Etsy Seller Interview with Alesya and Igor of PassionCraftStore

How PassionCraftStore 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?

We are Igor and Alesya, old friends and owners of Passion Craft Store. When we started exploring fetishes, we faced the challenge of finding devices that met our aesthetic views. Having tried a number of leather whips, we came to the conclusion that the best pieces were handmade by masters who enjoy the BDSM lifestyle themselves and who have dedicated their lives to the art of whip-making. And the best ropes are made by artists who practice shibari themselves. It was good luck to find communities where we could get in touch with such masters and artists! We discussed with them the specifics of manufacture and design, the difference between materials, and offered our ideas and visions. We became part of the community and of the manufacturing process.  As we learned more about the devices, we also turned to our own rope and candle production.

In 2017, a brilliant idea flashed into our minds: to create a store and promote Ukrainian fetish products worldwide. We are very proud that our artists are among the best in the world. Every item in our store is handmade with care and attention to detail. During that time, we provided about 2000 BDSM enthusiasts all over the world with instruments for passion and helped hundreds of people find their fetishes. We consider helping people explore their desires to be our mission. It brings joy and meaning to our work.

Favorite items

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

Frankly speaking, we like all of our items. Each time we do the packing, we have a lot of fun and enjoy the aesthetics of every device we pack. In our opinion, it is important to like what you sell. Nevertheless, we can give a couple of examples of items that make the heartbeat a bit faster. 

In the whip section, that would be this gorgeous snake whip. When you have one of these in your hands, it feels like a living creature. It looks absolutely beautiful and has an excellent performance. Having one of these is like being the owner of a work of art.

Bondage is another section that is quite popular among our customers. The fun piece is this leather bondage set. It is made of premium-quality leather and contains items for lots of fun. With a bit of imagination, you can come up with a dozen naughty scenarios using these devices.

And it would be a shame not to mention this set of three shibari ropes. This very large number of ropes gives you an opportunity to dive into the world of shibari hassle-free. With this set, you can practice many simple and sophisticated ties. And if you have some practice already, the set will encourage you to fantasize and have much fun.

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 sale was a week after we had our shop registered and all set. At first, of course, we didn’t have many sales, but our main rule from the beginning was to provide premium-quality items and service to our customers. With time, we had more people coming to our shop. We also have an instagram page. There, we share photos from some of our photo sessions as well as some useful information about choosing and using BDSM devices. We also have our own website. Our best promotion is when our customers recommend our devices to their friends.

Managing PassionCraftStore

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?

We use eRank and Marmalead for Etsy SEO to help optimize our shop and listings for search engine visibility. We also use the Etsy Seller application on our mobile devices for easy access to our shop and to manage orders on the go. We work with Western Bid and SkladUSA for combination method shipping, which allows us to ship with Fedex, DHL, and UPS from warehouses located in the EU. Additionally, we ship directly from Ukraine using Ukrposhta and NP Global. On average, our shipping time is around 14 days. We also work with our partners for fulfillment services, and they have warehouses in the USA and EU. We use these warehouses for our best-selling products, for example, a single-tail whip or a jute bondage rope set.

The future of PassionCraftStore 

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

Our goals for the future include expanding our production capabilities and teaching more people how to weave whips. We plan to open a warehouse in Canada to better serve our customers in North America. Additionally, we aim to participate in international trade shows and festivals to promote our brand and connect with new customers.

Advice for new sellers

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

Our advice to a new seller starting an Etsy shop would be to invest time in creating high-quality, unique products that stand out from the competition. It's also important to optimize your shop for search engine visibility and take advantage of social media platforms to promote your products and engage with potential customers. Building a strong brand identity and delivering excellent customer service is also crucial for long-term success on Etsy. Lastly, be patient and persistent, as building a successful Etsy shop takes time and effort.