How GatherAndDwell 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?
Being from a creative background as a photographer and graphic designer, for years, friends of ours told us we needed to own some type of business. We always enjoyed planning parties and finding excuses to celebrate, and one night at dinner in Winter Park, we decided we wanted to start some type of business that not only combined our skills of photography and design but also showcased pride in the home, the importance of celebrating the little things, and encouraged folks to create memories and live an intentional life. That night, in 2013, Gather & Dwell was born.
We initially started designing prints that combined photography and design, but several years later, we transitioned to products that were not only functional but beautiful to look at as well. We started selling with our own url in 2013, but several years later (due to cost), we decided to sell on Etsy instead. The attraction to Etsy was to be a part of a world of creatives with low monthly fees. The products we sell are products we want to showcase in our own homes. Our kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, and bedrooms are decorated with Gather & Dwell. We come up with all our own designs and outsource the vinyl printing for our garden flags. Flags are sewn by a friend for us; another friend does our wood burning; and Rachael’s husband prints our labels, so you could say that there are 5 of us that keep G&D running.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
In 2018, we started producing modern garden flags, mainly because we wanted a fresh alternative to what was currently for sale in stores. We wanted a stylish way to make family, friends, and even strangers feel welcome and included. These garden flags have become our most popular product, both in person and online, because there aren’t many items like them on the market. There are a lot of garden flags available out there, but they are very traditional and not geared towards someone who enjoys a more modern look. See below for some of our favorites:
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?
Gosh, this was so long ago that we don’t remember, though we have noticed a significant increase in sales in just the last few years. We used to fill orders once a month, and now we have to fill orders once a week.
Managing GatherAndDwell
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?
The shop is managed by Rachael and Jenn, a mini schnauzer named Indi, and a goldendoodle named Winnie. We get together once a week (all of us, even the pups) to fulfill orders. We print shipping labels through Etsy (because the shipping cost is lower than going straight to UPS), outsource a friend to sew our flags, and have a Gather & Dwell station set up in Rachael’s garage with our heat press to adhere the vinyl. We are very old-school when it comes to managing our store. We don’t use any apps; we just get notifications through email to manage our sales. We use Instagram stories to feature our new products, especially around the holidays.
The future of GatherAndDwell
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
As of now, Gather & Dwell is a side business that funds our vacations. Both of us have other main sources of income that fuel our lifestyle, while our Etsy shop is an opportunity to be creative, take risks, and develop new products without the fear of failure due to the pressure of needing to provide for a family. Both of us would love for our little shop to grow into something we can do full time, but right now, our focus is expanding our shop into using different materials. One of our most recent projects is affirmation waterproof shower cards that stick on the wall of the shower.
...and we are also transitioning into wooden products:
We have some new wooden products coming out this fall that we are really passionate about and can’t wait to share. In regards to our goals for the immediate future, we will continue to create products that we want in our own homes and hope that others fall in love with those products and have to have them in their own homes.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
Do it! Etsy is the easiest and most affordable way to start a small craft business from home. The overhead is low, and the listing fees are very inexpensive. The best advice I can give starting out is to develop a strong brand with a meaningful logo (for the love of God, please hire a designer and not Canva) and take good photographs. This can make or break your brand. You want your entire shop to be an experience. A strong logo and professional photography can really elevate a brand, which allows you to charge more for your products because you look like you know what you’re doing even if you don’t.
Be sure to utilize keywords in your shop to help with searchability and respond to inquiries and messages within 24 hours. Prioritize customer service and utilize Etsy shipping labels because they are less expensive than shipping through UPS or the Post Office. Purchase a scale to assist with coming up with those shipping costs. There is something about birthing an idea in your head and developing it to the point where you are holding it in your hands. From there, watching someone fall in love with your product the way that you have is one of the best feelings; it feels like you’ve made a connection.
GatherAndDwell
Cards, prints and gifts for the home
