How laurelcottagecraft 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 there! I’m Laura, the owner, and creator behind Laurel Cottage Craft. I started my Etsy shop back in 2017, originally just selling pouch bags that my mom and I made using our collection of antique sewing machines. I have always been into crafting; it really runs in my family. When I was a kid, I would make beaded animals and jewelry, which then progressed into paper crafting with my Grandma and eventually into sewing and embroidery, which is my passion and business today.
In 2019, I decided to quit my full-time hospitality management job to go part-time and focus more on my business. During the COVID lockdown in 2020, I, like millions of others, was furloughed from my job, so I decided to put all my time into my business and look at how I could expand my products. When my mother and I discovered machine embroidery, the Laurel Cottage Craft of today was born.
I've been amazed at the number of international orders I've fulfilled as my business has grown, and I've now completed orders to nearly every US state and most European countries, as well as Australia, Singapore, and Japan. This is all due to the fact that Etsy is a great global marketplace and helps to navigate all the international legal requirements, which I would have struggled to implement on my own. I create products that I enjoy and use, such as tote bags and scrunchies. I then build collections around them using different designs and fabrics, which I tend to source from various small UK-based businesses.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
I love all my products, but I especially like making personalized tote bags. I offer full color and design customization on the majority of my designs, so every order I get is completely different. I absolutely love seeing how different color combinations that I wouldn’t necessarily put together myself turn out some beautiful results.
These have also been my shop's bestselling products. I think this is because people love the idea of giving a completely personalized gift to their loved ones while not breaking the bank. These are also really versatile, as they work great as gifts for friends and family, for bridal parties, and for any occasion in between.
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 think it took me about a month or so to get my first sale, and even then, they only trickled in for the first year or so. It wasn’t until 2019, when I started putting a lot more time and research into my Etsy shop, that I started to get steady, regular sales. At this time, I re-read through the Etsy Seller Handbook, revamped my photography so everything was taken in natural daylight with consistent backgrounds, and updated all of my keywords and titles. This took a lot of research about SEO, effective long-tail keywords, and how to implement them into my shop. This is still very much a work in progress for me. This year I am also putting a lot more effort into my social media presence, mainly focusing on Instagram and TikTok, with the hopes that this will help my business continue to grow.
Managing laurelcottagecraft
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 Laurel Cottage Craft myself, from product design to finances, but I do enlist the help of my mom with making some of my products and for doing local craft shows and events. I have a dedicated home office/studio space where I work on a daily basis. I create and fulfill all my orders, and the majority of my products are made-to-order. I mainly use Royal Mail for my shipping, but I also have UPS and Evri courier options available.
Running my business can be very time consuming, but I do use some tools that really help with the process:
Canva (I have the paid version, but there is also a free version): I use this for resizing my images so they are optimized for Etsy, planning and scheduling my social media, as well as making branded business items such as my thank you notes, leaflets, and stickers.
Quickbooks: For managing my finances This is super helpful, as I am filing my tax return myself at the moment. It is linked to my bank accounts, so I can easily distinguish between business and personal expenses.
Etsy itself: I mainly use the desktop version for working on my shop and fulfilling orders, but the app is also super useful for answering customer messages on the go. You can also use the search bar to see what people are looking for in your niche as well as conduct competitor research.
The future of laurelcottagecraft
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
My biggest goal is to one day be busy and big enough to move out of my home studio and into a dedicated space with an employee or two to help with the day-to-day running of my business so I can focus more on the creation and development of products. In the short term, I look to expand my product range with new items that complement my current range, focusing on more personalized and custom designs, while also growing my business as a whole.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
Research is definitely the first thing I would recommend—understand the ins and outs of the business you are looking to build. Read through the Etsy seller handbook and understand the fees involved and any legal things that may apply to what you’re looking to do, such as copyright or any tax requirements for where you are based. Also, understand your shipping—how much it costs and how long it takes—especially if you’re looking to ship internationally. There’s a lot to learn with regard to customs and requirements.
I would also recommend joining relevant Facebook groups to connect with other Etsy sellers and see any questions they may have had or had answered. These have been and continue to be really helpful resources for me, as a lot of the time you can find help with any issue in real-time.
When setting up your business, focus on great photos and product descriptions so customers know exactly what they are buying. This can also help with establishing great customer relationships. Customer service is a really important part of any business, and I think this is especially true on Etsy, where customers are specifically looking for bespoke items from small businesses and creators. The main thing though is to enjoy what you do—do what makes you happy and have fun with it!
Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.
Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: Depending on the season, you can earn between £500 and £3000 per month on Etsy. I also have my own website and do in-person sales events throughout the year.
Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: On Etsy, it averages around 3.2%.
laurelcottagecraft
Handcrafted creations for all
