Etsy Seller Interview with Carmen of MadLoveCreativeCo

How MadLoveCreativeCo 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 chose Etsy because it’s a marketplace that is well known and already has customers, and I still think that it’s a great place for beginners to start selling their products! Mad Love Creative Co. opened up shop in 2017 but didn’t really become what it is now until the beginning of 2020. I originally sold downloadable templates using licenced elements created by other artists before deciding that I wanted to have my hand in all aspects of my shop, and that included creating my own designs!

I started with a few original designs I sold as cards and prints, and I eventually ended up with an inventory of 100+ designs produced as various products. I outsource the production of my stickers and pins, but all prints and cards are designed, printed, and trimmed or folded by me!

Favorite items

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

My favourite items are Life Is A Mystery, Creative Juice, and Expiry Date. They are selling well (yay), and I think a big part of that is because they’ve got nostalgic elements and lots of people find the messaging and imagery relatable!

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 didn’t do as much advertising when I first started selling my original work, so it took quite a bit of time to earn my first sale, but my shop really gained traction at the start of lockdowns because people wanted to send cards via snail mail to friends and loved ones! I’m really grateful for those first few customers who gave my shop a real chance.

Currently, I use SEO and specific keywords to appear in search results and gain organic traffic, but I also share my listings and things that I’m working on on Instagram to engage my followers (a lot of whom found my page after making a purchase) and drive traffic to my Etsy shop.

Managing MadLoveCreativeCo

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 am a one-woman show and handle all things from design to admin to processing! It can get overwhelming at times, but apps such as Vela (which I use for batch editing), as well as using a reliable shipping service (I’ve used Canada Post since I started and have had very minimal issues), help relieve so much stress!

The future of MadLoveCreativeCo

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

I’m always working on new designs, and I would love to expand my product offerings! Right now I sell prints, cards, stickers, magnets, and buttons, but I would love to create patches, tote bags, and apparel! I sell my products in a few stores via consignment and wholesale, but I would also love to increase the number of stores I’m present in and maybe even have a brick-and-mortar studio and shop combo in the future!

Advice for new sellers

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

Research your market and competition, focus on your unique style, try to offer something that’s not really on the market, and get specific with your keywords, but most important of all (in my opinion) is to just try it and have fun along the way!

You’ll have to do a lot of experimenting with what works and what doesn’t, and progress might be slow at times, but if you keep creating and letting your personality shine through your work and how you present your shop, customers will eventually find you!

Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.

Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: I always aim for a profit margin of 65-70%. I make sure to cover all my production and shipping costs and fees, research the price of similar products, and calculate the time it takes to create the items and process orders!