Etsy Seller Interview with Anna of ZombieUnicornJewelry

How ZombieUnicornJewelry 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?

Ever since I was a kid, I was the creative sort, but I nevertheless finished my degree in something completely different. My fellow student actually invited me to the world of polymer clay as a hobby, and after I couldn't find a job in my field, I started playing with clay. and realized I’m actually good at it. Etsy wasn’t my first place to sell my items. I started with friends and family, local markets, and anime conventions. In 2014, I moved my business from Storenvy to Etsy and kind of started from scratch. I saw how popular fandom merch was and my first "hit" was actually baby Groot jewelry. Along with some less popular material.

It just snowballed from there. My biggest inspiration was always street style and alternative fashion. Back then, pastel and nu-goth were really big, and so I sold crosses, skulls, horn hair clips, and other "creepy cute" items. And as the styles changed, so did my jewelry. Some, of course, are old-time classics and probably will never disappear from the shop.

Oh, I was supposed to tell you how I make my stuff. I use FIMO (European brand) polymer clay. I sculpt everything by hand. Then it goes into the oven (sounds like a cake recipe). Time to sand and varnish the items and add all the finishing touches. And if the designs are new, then comes the most boring stuff for me: photos, adding items to the store and advertising them on my social media. I wish I wasn't a one-person operation sometimes.

Favorite items

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

That is a difficult question! It’s like asking if I have a favorite child! But here are some of the designs I’m most proud of. The first one on the list is a bestseller. I think I was able to update a classic anatomical heart design and make it a bit different, but still cute and creepy.

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?

Thanks to my following back then, I was able to make some sales during the first month, but it was a process. Unfortunately, I lost my Instagram account last year, with over 16k followers, and I’m slowly rebuilding it. So, as you can imagine, this year my sales dropped significantly. I’m happy Etsy is still doing its part to attract customers. I’m also trying to grow my TikTok account, but I’m not that great at social media.

Managing ZombieUnicornJewelry

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?

As I mentioned, I am a one-person operation. For managing the store, I use the Etsy app. It’s the best way to contact customers quickly and efficiently. For social media, I use Instagram, TikTok, and Tumblr. I use the Polish Postal Service for shipping, and despite the fact that I spend a lot of time in the offices, there are currently no shipping slips for Polish sellers. But I manage.

The future of ZombieUnicornJewelry

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

I do want to become more known for my second-hand plushies that I give new life to. I would also like to have more incentive to use social media and have a bigger following. Plus, I may discover a new niche so I can bring some new goods to the store.

Advice for new sellers

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

That is a tricky question—when I started in 2014, everything was a bit different in the sellers’ sphere. I would say, find a niche that brings you joy. Don’t be afraid to be "out there". And maybe don’t put your eggs all in one basket-try different things. Not every design and product will be a hit. Be patient and maybe the next one will surprise you.

And be wary of "influencers" who want items for free. Oh, and invest in a good logo that says something about your store.