Etsy Seller Interview with Tatyana of TsvitanaLove

How TsvitanaLove 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?

This is my Etsy shop. 9 years ago, I posted several products here. The first order was made by a scammer. I did not understand anything about sales on this site and was naïve. I sent the goods but did not receive money for them. I didn't even realize that I had been lied to. Only a few months later did I understand that I would not receive money for the first transaction. Don't worry, Etsy cares about their buyers and sellers; that kind of scam hasn't been available for a long time. But there were already other sales, and I was not upset at all.
Since then, I've met only excellent buyers here. Wonderful people. I even found two friends here for correspondence. When the war began in my country, Ukraine, they supported me every day and did not let me fall into despondency or despair.
Before creating an Etsy shop, I had been making my products for almost 3 years and selling them on social networks and local message boards, so I knew that I would keep doing it. I started with crocheted vegetables, fruits, and baby rattles. from natural materials: cotton, wool, wooden elements. It had been from the beginning. So it is now. At first, I made all the products for my store myself. But over time, I began to offer things made by my friends. For example, Svitlana Sovenko is a maker. This is the creator of all crochet doilies in this shop.

Favorite items

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

I love these mushrooms. They remind me of my childhood. I was visiting my grandparents in the village, and we went to the forest for mushrooms. This set has been sold many times. I once sold it seven times during the day. This is my highest record.

I also love this raspberry. This is one of the best selling items in my store and the most viewed. Even when I'm on vacation, I still do it and buyers love it too.

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 wrote about the first sale a little earlier. This happened three days after the store was created. The next sale happened a few weeks later. To find buyers for my products, I mostly advertise my store and new products in thematic communities on Facebook. In my case, it works.

Managing TsvitanaLove

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 the only person running and managing the store. The shipping is also on me. But there are also several of my closest friends who make goods for my shop. Yana Likhachova is the perfect creator of all the beauty made of wool in this shop. Svitlana Sovenko is the creator of all the crochet doilies in this shop. Mila Golyanik is a talented painter.
Now that I've been forced to leave Ukraine due to hostilities, I'm working and sending packages from Greece. My friends are also in other countries now: Yana is in Germany, Svitlana is in Norway, and only Mila stayed in Ukraine. I am very worried about her.

The future of TsvitanaLove

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

I love what I do. For me, it's work and rest. This is my passion. I think that is why I managed to do this business for so long and, in my opinion, successfully.
I really want the war in Ukraine to end and my family and friends, who are scattered all over the world, to return home. I do what I love, and it really supports me during this difficult time. I want to keep doing this. I also plan to expand and develop the shop, where I offer crochet patterns: HeatHand- Etsy Shop

Advice for new sellers

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

I think we are all different, and what works for some may not work for others. But I see that what many successful Etsy sellers have in common is a passion for their work. This is something more than a hobby or just a business. If you work with passion, you’ll most likely achieve success on Etsy.

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

Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: In different periods, this value was different. I started with a few sales per month (about 150 dollars per month). Now I earn about 1000–1500 dollars (net). I understand that for the USA, for example, this is not an impressive amount. But in Ukraine, the salary of a good teacher or doctor is half that.

‍Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: The usual value is 90%. Now, due to the fact that I am in an unfamiliar country, it is difficult to find the best option for the necessary materials (about 70%).

Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: 1%