Etsy Seller Interview with Team HiNeon of HiNeonLEDNeonSigns

How HiNeonLEDNeonSigns 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?

At HiNeon, we specialize in creating unique LED neon signs that are tailored to our customers' needs and preferences. Our journey began with a passion for neon lights and design, driven by a group of engineers. The idea for our shop came to us one day while we were traveling in New York. We saw a person throw something at a traditional neon sign outside a restaurant, and it broke the sign. It got us thinking: what if the tube wasn’t made of glass? The rest just snowballed from there.

We wanted to create a way for people to enjoy this beautiful and vibrant form of lighting without breaking the bank. Traditional neon signs were often expensive and difficult to produce, and we wanted to provide an alternative that was both affordable and accessible, and LED neon enables all of that.

Starting a new business is never easy, and the beginning was certainly tough. But we were determined to make it work. Our goal from the start was to provide quality custom neon signs and pre-designed neon that would allow people to express themselves in a unique and personalized way. After a few years, our passion for design and commitment to quality have allowed us to become one of the most trusted names, not just in Etsy but in the industry of neon and business signage, and we are excited to continue growing and expanding in the years to come.

Favorite items

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

When it comes to our favorite item, it’ll have to be our Open Sign (HiOpen). This particular product has a pretty interesting story; it was actually created out of a custom order request. The customer wanted to stand out from the other shops in their area and requested something a little different than the classic red and blue neon signs.

We worked closely with our clients to create a design that met their preferences, and the finished product turned out amazing. We were so impressed with the results that we decided to recreate various versions of the custom open sign and see if others would be interested in it as well. Businesses were also interested in getting neon open signs in different neon colors that would match their brand, so we produced open signs in white, pink, red, green, yellow, and blue.

As it turned out, our HiOpen signs quickly became one of our most popular products. Nowadays, when visiting a new area, there's a good chance that we'll see at least one of our open signs being used in a business. It's truly a remarkable feeling to know that our product is making a positive impact and helping businesses stand out in their own unique way.

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?

When we first started on Etsy, we were basically the first in the LED neon market, so, frankly, it didn't take long for us to make our very first sale. It was an exciting time for us, knowing that someone out there was interested in what we had to offer. However, we quickly realized that we had a lot to learn in terms of understanding what our customers wanted and how to keep up with the changes in market demands and expectations. We conducted extensive research and followed up with our customers to gain valuable insights into their needs and preferences. Over time, we gradually expanded our product line and refined our marketing strategies to attract more customers to our Etsy shop and website.

Managing HiNeonLEDNeonSigns

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?

At HiNeon, we take pride in our small team, which keeps things pretty lean and mean. Our day-to-day usually consists of just a few of us helping out with sales calls, production, logistics, and shipping. When it comes to fulfilling large orders for commercial clients or business customers, we all pitch in to make sure everything gets done smoothly and efficiently. It's a great opportunity for everyone to learn more about the ins and outs of our business and feel a sense of pride and ownership over what we create. At the end of the day, we owe it to our team's dedication and hard work to keep everything running smoothly.

The future of HiNeonLEDNeonSigns

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

We’ve had more and more inquiries regarding industry-themed signs. Therefore, we’ve made it our mission to focus on producing custom storefront signs for small businesses and shop owners (such as coffee shops, restaurants, beauty and spas, cannabis, and other industries), and we are already making huge progress with our HiNeon Storefront Signs. These business signs are now available on our website, and we're excited to bring the same series to our Etsy shop soon.

Advice for new sellers

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

Our advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop is to focus on quality and attention to detail. As someone who has been in the industry for a while, we've noticed that many new vendors prioritize lower prices over quality, which can hurt their business in the long run. Price is certainly important, but the quality is always the key to getting customers to return. Providing unique designs or products is also a great way to differentiate yourself and stand out from the competition.

Additionally, excellent customer service is also essential for building trust and maintaining good relationships with your customers. Honesty and good communication skills are crucial to keeping the customer informed about what’s happening and ensuring you deliver on your promises. Finally, don't wait for the perfect moment to start your shop. The best day to start is today.