How FerrariSoniArt 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, I'm Sonia from FerrariSoniArt. My passion has always been painting. I like to paint, draw, and create artistic objects. I attended the Higher Institute of Art and obtained artistic maturity. Then I worked for many years as a designer in the ceramics industry. At the same time, as an employee, I continued to paint pictures on glass, ceramics, and fabric. After a few years of family hiatus, I decided to open an Etsy shop, and show the whole world my work. I started almost as a joke. I proposed some products I had created for my friends. Then I concentrated on my two favorite holidays of the year, Christmas and Easter, creating new products and personalizing them according to the requests that I received by message. My attic has become my laboratory; I have gradually created my ideal space with a warehouse, packing material, paints and varnishes, and space for photographing. Working at home, I can manage family and work at the same time. Once I finish painting my creations, I pack them, create labels, and call the courier to collect the shipments. I am very happy and proud of the work I came up with.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
My favorite products are the ornaments of Italian cities, for example, the Cinque Terre ball Sorrento, Florence, or Venice ornament. I really like traveling and visiting cities of art, and I'm happy when customers ask me for personalized products. I am happy to create their ideal gift or memento of their beautiful journey. I think these products sell well because they are of high quality and because they come directly from Italy.
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 a few months to get the first sale; at first I sold paintings, then I concentrated on Christmas baubles and continued on this type of painted item. Clients find me mostly by searching on Etsy and sometimes on social media, where I usually post my creations.
Managing FerrariSoniArt
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?
Only I work in my shop; it is difficult to find experienced and suitable people for miniature painting. I always want my products to be made at their best. Sometimes friends or family members help me prepare the parcels. When I have many orders, I lengthen the completion times in my shop, and I also work in the evening and on the weekend. My family helps me with housekeeping and cooking. Everything is facilitated by the fact that I work in the attic of my house, and I can manage the hours in order to be available for the children and my husband. I have contracts with two shipping companies; the couriers come to my house to pick up the packages, and everything is very convenient.
The future of FerrariSoniArt
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
In the future, I hope to increase sales during the year as well. I would like to be able to create a warehouse of already decorated objects so as not to be too busy near the Christmas holidays and to be able to ship faster and satisfy all customers.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
To people who want to start selling on Etsy, in addition to having a valid and well-made product, I recommend a lot of determination and time to dedicate to creating the ads. The photographs are important; they must show the object for sale well, and the description must also have all the useful information. Search terms and titles are important; the customer must be able to find you and see your beautiful proposals.
FerrariSoniArt
Hand painted ornaments made in Italy!
