Etsy Seller Interview with Victoria of NustyUA

How NustyUA 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?

In my Etsy shop, you can find ready-made toys and crochet patterns to make yourself. My story is so ordinary. I crocheted my first toys for my son when I was on maternity leave. And when there wasn't enough space for them on my shelf, I decided to sell them. I found an article by a Ukrainian seller about Etsy and decided to try it. And I started to sell toys here. Then I saw that crochet patterns are more popular on Etsy. And I began to create new toys, write patterns, and add them to my shop. And I am so happy that I have my little shop. Because in the first months of the war, it was the only source of income for all my family (as you can see, I'm from Ukraine my first toys for my son when I was on maternity leave. And when there wasn't enough space for them on my shelf, I decided to sell them. I found an article by a Ukrainian seller about Etsy and decided to try it. And I started to sell toys here. Then I saw that crochet patterns are more popular on Etsy. And I began to create new toys, write patterns, and add them to my shop. And I am so happy that I have my little shop. Because in the first months of the war, it was the only source of income for all my family (as you can see, I'm from Ukraine).

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 in my shop are:

Kids have play sets with animals, cribs, and outfits. I love them because it's always interesting for me to make them. I use different yarn for sets, and that's why crocheting isn't monotonous. And every time I prepare them to send, I have the opportunity to feel like a little girl. I enjoy dressing up small animals and placing them in their adorable beds.

Mouse keychains are easy and quick to make. But at the same time, they are so cute.

Tiger socks. There are new items in my shop, but they are my son's favorites. He loves to try on every new pair.

Elephant pattern. It was one of my first patterns, and I still crochet such toys for my friends for holidays. And I think every crocheter can make such an unusual and personalized gift with this pattern.

Now you see why I love everything in my shop and want to tell you about it.

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?

It took me two months to earn my first sale. It was an Easter egg set (crocheted eggs with flower decorations). It's easier for me to make new toys than to sell them. My main source of traffic is Etsy search. And I post information about my new items in different Facebook groups. Also, I have Instagram and Pinterest accounts, but I don't use them very often.

Managing NustyUA

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 make almost all the features in my shop myself. Only my friend helped me create some new crochet patterns, and I translated them. And sometimes my husband helps send parcels. My digital items don't require shipping, which is great. I don't have many orders for my physical items; that's why it's not difficult to manage them. I'm so proud of our Ukrainian postal and courier services because they can deliver our items all over the world in such difficult times.

The future of NustyUA 

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

I love to crochet; that's why my shop is my hobby and not just my work. And my goal is to get pleasure from my work on Etsy and have enough orders to not have to work at another job. And my modest sales target for this year is 3,600 sales.

Advice for new sellers

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

Don't be afraid! Begin selling and turn your hobby into your favorite job. And one more piece of advice (I do this very rarely, but I know it's important for Etsy shops): analyze your niche, trends, and competitors. It is not appealing to creative people, but it is necessary for sellers. 

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

Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: $500-600

Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: 20%

Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: 2,3%