How MinasFactory 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?
Hello, I will introduce myself: my name is Gelsomina, and I am the owner of the shop named "Mina’s Factory". I live in Trani, a small seaside city in the south of Italy, and I am 49 years old. I opened my shop on Etsy in 2017, exactly on July 17, 2017, where I created and sold felt ornaments. I didn’t know the world of Etsy; in effect, I wasn’t an expert on platforms for sale online. It is thanks to my sister’s good friend that I am here, because he suggested I sell my creations on a website that focused on handcrafts, and that made me very curious about this. I have always sewed and embroidered by hand. I love drawing. The meeting with felt was purely random, and from that moment on, I got passionate because I could reconcile what I loved to do: drawing, sewing, and embroidering by hand.
At the beginning, I created mobile phone cases, keychains, tablet cases, and bookmarks. When the COVID pandemic began, I started to sew masks. The sales of the masks went very well, and this gave a big boost to my shop and my creativity. I started to think that I could do it. So, I bought some new felt and started to create new Christmas ornaments. From that moment on, my shop began to sell well, and every Christmas, my house turns into a "factory" of Christmas items with many packages to send. I buy the materials I use online or in small shops in my country.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
In my shop, there were 120 articles at the time of this interview. My favorites are four ornaments, and to each of them is linked a very precise reason:
GNOMES: These little guys have changed my whole life. I created them in October 2020, and they immediately skyrocketed in sales for 3 years! In fact, they have been the "best seller" on Etsy for quite a while.
LlAMA: I love these little llamas; I created them in 2018, and since the beginning, people have liked them. Also, Etsy chose them for a highlighted listing in their Christmas advertising campaign in 2021, and thanks to this, the sales went well and the llamas became "best sellers.".
Lamps: These lamps are very special. Etsy picked them for their 2022 holiday season lookbook, and I'm so grateful for all of their support.
GUITAR BOOKMARK: Instead, these bookmarks express my great passion: rock music. I love the sound of the guitars, and I would create these bookmarks for all the people who love rock music like me.
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?
When I opened the shop, I was very inexperienced. Two months later, my first sale came from a French woman who asked me to do a custom order. I remember that with so much affection; it was a great emotion. It is always like that, especially when they come from distant places. That is why I love selling on Etsy. Unfortunately, sales didn't take off at the beginning, but I never got discouraged. I joined a Facebook group for support among Italian Etsy sellers, and it was there that I realized what was wrong with my shop: the SEO. I started studying and changed the photos multiple times to make them more appealing, always putting in more effort to target my customers. In my shop, customers find customizable, handmade, and unique items, which are very important to them. Unfortunately, I'm not very skilled with social media, and I don't have a large following. Plus, I can't dedicate myself to it full-time. Now I'm working with TikTok, and time will tell if I'm doing well. I attract customers by taking care of the shop's SEO, improving the photos, following Etsy's advice, and above all, by creating distinctive and unique items. I have sold a lot, and many customers are thrilled with my work, leaving 5-star reviews. This helps future customers trust me and my shop. Many of them return and make repeated purchases. In short, I focus on the quality of the product, craftsmanship, and timely shipping. I'm always attentive to customers when they reach out to me for answers regarding their orders. All this builds trust in the seller.
Managing MinasFactory
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?
My shop is managed by me, my husband, and my daughter. I take care of creating and making the items. My husband helps me with shipping management and organizing the work. Lastly, my daughter assists me with the technical aspects. During the Christmas season, we receive a lot of orders, so to speed up the process, I prepare the items during the summer. I use the "Sell on Etsy" mobile app for quick shop management, but I prefer to work on the computer to handle everything. I also use "Erank" for listing optimization, as it helps me find the most suitable tags for my creations. For shipping, I rely on the national postal service of my country (Poste Italiane).
The future of MinasFactory
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
My shop has many future goals. I hope to continue growing and always offer the best to my customers. I am grateful to Etsy for the opportunity it has given me to showcase my creations to the world.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
My advice is to study SEO, always create original articles without copying from others, and make them using your creativity and skills. Creations made with love and passion reach people, and this will make you a special seller.
MinasFactory
Accessories created with passion and soul..
