Etsy Seller Interview with Melissa of momlifebydesign

How momlifebydesign 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 Melissa Peduzzi, owner and creator at Mom Life by Design. I create digital files primarily for busy moms to help them take back their time for what really matters. With family fun activities, printable wall art, printable planner pages, editable templates, and more, I love taking things off mom’s plates so they can be more present with their families!

Mom Life by Design was a product of the COVID shutdown. With all of us at home, I needed a creative outlet and the ability to reach and serve other moms right where they were. Being a mom of two, my product inspiration always came from my real life. My first products were printable Scripture memory cards for stress and anxiety, which I needed during a very chaotic and uncertain time.

As I started to get sales, it really bolstered the idea that we’re all in this thing called life together, and I kept brainstorming different ways to create products that would help other moms (and, as an added benefit, I got to use them myself in everyday life!). I’ll get inspired by a need in my own life and think about how I can make it beneficial and accessible to other moms who might have the same need by creating a digital product in Canva.

I had so much fun with this store that I created another, CoachingFromStrength, which provides health, fitness, and wellness coaches with digital collateral (social media posts, challenge groups, and planners) to reach and engage their clients. Starting Mom Life by Design was like opening a portal of possibilities for me, and it’s been incredible to see how my gifts and skills can benefit so many people digitally. What an amazing time we live in!

Favorite items

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

If I had to pick favorites, this Delivery Driver Treat Basket Sign would be one I love. When the world shut down, we all started getting more packages delivered to our doorstep, and a treat basket, especially around the holidays, was a perfect and fun way to show our appreciation and extend a little human connection. I created this sign to be used any time during the year, not just during the holidays (but I do have some signs that are more festive to keep things interesting).

As an adoptive mama, this adoption profile book template has a special place in my heart. It can be so stressful to try and capture your heart in a book to show birthmothers, and my desire was to remove some of that stress by creating an easy-to-use template. Potential adoptive parents can just drop in their pictures and update the text to reflect their personal stories, and they’re print-ready!

 With my heart being to bring families together, it doesn’t get easier than with these seasonal family bucket list activities. Pre-populated with fun family activities for the seasons, you can print them as is or edit them in Canva with a click to create personal family memories. It makes me so happy to know so many families are using these to enjoy their time together.

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?

While it didn’t take long to get that first sale, staying committed long-term is what created consistency in the sales. I constantly monitor what’s selling vs. what’s not to see what people are looking for, and I’m always listening to what my customers tell me they like and are looking for. I primarily rely on optimizing my SEO for Etsy search traffic and Etsy ads to attract customers, with a sprinkling of Pinterest.

Managing momlifebydesign

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?

It’s just me over here, and with all digital products, it certainly makes things easier!

My go-to tools are:

Canva: I do most of my product creation here. While they’ve made it simple to use, the designs can be anything but.
Google Drive: I keep my files here and can share larger bundles with customers easily through Drive.
Bookkeeping Spreadsheet from EmilyJaneOrganizes: This keeps my expenses and profit organized for tax time (and to keep track of where we’re at each month). Bookkeeping is not my jam, and I’m so grateful to have this!
And of course, you can’t forget the Etsy Seller App: No matter where I am, I can keep an eye on orders and customer service conveniently!

The future of momlifebydesign 

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

My goals are all focused on continuing to provide value to moms out there. I’m creating a line of products that complement my mindset and life coaching for moms, and I can’t wait to see all the ways these will help mamas get unstuck from overwhelm and live on purpose with joy!

Advice for new sellers

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

Don’t let perfectionism or analysis paralysis keep you from getting started. Etsy has a relatively low barrier of entry, and it’s well worth a try. Done is always better than waiting for perfect (because perfect doesn’t exist!) -- just get your creations out there and test the market to see what happens!

Celebrate the small wins all along the way while you work towards your goal. Consistency is vital to success, and if you celebrate the steps along the way, you’re so much more likely to keep going!

Also, it’s worth it to take the time to learn about Etsy SEO and optimize your listings. Why wouldn’t you do everything you can to make sure your listings end up on the right screens?

And don’t forget to have fun!