How Modern Maker Stamps 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?

I opened my shop on Etsy in December 2010, after a big cross-country move. I had never, ever pictured myself working in a “traditional” job, and I was looking for a way to avoid that!

I started with no clear product: I made lots of different things and listed them to see if they got traction. Then, I discovered the art of making hand-carved stamps, and I was hooked. I loved the feeling of carving, and they immediately attracted customers - a perfect opportunity to start growing! I hand-carved stamps for several years before my carving hand started protesting, which is when I began laser engraving - another really fun leap for myself and my business.

Once I was able to make those super-detailed stamps, I started working more and more with other small business owners (lots fellow Etsy sellers), and I’ve really found my “niche” making custom stamps for them. I know a new custom stamp for packaging is an exciting way to make a new small business feel “legit,” and I consider it quite a privilege to get to be a part of that so often now!

Favorite items

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

My favorites are almost always plant stamps - I don’t have pets, so I love plants! Those are the stamps I reach for the most when doing personal projects, too.

My most favorite would probably be this Monstera stamp, a popular one that’s been around a while:

And I’ve really enjoyed using my new “retro” stamp designs like this retro flower:

Both of those have sold quite well, although custom stamps will always and forever be the most popular in my shop!

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?  

Good question! I really have to go into the archives for that, haha. It looks like, it took about 2 months to earn my first sale - a notecard set I designed and made on my Cricut! It looks like it was a random customer in Canada (someone who found me through search), but I know most of my first sales were to people I knew and other Etsy sellers I’d been interacting with those first few months. 

I’ve had a lot of success marketing locally - by word of mouth and craft fairs - but most of my marketing nowadays is through Etsy and from other people sharing my work, which is always so flattering and awesome. 

I also use Instagram and Pinterest, but with two young kids, my current marketing efforts are very low-key!

Managing Modern Maker Stamps

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 use Adobe Illustrator for most designing, Gmail and Etsy Messages to interact with customers, and I have a small team from a partner small business, who do some of my shipping and fulfillment. 

I use Evernote to keep my ideas organized and to copy/paste my answers to frequently asked questions. I use Gusto to run payroll and Wave for bookkeeping. And I love YNAB for keeping my budget (for business and personal!). 

I use Instagram with Later and Pinterest with Tailwind for low-key marketing. I also use Flodesk for sending marketing emails, but very sparingly!  

I use Procreate on my iPad or my trusty pencil and paper for designing new stamps.

The future of Modern Maker Stamps

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

So many goals! The past few years, my main goal was to streamline my process so I can maintain my income and work fewer hours. That has been an awesome goal for this season of life with two little kids at home, and the great privilege of being an Etsy seller!

For the future, I’m planning to reintroduce hand-carved stamps (SO excited about this) and do more new designing and marketing. I’m also hoping to introduce some totally new products to my shop! It’s exciting to be on the verge of this new season of growth.

Advice for new sellers

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

Don’t skip any steps in making your listings - keep improving your photos, do your research to get the best tags for your products, put items in the best categories. Working on your listings is almost as important as having quality products! 

If you decide to invest in Etsy Marketing, choose one or two of your best products to market and don’t worry about the rest. Share your work and your enthusiasm for it on your favorite social media. And keep going! Consistently working on your shop bit by bit is the best way to grow into a thriving business - leaps and bounds and breakthroughs are totally overrated!

Finally, set “S.M.A.R.T.” goals! When I first started my shop, my goal was to pay my $200 car payment every month. It was great to have a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound goal to work toward! Soon, I was making the goals bigger, and breaking them down into smaller goals that would get me there. So ask yourself: what’s my biggest, wildest dream goal for my Etsy shop? Then set one “SMART” goal that works in that direction!

Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.

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Question:

How much is your monthly revenue?

Answer:

Varies a LOT by season, but avgs $9k-$12k/month

Question:

What is your average profit margin?

Answer:

60-70%

Question:

What is your shop’s conversion rate?

Answer:

3-4% on Etsy