How Hearts2share 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?

Hearts2Share was opened on Etsy in 2017. I had been selling my quote magnets in local shops. When I opened my Etsy shop, I only had 24 listings; now it’s grown to over 300. In the beginning, I did the cross-stitch for each design and had them photographed and copied for me. I used those copies to create my magnets. As I grew in my knowledge of the computer and what I could do there, my business exploded. I had a library of cross-stitch blanks with different types of borders. I developed my own cross-stitch fonts from my original designs, creating a library of words and phrases. Mock-ups are my friend! I now do all my designs on my computer using PicMonkey. Creating the quote and then inserting it onto the heart or circle design and mock-ups. I use Instagram and Pinterest to promote my business.

Favorite items

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

My favorite items in my shop are the quotes people choose to celebrate their relationships. Most of my reviews express the buyer's appreciation for having such a special way to share their heart with someone and how much the gift meant to the person. My best sellers now are the appreciation quotes, acknowledging the difference they have made in their lives. I’m so honored to be a part of that.

Never forget the difference you’ve made, Magnet, Retirement gift, Mentor gift, Thank you gift for Sponsor, Gift for Teacher, Going away gift
Volunteer gifts, Volunteer quote magnet, Volunteer thank you gift, Appreciation gifts, End of year gift for Classroom Volunteers
Thank you for your part in my journey, Sponsor gift magnet, Confirmation Sponsor gift, Mentor gift, Coach gift, Godmother gift, Teacher gift

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 really didn’t take very long for me to get my first sale. It was from another awesome Etsy seller! I think she made it her mission to seek out the new shops and prime the pump!

I try to be active on Instagram and Pinterest to promote my shop. I am actively involved in an Etsy team,’ His Merciful Heart’. We support each other in so many ways.

I am so grateful for my repeat buyers, I have many who have been with me from the beginning. 

Managing Hearts2share

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 still have a lot to learn about promoting my shop better, and Etsy has so many awesome tools available to help us. I use Erank to find my tags and titles. I use PicMonkey and Ipiccy to create my mock-ups and social media content. I also use Vela and Canva. Canva makes it easy for me to create videos using my mockups. Right now I’m able to manage production myself; hopefully, in the future, I’ll need help. I have grandkids I can recruit! I do all of my shipping and handling through Etsy.

The future of Hearts2share 

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

I am planning on expanding more into plaques and other mediums to display my quotes. My dream is to one day be in a place where a portion of the proceeds of my sales could be given to a global humanitarian project.

Advice for new sellers

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

My best advice to new sellers starting out on Etsy is to do your research. Study other shops selling what you sell. Learn from the people who are successful. I love my Etsy team. They are such an amazing support for me. I’d encourage new folks to get plugged into one that resonates with them.

Take advantage of what is available in the Etsy Forum and Help sections.

Follow your passion. What you have to offer is valuable! The world wants what you have to offer.

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.