Etsy Seller Interview with Ginger of BedlamSupplyCo

How BedlamSupplyCo 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! I’m Ginger, the sole proprietor of my shop, Bedlam Supply Co. Around 2009, I began making paper goods for myself, including notecards and garlands. These were more gothic in style—a bit Victorian with a darker, spooky touch. I was also creating Halloween garlands featuring the designs of Halloween’s past—vintage styles from the 1940s through the 1980s. I was getting such positive responses to my handmade items that I finally opened an Etsy shop in 2011. I created things that I loved that I couldn’t find anywhere else, geared towards Halloween enthusiasts and those who loved the strange and unusual My products are mostly paper and cardstock-derived, so I always use recycled materials and reuse everything I possibly can. I also make buttons, mostly out of retro movie nostalgia.

Favorite items

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

Some of my favourite items are my Halloween vintage mask garlands, as well as my more unusual doll head garlands. I had a customer purchase the doll head garland to hang about the house as a prank on her husband, who had a fear of dolls!

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 believe it took about a week. Tags are so important, and I would change them frequently to see what attracted more visits. In 2011, I made a Facebook page for my shop and later an Instagram page. The Instagram page in particular is very helpful and brings in many visitors and customers. I don’t have any other forms of social media, and I try to renew and add new products fairly often to keep my shop fresh and attract new people. I have many repeat customers as well, which I am so thankful for.

Managing BedlamSupplyCo

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?

My shop is a one-woman operation, and during the holidays, that can be very overwhelming! Over the years, I’ve learned to pace myself. I use two Etsy apps, one being the seller app, and those are quite helpful. Every morning I jot down all the items I need to create for the orders that are due and then print off the shipping labels on a label maker. (A purchase that I should have made many years ago!) It’s all a system of printing, creating, and then packaging and labeling. Then a trip to the post office, followed by (more) coffee

The future of BedlamSupplyCo

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

I’ve had many requests for making some of my button designs into t-shirts, which I’d like to branch off into. In the past, I’ve made totes and mugs and would like to bring those back as well. My goals are simple: keep my customers happy, maintain my shop, and maintain my sanity in the process, haha!

Advice for new sellers

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

Create a social media page early on and get followers with similar interests. Instagram worked best for me. When my shop had a decent amount of items, I frequently held giveaways on my social media page. This not only helped get my products more noticed but also reeled in more followers. Especially if your shop is new, keep adding items. Share your shop link with everyone and ask them to share it. Yes, you may seem annoying about it, but your friends and family should understand. It’s such a labour of love, and it’s not an easy process on your own, but you can absolutely do it.