Etsy Seller Interview with Egle of CreativeLabSVG

How CreativeLabSVG 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?

Hi there, I'm Egle, a mother with a background in graphic design and customer service. I run a shop, CreativeLabSVG, where I design and sell high-quality cutting files for crafters who use machines like the Cricut. My journey on Etsy began after I quit my job and started looking for alternative sources of income online. I came across some YouTube videos on how to set up and sell print-on-demand products like shirts and mugs. Since I have always loved designing and have a good knowledge of Photoshop, I decided to try it. Initially, my shop was called Artext Design, and I sold graphic t-shirts. However, when the pandemic hit and supply disruptions and shipping delays occurred, my customers started asking me to sell my artwork in SVG format so they could make their own shirts using their Cricut cutting machines. I had no idea what SVG files were, but after some extensive research, I discovered the world of Cricut and cutting machines, and that's when CreativeLabSVG was born. I create my designs using professional-quality vector graphics software like Inkscape and Photoshop. I also draw many of the graphics I use in my designs.

Favorite items

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

It's difficult for me to choose a favorite item from my shop, as I put a lot of passion and effort into all my designs. However, as a mother of two, I would select two designs as my favorites. The first is my "This Mama Wears Her Heart On Her Sleeve" SVG design, a modern and unique design that any mom can appreciate. It has become a best-seller, likely due to its relatability to many mothers.

The second design is my "Christmas SVG Bundle," which was incredibly enjoyable to create. Customers can mix and match different elements to create personalized Christmas family shirts. There are no other designs like this on Etsy, which has contributed to its popularity as a best-seller.

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 was fortunate to make my first sale within the first week of opening my Etsy shop, as I already had a customer interested in my designs. Since then, I have implemented several strategies to attract more new customers and maintain a steady stream of sales. One of my main approaches is to utilize Etsy SEO, which involves using relevant and searchable keywords in my product titles and descriptions to ensure that my listings appear in relevant search results. Additionally, I run Etsy ads before significant holidays to boost visibility and attract more potential customers. I also leverage Pinterest to bring traffic to the platform and my shop by creating eye-catching pins with high-quality images of my products and linking them back to my Etsy store. I take pride in ensuring every customer has a positive experience, which has led to a lot of repeat business. I have also built up a subscriber list that helps drive traffic to my shop.

Managing CreativeLabSVG

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 a one-person shop responsible for designing artwork, handling customer communication, managing promotions, and creating new listings. Since all my products are digital, I don't have to deal with shipping or physical production. Fulfilling orders for my digital files is quick and easy, as customers can download their purchases immediately after completing the transaction. To carry out my tasks efficiently, I utilize various tools and applications, such as the Adobe Suite, Inkscape, Canva, the Etsy app, two Apple computers, two hard drives for file storage, Grammarly, Marmalead, Google Keyword Planner, and Ahrefs Keyword Generator.

The future of CreativeLabSVG

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

My main objective is to expand my design portfolio to 2000 designs. However, it takes me a long time to design and post each design. I am currently exploring ways to optimize my design process without compromising the quality of my work. Additionally, I plan to enhance my social media presence by promoting my designs on Instagram. Furthermore, I am considering starting a blog.

Advice for new sellers

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

Before selling anything on Etsy, conducting thorough research and identifying the customers who need your product to solve their problems is crucial. Unfortunately, many Etsy sellers make and sell products that nobody needs. Therefore, it is essential to educate yourself about Etsy SEO, understand how it works, and determine the necessary tools before launching your product.

I focus on finding out what my customers need and then filling the gap in the market. Avoid saturated niches, think outside the box, and create unique and different products instead of following the masses. Remember, Etsy is not a get-rich-quick platform; it requires hard work and dedication to succeed. Keep going if you have an excellent idea validated by research and there's a demand with low competition. Stick with it and persist through the challenges to achieve success on Etsy.