How BuyPrintPlay 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?

My name is Tania Michelle, I am from Honduras, and I started my Etsy shop in 2016 after looking for many different ways to make some extra money while studying Public Relations and Advertising in the United States. I remember taking the time to do some research and figuring out if investing time in this marketplace was worth it. Once I made up my mind, I recall talking to one of my friends and inviting her to work with me on creating unique printables for the Hispanic niche, which was almost nonexistent at that moment, but she bluntly told me Etsy was a marketplace only for "creative people". 

This comment set me back for a few days, but after meditating on it, I convinced myself I was creative enough to start an Etsy shop; it didn’t matter if I failed, but at least I could say that I tried it.

After opening my shop, I began researching products that no one was selling, and the first printable I created was a Nemo Birthday Invitation in Spanish. However, after a few weeks, I learned that the product was something I couldn’t sell because of copyright issues with Disney. So I tried selling Bridal Shower and Baby shower printables in Spanish, and after a few sales, EUREKA! I realised I had found the perfect niche for me.

Favorite items

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

My favourite product items listed in my shop can be found in my Bridal Shower Section. My bilingual bridal shower game bundles are something I enjoy creating a lot since they come in both of the languages I speak. These are not very popular in my shop, but somehow creating them makes me feel very happy since they always remind me of the time I started my shop in 2016.

Pink, Gold, and Purple Bilingual Bachelorette Games
Rose Gold and Silver Bilingual Bridal Shower Games

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 me 38 days to earn my first sale, and I currently attract customers using Pinterest and by optimising my listings with Etsy SEO and Google SEO.

Managing BuyPrintPlay

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?

Currently, I am the only one managing my shop. I utilise Erank, sometimes Alura, and other tools to manage my listings, do market research, and do SWOT analysis, among other things. Regarding shipping and fulfilment, Etsy takes care of delivering all digital downloads.

The future of BuyPrintPlay

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

One of my biggest goals for my shop in the future is to open a standalone website where I can offer the same products I do on Etsy as well as exclusive listings. In the next three years, I also want to achieve 20,000 sales on Etsy.

Advice for new sellers

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

Never give up! It can be a slow process to get those sales at the beginning, but you will make it as long as you are putting in the effort. If you make sure you offer premium customer service, deliver great-quality products to your buyers, and continuously learn about the different online trends that can help you sell, you’ll be good to go. Make sure you dress up with a lot of patience and determination! If you believe you can make it, you will.

Alura Team
Alura Team

Alura is your all-in-one platform for selling on Etsy. With more $500.000+ gross sales over four years selling on Etsy, Alura is built by experienced sellers for sellers. Start with a free account and explore all the features you need to start, run, and grow your Etsy shop.