Etsy Seller Interview with Sara of IlustratoriumSara

How IlustratoriumSara got started

Introduce your Etsy shop and tell us your story. How did you decide what to sell on Etsy, and how do you create your products?

Hi, I'm Sara, and I've been running the Ilustratorium Sara shop since March 2020. My adventure with Etsy began when I started my artistic Instagram account and was looking for a source of income from my art. I am an illustrator, so the choice of the product was not difficult: I decided to sell prints, stickers, and originals of my illustrations. With this type of product, it is very important to properly prepare illustrations for printing by scanning in high resolution and performing proper digital processing in graphics software. The next step is printing. I decided to print at a local printing house because this option was cheaper and more easily accessible for me.

Favorite items

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

Here are some of my favorite products. The first is a reproduction of my Autumn Witch cat. This print is one of my bestsellers. I think that the subject attracts a lot of attention. Cats, witchcraft, and mushrooms have been very popular topics on the Internet as well as with my target audience for several years now. Thanks to 600 dpi printing, pixels are invisible to the naked eye, the illustration is clear, and the colours reflect the original well.

The next print is Planet Destroyer, an illustration I made for the Inktober drawing challenge. This image is printed on slightly textured, high-quality paper, in addition to being a creative idea.When you hold it in your hand, you know that a lot of care has been put into it, and thanks to the choice of paper, the print looks almost like a hand-drawn original.

The last example I chose is the "Fish poster. I made it digitally, combining several illustration sheets into one coherent concept. I focused on the refined composition of the elements of the illustration. The poster shows an interesting transition of colors; an additional advantage are the golden, shimmering details added by me by hand. This product is more expensive than the others, but the hand-made touch-ups add to its value. Important for this product is the video showcasing the quality and shiny details. It doesn't sell that often, but it is one of my favourite works and has received very good reviews.

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?

The first regular sales appeared 3–4 months after the opening of the store. It had to do with the growing audience on my social media accounts. Today, my followers are much higher, and more people are willing to buy my products. I think it is very important to regularly mention shopping opportunities and support the artist in this way through promotions and freebies for orders. However, advertising should be in good taste, not intrusive, and at the right frequency. Also, providing the best possible customer service and an overall positive experience makes many people come back and purchase other products.

Managing IlustratoriumSara

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 manage the shop mainly by myself, but sometimes I use the help of my sister, who takes the parcels to the post office. There were many difficult moments, especially at the beginning. Even though I've watched a lot of YouTube videos about running an Etsy shop, there's still a lot I need to learn from my mistakes. The ability to send parcels through the postal system from my home studio is a huge convenience for me. Later, at the post office, the employee scans the codes from the envelopes, and it's ready to go. I also print and stick shipping labels on orders at home. A label printer saves a lot of time and nerves. I have the convenient Etsy app installed on my phone, which allows me to quickly reply to messages and even add new products to the shop. I don't even have to be at home if I took the photos earlier. Packing and shipping orders require good organisation and the right packing materials. It is worth investing in durable packaging so that the product reaches the customer in as intact a condition as possible. Think about what materials are needed to pack your products. The aesthetic appearance of the packed order is also important. Thank-you cards, freebies, "cool handle with care" stickers, clear sleeves to present and protect the product, and gift order wrapping paper are important details. When shipping, it's helpful to have all the materials you need in stock. The most aggravating part for me was when I ran out of envelopes or thank you cards and the shipment was delayed. 

The future of IlustratoriumSara

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

My goal for the future is to introduce products of even better quality that are limited. In the near future, I would also like to design more personalised packaging materials. Ultimately, I would like to entrust the entire operation of the store to a dedicated employee, so that I can spend more time on current projects or rest.

Advice for new sellers

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

My advice to newbies is: above all, be patient! Take your time building a decent brand and producing quality products. Take care of all the necessary materials, including those for packing. Offering the highest quality service will result in more satisfied customers than pushing sales. If you have the opportunity, ask other creators for advice and help. Don't get discouraged easily, because although the beginnings can be difficult, over time you will develop a system that works best for you.