How PremaFelt 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 kept trying several handicrafts, and finally, felting became my favorite. It is a miracle how life is created from wool fibers. I started with a casual job as a hobby. It was reassuring, engaging, and an exciting challenge all at the same time. I belong to that category of people who like to do something and would like to sell it. I approached from here. My goal was to be able to do what I loved, but I regretted using my valuable time for a hobby, so I wanted to sell what I was making. What I do, I'm used to doing with full effort, and that was the case with this as well. I worked 6–8 hours a day with product creation, learning, social media, and SEO. I wasn't online before. I read a lot of articles and learned about photography and basic Photoshop management. I joined Facebook groups and read everything backward and asked others for their opinions and help. I've been doing it ever since.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
Well, it's not easy to choose, but in the end, I like to make kittens the most, even though they are also the most difficult. It is a challenge, and I am not yet satisfied with the quality of my work. I am constantly experimenting and improving the quality; it may take years to perfect them! That's why it's never boring. My work is my passion!
The story of my other favorite product is that when I needed a cat's eye template and scale drawings of animals for my work, I couldn't find the right one. That's when it occurred to me that I would make them for myself and that they would be useful for others. This is how two digital products were born, which became very popular: Well, these are my favorites.
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?
My first sale was after half a year, and when I expanded the stock with digital products related to felting, I reached another customer base; not only the lovers of needle felting but also the makers found me. I plan to make more of these, but the digital world is taxing, so it's slow going. For the first year, I had 10-15 daily visitors, but as sales increased, so did the number of feedbacks and visitors.
I am present on social media most of the time, so they know me and consider me a reliable seller. This is hard work for me because managing the online interface is not my nature; unfortunately, it quickly exhausts me. There are still opportunities to use it.
Managing PremaFelt
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 started needle felting in 2017. I work alone, and I have my workshop in my kitchen, which is a table and a shelf, and a lot of boxes. I take photos with my phone on the terrace, and there are a couple of apps that I use to edit the pictures on my phone as well. I use Google Translate to write in English because I don't speak that language. Real bohemian life. It is very important that I respond immediately when I receive a message from a customer, keep it personal, and be available (if I am not sleeping).
On a standard order, all products are ready to ship. I call the courier that day, and the next day I deliver the package with FedEx, which can be anywhere in a day or two. This is important to me because I'm always very nervous until they receive the package in order. I thank you for the reviews, and I write a message to help you download the file. Whoever doesn't download the purchased file after a week I try to be a helpful seller. 50% of my time is spent felting, and the other 50% is spent on background work. But I don't mind.
The future of PremaFelt
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
Because I don't want to grow, I want to remain a brand associated with a name. The brand itself is what I made it. And now that I've reached my limit, my goal is to improve the quality of my work and create more and more perfect pieces. to make a name for myself in my profession and for my creations to be loved, and to bring happiness to others.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
I recommend new Etsy sellers take care of most things in advance: packaging, mailing, procurement of raw materials, and then opening the shop when there are already 30 to 40 products because that way they are prepared and the shop will be attractive. They should also look into SEO techniques because they are the heart of online commerce. Maybe join an Etsy seller group for help; luckily, Etsy provides all the help and conditions a beginner shopper needs. You may also need patience; the dynamics of the store are different for everyone. But be enthusiastic, and don't worry; hard work will pay off.
Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.
Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: 50%
Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: 2-3 % 30 day
PremaFelt
Needle felted animals from the heart of Europe! 2017
