Etsy Seller Interview with Kate of OrangeValentine

How OrangeValentine 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?

Hi! I'm Kate, the owner of Orange Valentine. I design and print business stationery and marketing materials for other Etsy sellers and small business owners. I decided to start my shop after falling in love with the now-inactive stationery blog, Oh So Beautiful Paper. Although I was making a living as a graphic designer for a corporate company at the time, I would obsess over every new post and dream of starting my own stationery company someday. After several years of dreaming, planning, starting, and restarting, I finally took the leap and opened my shop in 2016.

Originally, my shop mainly focused on selling greeting card designs and customizable invitation collections. Although I made some sales, they weren't generating significant attention or profit. Things changed when I posted a listing for custom favour tags for parties. I began receiving messages from buyers requesting personalised tags featuring their business branding to hang on their products. Recognising the demand, I quickly expanded on this idea, and now my shop solely focuses on customizable business stationery. I've maintained the luxury paper and high-quality printing standards from the invitations, which I now apply to hang tags, thank-you card inserts, business cards, packaging, stickers, and more.

Favorite items

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

These hang tags I offer are very special to me, as they were the foundation of what my shop is today, and they continue to be my top-selling product. Their popularity stems from their versatility, which is highlighted in this listing. I feature various customizable options in the listing images, allowing customers to envision countless ways to uniquely showcase their brand.

I love these thank-you insert cards because they are so simple, yet they can make a huge impact for my clients' handmade or e-commerce businesses. Whether they choose to customise it with a prewritten message or handwrite a note, including a branded note in the shipping box serves as a personal touch and a reminder that their support is appreciated. Additionally, you can also include a call to action that promotes repeat business or encourages customers to leave a review, which is invaluable for new shops.

Another one of my top picks and most popular products is my square business card. Despite living in a digital world, I still have a love and appreciation for physical business cards, and the square shape adds a modern touch to this traditional item. One of the aspects I truly appreciate about my job is hearing the joy of new business owners when they receive their printed pieces. It is incredibly validating to see your brand come to life in print, giving it a genuine and professional feel, and I am so honoured to be a part of that process.

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 received my first sale in about a week, but it was pretty sluggish for several months after that. It wasn't until I committed to running my shop full-time that sales started coming in consistently. I've always attracted new customers by optimising titles and keywords and continually adding new listings. This past year, I have started focusing on Etsy ads to navigate the ever-changing search algorithms. Although it lowers my profit margin on the buyer's initial order, it proves beneficial for my shop in the long term, considering that approximately 50% of my business comes from repeat customers.

Managing OrangeValentine

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 partner with a trusted family-run print shop, while the rest of my business is managed solely by me. Although I have hired some contract assistance in the past, I have struggled with letting go of certain aspects of the business. I plan to revisit this in the future, but in the meantime, I leverage many apps to automate business operations and free up time. Some of the apps I utilise include Pipedrive, Orderdesk, Coda, Aweber, Zapier, Vela, Everbee, Aftership, and Quickbooks.

The future of OrangeValentine 

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

Running a small business involves a seemingly endless list of tasks and goals that continue to expand. Currently, my list includes starting a blog, posting more on social media, redesigning my website, and adding new products. However, my ultimate goal is to be able to continue to do this as my full-time job, enjoying the freedom of being my own boss and having the opportunity to pursue my passion every day.

Advice for new sellers

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

Just get started. I wasted a significant amount of time in the initial stages by over-planning and striving for flawlessness in my shop right from the start, buying excessive materials in the process. Ironically, none of the items I initially opened my shop with are being sold now. So, choose a shop name that doesn't limit you to one specific type of product, as you never know where your shop might take you. Once you make your first sale, pay close attention to your customers' feedback and build upon it.