Etsy Seller Interview with Margaret of Nakidbird

How Nakidbird 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 Margaret, the owner and founder of Nakidbird. I started sewing as early as 8 years old in my native country, Granada, West Indies. I remember fondly, as a child, trimming off the bottom of my mother's curtain to make tiny mini skirts. After all, I only needed about half a yard of it to fit around my wispy frame. I never thought she'd mind, but she did. Boy, did that leave a mark. I got in trouble every time, and it was worth it every time. I've been sewing ever since.

I started selling on Etsy in January 2012 after a 20-year career as a full-time retail store manager in the fashion retail industry. During the course of my retail career, I sold and gifted my handmade items to friends and family. When time permitted, I also sold at open-air markets and festivals.

In my 20+ years working as a retail customer service manager, I learned the importance of providing each and every customer with exceptional service. It is the key to a successful business. I attribute my success as an Etsy seller to my past experience in the industry.

I design women's apparel, with plus sizes being my specialty. I'm passionate about creating for women of all shapes and sizes. If I were asked to describe my style, it would be unique, effortless, and comfortable. You will find comfort in the styles I create and the fabrics I use. What sets my designs apart is my attention to detail. The quality of my work is always flawless and professional. I will not ship an item unless it's perfect. Each garment becomes personal to the women who purchase my designs. I'm inspired by women with a unique sense of style. Women who stand out in a crowd Women who are confident in their own skin Their strength is their femininity.

I create and design all the products listed in my shop. I use life and women as my inspiration. Strong, beautiful, confident, and fearless women. They're all around me. Some are close to me; others are just strangers that cross my path along the way. All patterns are drafted, and garments are cut, sewn, packaged, and shipped from my studio in our home.

I'm blessed with the help and support of a small team. My husband and partner, a very skilled seamstress, and a couple of beautiful women models lend their faces and personalities to my finished products.

Favorite items

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

My favourite products are my swing dresses, short-sleeve classic tee shirts, oversize high-low shapeless tee shirts, v-neck and crew-neck long-sleeve tees, and wide-leg pull-on capri knit ants. These items are some of our top sellers. Customers love these items because of the elegance and comfort they provide without sacrificing style.

My swing dresses, both maxi and midi length, are free-flowing, whimsical, and fit every body type. I offer sizes ranging from XS to 5X. The rayon spandex knits used to create these pieces lend themselves to effortless drapery silhouettes.

My tee shirts are roomy, drapey, and generous in length. All my tees are between 31 and 34 inches long, covering the stomach and hips generously.

Customers tell me that throwing them over a pair of leggings, wearing them to bed, or over their bathing suits are some of their favourite ways to wear 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?

Our first year selling on Etsy (2012) was a challenge. I think we had our first sale a week after opening. We struggled that first year because I had little knowledge about selling on the e-commerce platform as it relates to SEO, effective product listings, tags, etc. Needless to say, our first year as an Etsy seller was a learning experience. Business grew quickly after setting all those things in motion. As we gain momentum, we continue to retain hundreds of loyal customers who spread the word about our brand. We're committed to consistently providing stellar service to every customer who visits our store. And more importantly, providing well-made, flawless, top-quality products to our customers. Over the years, Nakidbird has become a brand that people recognise and trust.

Managing Nakidbird

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 ran Nakidbird full-time with my husband for the first six years. In 2018, the business grew to the point where we needed additional help. We added a seamstress and assistant to our team.

With the exception of my seamstress, who works remotely, my husband, my assistant, and myself work out of our home in Huntington Beach, California. We use one large room in our home as a work studio or office and another to store inventory, fabrics, and supplies.

The tools that have been working for us are:

Adobe Lightroom and Google Photos for photo editing
Canva for social media reels, videos, and banners
QuickBooks for accounting and tracking expenses
We package and ship orders Monday through Friday. My husband and I both share that responsibility, depending on the volume of orders in a given week.

The future of Nakidbird

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

I would like to expand my brand to include other niches. During the past year, I've launched a second Etsy shop called Nakid Bird Blues. It features customised denim skirts, jeans, jackets, and more. I will continue to add new items and styles as I listen to customers' feedback and special requests.

I want to continue to grow in my craft, to try new things, but more importantly, to continue to dress beautiful women all over the world. Women of every race, age, shape, and size Having a customer tell me that she feels special in my pieces and that she receives many compliments every time she steps out of her door is one of the many reasons why I do this job. It makes all the hard work and sleepless nights worth it.

Advice for new sellers

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

It takes some time to achieve the level of success we all hope for as small business owners. It may take some of us longer than others. Be patient, be consistent, and give yourself time to learn how it all works.