Etsy Seller Interview with Kathleen of KittyStampedeCo

How KittyStampedeCo 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 Kathleen, the creator behind Kitty Stampede Co. I originally started Kitty Stampede as a fun cat-themed blog back in 2009, but ended it to focus on raising my three kids (and three cats!). I've always dreamed of working for myself—being an introvert with undiagnosed ADHD, it suits me perfectly and gives me the freedom to be present with my family and work when inspiration strikes. I create quirky cat art inspired by how ridiculously cute and hilarious cats are. With the help of my production partner, Gelato, my designs are turned into fun, high-quality products that cat lovers can enjoy all over the world. Growing this shop has been such a fun & fulfilling journey—it lets me share my love for cats while doing creative work that truly fits my life.

Favorite items

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

I will always have a soft spot in my heart for my first best-selling print, which was “Black Cat Chillin’ with Coffee.” Honestly, this was the first product that took off, and I have no idea why it did over the others. I do think this may have been after I started to get better at my titles and tags, but I think the design just clicked with people. My guy’s become his own little icon. Haha.

And I love the t-shirt “I Speak Fluent Awkward” because it makes me smile every time I see it. I like the quirky design, and I identify with being awkward, so I may as well let everyone know… haha! I may have sold one of those shirts, but I still love it… Etsy seems to favor my prints in the algorithm and not my shirts, something I guess I need to work on.

 I’m also a big fan of my “Small Talk, Big Yawn” Tshirt which has only  sold a couple of times, but I love the vintage style and I cannot stand small talk. ;)

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 at least a couple of months before I made my first sale. I had no idea what I was doing at the start, so in a way, I’m glad it’s been a slow and steady process. I rely mostly on SEO to attract customers since I don’t do any external marketing, though I know I probably should! I’ve been feeling pretty burnt out on social media, so for now, I’d much rather focus on growing my shop through Etsy’s organic traffic and letting it build naturally.

Managing KittyStampedeCo

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 everything myself, and honestly, I prefer it that way! As long as I have solid processes in place, things run pretty smoothly. That said, I’m always learning and finding new ways to streamline. Just yesterday, I discovered a time-saving trick that’s going to help a lot and free me up to focus more on the fun part: creating.

For design, I use Canva and PhotoPea (which is like a free version of Photoshop). I’ve tested a few SEO tools, but Alura has been my favorite—it integrates directly with Etsy, and I especially love the video features.

I handle shipping and fulfillment primarily through Gelato. I’ve also used Gooten and Art of Where a few times, but Gelato has stood out for its ease of use, excellent wall art quality, fast shipping, great customer service, and global production network. I’d happily use them exclusively if they offered everything I needed—but since they don’t carry certain products like stickers, I’m always on the lookout for new production partners that are a good fit.

The future of KittyStampedeCo

What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
My goal is to keep growing and, fingers crossed, really crush it this coming Q4! More than anything, I want this shop to give me the freedom to travel with my family and make lasting memories while my kids are still young. I’m not aiming to be a trillionaire—but if I can continue doing this as my career and bring in enough to make life a little more comfortable for my family in today’s tough economy, I’d be incredibly happy.

Advice for new sellers

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

Start simple and stay focused. I wish I had done that from the beginning instead of jumping between a bunch of different products. There were definitely some hard lessons learned—shiny object syndrome is real and can really slow you down. Focus on getting really good at one thing first, then build from there.

Also, find a few solid YouTubers who are great teachers. I personally love Jay’s Way—he explains things so well and feels genuine, not scammy like some others out there. Most importantly, be consistent, don’t give up, and celebrate the small wins. Every little “cha-ching!” is worth a happy chair dance! 😉