Etsy Seller Interview with Eric of EcogamiShop

How EcogamiShop 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?

Back in 2016, I found a papercraft elephant trophy on Pinterest. I really liked it and tried to make one myself. Quiet at home with my favorite music, cutting, folding, and gluing quickly became a source of relaxation and entertainment. the sculpture taking shape step by step.
At the beginning of 2017, after making a dozen sculptures, I wondered if I could create my own papercraft models. I searched the Internet, it seemed to be out of my skill, but I was motivated! So, after getting acquainted with several 3D design software, I learned to transform a three-dimensional object into a two-dimensional pattern... Ecogami started and a few months later I launched my own ETSY shop and my website www.EcogamiShop.com

Favorite items

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

The seahorse is one of my favorite models and one of the most successful. I think it is partly because it is in two parts and gives the impression of emerging from the water or coming out of the wall. It is also because it is a mysterious and majestic animal.

The running man is the same, except it is not an animal.The cat on the branch has a lot of success, as have the dogs (Schnauzer, French Bulldog, Chihuahua, Poodle, Boxer, etc.). I get a lot of requests from people who want their dog bred!

Otherwise, the classics also appeal: the deer trophy, but also the sea turtle , the elephant, the hippo, the unicorn...

I've always loved animals. In my childhood, my mother bought me the magazine "Nature," which I always read completely. I confess that, at the time, I did not always understand the scientific articles, but their beautiful pictures of animals fascinated me. That's why most of my creations represent animals. I feel concerned about global warming and the decline of biodiversity. Representing animals is thus a form of homage.It is also a universal theme that pleases many people (including myself).
My grandparents had real deer trophies in their living room. Even though I looked at them with sadness, they impressed me. It was another time; today, I am proud to offer a substitute without any animal being killed.

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 earned my first sale about three months after launching my shop. At the beginning, the number of sales increased month after month because I added one or two new models per month. Now I have almost 200 models, but the sales are not proportional, and there are ups and downs. The sales increased during the pandemic and decreased after the pandemic, as the sales increased before Christmas and are lower during the summer.
I am trying to attract customers with social networks. First, Pinterest, as it is a source of inspiration for DIY projects. with Instagram and Facebook too. I have my own Facebook group with more than 3000 members, where I organize monthly contests (participants have to assemble a secret model). Once finished, they have to send me a nice picture of it. The winner is the one with the most votes.

Managing EcogamiShop

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?

Yes, I am the only one who manages my shop. About the tools and apps, I use the social media I listed before, ETSY tools (statistics, sometimes paid campaigns, promotions,... I use Erank too for finding the best keywords and to analyze my listings.
Almost all my items are digital downloads, so there is no shipping. But I sell printed papercraft kits too, and for them, there is shipping. I work with a printer's shop in France. They print my kits and sell them directly to my customers.

The future of EcogamiShop

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

My goal is to offer a wide variety of models. I receive requests for models that I did not create, and unfortunately, I cannot satisfy all these requests. I also wish to make this activity known to as many people as possible. It is a fun, creative, and self-rewarding activity.

Advice for new sellers

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

• Having perseverance (not to give up even if the start seems slow).
• Loving your own products and creating them is a passion.
• Learning to use the tools Etsy offers

‍Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.
Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: About USD 1000 / month (half from ETSY - half from my own website).

Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: My expenses are low as I sell digital downloads

Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: My conversion rate on ETSY is 1,3%