Etsy Seller Interview with Mary Kay of ColibriCharms

How ColibriCharms 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?

I started my Etsy shop after creating charms to match planner themes and finding interest among my fellow planners. I expanded to stickers in 2021. I create a theme, source the art, and create the stickers and charms to match my vision.

Favorite items

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

I love my beaded charms because they’re so fun to create. I have a rainbow-colored stack of drawers full of beads of all shapes, sizes, and types, and I start with a theme’s color palette and create something fun to match.

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 made my first sales almost immediately, to people who’d already shown interest in my charms. These days I use Instagram and Pinterest to drive traffic, and I’ve maintained an email opt-in list from very early on.

Managing ColibriCharms

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?

It’s just me, my laser printer, two Silhouette Cameo 4s, and lots of charms and beads. I use MailChimp for email marketing and do most things through the Etsy site. I use mailers from EcoEnclose and packaging from Clear Bags, and I do all the production, packaging, and shipping myself.

The future of ColibriCharms 

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

I’d like to continue to grow the business. I’m always considering new products and product lines to add to my shop.

Advice for new sellers

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

Be patient. Read the handbook. Double-check the rules that apply to businesses in your area, including sales tax filing (even if Etsy remits taxes in your state). Learn all you can about SEO and apply it to your listings gradually—sometimes changes mean a listing will drop for a bit, so don’t spend a week changing everything. Make a few changes, then wait a few weeks to see what impact the changes have had.

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

Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: My 4-year average is around $1900/month

Question: What is your average profit margin?
‍Answer: It hovers around 61%

Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: For the life of my shop it’s about 5.5%