Etsy Seller Interview with Jessica of JessisBastelecke

How JessisBastelecke 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 Jessica Wolter, owner and founder of Jessis Bastelecke. I am 38 years old and live in Hamburg. I make wooden gift boxes that can be given as gifts on many different occasions. Whenever I was invited to celebrations, I made the boxes individually for the person receiving the gift. This was so well received by the people that I decided to do it in a more professional setting. That's how the idea for Jessi's handicraft corner was born.

One of my wishes was that people who are less creative or technically gifted should be given the opportunity to give away lovingly made products. Many of my customers use my boxes, for example, to be able to give gifts of money more beautifully. They can also be filled with vouchers, chocolate, jewellery,  or cosmetics. There are no limits to creativity here. The name Jessis Bastelecke came about because I redesigned a corner of the room in our study into my workplace and continue to use it. I have been selling my boxes online since the end of 2013. My products have been on Etsy since 2018.

Favorite items

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

My favourite products are my gift boxes with maritime decorations. This is because I am very often drawn to the sea myself. These boxes sell very well, as many customers have a connection to the sea or water.

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 already had the first sales in the first month of opening the shop. I already had previous knowledge because I had previously sold my products through Dawanda for 4 years. I advertise through Etsy Ads and offline Ads.

Managing JessisBastelecke

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 my shop almost alone. My husband supports me with shipping and keeps in touch with the suppliers I work with.

I use the following tools to manage my shop:
-billbee
-Lexoffice
- DHL
- IT office

I have three fixed days when I finish and ship the orders.

The future of JessisBastelecke

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

My goal is that I can bring joy to more and more people with my gift boxes and continue to achieve some growth. It is a big dream for me to be able to place my gift boxes in stationery retail and sell them there.

Advice for new sellers

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

My main advice would be Never give up! In the beginning, everything is a lot, and you will be killed. Everything is new, and you get the feeling it's all too much. This feeling disappears over time as you get used to the tasks and develop a routine. It is important not to let your head hang when it gets too much, but to sort your thoughts and keep the goal in mind. As time goes on, everything becomes easier, you get a sense of what can still be improved, and you continue to develop your products and the shop.