Etsy Seller Interview with Chavalia of PinkMahogHany

How PinkMahogHany 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?

Pink MahoganyTM is a collection of gender-neutral perfumes, room fragrance sprays, miniature vehicle diffusers, diffuser blends, and essential oil roll-ons for both focus and sleep. My mother told me about Etsy around 2011, and it was the perfect option to sell my products while having my website worked on. Initially, I only offered my perfumes but expanded with more fragrant options as the business grew and the demand for other products increased. I work with just a handful of suppliers (including Etsy shops) to source various materials for my packaging and have specific ingredient suppliers from the west to the east coast that specialize in working with indie brands that formulate on a small-batch scale.

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 samples because they’re the best way for one to become acquainted with our brand. A lot of companies don’t offer samples, so we set ourselves apart by allowing "try before you fully commit" to make sure the fragrance blends well with one’s body chemistry. Our current top seller is Pas Encore Nommé (among both women and men!).

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?

It took a couple of weeks before I earned my first sale! I currently try and utilize all of the options available to Etsy sellers, from advertising or highlighting a specific product from the collection to using targeted search keywords to attract customers. Once an order has been placed, I offer a discount code on their order receipt and send a "cart reminder" to prompt them to come back and complete their purchase.

Managing PinkMahogHany

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 am the sole manager of my Etsy shop. I try to post recent content that showcases the behind-the-scenes of prepping an order. I aim to respond to every review given and provide an element of personability by sending a thank-you card with each order, along with a scent card to introduce new and upcoming fragrances. Fortunately, Etsy makes the shipping process extremely easy, so once I’ve printed off the labels, I take them to my local USPS for drop-off. I pretty much make everything to order and have a current 5-8 business day turnaround. My twin boys are my current TwinTerns, and they help with supply re-orders and carrying parcels inside our carrier.

The future of PinkMahogHany

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

I am constantly in my studio formulating new scents and would love to expand our reach by partnering with auto dealerships, boutique hotels, and luxury department stores for custom HVAC scent marketing.

Advice for new sellers

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

There’s so much more information on creating a successful Etsy shop right out of the gate now, so I would advise a new seller to take their time becoming acclimated to the platform while learning. Treat it as seriously as you would your 9-to-5 job until it becomes your 9-to-5 full-time. Do your market research to get an idea of what the sellers in your industry are offering and bring your own unique spin! Don’t be afraid of being YOU!

Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.

Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: Between $300-$800/month

Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: 90%

Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: 9.5%