Etsy Seller Interview with Katy of skinnycrafts91

How skinnycrafts91 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?

My Etsy shop is called SkinnyCrafts91. I started selling on Etsy back in 2016 when I got laid off from a job where I had worked for 4 years. I then started looking for another job, and none of them excited me. I’ve always been a crafty person, so I made the decision to just open an Etsy shop and sell what I make best. Stickers! I’ve always made stickers for friends and family and some events, and I had everything I needed to start an Etsy shop, so I went for it. I started with a Silhouette Portrait and used Avery full sheet sticker paper and a standard inkjet printer. With time, my sales increased, so I had to find a vendor with better pricing for sticker sheets. I came across OnlineLabels.com and they had such a variety that I ended up offering more finishes in my shop.

Favorite items

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

Out of all the items I sell, stickers are definitely my favorite thing to make. Mostly because they can be made very quickly and I can add my creative twist. My stickers sell very well, especially the custom ones. I offer custom sizes, finishes, and shapes and this is something most sticker makers don’t offer. Therefore, they are my best sellers.

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 7 months to make my first sale, and I promote in a lot of Facebook groups that allow self-promotion to keep sales coming in. 

Managing skinnycrafts91

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 now, it’s just me and I use the Etsy Seller app. I don’t need any additional apps as the Etsy Seller app has everything I need. For shipping and fulfillment, I use a scale and a Dymo thermal printer. This has sped up my process so much! It is well worth the investment.

The future of skinnycrafts91

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

My goal is to add an embroidery line. For now, I’ve been selling it locally, but I’m thinking about adding it to my Etsy shop soon.

Advice for new sellers

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

Don’t give up! I’ve seen many sellers give up after a few months. It takes time and so much patience. Many will share the bad things about it, but not a lot of them share the good.

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

Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: $10,000 on a good month 

Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: $8,000

Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: 3.1%