Etsy Seller Interview with Naomi of BumbleWolfGifts

How BumbleWolfGifts 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! I’m Naomi, and I am the owner and founder of Bumble Wolf Gifts, a pet business that specializes in dog gift boxes. I sell a variety of gifts for dogs and puppies of all ages, breeds, and sizes. I started the business in 2020 after quitting my previous role as a recruitment advisor for a care company, taking a big risk to go self-employed, and using my savings to start the business. I knew right away that I wanted to specialize in gift boxes, as I found a gap in the market for my ideas and I love putting hampers together. I began by creating the shop on Etsy with little experience in selling and started with one single item. I then built it up from there, using the funds from selling my products to source more items and create more gift boxes. I now also run my own website as well as my shop on Etsy.

I am a huge dog and animal lover and own a Siberian Husky myself, so I understand the massive part that dogs play in people’s lives, and my aim has always been to help dog owners give some joy to their furry friends. I am very particular about the products I include in my shop and always encourage dog owners to provide the details of their dog's breed, size, age, and likes and dislikes so that I am able to ensure each item is specifically chosen for that dog. I spend a lot of hours researching suppliers and building long-term relationships with my stockists. Each product gets vigorously tested by my "in-house toy tester, Nova the Husky, so I know all of the items are of high quality.

Favorite items

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

I have a few favorite items in my shop, but my bestseller is definitely my absolute favorite: The Ultimate Dog Toys & Treats Box. This is a surprise hamper with hand-selected items for the doggy recipient. I attract various buyers as my customers can pick which size box they’d like based on their own personal budgets. This has continued to be a bestseller throughout my time selling on Etsy, and I get a lot of amazing feedback and repeat buyers with this product.

Another one of my favorites is my ‘Dog Party Hat," as I absolutely love making these and I adore seeing the cute dog photos wearing them! These have their own listing, but I also include them in my ‘Birthday Dog Box'. Customers enjoy these as it provides a lovely photo of their dog on their birthday, and they are able to choose the color and design of the party hat.

Finally, I also love my ‘New Puppy Gift Box’, which is another consistent bestseller. A lot of my customers buy this product for a family or friend who has just received a new puppy. It’s the perfect welcome home gift, and they have the option to personalize the blanket with the puppy’s name.

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?

It took around 2–3 weeks to get my first sale, and this was after consistently adjusting the product tags and title in order to reach the most suitable customers. Sometimes items take a lot longer to sell once listed, but a lot of patience and adjusting is required. It is essential to continue to assess your competition in order to make sure that your products are unique and competitive, as well as to encourage previous buyers to come back to your shop. I do this by offering money off their next purchase and providing outstanding customer service. I am always interested in talking to my customers about the dogs in their families! I know that creating a following on social media is also a great way to find new customers, although this can definitely be time-consuming.

Managing BumbleWolfGifts

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 managed by myself only, but during busy periods I do have my mom and mother-in-law as volunteer helpers to ensure things are moving smoothly. I also have the support of my husband! I manually process all shipping via the Royal Mail website, as this is currently the most convenient and cost-effective method for me, although this may change in the future. I also have Royal Mail collect my parcels from my doorstep so that I can save time by not going to the local post office. To keep up to date on my orders and messages, I have the Etsy Sellers App on my phone so that I can quickly respond to anything urgent when I’m away from my desktop. I also think it is essential to have a good camera and a good lighting area to take quality photos.

The future of BumbleWolfGifts

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

I am hoping, of course, to continue to expand my product range by bringing in more personalized products and gift boxes. I am currently working out of my living room-turned-stockroom; therefore, my future plan is to get my own office!

Advice for new sellers

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

The best advice I can give is to stick with it! I know it can be super daunting when you put in all of this hard work with little return initially, but it will all be worth it in the end. Running your own business is an uphill battle, and you need to make sure to celebrate the small wins!