Etsy Seller Interview with Katerina of SewingHobbyHomeDecor

How SewingHobbyHomeDecor 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?

With the advent of the Internet in my house in 2009, I began to try different hobbies. At the same time, I did scrapbooking, stained glass painting, and teddy bears. I have exhibited my work on Etsy and other online platforms. And over time, I realized that it was my toys that were in demand. I started making pet toy portraits with Teddy Bear technology. So, I received my first orders and also learned to make various patterns and tried new techniques and materials because each new order was a new breed, which forced me to create new patterns. After 4 years, I created my first pdf pattern. Now patterns take up most of my Etsy store; I don't list custom portrait toys on Etsy as I get enough orders from my old social media clients.

Favorite items

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

One of the popular products in my store is a pattern with video instructions for creating a realistic hare. I think this is a great way to make an original decoration for Easter.

I love this video tutorial on making a realistic wolf toy. This is my last tutorial, and I have put all my knowledge into it since 2010.

And this little rat is very popular.

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 registered my shop on Etsy in 2011, I think. The first sale was a month later; if I remember correctly, it was a box decorated by me. Right now, I'm using a small budget to advertise on Etsy. Up to 5 euros per day. Update tags for the holidays. The statistics also show a good increase in visitors from Pinterest.

Managing SewingHobbyHomeDecor 

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?

Yes, I'm the only one running the store. Before the big holidays, I change captions and tags. Update the first photo. Every day, I update three listings. I use Etsy apps on my smartphone. I have an assistant who does mechanical work such as stitching parts. I create the patterns and design them myself. I also involve a translator when I create a new PDF product since my native language is Ukrainian. Since I have PDF products, Etsy handles delivery automatically. If there is an order for toys, I also do it myself because creating a portrait toy takes a long time, from 1 week to more. I do not take many orders for toys, as I said earlier.

The future of SewingHobbyHomeDecor 

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

I want to add one new PDF product per month, ideally every week. After 13 years of work, I have accumulated a huge number of my own patterns. I want it to help me increase my sales.

Advice for new sellers

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

The past year was very difficult for me since I lost my workshop and home due to Russian aggression. And I was very grateful to myself for not being too lazy one day to create an Etsy store and make PDF patterns. Because this is the only thing I have left after evacuating to another country with one suitcase. So, it turned out that my store helped me survive and restore the workshop and equipment in a new location in one year. My advice is not to chase big advertising budgets but to do a little work every day in your store.