Etsy Seller Interview with Veronica of Splendid Moment

How Splendid Moment 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 breathe design. I’ve been designing since I was in middle school. I had designed business cards and websites for businesses and had sold my art and photography prints throughout my childhood and adolescence. Splendid Moment came about because I wanted to continue doing something I love.

I discovered Etsy when I sold an old folding table on Facebook Marketplace to a local jewelry designer. She offered to pay in Etsy store credits. Curious, I looked up her Etsy store and went down the rabbit-hole of browsing Etsy handmade goods. This led me to wedding invitations - which led to me discovering two online platforms which allow customers to edit designs in browser. It was amazing. The idea that I could just focus on designing and digitally deliver my designs to a customer was brilliant. So I got started.

Over time, I researched what sold, and what didn’t. I messaged customers who bought my items and asked them why they bought it, if they liked the design, what they were going to use it for, etc. Over time, I developed a system and an artistic style that works for my customers on Etsy.

Favorite items

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

I love items from my CELINE and ISLA Collection. I’ve always gravitated towards things that are elegant, bold yet simple. Fundamentally, that’s what Splendid Moment is. And these two collections encapsulate our brand focus and identity.

When I first designed these collections, there was nothing like them out there.

Against popular advice, I designed items I’d want for myself. I had no feedback from others, did little research — I designed them based only on my intuition to create something that I’d buy, that I’d find beautiful.

The fact that these two collections resonated so well with couples was a surprise. Even all the copycat designs that came after their launch were flattering in an odd sort of way. 

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 took about 2 weeks. It was massively exciting.

We now attract customers with good designs, attention to detail, and great customer service.

They learn about us through social media. We work with photographers and event planners on styled shoots both locally and abroad. We’ve also been featured on Brides.com, Rocky Mountain Bride, Junebug and other large wedding websites and magazines.

Managing Splendid Moment

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 fulfilment?

Splendid Moment is no longer just a one-person shop. As much as I’d love to be able to do everything myself — which is something I enjoyed doing back when it was feasible — we now have various people helping us with customer service, photography, design edits, and digital marketing. 

We use various tools, namely Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator. For social media, we use too many apps to name. 

The future of Splendid Moment

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

Our goal is to continue to do great work and to take care of our customers!

Advice for new sellers

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

I'd recommend doing something that you love - or whatever it is you're already good at and finding an industry where your items will really help other people. Helping people solve a problem is key. This can be printables, it can be physical products, it can even be a course on your knowledge of a subject that other people would like to learn about.

I see hundreds - thousands of shops, here on Etsy, Shopify, IG pop up and disappear. They come and go quickly. The biggest issue is that these shop owners listen to others and do what they think will make money, instead of focusing on doing something they love. Don't waste your time starting something you can't see yourself doing every day for 9+ hours a day for many years to come.

And if you choose to do something, you'll want to set tons of time aside to do it, expect 50+ hours a week, the first few years minimum. That's why you need to love what you do. It makes all the difference in the end!