myself in their place when I make their order, and I strive to make it unique and beautiful.

Favorite items

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

These are my favorite products because they represent me, my style, and what I wear as a woman.

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?

I opened my store in June 2014, and the first sale was after about a month. I have always strived to offer my clients the best value for their money. As an extreme perfectionist, I'm all about quality, and I think that's what wins me clients to this day. I also rely on the entire team of Etsy professionals, who are constantly improving, updating, and promoting the site.

Managing ARTISUNtis

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?

I am the only person in my little shop; with my two hands, I make everything. I am the designer, the maker, the photographer, the shipper, and everything else. I see myself as a craftsman, not a trader, because all my products are exclusively and only handmade, made to order, and made only by me with great care and love. I work very hard to be able to handle all my duties alone. I don't have Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays. I get up in the morning, answer the messages, and that's it. I divide the work so that I can handle both my duties as a single mother and my responsibility to the customers. Along with jewelry, I help my children with their schoolwork and take care of three cats. I couldn't, however, manage without the help of my caring parents, who are always there for me. Now I'm going to surprise you with something, or just shock you. I don't use any social networks, simply because I don't have the energy or time for that. I only use the Etsy platform for my sales. I make the deliveries with a Bulgarian company, which is located in another city in Bulgaria, and therefore I send them once a week so that the delivery of each shipment does not become more expensive.

The future of ARTISUNtis

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

I hope to be healthy and inspired and, in the future, to offer my customers interesting designs that are executed with high quality and beauty.

Advice for new sellers

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

I wish everyone to make their dreams come true: don't give up in difficult times; work hard and use the opportunity that this platform gives them to develop and create!