Etsy Seller Interview with Tatsiana of LillaBjornCrochet

How LillaBjornCrochet 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?

Hello, my name is Tatsiana, and I am the owner of Lilla Bjorn Crochet Shop on Etsy. I have been passionate about crafting since I was only 5 years old. This is the time when I learned how to crochet and knit, and for my entire life, I have been creating hand-made items. I designed clothes for myself and toys and gifts for my friends. Though I never had the goal of running a crochet business.

Having a master degree in journalism, I worked for a newspaper for a few years. And then, after moving to the Czech Republic, it suddenly felt like I could not proceed with my professional career as a journalist any more due to the language barrier. So I started to look into other possibilities of supporting myself and my family and got the idea of opening an Etsy shop back in 2014.

So, I launched one and started selling mandalas crocheted by myself. For creating them, I used crochet patterns by other designers. But over time, I realised I was skilled enough to design crochet patterns by myself. This is how it all started. And today, I only sell digital crochet patterns in my Etsy shop.

Favorite items

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

All crochet patterns are my babies, and I love them all. However, I have noticed that some patterns are more popular than others. I think people are attracted mostly by the texture, colours, and variety of the crochet techniques I am using. Some of the all-time favourites are:

The two later became Etsy’s picks. The Archway Square pattern has been published just recently but has already become a bestseller on Etsy.

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?

Actually, it did not take very long to make the first sale on Etsy. I do not remember exactly, as it was 9 years ago, but I think it took around two to three weeks.

Of course, in the very beginning, I did not have confidence or extra knowledge about selling on Etsy, so I did everything intuitively. I also felt like if I listed first items at a lower price, it could attract more visitors and viewers and could help to create a bit of a buzz around my shop.

So, my first handmade items sold on Etsy were not expensive. But at the same time, they were big crocheted mandalas, and I think people liked the price together with the quality.

Today, to attract customers, I share my Etsy listings with my followers on social media and Pinterest and include links to my blog and newsletter.

Managing LillaBjornCrochet

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 run a one-person business, so I am the only person taking care of everything. However, I should say that selling on Etsy is not difficult at all. I add new listings as I have them and advertise them on social media, on my blog, and in a newsletter. I do not use any apps, and because all my items are digital, they are delivered to my customers automatically after purchase.

What I learned over the years is that customer support is vital for growing an Etsy shop. It’s important to be in touch with customers and reply to all their messages about orders and patterns.

The future of LillaBjornCrochet

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

My goal is to create more crochet patterns, as I believe that the high quantity of the items helps with the visibility of the shop on Etsy. But of course, all items should be of high quality, and customer support should be perfect. And because I am a “quality freak,” I prefer to do everything on my own.

Advice for new sellers

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

Do not be afraid, and do not hesitate. We are all human beings, and making mistakes is natural. But without trying something new and making mistakes, you will never know if your idea will work or not. Customers are also human beings, and there is always a way out of any situation.

Be passionate about what you are doing, and your passion will shine through your listings, and customers will see it. And they will spread a word about you, for sure. This is my strong belief.