Etsy Seller Interview with Oscar of DeepFriedArt

How DeepFriedArt 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 Oscar, and I am the owner of DeepFriedArt. I am a graphic designer and have been designing t-shirts professionally for many years. I am super passionate about movies, video games, and pop culture in general. A few years ago, I started to look for ways to supplement my income, and a buddy of mine asked me if I’d heard of Etsy. I had, but always thought of it as a marketplace to sell only knitted crafts or handmade dolls. Boy, was I wrong! I was really surprised to see so many different products for sale. It was a no-brainer for me to test the waters and start designing and listing t-shirts for sale on the Etsy marketplace.

Favorite items

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

One of my favorite t-shirts in my shop is the retro-style Never Give Up design. I just love this color palette and its cool retro vibe. This particular t-shirt has become a good seller for me because not only is it perfect for fans of the movie, but it has become an inspirational gift for anyone struggling through a difficult time in their life.

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 a couple of weeks to make the first sale. There were long periods of no activity in my shop at first, which were indications to me that I needed to go back and make changes to the product title, description, tags, and even the price. I am still learning about these things to this day. I try to bring shoppers to my store through social media posts, but I rely mostly on Etsy’s existing traffic.

Managing DeepFriedArt

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?

I am solely responsible for creating all the product artwork, listing images, product descriptions, customer relations, social media content, etc. Think of me as a one-man band! I think most Etsy sellers are. The Etsy Seller app is the most essential tool I have to communicate with my customers, update order statuses, etc. I handle the order fulfillment myself, but I am currently working with an outside printer that helps with a few items that are outside my printing capabilities. They also ship to my customers as needed.

The future of DeepFriedArt 

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

I hope to grow my assortment across new product categories. Hopefully, I’ll be able to acquire new equipment or partner with printers that can deliver quality products. I am also looking to become more active on social media and grow my audience.

Advice for new sellers

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

Do whatever it takes to keep your customers happy, even if you have to take a loss from time to time. Getting a bad review is the worst thing that can happen to your Etsy store, especially when you’re starting out. Build trust through positive reviews, quality products, great customer service, and open communication. Work hard at these things first, and the sales will come!