Etsy Seller Interview with Zsa of MissTessyShop

How MissTessyShop 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?

Crafts and creations have been important in my life since childhood. It's a liberating and joyful feeling for me. And with the birth of my children, I combined this with the aspect of practicality. My thought was that I certainly would not be able to buy a blanket, room decoration, or baby accessory that I would make for my child according to my own taste, with my own hands, and with love. That's how I started to create most of our baby products on my own. Each piece has a special charm. During usage, I went into more and more details and improved them to be as practical as possible. This way, the children actually provided the inspiration, and the usage provided the guidelines. I got my first sewing machine from my grandmother. I sewed the first pieces during the children's bedtime or at night. I have been searching for the best quality materials and have noticed that more and more materials are flooding my workshop. Then, when I bought an industrial machine, there was no stopping.

After the birth of my second daughter, I started to sell on the German Dawanda website. I received a lot of positive feedback and orders. So, when I had a little more time, I decided to give Etsy a try. Since then, I have been customizing the products for my children. I continuously expand the offer as they grow, and fortunately, other people's children grow up similarly quickly, so I have regular customers and followers.

Favorite items

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

My favorites are children's backpacks. I love them. During design, I can boldly use colors and patterning materials, which makes each piece even more special. And with the child's name on it, it is even more unique—not just a simple backpack, but "his or her own". It can be a companion that accompanies the child on the first day of kindergarten that no one else has and that they gladly take with them everywhere. It hides the home's treasures and the mother's smell, so it is sure to help getting used to the nursery.

I designed the first ones with my daughters. They chose the pattern and the colors. When I get stuck on a new material, I often ask for their advice.

I love these bags because they look great on kids. Many times, when I'm walking down the street and a Miss Tessy backpack passes by me on roller skates, I'm filled with great happiness, and I think they're the most beautiful of them all. I know I'm biased.

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?

If I remember well, the selling started after 3 weeks. My first sale was a very detailed, embroidered backpack order from the US. I prepared and packed it with great care. Then, when I received the notification email from the post office that the package was lost, I almost had a heart attack. After a bad omen, more and more people started buying from all over the world. From time to time, I try to boost trade with discounts and campaigns. I still have room for improvement.

Managing MissTessyShop

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 did everything alone for a long time. But then my baby boy was born, and I started to crumble under the weight. So, the time came for me to delegate some of the easier tasks that don't require my personal touch. The embroidery, photography, and administrative tasks are done by my assistants. On the other hand, I am responsible for processing orders, assembling the products, managing the website, uploading products, and even packaging. I also don't want to delegate communication with customers. I use the Etsy app; I reply to messages there. There are many individual orders that no one else could coordinate. These are important details that I don't want to give up. Since most of my products are personalized with the kid’s name on them, it requires a lot of attention to make them properly. You can't think in terms of mass production, but that makes them special.

The future of MissTessyShop

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

I have a lot of product ideas in my head that I would like to implement. And to put more emphasis on marketing.

Advice for new sellers

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

Feel free to jump in. It's a lot of work, but it's worth it. It is a pleasure to meet many nice customers who appreciate products made by hand and with heart. It is very joyful to make products for them. I have no regrets; I can only recommend Etsy.

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

Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: 1.5%