How Marlitoys 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?
My name is Lidiya. I'm a Ukrainian crafter specializing in handmade interior toys and accessories, Marlitoys, currently based in Lisbon, Portugal. My journey on Etsy began in 2014, but I've been creating my characters for much longer. At first, I sold my creations on local sites and participated in exhibitions throughout Ukraine. However, when I discovered Etsy, I knew I had to try it out. And I liked the result. In fact, I didn't choose what to sell. I just brought my ideas to life and hoped to find people who would appreciate my creativity. Etsy is really helpful in that.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
It's hard for me to choose just one or a few favorite items. Each of my works is important to me and has been a favorite at some point. Probably the toy Little with a Red Heart" was the most popular with buyers. It was bought the most times. In second place is the chess elephant. What's the secret? I think it's because these toys got the most likes on social media and more people were able to see them, so when they came to my store, they were already familiar with them.
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 was lucky because my first order came as soon as I opened my store. This is because my first customer already knew about me through Instagram. It can even be said that I owe the opening of my Etsy store to my first customer. Etsy became a platform for me to sell my work abroad.
Managing Marlitoys
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?
Yes, I manage my store by myself. I had experience using Etsy Rank, and I liked it. It was a very good assistant. Now, I use Etsy analytics to check the number of visits to the store and individual listings, analyze this data, and think about how to adjust my approach. I also handle sales processing and shipping myself.
The future of Marlitoys
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
Of course, I would like more people to learn about my store, and perhaps among them there would be some new fans of my art.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
Don't forget about the importance of high-quality photos of your products. They are a key element of your listing and can influence customers' decisions to purchase your items. Keep in touch with your customers and respond to their questions and requests as quickly as possible. This will help you maintain good reviews and create long-term relationships with your clients.
Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.
Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: Each month is different. Often, I either have a lot of orders or almost nothing. In the best months, it's $3,000–$3,500, and in the worst, it's $800–$1,500.
Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: Similarly, it varies each month. If we take $1500, it will come out to be around $1300.
Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: My conversion rate for now is 0.3%.
Marlitoys
Handmade toys | Brooches | Accessories
