How PENCILANDCIE 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?
How did Pencilandcie come about? 🤔 Like many people, I think the lockdown period was not an easy time. For me, my classes switched to remote learning, and I had to adapt to this new organization. So, I had to find an activity to pass the time a bit faster, haha. My mother had ordered an iPad with an Apple Pencil, so I started by drawing our personal vacation photos. And then she made a not-so-dumb comment, saying, "You could sell this; it's original, and people will definitely like it." Without paying much attention to her, I put that idea aside. But as time went on, my lines became finer, and my illustrations looked more like the photos. I realized that I had made enough progress to share my creations with as many people as possible; that's when I opened the Instagram account for Pencilandcie.
People liked it a lot from the start, but, well, you know how Instagram works: before becoming someone, you have to wait for Saint Never.🤪 I had also heard about the Etsy marketplace and immediately looked into opening a shop on the site! That's how I landed here in August 2020. Of course, I had to learn about many things: SEO, product listing creation, visual identity, etc. Months went by, and then Christmas 2020 arrived... with a flood of orders for my shop! 📦 I was so happy to see that people all over the world liked what I was doing, followed by enormous personal pressure to complete all my orders while juggling them with my studies. Justezoé, sharing my work greatly helped me gain followers on Instagram and additional orders a week before Christmas.
Following that, I knew I wanted to keep Pencilandcie as my main activity and that I needed to delve deeper into this project, so I threw away my double major studies at the Sorbonne in history and geography to switch to a bachelor's degree in marketing and communication—a complete 360-degree turn! By the way, I graduated with my bachelor's degree in marketing and communication with honors in September 2022 and am now pursuing a master's degree in entrepreneurship at the IES Business School. Today, I have no regrets about this choice and am more than thrilled to be able to make a living from an activity that I am passionate about bringing joy and helping you bring joy to your loved ones by forever illustrating your memories.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
My favorite items are the special "godparents" portraits and the memorial portrait. These two products are particularly important to me because they stem from my personal story and my desire to create unique portraits. I lost my dad when I was 14 years old, and I wanted to have a portrait that brought us together (me at 22 years old and my dad from before). This is how the idea for the memorial portrait was born. This product allows people to remember their departed loved ones and represent them together despite the passage of time.
Additionally, I became a godmother this year to an adorable little boy, and I wanted to give this gift idea to people for this type of product. The "godparents" portraits are a unique way to celebrate these special relationships and create a lasting memory for godparents and their godchildren. These two products are selling well, likely because they touch customers emotionally and cater to a need to remember and celebrate important relationships. People appreciate being able to offer personalized and meaningful gifts to their loved ones. Here are the links to these products:
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 opened my Etsy shop in July 2020 without any knowledge of SEO, etc. At the time, the trend on TikTok was focused on special "small business" content, and I learned through that. I received my first order in September 2020, once I returned to my Parisian apartment. Over the weeks, I had increasingly regular orders, and the explosion happened at the end of October 2020 with a rush of orders for Christmas.
I try to attract customers to my shop through SEO, of course, but also through visuals, which are very important. By offering attractive and high-quality images, I can capture the attention of potential customers and encourage them to visit my shop to learn more about my products and place orders. Additionally, I strive to create an authentic connection with my community by regularly sharing my creative process and personal stories on social media. This allows me to show the human aspect behind my brand and establish an emotional connection with my audience.
Managing PENCILANDCIE
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?
As a 22-year-old business school student in a Master of Entrepreneurship program and also working as an intern, I manage my Etsy shop entirely on my own. Yes, I handle everything: the shop, customer contact, production, packaging and shipping, after-sales service, social media, etc. I'm a real multitasking woman, kind of like a human Swiss Army knife, always ready to face challenges!
To manage my shop, I use several tools and applications that help me optimize my work and facilitate the different stages of running my business. Here's a list of the tools I use and how I use them:
- Alura: This tool allows me to research keywords and analyze trends to improve the SEO of my shop and attract more customers. It's like having a private detective for my online store!
- Chat GPT: I use Chat GPT to interact quickly and efficiently with my customers, answer their questions, and solve their issues. It's like having a virtual assistant who's always ready to help.
- Canva: Canva is an online graphic design tool that I use to create attractive visuals for my shop and social media. With Canva, I can pretend to be a professional graphic designer, even though I'm not!
- eRank: eRank is an Etsy analysis platform that helps me optimize my shop by analyzing my performance and offering suggestions to improve my ranking in search results. It's like having a personal coach for my store.
By using these tools, I'm able to manage my shop effectively and stay organized, despite my busy schedule as a student and intern. And who knows, maybe one day I'll become a true Wonder Woman of entrepreneurship!
The future of PENCILANDCIE
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
Ah, goals! Well, first of all, I want to relaunch my Etsy shop. With my busy schedule, I've been neglecting it a bit, and I've noticed a decrease in visits and revenue. But fear not—I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and give my little online empire a boost!
Next, I'd like to grow my shop by offering more products and spin-off items. Imagine an army of beautiful illustrations and unique objects taking over the world... Yes, I'm thinking big, and I'm determined to pull out all the stops to make it happen!
In the long run, I'd love for my shop to be prosperous enough for me to make a living from it and to digitize it as much as possible. Why? Well, you see, I'm planning to travel the world with my sweetheart, and I'd like my entrepreneurial adventure to continue during this journey. I could offer new, travel-inspired creations and share my journey with my community while continuing to grow my business.
In summary, my ultimate goal is to transform my shop into a thriving, digital business that allows me to live my passion while exploring the world with the love of my life. A crazy dream? Maybe, but after all, who doesn't love a challenge? So, let the adventure continue!
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
First and foremost, I would say that it's crucial to believe in your dreams and persevere, as nothing is impossible. As Walt Disney famously said, "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them." So dare to dream big and work hard to achieve your goals!
Here are some other tips for getting off to a great start:
- Take the time to set up your shop properly: choose a catchy name, create an appealing logo, and write a shop description that reflects your personality and passion.
- Research SEO and keywords to improve the visibility of your products on Etsy. It's essential to optimize your product listings to catch the attention of potential buyers.
- Pay attention to your product presentation: take quality photos, write detailed descriptions, and use relevant keywords to make it easy for customers to find your items.
- Don't hesitate to use social media to promote your shop and share your creative process. This will help you build a loyal customer community and establish a connection with them.
- Listen to your customers and be responsive in your communication with them. Good after-sales service is vital for retaining your customers and encouraging referrals.
Lastly, remember that success doesn't always come instantly. Be patient, learn from your mistakes, and continue to improve. Over time, your efforts will bear fruit, and you will see your Etsy shop thrive!
Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.
Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: Since the opening, I've made 70k euros in 2 years and a half.
Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: 75%
Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: 1,5 - 1,8%
