How FbombsandBooze 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?
I’m Nicole Chenault, the founder of Fbombs & Booze, a handmade sweary and snarky drinkware brand. In 2017, I quit my six-figure career as a retail store manager to save my mental health. I needed help figuring out my new career direction, so my cousin came over to help me brainstorm what my next move would be. While she was visiting, I showed her a mug I had made with my new Cricut (the cutting machine). She then joked and said that if nothing else worked out, I could be a Cricut master.
A few weeks later, I posted a picture of some of my crafts on Facebook and received my first order for custom pregnancy announcement shirts from a former employee. I continued taking custom orders via Facebook when I finally got over my fear of Etsy and signed up to sell there three months later. I opened my Etsy shop in October of 2017 under the name Inspired By BB, which was named after my daughter (her nickname is BB). At the time, I was selling anything and everything. I was selling shirts, signs, mugs, wine glasses, personalized vases, and custom paper flower shadow boxes.
That first holiday season, one wine glass took off! During that holiday season, I was selling over ten glasses of one design per day. So I realized I should make the same design but with different variations on wine glasses and wine tumblers. After I niched down to wine glasses and wine tumblers, I rebranded to Fbombs & Booze. I chose this name because we have profanity on our products and you can drink booze from them. Furthermore, the name contained two b words, allowing for a nod to my daughter (BB). Today, I sell my products on multiple platforms, both retail and wholesale. My products can be found in over 150 shops and boutiques internationally, all because I decided to sell on Etsy.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
I don’t have a favorite. It’s hard to choose one. My best f*cking glasses and tumblers are my favorites simply because they are given as gifts. I sometimes wish I could be there to hear the laughter and see the recipient's face light up when they receive this gift because it isn’t one someone would expect to receive.


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?
It took me almost two months to get my first sale. I will never forget it! It was Black Friday and I had just run out to grab lunch for my family when the ching went off while I was driving and scared the crap out of me! Currently, I only use Etsy SEO and Etsy Ads to drive sales to my shop.I only use the tools within the platform, as I drive my sales to my website instead and get sales on Etsy organically through the platform. I also attract buyers by having a fast processing time of 1-3 business days, offering free shipping on all orders, and providing excellent customer service. I strive to maintain my "star seller" status to help gain more customers.
Managing FbombsandBooze
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, myself and a part-time worker run my shop. The only tool I use outside of Etsy is Erank, which is an amazing tool to help fine-tune your SEO. I built a dedicated shipping station in our office to make packing orders a smooth process, and I currently print labels directly from Etsy but am planning on looking into Pirate Ship.
The future of FbombsandBooze
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
Although slightly embarrassing to admit, only a quarter of my listings have been updated to reflect the new branding of Fbombs & Booze. So my goal is to update all of those, update the SEO, and add all new listings to that site so that I can take advantage of all of the shoppers on that platform.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
Make sure you fill out your form thoroughly. Do not skip over the shop announcements section, shop policies, et cetera. Take it little by little, and if you get overwhelmed, take a break and come back. The most important part is SEO; learn it and learn it well. That is how your products appear in the Etsy algorithm, allowing people to purchase your fantastic products.
Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.
Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: On Etsy between $800=$2,000
Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: 60%-100% depending on the product.
Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: 3.6%