Etsy Seller Interview with Anne of DownPrintableLane

How DownPrintableLane 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?

Hello! My name is Anne Clery-Melin, and I am the founder of “Down Printable Lane” in reference to the expression “down memory lane”. I am French and I run a digital shop on Etsy selling AI cliparts or images, as most people would call them. Before starting out, I was a jewelry designer and had my own website. Having your own website is harder because it means that you have to drive your own traffic. It was my first experience as a business owner, and doing everything by myself became physically impossible. From creating, to photographing, to posting, to marketing, etc.. it was becoming more of a burden than something I loved doing. I lost the motivation and slowly started drifting away from it. I discovered digital products in July 2023 while surfing on YouTube, my favorite learning tool. I had no idea that it could be a source of income and that it was trending. I self-taught by watching YouTube videos and going on forums, asking questions. I started by creating different things because in the AI world, you can make thousands of different products, but you have to master how to make these products and find what works best for you and what you love doing the most. I started out by making Christmas PNG ornaments and then skinny lip balm holders, and even earrings. My business took a turn at the end of September 2023, when I decided to go all in on the sublimation design, clipart category. By January 2024, I had 75 listings in my shop and today in April 2025, I have 362 listings and work part-time on the side. The downside of selling digital products is that it is a numbers game. It’s a question of quality but also a question of quantity. The more you add listings, the more you will make sales and attract different customers for different interests, seasons, designs, etc… I’ve read it so much and also about the fact that it’s “a marathon and not a sprint” because some people expect to make sales overnight or to live from it the next month. It can work like this for some, but in reality, it does not. You have to work hard for it and keep listings. The more I list, the more I sell, the more my income increases. It’s a question of consistency. This is how the digital world works as far as I know. Not all listings will be best sellers, so you have to keep posting.

Favorite items

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

My favorite listings are flowers and animals. I have always loved flowers and they are an evergreen product you can sell throughout the year for any occasion. As an animal lover, I love making animals and especially cats. I have two adorable Highland Folds. I have many cat listings, but my best seller turns out to be the first cat listing I made. I sell it all the time. As for the flowers, I sell them all year long, like the gold emerald flowers and seasonal flowers. I have actually recently put together a Birth Month Flower bundle. I also try to ask myself what people want to see and buy. Animals are trending products that people consistently buy, whether it’s for cat lovers, cat moms, or a baby nursery.

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 recall making my first sale around 3 weeks after opening my shop. I was very surprised and it started to give me confidence. When I started out, I didn’t have a clue if I was making my digital products correctly. I was confused by all the information that I was finding. It definitely was a learning curve. 

The best way to attract customers is to find low-competition products and work on your SEO. Posting with consistency helps Etsy put your shop forward. I also use the marketing tools that Etsy provides, but I do not run ads as they are not worth it for such low-priced products. I will soon be opening a marketing email list. I know I could use social media but I dislike it. Recently, Etsy has put my cat bundle in an ad, so I know that Etsy is rewarding my shop because I am working on it all the time.

Managing DownPrintableLane

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 the only person working in my shop. Now that it’s been set up for some time, I work at my own pace and list at least 3 to 4 times a week. I set myself goals. I would like to have 500 listings by the end of 2025. I use Midjourney to create the digital images. There are so many software programs you can use to generate images, but this one works well for me. I have tried so many. I also use software that enables me to find trending products with low competition. It’s the best way to get started on Etsy in order to generate quick sales.

When you run a business, you have to invest in tools, so you have to consider it an investment at first. After a few months, you will start making a profit. Some AI tools may be expensive at first or when you add them all up, they are, but it’s worth it for the long run.

The great side of having a digital business is that you don’t have to fulfill orders. You don’t need to worry about shipping. That is such a plus when it comes to selling AI images;. Sometimes a buyer will have trouble downloading their file, so I will either send them the Google Drive link or the images by email. That’s basically it. 

The future of DownPrintableLane

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

My goal is to make my Etsy shop a 9-5 job. I know it’s not going to happen this year, and I know it can take a couple more years or maybe more, but I know I will get there. You have to believe in what you do and keep working hard at it. 

Advice for new sellers

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

When I opened my Etsy shop, I didn’t know that you could set up an automatic email reply, so my star seller badge was delayed by 3 months because someone had messaged me the previous day, and since I am based in France, I was only able to see the message the next day. The trick is to set up your automatic reply message as soon as you open your shop. When a person messages you, it pops up automatically as an answer, and Etsy takes it as a reply, so you are sure that your customer always gets an answer right away.

I would also advise you to never compare yourself to others. We have the tendency to do so, and it’s tricky because you start doubting and feel unmotivated. Just keep going and focus on your work.

Lastly, when you start seeing sales come in and the next day you see no sales, or for a couple of weeks your sales are slowing down, don’t give up and keep going. It’s hard, but the sales will pick up again. This journey is a rollercoaster ride. Just never give up!