How CrystalsCrafties 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! I'm Crystal, the owner and designer behind Crystal's Crafties here on Etsy. I sell digital files that can be used for things like crafting, decals, and printables. I got my start with my Cricut machine, which I bought purely out of curiosity. But once I started using it, I quickly realized how much fun I was having making things for my friends and family. I thought maybe I could sell some of my creations on Etsy, and to my complete surprise, people were actually interested in buying them!
I was so excited when I realized I could sell my handmade goods on Etsy. I immediately quit my job so that I could focus all my time and energy on creating a successful business for myself. Over the years, I've experimented with different types of items to sell in my shop. I've done everything from decals and cups to Easter baskets and wreaths. You could say that I've cast a wide net!
Little by little, I discovered that creating new designs was my real passion, so I cut all the physical products from my shop. Since I started selling only digital downloads on Etsy, my sales have increased significantly. I've always been passionate about creating new designs, and I'm so glad I finally found my niche! I’ve also been able to build a successful blog and YouTube channel, teaching others how to do exactly what I do.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
I'm currently loving my sports-themed Mom designs and my doodle letter pack. I find them super relatable since my son plays basketball and I'm a big basketball mom. I wanted to make some designs that I could wear to all of his games and practices, and I think I definitely succeeded!
The doodle letter pack is a great way to add your own personal touch to your designs. With this pack, you can choose your own patterns and colors to make your own unique design. I used this pack to create another amazing basketball-themed shirt for myself.
Both of these items are new to my shop, but they are both selling well. I'm always trying to stay on top of current trends to make sure my designs are relatable. This is probably one of the reasons why my newest items are selling so well.
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?
Opening my shop was both nerve-wracking and exciting. I was worried that no one would buy anything, but my fears were quickly allayed when I received my first sale the very same day from a close friend. She was thrilled with the item and left me a great review, which really helped boost my confidence. A few days later, I had my first sale from a complete stranger, and it felt absolutely amazing. My phone went off with the little "cha-ching" notification you get from Etsy when you make a sale, and I literally did a happy dance. I still smile every time I hear the "cha-ching!"
I use a variety of marketing strategies to sell my products on Etsy. By researching keywords and implementing SEO tactics, I ensure that my listings are easily found by potential customers. I also take advantage of Etsy's paid marketing features. In addition to Etsy, I also market my products on my YouTube channel and through my blog newsletter, where I offer free downloadable files on a weekly basis.
Managing CrystalsCrafties
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?
Crystal's Crafties is a one-woman operation. I design and list all the products myself. Because I only sell digital files, it's pretty much a "set it and forgets it" type of business. I'm a little old-fashioned, so I use a physical weekly planner to schedule which designs to work on each week. I usually design a bunch at once and then post all the listings at once.
When I used to sell physical items, I would set aside a few days a week to make the items and then one day to pack and ship them all. I used Etsy's integrated shipping for all my labels. I preferred to take my items to the post office and have them print out a receipt for me, just for extra verification that the post office had my items.
For email newsletters, use Flodesk.
Quickbooks for accounting
Canva listing photos and branding
Etsy for mockups
Creative fabric for mockups and design elements
Google Trends for keyword research
Inkscape for designing
Affinity Designer for designing
The future of CrystalsCrafties
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
In the future, I would love to be able to sell my shirt designs on t-shirts. I already have the designs, but I don't have the equipment needed for sublimation or DTG printing. Dropshipping would be great for me because I wouldn't need to worry about printing the shirts myself. Maybe one day I'll expand my shop to include t-shirts.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
My advice to new sellers would be to not give up! Etsy takes time and determination. There are those magic unicorn shops that are instant overnight successes, but that is not the norm. Most shops take time to grow. Soak up as much knowledge as you can. Learn about Etsy SEO and marketing. Take some online photography classes if you’re selling physical products. Try out different methods, and then when you find something that works, press into it and expand on it.
Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.
Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: $1,250
Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: 63%
Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: 7.1%
CrystalsCrafties
Vinyl decals and SVG files
