How GiftsByCraftastics 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?

I'm Alexe, the founder of Craftastics. I'm a mom to a beautiful boy, whom I do all this for. I came to Etsy in 2017 in the hope of building a shop and an online presence to build a brand people would know, love, and trust. I've always loved personalised gifts, so this is my main focus for the things I make. All the items in my shop have originally been made as gifts for a family member, close friend, or myself. Personalised gifts are truly treasured by the recipients, and it humbles me to be able to create such treasured gifts for others too.

Favorite items

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

This Nanny belongs to, heart keyring, gift for mum grandma 

This is one of my top sellers; it's also one of my favourites. I originally made this keyring for my mom, as she's the best nanny in the world and adores her grandchildren.

Personalised sister frame, sister photo frame, for my sister, from sister to sister, sister keepsake, sister birthday gift, Christmas gift 

These photo frames are also one of my favourites; they can be personalised with any wording or message and up to four named hearts. I just love a photo to treasure special memories, and I love that these can add that extra special touch to a special memory.

Personalised dog bowl, engraved dog bowl, dog bowls for small dogs, dog bowl stand, dog dish stand, wooden bowl holder, dog bowls for 2 dogs 

This is also one of my favourite items too. This came to be made when we brought home a little miniature Dachshund puppy who used to carry her water bowl around and used to spill all the water everywhere. After making the stand for her bowl to sit in, I never had a water spillage to mop up again!

Paw print memorial, dog paw memorial, pet memorial ornament, pet loss gifts dog, pet loss gifts cat, dog memory, cat paw memorial 

This is a sad one, but also very comforting. I made this for my friend, whose dog sadly passed away. This gift went down really well, although it did make my friend cry initially. She was also so happy and loved it, as she now has something to remember her beloved dog by.

 

Personalised Lead Holder, Engraved Lead Holder, Dog Lead Holder, Dog Lead hook, leash hook, engraved dog name, Dog Lead Tidy, Lead Hook 

These lead holders were made for myself because I was sick of always looking for the lead I'd put down somewhere! Now it's always hung up at the door, ready to go, and never lost! 

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?

I drive Etsy sales to my shop via my Facebook social media page and also do my best to get my SEO on point to help make sure my items are seen in an Etsy search.

Managing GiftsByCraftastics

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 manage the shop on my own. I don't use any apps to help. Due to my items being handmade and personalised, I allow myself a 3-5 working day turnaround time to make sure I can process my orders and fulfil all orders within this timeframe. I ship all my orders as and when they're made.

The future of GiftsByCraftastics

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

I'm currently 1 sale away from hitting 2000 sales, my goal for this year. I would love to hit 3500 sales by the end of 2023.

Advice for new sellers

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

My advice for a new seller is to stick with it; it's not always easy, but it is worth it. Read the Etsy handbook; everything you need is listed there.

Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.

Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: My monthly revenue differs depending on the time of year, but in my busiest months, I can earn over £2000 a month.

Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: I couldn't really answer this, as my profit margin is different for each product.

Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: My overall shop conversion rate is 3.4%.

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.