How BlackHeartPups 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?
Black Heart Pups was created in early 2019. We were often disappointed in the limited selection of basic pet accessories readily available in retail stores. After many failed attempts and searches to find sturdy and reliable supplies for our pups, we decided to take matters into our own creative hands. Our shop is categorized by five of our very own pups and their unique personalities. Hades is gothic, Harley is punk, Maddie is boho, Star is electric, and Lily is girly. Black Heart Pups has allowed us to share our love for alternative themes while offering styles fitting for every breed and pet personality. Each item has been thoughtfully designed and handcrafted by us.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
It’s challenging to pick a favorite item since we connect with each piece during the design phase. Our best-selling and early designs, on the other hand, have a special place in our hearts. Beetle, Muse, Emma, and Iris are four of the first designs we opened shop with. Three years after the launch of Black Heart Pups, these designs remain the most popular and successful. The true cause of success for these designs varies individually, but we feel the common reason for that best-selling title is that they connect with the buyer and their personal interests.
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?
It took a little over a week to make our first sale in 2019. Social media is one of the greatest tools we use to attract new customers to our Etsy shop. We also have to thank our amazing and supportive past customers for sharing our brand with others. We have made many friendships in the process of growing our business with our customers and their pets. We wouldn’t be where we are without them.
Managing BlackHeartPups
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?
Black Heart Pups is a power duo! Brittnee is our lead seamstress, and Alexis handles sales and operations. Etsy’s platform has most of the tools needed to operate readily available for sellers. We utilize QuickBooks for our bookkeeping, and Pinterest is great to use to market our shop. We fulfill and ship all orders using eco-friendly materials straight from our workspace.
The future of BlackHeartPups
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
The biggest goal we have for our shop is to continue to reach new customers by creating unique designs that they can connect with and can’t find anywhere else. We created this brand with the intention to be different, and that’s something we will always keep a priority as we continue to grow.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
The best advice we can give to a new seller starting on Etsy is not to give up. It’s easy to feel defeated at first while trying to make those first few sales and establish your shop. Persistence is key to having a successful shop on Etsy. It can take months to achieve the sales flow you are hoping for. There’s a moment when it finally clicks; keep trying to reach that moment.
Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.
Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: 3.1%
BlackHeartPups
Fashion pet collars & accessories
