Etsy Seller Interview with Liza of lizaslittlethings

How lizaslittlethings 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! This is Liza from Liza’s Little Things! My main products are dainty jewelry, but I also make leather sandals. I was born and raised in Athens, Greece, where I still live. I always enjoyed making handmade things with materials I had at home. My first attempt was with clothes, which I used to transform and draw. My friends were my first clients, and as soon as they saw something they liked, they asked me if I could make it for them. At first it was clothes, but then I saw that jewelry was more attractive to me.

When I finished my studies (business administration at the university and in-between fashion design), I was not sure what I wanted to do next. When an opportunity arose, I took it and found a very creative job in event planning. I used to make my own jewelry and sandals in my spare time while working there and realized that this is what I wanted to do for a living! After 3 years working there, I decided to follow my boyfriend then, my husband now, to Ireland, where he used to work. Etsy was already "a thing" in 2012, and I fantasized about opening my own shop. I figured that if I quit my day job, I'd have more time to devote to learning how to grow my business on Etsy. I spent hundreds of hours in front of my computer reading articles about how to succeed on Etsy and also took a course in graphic design, which really helped me! All my products are handmade in my small studio, and my materials are from all over the world.

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 personalized pieces and my delicate nugget bracelets! I love everything personalized, and my Tiny Initial Necklace is still my favorite and bestseller after 10 years of selling it. However, not all of them are selling the same thing. I have also had jewelry engraved, but the price is quite higher, and that is why I think they don’t sell as well!

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 cannot really remember how long it was until my first sale. I do remember that it took me around 8 months before I started to have daily sales and grow my business. But then things were different. Pictures were number one, and being active in the Etsy community was also a big thing! Nowadays, since the algorithm changes every now and then and competition has grown, you need to stay alert and try new things! Social media is a must if you want to stay viable.

Managing lizaslittlethings

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?

All these years, my shop has been a one-woman show! I never had anyone working for me apart from my family and friends when needed. I manage everything on my own: the designs, the making, the packaging, and the fulfillment. also the graphic designs, photographs, and promotion. At the moment, I use Canva and Adobe Suite for the graphics. Alura and Erank assist me in optimizing my listings and comparing them to other shops so that I can improve. 

The future of lizaslittlethings 

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

In the future, I wish to add more dainty jewelry to my shop and invest in packaging. Make it unique and personalized.

Advice for new sellers

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

Opening an Etsy shop is not an easy thing. Actually, opening it is very simple, but running and succeeding are not. A new seller must invest a lot of time in research to find his or her niche market, as the competition is really fierce. Patience and creativity are tools that one needs to have if he wants to succeed.