Etsy Seller Interview with Jasmine of electruhn

How electruhn 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 everyone! My name is Jasmine Corrine, and my Etsy shop is called Electruhn. Growing up, I was always so reserved and shy and very afraid of change and stepping out of my comfort zone. My shop came around only because of the push of my partner, who saw the spark of life within me that I didn’t see myself. Upon opening my shop, I struggled with believing in myself and believing that what I created was unique enough to share with the world.

I opened my shop in 2017, but didn’t see great success until 2019 for one reason: I tried. I struggled tremendously with thoughts such as, "Why am I even putting this up? It already exists, and this shop is selling it. They’re so much better than me, I don’t even compare." I put effort into changing the way my mind worked and shifting it toward a growth mindset. Early on in my career, I was very scared and almost embarrassed to reach out to other creators to collaborate with. Taking that step and reaching out to others is what jump-started my success, and I am eternally grateful for the people I got to work with as well as the courage I found within myself to hit that send button.

In terms of finding my passion in what I wanted to share with the world, it took me a lot of time to figure that out, and I still find that I am currently transitioning to what I love to create and am ever-evolving. I have always enjoyed art and creating things, and I received a B.A. in Graphic Design. I find inspiration from other artists and the books and games that have shaped me. Early on in my career, as mentioned before, I struggled with the "this already exists" thought. Art is a puzzle of millions of pieces from millions of artists. It is not one picture. Art is borrowed—a flowing passion from within. You look, you enjoy, you inspire, and you create. Everyone is capable of creating art. There is no set definition of "perfect". Knowing this, I found myself able to open up my mind to endless possibilities and let my creativity flow. Literature such as Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon as well as the fellow artists I followed online sharing their similar struggles helped immensely in finding what I chose to share and create in my store. It’s an homage to the girl I once was, the woman I’ve become, and all the artists I’ve studied in my career.

When I create a new piece, I like to go online and look at what others have created. I study what they’ve done, what’s selling, and what I could do that would make it better. Throughout the years, I’ve molded my style to resonate deeply with myself. It took years of work. I tend to design a product how I would like it, but then mold it for the general population. It’s hard to explain, but when I’m designing anything, I’m able to pull myself out of my mind, out of my body, and essentially "float" above my piece: I look at it with an outsider’s eye, and I shape it. Over the years, I’ve adapted to an eco-friendly lifestyle and mindset. I try to recycle as much as I am able, so any paper scraps I have, I repurpose into creating my own paper. Adding on, the materials I use (mailers, plastic envelopes, etc.) are all recycled, eco-friendly, and easily compostable.

Favorite items

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

I find that I am currently in a transitional period with my shop. My stationery postcards used to be my best sellers, but I am moving into a more refined and minimal/classy style. I’m allowing my inner graphic designer to shine and creating pieces everyone can enjoy. (I’m trying to step out of my previous niche and into another one!) I haven’t really stopped to think which piece(s) would be my favorite currently until now, but I have to say that my first digital font I’ve created and my little 6x6 calendar are definitely up there!

My Christmas Sweater Stitches Font holds such a dear place in my heart, as I spent a lot of time putting it together, pixel by pixel! Not only that, but I’m also very pleased with my final execution in showcasing what it has to offer within the listing photos. Being able to look at something and think, "Wow, I created that!" is such a rewarding feeling. I’ve had favorites hit on this listing, but I haven’t yet had my first sale on it.

Another favorite of mine is my 6in x 6in Black and White Square Mini Calendar. With this piece, I really wanted to push my boundaries and create something I hadn’t yet seen, and this really captures that feeling for me! I find it to be so sleek, modern, and minimal. I’ve sold this calendar a couple times, but it is definitely not my best-selling piece.

On the other side of the spectrum, I recently launched my second shop, Froggy Afternoon, where I showcase digital downloads for others to use in their projects. Any of the ones listed in this shop are near and dear to me, as I offer them to others in a manner in which they can use them however they please, whenever they please. I love to see others evolve and grow, and being able to aid someone in their journey is so meaningful to me. If I had to choose, though, my current favorites definitely have to be my Autumn Flower with Pumpkin and this Autumn Flower as well (I get so giddy just looking at them)!

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?

As I stated before, it took me a while to grow my shop. I believe I saw my first sale within a couple months of opening my shop, but that was with absolutely no marketing whatsoever. My SEO was terrible, and there was no cohesiveness or story with what I had to offer my customers; my first sale was a luck-of-the-draw. I am currently finding customers by posting on my social media pages (which I am still terrible at keeping up with and am actively trying to be better at!), running Etsy sales, using Etsy ads sparingly, and even reaching out to other creators for them to review my products. I have found great success in the latter.

For my second shop, Froggy Afternoon, I saw my first sale within a few days of getting my first products listed. The difference I’ve experienced between my first shop and this one is that I actively spoke about what I’m selling to others online via my social platforms, as well as polishing up on my title keywords and SEOs immediately.

Managing electruhn

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 sole creator and provider of my shop. Early on in my career, I found sitting in on business summits helped shape the way I processed information and how I approached my shop. If you find any that are directed to Etsy sellers, I highly recommend signing up and taking advantage of learning directly from other creators! Not only that, but they usually have free tools to offer that aid in the growth of your business. I currently don’t use any tools, but for people just starting up, I highly encourage learning more about SEO and how to make your products stand out. Marmalead was a tool I used a lot back in the day.

The future of electruhn 

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

My partner, the biggest pusher and believer in me and my shop, always told me to set goals. In the beginning, I struggled greatly with deciding what to set as my goal. My greatest advice? Don’t overthink it! Set small, attainable goals and work toward them. I find I like to have broad, long-term goals and smaller goals that follow within those. For example, hitting my 1,000th sale I would also love to see myself be consistent with my postings on social media. Another big goal of mine is to be a part of an art convention someday!

Advice for new sellers

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

My biggest piece of advice is: don’t be afraid of failure, for that is the very first step to failure itself. Don’t be afraid of taking risks; simply put yourself out there. Soon enough, you’ll fall into a groove, and it’ll all come naturally. You have to go through the uncomfortable to get to the comfortable. (Also, never ever undersell yourself; you know your worth!)