Etsy Seller Interview with Ingrid of CreativeIngrid

How CreativeIngrid 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 Ingrid Sanchez, and I opened my Etsy shop in 2010, originally under the name ‘Petitacosa’. I was living in Barcelona, had a regular job in the publishing industry, and I just wanted to sell the many items I was always creating for fun. So I started my shop by selling handmade notebooks, crocheted items and some art prints. I moved to London in 2013, and then to NYC in 2015 where I dedicated the whole year to study art and rebrand my shop. ‘CreativeIngrid’ was officially born during this time, and once I was back in London in 2016, I decided to become a full time artist.

I removed all the products that were not watercolor or art related, because with my previous experience, I realized that I needed to better target my audience. I also started looking at it as a business rather than having something on the side or for fun. So even though my shop is 13 years old, it only started generating a real income based on my art six years ago. I mainly sell art prints that are created using my original watercolor paintings. Sometimes I launch other products like phone cases, cushions or limited edition mounted art prints. I work with suppliers all over the world to offer a fast delivery to my customers without the hassle of going through customs.

Favorite items

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

I only have one main product: my art prints. But I sell a variation of them that I really like, and these are my wall stickers. This is a great product because it is my art printed on an innovative self-adhesive removable fabric, which means that it can be repositioned lots of times without losing stick. This is a good alternative if you want to decorate but are renting a place or don’t want to put nails in your walls.

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 honestly don’t remember; it was 13 years ago! And Etsy was relatively new in Spain, but I do remember that someone in Australia bought a notebook, and that was when I understood the power of Etsy. The only real tool that I use for promotion is my Instagram account, although I don’t really direct people to Etsy. I have links to my website primarily because my website and Etsy shops promote my original art, in-person and online workshops, and finally art prints.

I think many of my sales happen organically. I have lots of repeat customers, and many of my listings have been chosen by the editors to be in articles or newsletters, so they appear as "Etsy’s Pick" in my shop. I feel very lucky that I have been included in several Etsy campaigns during the years. These include the interview "A Day in the Life of CreativeIngrid" (2018), being one of the six women in the article "Celebrating all things womanmade" during Women’s History Month (2019), having one of my art prints featured in a TV commercial (2021),

Managing CreativeIngrid 

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 run CreativeIngrid all by myself, except when I have to be away due to holidays or health reasons. On these occasions, I hire an assistant to keep things running while I am away, so I have never had the need to put my shop in holiday mode.

I don’t use any apps, but I use software like Photoshop and InDesign to edit artwork, photos, and videos. Since I sell art prints, I have negotiated with my suppliers a drop-ship service, which means that I print on demand and they take care of fulfilling my orders. I just need to take care of customer service and make sure everything arrives on time. Over the years, I have developed a very close relationship with all my suppliers to make sure they deliver a high-quality product with exactly the same paper and reproduction style that I promote.

The future of CreativeIngrid  

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

As an artist, my goal is to keep creating beautiful art, so new art prints are available in the shop. As a shop owner, maintaining good customer service and the quality of my products is key for me.  In the last couple of years, I have been working toward becoming a carbon-neutral business, using largely plastic-free packaging, and printing locally as much as possible. I soon want to introduce eco-friendly papers as an alternative option.

Advice for new sellers

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

Read and follow the Etsy seller handbook. Honestly, all you need to know is right there. Take high-quality photos; you don't even need a fancy camera; I just use my phone. Write good descriptions of your products; think as if you were a customer. A happy customer is the best marketing tool; they will leave a review, recommend you to friends, or even become a regular visitor to your shop.