Etsy Seller Interview with Sarah of LostFoundDesignCo

How LostFoundDesignCo 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?

My shop, Lost and Found Design Co., started from a strong desire to break free from the corporate matrix. After leaving a long career in government work, I wanted to create something genuine that truly reflects who I am.

At first, I didn’t really know what I was doing; I just knew I wanted to design. I invested my energy into digital products, spiritual tees, and items focused on manifestation. I hoped to connect with women who are waking up, those who are healing, questioning, evolving, and still swearing through days of feeling emotionally unhinged.

Everything in the shop is originally designed, created using a blend of Illustrator, Canva, and AI. Most of my shirts are produced using print-on-demand, and I’m starting to branch out into digital downloads: vision board kits, printable journals, affirmation decks—tools for self-exploration and empowerment, but with style.

Lost and Found Design Co., reflects where I am in life—lost, found, a bit adrift, but truly purposeful.

In addition to Lost and Found Design Co., I also created a second Etsy shop called Velvet Leash, which features digital wall art. It’s a passion project that blends vintage elegance with Labrador devotion. It is a love letter to my late dog River, and to the soulful bond between humans and their companions. While Lost and Found leans more into spiritual growth and creative rebellion, Velvet Leash is quieter, more nostalgic. It's about timeless love, with a hint of retro glamour.

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 retro girl tees. They personify the divine feminine and the spiritual journey many women are on, with a side of sassy authenticity. These designs live across several collections, including my Awakened Soul, Angel Number, Astro Femme, and Retro Attitude lines, and others.

But my personal favorites? Definitely the pieces in my recently launched Outlander-Inspired Collection. They reflect my love for history, mystical mystery, the evolution of the soul… and, yes, Jamie Fraser, of course.

To be honest, most of my sales so far have come from friends and family cheering me on from the sidelines. But I believe these designs deeply resonate—they just need more visibility to find their right audience. I’ve been refining SEO, testing mockups, and figuring out what truly clicks. Alura has been instrumental in helping me track impact and expand my reach through Pinterest.

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?

My first sale came within the first few days of launching, thanks to a friend cheering me on. But beyond that initial spark, it’s been a slow climb. Honestly, I almost walked away. The pressure to constantly upload, optimize, and chase visibility became exhausting. It started to feel like the very thing I left behind, the matrix, repackaged in Etsy form.

So, I made a shift. I stopped designing for the algorithm and started creating because it brings me joy. I still do the work: learning SEO, refining my titles, and using Placeit to create videos and mockups. But I’m not spending hours tweaking every pixel out of desperation. I trust that when I create from a place of alignment, the right people will find it.

I’m also building a presence on TikTok, experimenting with a few themes: humorous spiritual content, a faceless healing journey, and a chaotic puppy-fueled subplot starring my Labrador, Captain Hooktail. Honestly, he might become the main character. I’m just along for the ride.

Right now, I’m not chasing traffic. I’m focused on creating magnetic resonance—one listing, one laugh, one scroll-stopper at a time.

Managing LostFoundDesignCo

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?

It’s just me. I am the full creative department, customer service team, marketing strategist, and occasional unhinged meltdown manager.

I use Printify for my apparel fulfillment; Canva, Illustrator, and Playground for design; Placeit for mockups and videos, and Alura to refine SEO and product research. I recently connected Alura with my Pinterest account to start automating some pinning, and I’m exploring TikTok to build awareness around my brand’s themes and vibe.

I don’t keep physical inventory, which lets me focus on design, messaging, and expanding into digital products like printable vision boards and affirmation kits.

The future of LostFoundDesignCo 

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

My goal is to build a shop that feels like a sanctuary for awakening souls—a place where humor, healing, and style collide. I want to expand my digital product lines, including printable journals, vision board kits, manifestation tools, and eventually a retro-style tarot deck featuring a recurring divine feminine character.

I’d also love to grow an audience that resonates with my themes of spiritual self-reclamation, inner rebellion, and breaking free from old systems. It’s less about chasing sales and more about creating resonance. But if the sales come along for the ride, even better.

Advice for new sellers

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

It all depends on what your purpose is. If you're just looking to make sales, you can chase trends or find a trending product. There’s nothing wrong with that. But if you're trying to build a brand, something lasting, something that reflects your actual vision and voice? Then know this—Etsy is not for the faint of heart.

I wasn’t willing to flood my shop with generic trending items that didn’t mean anything to me. I didn’t want a digital flea market of other people’s ideas. I’m trying to create a brand with heart, identity, and longevity. Because of that, it's taking longer for my shop to get traction. But I know that when it clicks, it will stick.

So, here’s what I’d say: Don’t romanticize the early days. You’ll pour your heart into it, and the algorithm may ignore you. Keep going anyway as long as it is something you enjoy. The minute it feels like work, pivot.

Design for a real person, not a keyword. Then optimize for the algorithm, but always lead with story, soul, and intention. You’re not just selling products. You’re building your energetic signature into the world. And that kind of work? It takes time, but it leaves a legacy.