Etsy Seller Interview with Elena and Asimenia of BasicPatternBlock

How BasicPatternBlock 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?

Hello, our friends. We are very happy to be given the opportunity to share our experience, thoughts, and knowledge with you. It will make us especially happy if we can help other creators start this wonderful journey in the Etsy shop. Our business is creating digital sewing patterns, which are basically pattern blocks. We address everyone who loves fashion and tailoring, from fashion students, craftsmen, seamstresses, and tailors to pattern makers, self-taught sewers, and professional fashion designers. We have been working on fashion and the creation of patterns for many years now. For us, this goes from generation to generation.

We studied it, developed it for several years, and, of course, passed it on by training new people with great joy. The choice of the object was one-way. 2020 was the year that stamped humanity in a negative way because of COVID. It was the year we closed ourselves in our homes and ourselves. Our love for sewing helped us spend our days very creatively. It improved our psychology, and we were able to help our friends too by sending patrons to make them equally happy. We all know how much a hobby, in this case sewing, can improve our everyday lives and boost our self-confidence, so we started to set up our store in that way too. We obviously knew the power of this platform, and that's why we chose it.

Favorite items

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

I would like to mention that most of our pattern blocks are available from ΧS-6XL and anyone can isolate and print the number they need.

We are especially happy as almost all of our products are being sold equally. If we could single out any of them, they would all be bodysuits or leotards that have been in high demand lately. They are available in a wide variety for women, men, and children.

For women:

For Men:

For children:

Also, a proper garment base for stable fabrics is a valuable help to our buyer. You don't have to experiment by starting the build from scratch. This way, one saves time and is sure of the result.

I will mention only two among many:

The sets we have are also popular:

For even larger sizes:

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?

We managed our first sale within the first week. We had a great time. You feel indescribable satisfaction when a person you don't know from the other side of the world chooses yours from among thousands of products. I can't describe this feeling to you in words. You have to really experience it, and only then will you understand it.

We continue to work intensively every day. We listen to our buyers very carefully. We always try to meet their needs if possible. We are enriching our page with new products. We are informed, and we also research the needs of the buying public.

Managing BasicPatternBlock

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 mainly two people: Elena and I. However, when we need help, and lately this happens very often, we hire specialised people. Soon we will need permanent staff. Digital patterns need a lot of time to prepare and a lot of responsible work and testing. However, no shipment is needed. Patterns are available as soon as the buyer completes the purchase of the product.

We also offer immediate assistance when the buyer needs it. More and more people have come to terms with digital patterns.

Also needing new applications to be competitive and up-to-date. We use a CAD or camera programme to create a digital pattern. Plus, illustrator, Photoshop, Canvas, Marmalade, and Google Ads

The future of BasicPatternBlock

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

Our goal is to continue doing what we do with the same love and dedication, because that's the only way we can have even better quality. To grow the sewing community worldwide by creating patterns with perfect fit and grace, and of course the goal is also to grow and reach the top with fair competition, always with appreciation to all colleagues.

Advice for new sellers

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

To choose to create a store with the person he knows well but also likes very much. There is room for everyone. Patient and persistent. To study before and after every day. To ask for help when he gets stuck somewhere and to never be disappointed!