Etsy Seller Interview with Eva of INVITALIA

How INVITALIA 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 originally from Croatia and moved to Italy in 2007 for love. For years, I worked as an architect and interior designer. After having my first child, I decided to run my own business to be more flexible with my time so that I could dedicate myself to my family. Graphic design came to mind as a logical step after architecture since I already had knowledge of design software and loved good design aesthetics. I'm not sure why I ended up in the wedding field first; maybe because of the challenge it presented since the field is highly saturated and competitive. My Etsy shop quickly turned from idea to reality, although it took me a while to get consistent sales.

Favorite items

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

I really enjoy creating my Christmas, holiday, and seasonal cards as you can get very creative and implement "out of the box" design ideas for less formal event invitations compared to, say, weddings. The problem with Etsy is that whenever you find a niche or invent a unique design, other shops tend to copy it. I find this to be the biggest problem for selling on this platform. Thus, I prefer not to reveal what my bestsellers are.

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 got my first sale quite fast, but it took me more than a year or two to get consistent sales. I rely on Etsy ads and good SEO to attract new customers. When listing your products, it’s important to take advantage of good SEO that could help customers find your shop and products. It’s key to stand out in some way.

Managing INVITALIA

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'm a woman band who does everything alone and works from home. It can be very stressful, but this way I save money since this has been my main income for 6 years now. I don't use any particular apps to run the store. I'm using a template editing platform called Templett.

The future of INVITALIA 

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

At the moment, I’m looking to utilize the power of social media to help increase my sales.

Advice for new sellers

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

Success does not happen overnight. It could take a bit of time for your products to get noticed and get consistent sales. Don’t be discouraged, because once the sales start coming, they just keep coming. Be sure to offer quality products because customers typically rely on the reviews of other customers, and remember to offer excellent customer service. It will bring customers back. Last but not least, listen to your customers. Don't be afraid to accept custom orders since the best ideas come from customers themselves, and this way you'll know exactly what is trending on the market.