How Alpenkaetzle 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?
Hi, My name is Andrea, and I am 37 years old. I'm actually a nurse, but back in 2014, I wanted a change. I went to school again, and so it slowly started with my little shop. First, only very small, then with my own homepage. Shortly after that, I started selling on DaWanda and, since 2018, on Etsy. I've always been very creative, and I've now been able to put this into practice with my own products. It all started with smaller cosmetic bags. On Etsy, in the beginning, I mainly sold backpacks and bags. In the meantime, I hardly ever sell backpacks; instead, I sell a lot of fanny packs, smaller bags, and jewelry.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
My favorites in the shop are definitely our fanny packs in color block style, multi-way bags and backpack bags, and the color block shoulder bags. I think they sell well because I always have a special choice of fabrics. For me, everything is very bright and colorful.
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 can't say exactly how long it took until I had the first sale in my shop, but it was definitely 3–4 weeks. I actually advertise on Etsy regularly and try to keep everything up-to-date as much as I can.
Managing Alpenkaetzle
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?
The shop is completely managed by me. I keep track of everything on my own, take the photos, edit them, and then post them on Etsy. From product development to the finished product, everything is in my hands. I only occasionally use apps for image editing, such as PhotoRoom, etc. For me, the product is usually only manufactured when the order is received. Nevertheless, I try to send my things after 3–4 days at the latest. So far, I've been doing the shipping myself.
The future of Alpenkaetzle
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
In the future, I would like to pay a little more attention to ensuring that everything in the shop is up-to-date with regard to attributes, etc. I would also like to make my pictures a little more professional, and there should also be more jewelry.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
The most important thing is the products; they have to be convincing. Of course, good photos and a good product description (size, length, etc.) help! It is best to add a short video to each product so that potential buyers can see the product even better and are convinced more quickly in the end. Customer service is, of course, also my top priority, and I really try to answer every question that comes in as quickly as possible. Contact should be friendly and respectful. Try to respond to requests as quickly as possible and keep to your shipping times. So you will get your first positive reviews, and the next sales will surely come soon. But of course, you just need a bit of patience and trust in your products at the beginning.
Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.
Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: It is around €2000-€2500
