Etsy Seller Interview with Sophie of moloneymakes

How moloneymakes 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 began selling on Etsy back in 2016. I had recently taken up knitting as a tool to help me with my mental health. As I began to knit more and expand on my skillset, I had a couple of friends request a headband and a beanie for the colder months, which, to my delight, they loved so much that they said I should start charging for the items I was making. I was introduced to the wonder of Etsy, and the rest, as they say, is history. "Operation Etsy Shop 2016" was born, and I gave myself a year to write up my very own patterns, choose my favorite yarn, and perfect my original range of items before officially launching Moloneymakes on August 29th, 2016.

A lot has changed since then, and now my focus is on selling knitting kits. These provide you with everything you need to learn how to knit and give you all the materials you need to create your very own hand-knit item. The mission of Moloneymakes is to help spread the therapeutic benefits of knitting, and the knit kits fit right in; it's everything you need to relax and unwind in one lovely little box.

Favorite items

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

My knitting kits are by far my favorite product because: As I said previously, they are at the heart of the business and the driving force—my why—for running Moloneymakes. My personal favorite is the "Your New Favorite Jumper" knitting kit. which produces the coziest, most comfortable jumper in a really simple and easy-to-follow way. For absolute beginners, though, the scarf kits are the most popular.

The Willow Tassel Scarf has been my best-selling kit by far because it’s an accessible project for beginners and an excellent project for relaxing on the sofa in the evening. It’s a small investment of time—you're not going to finish it in one night—but it’s super satisfying to see your progress, especially as someone who is just learning to knit.

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 gained my first sale within the first few days, although admittedly, it was a friend who had requested a bobble hat from me! In the beginning, sales were slow, which is natural for a new shop, but as the years went on, I slowly built up momentum. During the pandemic, my shop exploded. I was part of the group of makers who were selling knitting and craft kits beforehand, so when lockdown happened and people needed something to keep them busy, my listings were right there on the first page. Now that the market is much more saturated and competition is much higher, sales aren't as brisk, but I'll never forget the excitement and pride I felt when Moloneymakes fully established itself in the crafting demand!

Now that everyone has gone back to "normal" life and isn’t stuck inside all day looking for things to do, I have to work harder on my listings. I make sure I keep them updated, swapping up the pictures and ensuring the customer gets a full view of what they are purchasing. I tweak my tags, make sure my description is as accurate and descriptive as possible, and just make my shop look professional in general. I also make use of Etsy’s tools, such as sending coupons to customers to get them to return, to make the most of Etsy sales, and I have also used Etsy ads in the past to help generate extra income too.

Managing moloneymakes

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’m the only person behind Moloneymakes. I use the Etsy Seller App and Royal Mail Click and Drop in order to fulfill my orders quickly and easily.

The future of moloneymakes 

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

My goal for Moloneymakes is to keep my Etsy shop alive! I don’t have any set financial or statistical goals, as oftentimes life is unpredictable and I find myself with more or less time to dedicate to the business at various points of the year. Right now I have the goal of hitting X amount of revenue a month, and I have also been maintaining my star seller status since Etsy made it a thing, which I’m really proud of.

Advice for new sellers

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

Just get started. It can be scary when we are not sure what we are doing or if we are ready or not, but a bad listing is better than no listing at all, right? If it’s not there, people can’t buy it. I will always recommend the Etsy Seller Handbook to anyone who is new to Etsy, and even those who aren’t. It's chock-full of super-useful articles that will help you set up your shop and keep it running smoothly.