How MyCuteDogDesigns 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?

In the pandemic, I decided that I wanted to become a solopreneur and work from anywhere in the world, yet, the most viable options (according to several “How to make money online” blogs) did not call my attention. Then, my 12-year-old papillon passed away, and I knew I wanted to honor his memory. That’s when I discovered Etsy and Print-On-Demand, and I decided to create products that appealed to other dog lovers around the world. I create my designs with detail and love.

Favorite items

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

That’s a tough one! But if I have to choose, it would be the “Keep Calm and Love a Dog” Collection, I’ve already made a custom item for this design, and it went really well, my customer was more than satisfied. It was one of the very first designs I created, and I did it with the love I bear for my little dog-angel in mind. I believe that’s why it went well. Here are some of the links, you can find the entire collection if you scroll through the sections:

Keep Calm and Love a Yorkie Kawaii T-Shirt, Cute Peeking Dog Tee, Doggie Paw Unisex Pullover, Graphic Bella Canvas Short Sleeve Jersey
Keep Calm and Love a Custom Breed Kawaii T-Shirt, Cute Peeking Dog Tee, Doggie Paw Unisex Pullover, Graphic Bella Canvas Short Sleeve Jersey
Keep Calm and Love a Cavalier Spaniel Kawaii T-Shirt, Peeking Dog Tee, Doggie Paw Unisex Pullover, Graphic Bella Canvas Short Sleeve Jersey

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?

It took about three months from the date I started listing more regularly to make my first sale.  Matter of fact, I’m in the middle of a makeover to attract more customers to my shop using Alura’s amazing and useful research tools.

Managing MyCuteDogDesigns

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 only me, I use Alura’s AI tools to help me with the tags and the descriptions, and also, to research the market for tendencies and inspiration for new products. I use POD providers like Printify to handle shipment and fulfillment.

The future of MyCuteDogDesigns

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

I want to expand my current offer from just selling clothes to selling diverse products all related to dogs. I want my shop to be known as the ultimate reference for personalized articles related to dogs. In the long term, I aspire to be in the top 100 (or 200, I’m not picky…) Etsy sellers around the world.

Advice for new sellers

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

Any business takes time and effort, do not despair if you don’t see immediate success like many YouTube Etsy Gurus promise. Be constant, adapt, and always do your research. But above all, if you have your heart on an idea, DO NOT GIVE UP UNTIL YOU'VE ACHIEVED IT.

Alura Team
Alura Team

Alura is your all-in-one platform for selling on Etsy. With more $500.000+ gross sales over four years selling on Etsy, Alura is built by experienced sellers for sellers. Start with a free account and explore all the features you need to start, run, and grow your Etsy shop.