How ColorTheoryShop 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 Lisa from Color Theory Shop, and a surface pattern designer based in Sacramento, California. I started my Etsy shop back in 2010 and it has been through many iterations over the years as my creative interests have changed. I started by selling hand knit accessories, had a period selling vintage clothes and handmade jewelry, and then it morphed into where it is today. I was working in graphic design with clients, but really wanted to create my own designs on products which is how I got started with the enamel accessories and art prints.

Favorite items

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

If I have to pick a favorite, I think it would be my Black Sheep Club enamel pin. I designed this in 2016 as a playful badge of honor as the black sheep of my family. It’s been one of my most popular designs for 7 years now, and I have loved seeing how many people connect to the feeling. I have also gotten so many messages over the years from people when they buy it about why they relate, and people buying it for their group of black sheep friends. It’s been cool to see how a lot of us actually feel like black sheep of sorts in our daily lives!

Enamel Pin, Black Sheep Club, Lapel Pin, Gifts under 10

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?

My first sale came pretty quickly thanks to the support of friends and family, but it’s seen a lot of ebbs and flows over the years. It’s always a work in progress as my product offerings change, and of course, I'm learning to work with the changes on the Etsy platform. I regularly try to update and improve my listings and attract people to the platform. I also see traffic from Instagram, and I’m trying to get back into posting there more often.

Managing ColorTheoryShop

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 show. I use Procreate and Adobe apps for design, the Etsy app for order management, and a couple of print-on-demand sites for some production and shipping. The products I keep in house I package and ship myself, and while I know not everyone feels this way, I actually love packaging and shipping orders. I love writing thank-you notes and connecting with the people who are choosing to buy things I’ve designed!

The future of ColorTheoryShop 

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

I am working on some new product ideas, trying to incorporate more of my repeating pattern designs. I feel like my shop is always an evolution of my interests and changing style, and I’m brainstorming what new things I’d like to add in the coming months.

Advice for new sellers

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

Have patience and stick with it! It can be really hard to get your products found with so many sellers on Etsy. Keep adding new items, improving your listings, and sharing your work. Keep your primary income source as long as you need it, and don’t expect things to take off overnight.

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.