Etsy Seller Interview with Anna of Pink Monarch Prints

How Pink Monarch Prints 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?

Hi there!  I’m Anna and I own a digital junk journaling site called Pink Monarch Prints. I actually started my shop during Covid to keep myself and my daughter entertained. I watched a few YouTube videos on junk journaling and I was instantly hooked! 

I just knew it was something I could do myself since I had Etsy experience and I have Photoshop design experience as well, so I jumped right in.

I really just design things that I would love to have myself using Photoshop. I love hunting for vintage images to incorporate into my designs!

Favorite items

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

My favorite all time products are these Digital Design Cards. They are so versatile and they look amazing with almost any other design. They sell really well! 

I think the reason they sell well is because they are truly lovely, and I have used them on some of my popular YouTube videos.  It turns out that YouTube is a wonderful marketing tool!

I also adore this Paper Set and the matching accessories.  They also sell extremely well!

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 about a week or so to get any sales.  I just kept working and adding more and more listings. Looking back, it was really an act of faith to keep designing even when it was slow at the beginning. 

But then using social media, YouTube and my email marketing list, I have been able to grow in ways I never thought possible.

I’m grateful to every single customer that trusts me with adding little bits to their junk journals. Each sale fills me with happy gratitude!

Managing Pink Monarch Prints

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 pretty much manage the shop on my own. My daughter does some design work and she also manages a social media account for me. 

I answer questions, list products, create YouTube videos, send out emails and marketing info, etc.  I have found that if I stick to doing tiny things each day, it really helps. 

For example, each Monday, I try to do a marketing promo.  Each Tuesday, I send an email.  Each Wednesday, I try to design a new product.

The future of Pink Monarch Prints

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

Ha ha!  Right now, I am just trying to get the shop a little more organized to reduce the customer questions I need to answer.

I am also hoping to hone my design skills and keep learning new techniques.

Advice for new sellers

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

I have owned several Etsy shops over the past 10 years.  Some have done okay and some have failed miserably.  My advice is that you might fail a few times and that is OK!  

When it clicks, it will click and you will be amazed at how things fall into place.  Keep experimenting, keep adapting, and keep working.  

It’s a leap of faith to put yourself out there, so dig deep and learn from others who have been successful.  You got this!