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How Architoyz 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?
We are Ihor, Roksolana, Tymofii, Yarema, and Luka, the creators of the family wooden studio Architoyz, based in Lviv, Ukraine. Inspired by watching our first son grow, we began creating modern wooden furniture that was full of stories and open to the children’s imagination. Ihor is an Architect, using his hands to create useful things for kids. I (Roksolana) am an architect, doing everything else for the shop, like taking photos, customer service, and marketing. Hence the name of our studio, Architoyz. In our production, we use the highest quality materials and exclusively our own patented designs.
We lived in a small apartment when our first son, Tymofii, was born. Therefore, all our products are compactly folded. This is one of our key advantages. Also, all goods are delivered fully assembled. You need to unpack and enjoy. Provide a child with the opportunity to reach new heights in their own time and in a safe environment by grasping, standing, climbing, swinging, playing, and building strength and confidence. Perfect for sensory and motor development.
Our brand slogan is Climb Up to Explore More. By making furniture with better values, we hope it will become a lasting part of your life and a meaningful part of your story. Also, wooden furniture that smells like a forest appears to be the perfect decoration for those who love handcrafted interior elements. Architoyz are charged with good energy because our furniture is born in a family where love prevails. We deliver our products all over the world by our national postal service, Ukrposhta, FedEx, and UPS. There were no problems with delivery until February 24, 2022, when Russia attacked our country and started a war. A difficult period in our lives began and continues to this day.
Our little workshop really started in the garage. My husband independently did everything from drawings to cutting, grinding, painting, packing, etc. Now we are proud to have our own production, where 10 craftsmen work who love their work and put their love into each product. We already have a lot of experience behind us, and at the same time, there is still so much development ahead.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
Our favourite products are kitchen helper towers.
This is Tower Peak, an Etsy bestseller for the third year. This is the first folding tower on Etsy. We have been working on this design for over a year. We felt all the advantages of the tower when our second son was born. He really got to know the world through the tower. Already at the age of one, he ran to the kitchen and motioned for us to get him his tower. In this way, the son got safe and comfortable access to the sink and the kitchen work surface. He learned independence in a safe way. Our second Leleka tower is currently a bestseller on Etsy:
Twice as thin, lighter, and more compact. This tower will fit into the tightest space in your home. Only 3.54in (9 cm) deep when it's folded. This helper tower is perfect for small kitchens and smart apartments. It's easy to open, close, and move, and it's also very strong and stable, ensuring safety for your child. We developed this design when our country was already at war. When the sound of sirens is loud, when Russian rockets destroyed and still destroy our cities and take lives. This tower is like a breath of fresh air for our production. A reminder that even in such a difficult time, we must develop and create something new, unique, and special. Our latest novelty mini-helper tower is up:
The Mini Helper Tower UP is designed according to the Montessori principles of building independence, like all Architoyz products. Equipped with an adjustable mechanism for added convenience and easy folding. This versatile stool can serve as a stepladder, a chair, or even a stepladder for adults. Our sons absolutely love this tower chair. They carry it all over the house.
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?
Oh, great question. Let's go back to the end of 2018. Our first son was 18 months old at that time, and we were searching the Internet for various interesting toys and furniture for his development. We came across the Pickler triangle. They were not so popular then, but they were very interesting. My husband always wanted to make something with his hands, so we made a triangle for our son. He loved his gift very much. This mini-playground at home has become a great tool for training his strength and confidence. At this time, we found out about Etsy and decided to try selling this product there. It was more for fun than making money.
At that time, upon request, the triangle showed up to 100 products; now there are almost 3,000. I still remember how I jumped for joy when our triangle was bought. We've done a great job growing organically without advertising or ancillary sources. What can we say here? We were lucky because we created a unique product at the right time that was not available on the market. However, everything cool is quickly copied. The same situation occurred with the tower. We are proud to say that we were the first to sell our folding helper tower on Etsy.
Managing architoyz
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?
Until 2023, I alone did all the work related to the Etsy store: adding listings, writing product descriptions, searching for hashtags, communicating with customers, creating shipping invoices, and more. In the seventh month of my pregnancy with my third child, in January of this year, I realised that I could no longer do everything myself. That's why I couldn't finish this interview for so long. I am very ashamed because I really wanted to, but there was not enough time in the day. Conclusion: A great team is half the success. Now I delegate part of the work to my assistant.
I love our children very much, and first of all, I am a wife and a mother, and at the same time, our business is also our fourth child. We also have an excellent SMM specialist who helps us develop our social networks. Please enjoy.
We also use Etsy advertising with a budget of $15. I guess I need to revisit this point.
Delivery: Previously, we took all parcels to the post office ourselves. We even bought a pickup truck for it (laughs). Now a courier comes to our workshop and picks up all shipments.
The future of Architoyz
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
We want as many families as possible around the world to experience all the benefits of Architoyz products. It is very sad to say, but now there are a lot of copies of our products. We have copyright and patented designs, and we fully protect our furniture. However, this does not stop violators. We understand that if we are copied, it means that we have really created something unique and valuable. Therefore, we aim to develop as much as possible and deliver an original product to our customers.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
Always move forward. Don't walk, but run. The world is moving very fast now. Jump into your fears; they will only lead you to your own development.
Etsy is a great platform to announce yourself to the world. A person from the other side of the planet will become for you not only a buyer but also a friend.
Be honest and open. If you're waiting for a sign, here it is.
The war taught us to appreciate every day. Use it to the fullest. Find time for daily joy and gratitude.
Climb up to explore more. And the main rule: the customer is always right; even if it is not so, he is still right.
Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.
Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: $24-28000
Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: 1.5%
