How FarrenCeleste 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?
Farren Celeste is a collection of instant-access online workshops with elevated svg and Studio3 templates for Cricut and Silhouette cutting machines.I specialize in creating and teaching realistic-looking paper flowers as well as floral-inspired cards and invitations. When I was working full-time as a nurse, I would design and sell paper products on the side using my Cricut cutting machine. Over several years, I taught myself how to design my own digital templates so that I could offer unique products. I never intended on sharing or selling the original templates until...
My husband’s job moved us to the Netherlands. I knew that shipping internationally would be expensive and complicated, so I decided to transition to teaching people how to make my designs themselves! I also discovered that for creative people like myself, half the fun is in making something with your hands! So, I also purchased a Silhouette cutting machine and learned the software so I can teach both Cricut and Silhouette users.
I make my paper flowers from real flowers. When I was living in the Netherlands, I was surrounded by inspiration for flowers, from the tulips that grow in their fields to the gorgeous blooms that color their weekly markets. I am so thankful for the time I spent there and the paper flowers that resulted. I have recently moved back to Seattle, Washington, and am lucky to live somewhere where I still have access to amazing farmer's markets and fresh flower shops. Living abroad taught me that certain supplies and materials aren’t easily available everywhere. Because of that, I try to keep the tools and supply list simple so customers can participate in my online workshops regardless of where they live.
I prefer to create all of my paper products from cardstock paper for a few reasons. First, cardstock paper is easy to cut on the Cricut and Silhouette cutting machines. Second, it can be found at most craft stores in the USA and abroad. This is important because many of my customers live in Europe. Third, cardstock is beginner-friendly and approachable to work with. If you are interested in learning more about the tools and supplies I use to make paper flowers, I go in-depth in my FREE online workshop, "Intro to Making Paper Flowers." You can sign up here.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
It’s really hard to pick a favorite. My Dahlia and Juliet Rose flowers consistently sell well. I think people love real dahlias and roses and are always amazed at how realistic they look in my paper versions. My current favorite flowers are my scabiosa flowers. These flowers took a ton of trial and error to create, and I’m incredibly proud that I was able to figure out a way to turn such intricate flowers into paper. I had scabiosa flowers in my wedding flowers, so they are really special to me.
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 the day that my Etsy shop launched. This is because I had been actively promoting and sharing sneak peeks on social media prior to launching. Most of my customers still come from following my Instagram account, @farrenceleste.
Managing FarrenCeleste
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?
Currently, it’s just me managing the shop! Because all of my products are digital downloads, I don’t have to worry about shipping or fulfillment. Digital products require a lot of work upfront, but no extra work is required once a sale comes in. It’s so nice that Etsy handles the transaction for you, and customers have access to their purchases immediately, regardless of which time zone they are in. My favorite app to use for Etsy is Splice. It’s a beginner-friendly mobile video editing app that makes creating quick videos for Etsy listings super easy.
The future of FarrenCeleste
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
My goal is to create some different, new types of paper projects for cutting machines. I’ve even considered opening a separate Etsy shop for ideas that don’t go with the floral designs of Farren Celeste.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
Don’t look at what other Etsy sellers are doing! I know this can be so hard when you are first starting out, but the more unique you are, the more you stand out. Create your own unique products and don’t mimic other sellers’ pictures, product listings, or descriptions. If everyone looks the same, the only thing that distinguishes one seller from another to the customer is price.If we all start competing on price, it’s just a quick race to no one making any profit, which defeats the point of having a business.
Be confident in your pricing! Price your product for what it’s worth, even if everyone else prices it lower. My products are some of the most expensive in my niche, but they are priced that way because of the quality of my templates and the experience I create for my customers. This is reflected in my consistent 5-star reviews.
Lastly, a tip! Use your product photos to list important information that customers might not see in the product description. I make it very clear that my products are digital by putting icons on the picture that say "digital" or "online workshop." A couple of my product photos are just photos of typed information to tell my customers what kind of cutting machine they’ll need and important file type information. Unfortunately, customers will sometimes miss the product description altogether, so having the important highlights in the photos can help manage customer expectations.
Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.
Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: 3.5%
FarrenCeleste
Online Workshops for Cutting Machines
