How MurrayBolesta 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’m an art photographer who began selling professionally in 2004. When Etsy first started the following year, my daughter advised me to sell my art here. But I wasn’t as smart as she was! I waited until 2008 to open my shop while spending most of my time developing my brick-and-mortar gallery. My market at that time was primarily local. Etsy is global! So when deciding what products to sell on Etsy, I consider a very broad market and put up all the items I consider compelling, attractive, and sellable. My niche is not narrow; my listings are numerous and diverse. My brand is not a single theme but is simply my name.

Favorite items

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

My personal favorite images are my large limited edition artworks, which I sell as open edition art prints on Etsy in smaller sizes. They represent my favorite artistic style, which is serene, elegant, and minimalist. They are more expensive than the majority of my listings. A few examples follow:

Central Park Winter New York City Black and White Art Print
Landscape Photograph of Southwest Prairie Grasslands
Dragonfly Fine Art Photograph in Black and White

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 don’t recall how long it took to make my first sale; I’d guess about 6 or 8 weeks. On the one hand, art is very hard to sell anywhere, and art photography is even harder. On the other hand, Etsy was tiny in those days, and the competition was far weaker. My average dollar sale is larger than the average Etsy sale, but my conversion rate is much smaller. Customers come to me through search and word-of-mouth.

Managing MurrayBolesta

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 manage my business singlehandedly. I use Photoshop extensively to prepare my listings. Vela helps with some bulk processing, but rarely. I custom-manage and personalize all orders and transmit them to trusted suppliers for production and drop-shipping.

The future of MurrayBolesta

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

I love Etsy and have been through so many Etsy changes and improvements. I will continue to use my Etsy momentum to grow as large as the global market will allow.

Advice for new sellers

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

Make the best product you can! When I began on Etsy, the competition was tiny. The markets were not yet saturated. It was easier. Today, there is a requirement for complete professionalism and rock-steady patience. Do not engage in wishful thinking! Having a unique and compelling product is a million times more effective than struggling with SEO.

Alura Team
Alura Team

Alura is your all-in-one platform for selling on Etsy. With more $500.000+ gross sales over four years selling on Etsy, Alura is built by experienced sellers for sellers. Start with a free account and explore all the features you need to start, run, and grow your Etsy shop.