Etsy Seller Interview with Julia of TheArtOfHabits

How TheArtOfHabits 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 name is Julia. I started selling on Etsy in 2020 with my grandma! She's a very talented knitter, and she knits amazing bookmarks while I design my own! I started by selling just a few stickers that I designed as well as her bookmarks, and I later started selling my bookmarks and birthday cards! My grandma makes her knitted bookmarks while I design my items on Procreate, print them on 300-gsm paper, give them a clean cut, and get them ready to ship.

Favorite items

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

These three listings are my favorites. The first one is my favorite because it was knitted by my grandmother. The next two I love because they describe my personality very well, and I love to create colorful and cute things that make me feel at home. The knitted bookmarks don't sell very well, even though they are amazing and beautiful. I think people don't see the years of experience behind them or the patience it takes to create them. The other two are selling quite well, which I think happens because people relate to them or find themselves in them like I do.

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 around 1-2 weeks to get my first sale. That was because I was promoting myself on Tiktok and growing an audience, which I still do, and I later started promoting the shop on Instagram.

Managing TheArtOfHabits

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?

Besides the knitting of bookmarks, the shop management is 100% on me. I create, print, cut, pack, and take the orders to the post office. I do not use any tools. I pack every order with a cute thank-you note and an occasional freebie that I think the buyer would enjoy. After I have a few orders together, I take them to the post office, where I put every stamp on them and put them in the post box.

The future of TheArtOfHabits

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

I would love to get my digital shop to be a physical shop, and I would like to make it more customizable and be able to create custom prints to order.

Advice for new sellers

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

My advice is to start by having an outside audience, such as a TikTok or Instagram account. Also, make sure you have your research done! Be sure to be in Etsy seller groups wherever you find them: Facebook, Reddit, etc., because it helps you stay on top of what is happening, new rules or features, and so much more!