Etsy Seller Interview with Crank of TheCrankCave

How TheCrankCave 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’m Edd (although the internet better knows me as “Crank”) and I run a pop culture inspired store called The Crank Cave. Since 2017 I’ve sold a multitude of officially licensed and original design pins, patches, stickers and other accessories all based around and inspired by classic movies and TV shows. I predominantly focus on Ghostbusters (my favorite movie) but I have also produced merchandise inspired by other properties like Power Rangers and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

I initially had no interest in starting my own store (the idea wasn’t even on my radar) but a year prior I had begun sharing my artwork online via various forums and social media sites that had started to gain interest. I was sharing the pieces purely for enjoyment but as more and more people started asking for pin badges, stickers, etc. there’s really only so many times people can say “I’d give you money for that” before you start letting them, haha.

I started with fabric patches. As someone who grew up in the alternative music scene I collected band patches like they were going out of fashion (I still do!) so to have my own line of patches felt like a great place to start. From there it was just about listening to my customers; if they want pins I create pins, if they want fridge magnets or keyrings then that’s what I’ll do. You’re nothing without your customers so their wants and needs are really all that matters.

I design all of the non-licensed merchandise myself, and then work closely with a range of UK based companies to turn those designs into the physical merchandise you can buy in my store. Quality is really important to me; almost anyone can produce a sticker or keyring these days so competition has never been high, but to create long lasting pieces requires a little more dedication and this is where I feel The Crank Cave rises above many of my competitors.

Favorite items

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

I think my favorite item in the store right now is probably my "No Dohnuts" vinyl sticker and fridge magnet. The Simpsons and Ghostbusters aren’t normally two things you’d put together, but I love the way you can look at this design and immediately get both references.

I’m also very fond of my "Real Ghostbusters Firehouse" patch. Anyone who grew up in the late 1980s or early 1990s will remember this Firehouse playset (originally manufactured by Kenner) as the ultimate toy or playset of their childhood. Everyone wanted one and to this day adults scour the internet trying to find one for their collections. Releasing it as a patch meant that I could sew it on a bag and literally take my favorite childhood toy everywhere I went. It’s gone over so well with fans that it’s now also available as a sticker and keychain (with a pin and magnet coming in 2023).

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 was incredibly fortunate in that people were so excited for the launch of my first item (a Halloween pumpkin version of the iconic Ghostbusters logo, released as a patch) that I made my first sale within minutes of launching the store. That item was so popular that it actually sold out in less than 48 hours.

I don’t put an excessive amount of time into promoting the store because I think you can risk falling into the trap of being more focused on making sales than anything else. As I mentioned before, I launched this store due to demand, but it was born out of a love of being creative and creating representations of things I loved from my childhood. I have an Instagram account for the store (@TheCrankCave) where I post semi-regularly, but to be honest with you, that’s about it.

Managing TheCrankCave

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 manage The Crank Cave entirely by myself, from customer service to shipping and everything in between. I use the Etsy app for order fulfillment and Royal Mail’s "Drop & Go" service for shipping (which I’d highly recommend if you ship regularly). Because pins and patches take up little space, I can keep my entire inventory and all packaging materials in my home office, making picking and packing a breeze, especially since I offer same/next day dispatch and frequently find myself fulfilling orders six days a week. 

The future of TheCrankCave

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

I think expanding my range of products is probably my main goal going forward. I love the creation process, and taking on the challenge of producing an entirely new product is something I always look forward to. Top of the "wishlist" would probably be creating my own action figure. It's something I currently know nothing about, but it's an idea I’ve always gravitated toward. More realistically, though, I’m moving into the world of greeting cards. After a couple of successful sell-out Christmases with my holiday cards, customers have begun approaching me about cards for other holidays and occasions throughout the year, so that's next on my agenda.

Advice for new sellers

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

The best piece of advice I can offer a new seller is to treat every customer like they’re your only customer. The internet is so disconnected that online shopping can be quite a cold experience, so make your customer feel valued; give them your time, and let them know just how much you value their business. We can’t compete with the speed and efficiency of Amazon, so our real strength is customer relations. Oh, and people love a freebie; whether it's an extra bit of merchandise or some sweets, nothing makes a customer’s day quite like getting a little something extra with their order.