Etsy Seller Interview with Cee of PerfectlyPressedSets

How PerfectlyPressedSets 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 started my nail business out of Porterville, California, in March of 2020, initially specializing in gel manicures. I saw a demand for acrylic nails and began offering appointments for them in April 2020. Unfortunately, I got a warning from the state to stop running my business because, since I was underage (16), I couldn't get a proper nail license. I didn't want to give up since I'd developed so many skills, so I started selling press-on nails—there is no license needed for that. For the first couple of months, no one was interested. The first time I made sales was on Black Friday of 2020, when I sold my work for such a low price that once I finished the orders, I lost money. But from there, I had a foundation of people who wanted to order. I then listed some of my nails on Etsy just to see what would happen, expecting nothing. And then I made what are now almost 4,000 sales—solely on Etsy.

I began this business because I have been wrestling since I was 8 years old. In 2020, I needed to raise $500 to go to nationals. Since COVID was happening, I had the time to practice my nails since I had done my own for years and had some experience. It took me a couple months to actually make money because I had to invest in so many products. I ended up raising the money, but of course, nationals never happened because of COVID.

I am now 19 and have moved across the country to Minnesota to continue my wrestling career. I currently train at the Victory School of Wrestling with Olympic-level athletes to try and reach my goal of becoming an Olympic champion. All of the money I make here at Perfectly Pressed directly supports my wrestling career. It pays rent, gas (I drive 60 miles a day to practice), strength training, food, car insurance, and of course the hefty costs of traveling to competitions and paying for hotels. This year I will be traveling to Spain, New York City, Canada, Iowa, Las Vegas, Texas, and some other places TBD. I also live very far from my family and would like to fly back home a couple times.

Unlike other businesses, my main priority is not to make as much profit as possible. My main priority is to be able to afford the best training I can and the competitions that come with it. Growing up, I missed a lot of opportunities because my family couldn't afford them. I am so grateful for everyone who has supported me, and I love sharing my art with you. I create my press-on nails by painting on soft gel extensions. I simply paint the nails with a base shade, then use a paintbrush to do any other designs.

Favorite items

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

I have over 400 designs, but right now I can only list a small fraction of them due to high demand! Out of what’s listed right now, "Sugar Plum" is my favorite! Maybe it’s because I’ve seen them in person and know how much better they look, but they’re not one of my top-selling items. My second favorite is my "Venus" set. This one sells a little more frequently.

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 weeks to get my first sale on Etsy. My strategy to attract customers to my Etsy shop is to sell mystery sets at a discounted price. This is how I constantly have new designs coming in. We live in a world where TikTok is taking over, meaning trends begin and end insanely fast. My best-sellers from even last month hardly sell now. It’s important to make sure you’re always keeping your shop exciting, and the more items you list, the more you will get shown in search! But you will also have a higher customer retention rate if every time they return, they find something new that they like.

Managing PerfectlyPressedSets

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?

For the last couple of years, I have run my Etsy shop alone. I don’t use any apps or tools; I personally love how Etsy formats my work, which is easy for me to keep track of. I print my labels through Etsy, so packaging is a quick and easy process. I recently hired my mom, who lives 2,000 miles away, because my business went viral. Whitney Simmons found my shop through Etsy and, two months later, tagged me in an Instagram story. I gained 5,000 followers overnight and made thousands of sales on my website, which is linked in my Instagram bio. I also made lots of sales through my Etsy shop that day. Hiring my mom was crucial after this; I wouldn’t have been able to fulfill my orders without her. She now works on a lot of the orders on Etsy and my personal website.

The future of PerfectlyPressedSets 

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

My goal is to continue growing my Instagram so that I can bring more direct traffic to my shop. I also want to be more consistent with creating digital content, such as reels and TikToks. I dream of collabing with my favorite influencers, YouTubers, and creators one day. I see myself hiring more people soon to make sure that everything is handmade—I will never mass-produce my work.

Advice for new sellers

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

I would recommend that you have a good product first. Make sure you have all your skills down before you sell; a bad review at the start could ruin your chances of making sales! I was lucky enough to have lots of experience before selling on Etsy, so the more good reviews you get, the more likely people are to buy from you.