Etsy Seller Interview with Nina of BolenArt

How BolenArt 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 shop is BolenArt, and it features products with my original fantasy art, handmade jewelry, and original art. I started out selling on eBay back in the early 2000s, and then someone told me about Etsy. I signed up for Etsy in 2008, and it’s been my main online store since.

Favorite items

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

I love the journals! I always like art that is also functional. So a journal, to me, is perfect; you have a piece of art in your hand that you can also use. They are okay sellers, but not my best-selling item. I sell more journals in my brick-and-mortar store than I do on Etsy.

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 directed my eBay customers to my Etsy store, so I think I got a sale right away. I use a lot of ways to send customers to my Etsy store. From links on my website, all my social networks, and on my business card, which I hand out at art shows and Comic-Cons. I’ve also used Etsy’s ads, Google ads, and Facebook ads in the past.

Managing BolenArt

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?

It’s just me running my shop, though my husband does help me with packing larger orders. I currently don’t use any apps and use Easy Ship to print my shipping labels. I also use Printify, a print-on-demand service that drops-ships items for me.

The future of BolenArt 

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

Listing more items. I have inventory from past Kickstarters that still needs to make it to my Etsy store.

Advice for new sellers

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

Take clear, well-lit pictures. A good picture can be the difference between a sale and someone not even looking at your listing. If you’re doing all the shipping yourself, invest in a label printer. It will save you money in the long run, and there will be no waiting in line at the post office. So it will save you time, money, and frustration.

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’s low right now, around $100, but I just had my shop on vacation, so it always takes time to pick it back up. Normally, it’s around $1,000 a month.

Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: 50%

Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: don’t know lol