How DreamCreates 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 name is Sanja, and I am the owner of DreamCreates. I make cute name banners and wreaths for nurseries and kids' rooms. My work is all designed, carefully planned, and genuinely hand-stitched. I'm a girl born and raised in Europe who fell in love with a Turkish guy 10 years ago. While I was getting used to my new life and the new culture, language, and people here in Turkey, the first year was the hardest.

I remember having a wonderful picnic day with my new friends. They had a little boy at the time. I wanted to make him happy, so I made him a picnic/trip-themed name banner. They were delighted, and the only thing they said was "You must sell these!". That day, the idea was born.

Favorite items

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

It's really hard to say. All my items are custom-made and are not ready to ship. I try to work together with my customers on design and colors to give the item personality and a final touch. But let me name a few items my customers and I love.

Baby name sign, felt name banner, Pastel flowers, nursery decor, baby felt letters, baby name garland, baby shower gift, baby room decor
Baby name sign, Butterflies nursery decor, felt name banner, baby shower gift, baby room wall art
Nursery decor, Hot air Balloon decor, baby name sign, felt name banner, baby wall art, custom made name, baby shower gift, clouds baby decor
Felt name banner, Floral Hot Air Balloon decor, nursery decor, personalized gift, baby felt letters, baby name banner, custom felt 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 me a month to make my first sale. But in the beginning, it wasn't my focus really. I worked a lot to optimize my shop and I worked a lot on marketing, I just wanted my shop to be seen. If I do everything right, I just knew the sales will come. And that's exactly what happened. Good customer service was my next goal.  To attract customers to my shop I use my social media a lot, Instagram mostly.

Managing DreamCreates

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 the only one who manages my shop, from idea conception to the final product. Taking photos, customer service, packaging, and going to the post office are all done by me. To run my business, I use Lightroom and Excel a lot, and Etsy Rank sometimes.

The future of DreamCreates

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

I would love to grow my business in the future by finding someone creative to hire so I can focus more on marketing.

Advice for new sellers

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

Never give up. Persistence and perseverance will bring you to your goal. Sometimes it will be really hard, but you must be persistent if you want to be able to sustain your business through the challenges.

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.