How LittleFingerprintIE 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 Lina Pavlova, a creative designer and founder of LittleFingerprintIE on Etsy. Welcome to Little Fingerprint Boutique, your premier online shop for unique, handcrafted designs that are made with love in our cosy and spacious Blarney Studio. At Little Fingerprint Boutique, we believe in the beauty of individuality and the art of craftsmanship. That's why we do not engage in mass production; each item is meticulously created to ensure its uniqueness and exceptional quality.

Our boutique is rooted in a rich family tradition of sustainability and expertise in tailoring and garment making. As the third generation of qualified tailors and garmentmakers, we bring a wealth of experience and passion to our craft. Established in 2018, Little Fingerprint Boutique represents the next generation of a business that places utmost importance on the interpretation and design of high-quality new baby gift sets.

A friend of mine had an Etsy shop, and she invited me to sell on Etsy. Little Fingerprint Boutique was inspired by the founder's own five-year-old son. The journey began with the introduction of the 'Colour Me' white apron; the first apron theme was 'Pirates.'

Favorite items

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

As I Mentioned above, I was inspired by my son. The ’Colour Me’ collection expanded to include placemats, tablecloths, and dresses, featuring aprons with designs like 'Skateboard/Princess/Unicorn' and 'Owl,' all aimed at fostering creativity and engagement in children. With time, we improved the design of our aprons and placemats, making them double, reusable, and 2-in-1.

The 'Colour Me' aprons serve as more than just adorable accessories. They believe that cooking can be a valuable learning experience for young children, helping them understand basic math concepts, develop language skills, and build self-confidence. By cooking together, they lay the foundation for healthy eating habits while making it a fun and enjoyable activity for the whole family. These aprons are also perfect for kids' party activities and make thoughtful gift ideas. This apron is suitable for children aged 3 to 8 years and features an adjustable neck strap. It is a double-sided apron, offering two colouring options. You can colour the existing design or create your own masterpiece. The apron is machine washable for easy cleaning. Its size is 50 x 40 cm.

Once you're ready for a new design or if you want to start fresh, simply wash the items according to the manufacturer's instructions, and the colours will fade away, leaving a blank canvas for your next creation.

Overall, the "Colour Me" aprons with washout fabric markers offer a fun and customizable way to add a personal touch to your kitchen and dining experiences.

The 'Colour Me Collection' by Little Fingerprint Boutique is a fantastic addition for kids' party activities and gift ideas. The entire range includes fun, creative, reusable colouring activities that are washable, sustainable, practical, and educational. The aprons, placemats, and dresses provide opportunities for children to express their creativity, learn new skills, and enjoy the process of making something unique.

Recently, I went to college and completed courses in Art, craft, and Design, as well as Graphic Design. Now, I'm working on creating my own patterns. It's a work in progress, so watch this space!

By colouring and cooking together, we had fun spending days in the kitchen, especially when it was raining. That's why the 'Colour Me' collection is my favourite. However, I still create New Baby gift sets because I enjoy making new things.

Colour Me’ aprons

At the Zoo apron with markers , Create your own design , Colouring Apron for kids , Colour your own , Colour Me 2 in 1 Apron
Floral Meadow apron with markers , Create your own design , Colouring Apron for kids , Colour your own , Colour Me 2 in 1 Apron
At Home apron with markers , Create your own design , Colouring Apron for kids , Colour your own , Colour Me 2 in 1 Apron , toddler apron

Links to Colour Me’ placemats

At Home busy print Reusable colouring in placemat with or without fabric markers
At the Zoo print Reusable colouring in placemat with or without fabric markers
Floral Meadow print Reusable colouring in placemat with or without fabric markers

Links to ‘Colour Me’ dresses

Colouring At The Zoo dress with ribbon fully lined , girls craft project ,birthday dress , girls DIY dress , colour me toddler dress
Colouring bird dress with ribbon fully lined , girls craft project , owl birthday dress , girls DIY dress , toddler dress , colour me dress

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?

From the beginning, it was slow, but then I looked up some YouTube videos and read Etsy information. Etsy changes things so often that I need to stay on track all the time. Sometimes, it seems impossible, and I wish there were an easier way. I use social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, and I also pay for ads to promote my shop.

Managing LittleFingerprintIE

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?

As entrepreneurs, we wear many hats. There are days when we act as business owners, designers, customer service representatives, delivery personnel, and more. Who else can relate to wearing so many hats? I have a stand in three local shops, and I make batches of products for them, so I try to organise my sewing and creative time efficiently. Additionally, I always plan collections for six months ahead; for example, in June, I work on Halloween and Christmas collections. Being organised in this way helps me manage seasonal sales with less stress.

When the items are ready, I take my time to photograph them and create appealing visuals. For business advertising, I use Canva, and for crafting unique items, I rely on Adobe software. As for shipping, I use AnPost with tracking numbers for worldwide shipments. However, within Ireland, I prefer using GLS Courier for a smoother delivery process.

The future of LittleFingerprintIE

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

I'd like to launch my own 'Colour Me' collection in 2023, as well as my own website, separate from Etsy, to serve as a secondary outlet for selling our products. Since my business name contains the word "Boutique," I strive to maintain high standards in all aspects of my work.

Advice for new sellers

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

If you are passionate about what you do, even if it's just a hobby for now, don't be afraid; everything comes with a learning curve.

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.