How BigHouseCardCo 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 Etsy shop is BigHouse Card Co. BigHouse is proudly a Black/Korean female veteran-owned, mission-based small business. I create cards for families impacted by incarceration. I decided to create relatable greeting cards from my personal experience of growing up with my dad in prison. I could never find cards that fit my family’s situation on major holidays, and with nearly half of Americans being impacted by mass incarceration, I knew I wasn’t the only one with this experience. I get my ideas for the cards from my experience. I have since branched out a little bit and designed cards that anyone can enjoy, like 90’s pop culture cards, but my main focus still remains for incarcerated, impacted families.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
I actually have a handful that are my favorites! These specific ones are my favorites because they speak to the experience of having a loved one in prison. They’re like an inside joke; someone could get it, but it doesn’t really mean much compared to someone who’s actually lived this reality. And yes, the "prison-specific" cards—as I call them—do sell really well, I think for the exact reason I like them! They're unique; you won't find similar cards at your local CVS, Walgreens, or Target... at least not yet.
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 believe it took me less than a month to earn my first sale on Etsy. I think this is because my cards are so niche. I use Etsy as a passive revenue stream, so I don’t purposely tell people to come to my Etsy shop. Instead, I focus on perfecting my SEO and let Etsy use its algorithm to bring those customers to me.
Managing BigHouseCardCo
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?
Yep! Just me! I don’t use any apps or tools to run my store. Should I? Lol. I handle shipping and fulfillment on my own.
The future of BigHouseCardCo
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
I’d like to include digital downloads to increase passive revenue. I also would like to be able to replace my full-time job with my shop. This would allow me to devote my full time to my shop and business.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
What really changed the game for me was being intentional with keywords in titles and tags. I would intentionally spend the time watching YouTube videos to really learn this. BE PATIENT, ALSO! Just because you don’t get a sale within 5 minutes of a new listing doesn’t mean no one wants it. Let the Etsy SEO do its thing! Hypothetically, if something isn’t selling after several months, just repackage it and try again!
