How AngadCreations 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?
Our Story Angad Creations was founded in 1992 by Jaspreet Singh Bahri, who was inspired by the talent and artistic skills of indigenous artisans he met while visiting a small village in Kashmir. There, he discovered that hand embroidery on shawls and Indian ethnic dresses, as well as the processing of raw pashmina wool to make handwoven wraps, were the primary sources of income for the villagers.
With a passionate belief that every artisan has an artistic vision no less than any world-renowned artist, Jaspreet started Angad Creations to showcase the creativity of these talented artisans to the world while providing them with a livelihood. The lack of education and wealth often prevented Indian craftsmen from showcasing their art to the world, so Jaspreet sought to bridge this gap by providing a platform for their work.
Today, Angad Creations works with artisans living in the villages and towns of Jammu and Kashmir, giving them a channel to showcase their art and make a living for their large families. Despite some of them living in a small single room with minimum amenities, the team believes their art can create incredible, innovative fashion that can be cherished and embraced by everyone, whether they are pure lovers of art or fashionistas.
Angad Creations' designers work jointly with the artisans to create stunning design patterns on trace papers. We provide them with high-quality textiles dyed in-house, sourced from various manufacturers across India. The craftsmen then use these trace papers to draw the designs on the fabrics and the woven shawls. After the pattern-drawing process, the craftsmen do the actual embroidery work on these fabrics. The finishing of embroidered fabrics and shawls involves removing stains using finishing solvents and ironing the stainless fabrics using a roller steam iron to make the embroidery sit well on the fabric and shawls. The finished fabrics are then used to create elegant apparel that is bought by consumers, knowingly or not, to support the art of these craftsmen, provide them with a livelihood, and own marvelous, unique fashion pieces.
Angad Creations' mission is to show the world that these craftsmen are not less than any world-renowned artist and can do wonders if given a chance. The team is working with these artisans to create unique ethnic dresses and shawls and encouraging them to continue the legacy of weaving traditional shawls with Kashmiri hand embroidery, a dying art.
Deciding to sell on Etsy. We were introduced to the platform by one of our local customers, who highly recommended it as a great platform to showcase our products. Intrigued by this suggestion, we took a closer look and recognized the tremendous potential it offered for our business. After studying the initial setup, we were able to launch the store in late 2015.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
I am excited to share a few of our favorite products. We've put a lot of effort into designing these items, and we believe they represent the best of what we have to offer. These products often catch the eye of shoppers, and our customers consistently give us positive feedback on them. And this makes us feel proud and motivates us to come up with even more creative styles.
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?
Maintain hope and persevere. It may take some time to establish trust, particularly as an online seller. In our case, it took approximately 8–9 months to secure our first sale. However, once we began to accumulate positive reviews, our business became more recognizable and easier to discover. We are committed to optimizing our listings to increase visibility and make our products more accessible to potential customers.
Managing AngadCreations
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?
We are a dedicated team working together to streamline our Etsy operations. Our team includes a production and shipping manager who is responsible for managing customers’ orders. We also have a digital expert who is responsible for capturing product images and adding new products to our online store. I am responsible for managing the customer experience and overseeing the technical aspects of the business. Finally, my dad and my brother are responsible for designing new products and overseeing the overall operations of the business.
We have a business tie-up with DHL, and we use them as our courier partner.
Apps & Tools
Grammarly: We consistently use Grammarly to ensure that our descriptions are grammatically accurate and that we don't have any errors.
Trello: Trello is excellent project management software, and we use it to store all order information, including deadlines. This way, we can streamline everything and fulfill our commitments efficiently.
Templates: To save time on frequently asked questions, we utilize email and messaging templates.
Adobe Lightroom: For editing our product images, we use Adobe Lightroom. I think it is easy-to-use software with lots of powerful features for the best end results.
The future of AngadCreations
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
Our primary objective is to elevate our customers' shopping experience by expanding our product offerings and enhancing our customer service. We are committed to taking our business to the next level and delivering unparalleled value to our valued customers. We also want to push our website so that we can get more sales as an additional platform.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
- Be Honest: Honesty is the most important thing when it comes to selling on Etsy. Be transparent about your products, their quality, and any other details that customers should know before making a purchase. Being upfront about your policies, shipping times, and refunds and exchanges will help you build trust with your customers.
- Quality Photos: High-quality photos are essential to showcase your products and attract potential customers. Make sure your photos are well-lit, clear, and show your products from different angles.
- Clear Descriptions: Your product descriptions should be clear, concise, and informative. Make sure to include all the necessary details about your products, such as size, color, materials, and any special features. Use keywords to help your products appear in search results.
AngadCreations
Playing With Embroideries Since 1992
