Etsy Seller Interview with Jen of NellasCottage

How NellasCottage 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?

My name is Jen, and I am the owner of Nella’s Cottage. My grandma taught me to crochet when I was little, and I never did anything with it. However, once my niece was born, I decided to crochet a hat for her, and I posted a picture of it on Facebook. I immediately got several people asking to order one! It was then that I thought it might be a good idea to create a little side hustle with crocheted items. I started out doing local craft fairs and eventually graduated to selling on Etsy. My Etsy shop now keeps me so busy that I am unable to do markets and fairs any longer. But it took me about 7 years to get to this point.

Favorite items

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

My favourite items in my Etsy shop right now are my stockings. They are my best seller year-round, and they are even being featured in the Better Home and Gardens DIY magazine this year! Look for them on shelves on September 22nd! I believe they are so popular because you can see the heart and soul that are put into each and every one. I do not mass produce my products; each one is carefully handcrafted. We’ve sold thousands of stockings, and everyone comes back with raving 5-star reviews about them, and they usually always end up ordering more!

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?

I cannot recall how long it took me to get my first order, but it wasn't long. I have spent a lot of time learning the ins and outs of social media and how to actually grow a business on it. So that is where I started. Too many times, people "post and pray" that it will turn into something for them, without any intentionality. You have to be intentional about how you’re posting... making sure the verbiage is good, the photo quality is good, the content is good, etc. I had all this in my background (from being a former district manager of a clothing boutique), so I suppose that was an advantage. However, anyone can learn it.

Managing NellasCottage

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 manage my shop exclusively. I do have a handful of people who help me with certain orders, but I touch each and every order that goes out my door. I use the Etsy app for 100% of my business operations. And I use Facebook and Instagram to drive business to my shop.

The future of NellasCottage

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

My goals for the future would just be to continue doing what I’m doing. I love creating. I love what I do. I love the craziness of the holiday season. I love being able to stay at home and work with my husband (who also works from home). So I just plan to continue to create things and grow my business!

Advice for new sellers

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

Just do it. Stop overthinking it. Stop trying to perfect yourself before you do it. Just do it. You’re going to make mistakes along the way. That is normal; we all do it. We all started somewhere. Stop comparing your page 1 to someone else’s page 25. If you don't know how to do something, then learn it. We have the world at our fingertips with the internet; there’s literally no excuse that can be valid as to why someone cannot learn how to do something. So if you have questions, research them. And do not give up.