Etsy Seller Interview with Brianna of theglimmerco

How theglimmerco 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 Brianna Elizabeth, the owner, founder, and designer behind The Glimmer Collective LLC on Etsy. I never would have imagined my "one day" dream would become a reality. After finishing graduate school, becoming a mother, and losing myself to the 9-5 working mom lifestyle, I didn't know who I was or what made me happy. Something in the back of my mind always led me towards creativity, specifically drawing. After being relentlessly encouraged by my colleague (thank you, Andrew), I bought my very first iPad in April 2024 and started to draw for the first time since I was a young girl. By July 2024, I had launched my Etsy shop, intending to change the world, one smile at a time. 

My 9-5 healthcare career was the primary inspirational fuel for my small business. As a recreation therapist within an acute, adult inpatient psychiatric hospital, I have observed the direct impact of the community's mental health disparities, generational trauma, and lifelong stigma surrounding mental illness. I've observed that my patients have an overwhelming sense of perceived worthlessness, hopelessness, and inability to be loved.

Rewiring our entire filing cabinet of trauma, negative self-talk, and unhealthy coping skills seems like an unachievable task, especially in today's world. However, one concept consistently supports taking small steps towards feeling our best and being our best selves- glimmers. The word glimmer describes the feeling of joy, happiness, and wholeness from experiencing small everyday moments. Glimmers are rooted in finding the small things in our lives to bring a smile to our faces, romanticize, or even provide hope for change.

The Glimmer Collective is a positively creative small business that highlights the little moments in life that leave big positive impacts through digital designs and merchandise. It provides stickers, healthcare badge reels, bookmarks, notebooks, and glasses to rekindle our compassion, kindness, hope, and ultimately our humanness. 10% of all annual sales are donated directly to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to promote support, advocacy, and research funding for those with mental health challenges.

I am 100% self-taught via TikTok and Instagram Reels. I design and produce all stickers in-house using my trusty Epson 8550 printer and Cricut. I collaborate with various UV DTF manufacturers and manufacturers to assist in cutting acrylic blanks. Currently, as of May 2025, I design, manufacture, market, and package items out of the corner of my bedroom that I share with my fiancé and daughter, in my parents' home. 

Favorite items

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

My favorite products currently are the Glimmer Definition Sticker, the You Are Not Your Diagnosis Badge Reel, and the Blue Coquette Charm Bookmark. These products encompass the goal of the Glimmer Collective LLC to provide positively creative designs and also tap into new niches and unique products. I find the items that do the best are the ones I am most passionate about and those I am most excited to launch.

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 hit the ground running after launching my shop in July 2024. I got my first sale a day or so after launching from friends and family via a Facebook post. However, I knew that would not be sustainable. I invested primarily in Etsy ads and word of mouth, specifically with in-person networking events within my healthcare sector. At the end of 2024, after only 5 months of business and ads, I had totaled 400 individual sales in person and online, reaching 40 states within the United States and 5 countries worldwide. 

Currently, I have been stepping up my SEO game. I have utilized Alura AI marketing features and am doing individual research on current niche trends to optimize visibility and sales. I have switched from primarily investing in Etsy Ads to Meta Ads on Instagram. Since making that switch in February of 2025, I have gained almost 2000 new followers and tripled my monthly shop visits and sales. 

Managing theglimmerco

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 am a solopreneur! I work on my business as my third shift job from 8-12 am after my 9-5 and after my daughter falls asleep. I use Cricut Design Space and Procreate in the design process. I use Etsy Seller primarily to track listings and inventory.  For marketing and brand alignment, I use Canva, Instories, and CapCut. I handle all shipping and fulfillment solo. I aim to have all orders processed and shipped out within 3 business days of purchase. 

The future of theglimmerco

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

My biggest long-term goal is to turn this side business into my primary revenue source. Additionally, I would like to expand my merchandise to include T-shirts, tote bags, coffee sleeves, pop socks, and phone cases. 

As for advocacy, I would like the Glimmer Collective to become an official sponsor for NAMI or other smaller community-level mental health awareness and advocacy organizations. 

Advice for new sellers

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

Create something you’re passionate about. It’s easy to catch the trends and have micro-influxes of sales. Oftentimes, the trends die out as quickly as they start. If you create a product and a brand that you’re proud and passionate about, your customers and clients will feel that through all of your items. Also, don’t get discouraged. Creating a profitable long-term business takes time, consistency, and hard work. Try not to compare yourself to larger brands that may have been around for much longer and started just where you are now.