Etsy Seller Interview with Dave of GracesonEmporium

How GracesonEmporium 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?

Dave is the owner and founder of Graceson Emporium. He has been selling vintage furniture and home accessories on Etsy since 2016. He has always had a fascination with giving found or discarded objects a second life. Initially, as a way to furnish and decorate his Victorian home, and then as a side hustle to his corporate job in advertising, In his late 50s, Dave decided that he needed more flexibility and balance, so he left the world of advertising. He now spends his time actively curating his Etsy shop as well as undertaking other freelance projects. His products are largely UK-sourced. He is often to be found at various salvage yards in search of hidden gems.

Favorite items

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

It’s difficult to choose a favorite. Many of my items are one-off finds. As a gardener, I’m drawn to vintage garden hand tools. I love that they’re well-made and have been used continuously by different generations of gardeners. They are consistent sellers, as there is a general recognition among gardeners that quality tools when looked after, can last a lifetime. They are a thoughtful but inexpensive present for gardeners.

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?

My first sale came within 2–3 weeks of my shop opening; it was a lovely three-tier Indian tiffin tin that I’d sourced locally. I remember the sense of joy that I felt when the sales notification came through my email. That sense of joy and excitement has never left me. It’s always a fantastic feeling whenever a new sale is registered. I use various social platforms, vouchers, and SEO to promote my shop.

Managing GracesonEmporium 

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 all aspects of the business except upholstery, where I use the services of an upholsterer. It means that I wear multiple hats at any one time. I generally have a structured approach. Each day is broken down into manageable chunks. Early morning for reviewing, packing, and despatching orders; late morning for photography, writing copy, and listing. Afternoons for making, repairing, and painting I’ll usually set aside a day in the week for sourcing, plus time at the weekend.

I use various tools like 1tap receipts and 1tap tax to track my expenses and sales, plus the Etsy app to view my monthly progress and compare income trends across time. Excel is used to track business mileage.

I use a combination of Royal Mail and Parcelforce to handle deliveries. My accounts are linked to my Etsy shop, so new orders are automatically imported.

The future of GracesonEmporium

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

I’d like to improve my margins and, at the same time, have my shop make a bigger contribution to my overall business profitability.

Advice for new sellers

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

If you’re new to selling, then start small. Invest a little and test your ideas out first before making any major financial commitment to new stock and equipment. Research is important; read relevant magazines to understand the latest emerging trends; visit markets and talk to other sellers. Understand the financial aspect of your business and recognize the difference between income and profit.

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

Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: £1200

Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: 1.3%