How Justhandcraftedx 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?
Hi, I’m Kayleigh Allott, owner and founder of Just Handcrafted on Etsy. I create and sell one-of-a-kind personalized gifts and home decor.I started Just Handcrafted in 2015, just selling on Facebook to begin, but as I was getting more and more busy, my inventory was expanding, and I was offering a lot more personalized items, so I decided to open my shop on Etsy in 2018. This was the best decision I ever made.
My inspiration for setting up my own handmade business came from my love of handmade items, which I purchased regularly, mainly for my children and as gifts. I love a personalized item; I think it has so much more meaning to it.
So I decided I wanted to give it a go myself and first started out selling button frames, then moved on to painted wooden items. Things really took off, and I decided to invest in a vinyl cutting machine, which has now enabled me to offer a wide variety of gifts and decor, including acrylic items, drinkware, ceramics, etc.
I create all my items myself at home in my studio work space. I am so lucky to have the opportunity to work around my children's school times and activities in a job that I love.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
My favorite items are my freestanding letters, just because these were one of the first items I made, and seeing how much they have changed or improved over the years and are still a top seller makes me proud. They make such a lovely gift, as the tag can be personalized with any wording; they are mostly sold for new babies and make a lovely keepsake as well as beautiful nursery decor.

Another favorite is my personalized pet memorial frames, mainly because of the lovely messages and feedback I receive from these. When customers message me and say my item brought them to tears because it is so lovely or made their friend's day, it is such a lovely feeling to have designed and made something that means so much to someone. This is always one of my top sellers, and I also have a lot of repeat customers who purchase this frame for loved ones.

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 had my first sale on the same day that I set up my Etsy shop, and I remember being so excited as I wasn’t expecting one so quickly. I had shared the news on social media about the opening of my shop, but this was a totally random customer, and it made my day.
I currently attract customers through social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. I post regularly, as I believe this helps keep me fresh in people's minds. I also ensure my Etsy SEO is up to date with trends, etc.
Managing Justhandcraftedx
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 my shop on my own; it first started out part time along with being a florist, and then since opening my Etsy shop, I went full time with it. I have my own studio at home for work, so it is separate from the rest of home life.
The main tool used is my silhouette cameo machine and software; this is where I create my vinyl designs and then cut and weed them. My other tools are the usual craft supplies, mainly paint, as a lot of my items are hand painted.
I use the Sell on Etsy app to run my store; it is so easy to use and really helps speed things along, add listings, and communicate with customers.
I pack all my parcels myself at the end of the day, and they are dropped off at my local post office to be processed via drop and go. In the beginning, I did stand in the queue and send my parcels myself, but as time went on, I was a pain at holding up the queue, so I looked into quicker options, which was drop and go for me. All my orders are dispatched within the time frame set on Etsy.
The future of Justhandcraftedx
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
At the moment I just love creating new designs for my shop. The goal would always be to have my own physical shop, but at the moment I am happy with how things are going on Etsy and being able to be here for my family.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
My advice would be to ensure you include keywords in your description and tags, then change these as and when trends change to suit the times of the year.Good photography skills will help a lot, as your listing will need to stand out and look professional.
I would also say don’t expect your shop to take off straight away; it takes hard work and a large inventory to get noticed. But don’t give up easily either; Etsy is a great platform to sell on.
I also believe that you learn as you go; for example, some items may not be as popular as you think, and others may be too time-consuming if you get too busy; it's all one big learning curve, but it's well worth it.