Etsy Seller Interview with Rachel of RachelStClairArt

How RachelStClairArt 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?

RachelStClairArt is the sole designer and owner of RachelStClairArt.I design and sell digital downloads that other businesses or creators can use to create their own physical products. Back in 2020, while I was laid off from my full-time job due to the pandemic, I decided to reignite my love for art. I had been working in retail for most of my 20s and was beginning to feel quite burned out and aimless, working in industries that I wasn’t necessarily passionate about. During my time off from work, where I spent most of those initial days in my pyjamas, eating chips and scrolling TikTok, I had a sort of epiphany and a "what am I doing with my life?" moment. I began drawing and soon remembered how much I loved working on creative projects. I was hooked. I started building up my skills and, in September of 2020, decided to open an Etsy shop. I initially began selling physical products (prints, t-shirts, etc.) with my designs, but after a few months I realized I was competing in a highly saturated market without the advantage of a product that really stood out.

I saw, through Instagram, that some creators I had been following were creating their own digital brushes to use on the drawing software Procreate. I began doing some market research on Etsy and found that the competition was much lower, especially when combined with another keyword. So I got to work. I taught myself what I needed to learn, found niches that I thought hadn’t been fully targeted, and, combining them with current design trends, began creating my own products. Almost immediately after publishing these products, I started seeing results. Within days, I was getting people favoriting my items, and within a couple of weeks, I made my first sale from a digital download product. It wasn’t much, but it was exactly the boost I needed to keep me focused. I knew, from research, that there was a current boom in 1970’s design trends, and so in May of 2021, I created my "Groovy 70’s Procreate Stamp Bundle." This product ended up being more popular than I’d imagined, and soon I was making consistent weekly sales and eventually earning the bestseller tag.

I carried on building and adding new Procreate products, but in time, I began selling SVG files of my designs as well. SVG stands for "Scalable Vector Graphic," and these files are great because they’re high-quality, can be endlessly resized, and are easy to use in software like Cricut or Silhouette to create your own t-shirts, bags, mugs, and so on. I love creating and selling SVGs because I love helping small business owners, especially those just starting out, at a relatively low cost. When I began selling SVGs, I’d say that’s when my business truly started growing. I began to earn consistent daily sales, received custom requests, and was better able to develop a consistent style across my shop. Fast forward to now, and I currently have 217 listings and some products I’m incredibly proud of. Creating my products is easy, especially after a year or so of streamlining my processes. I keep an up-to-date spreadsheet of keywords for future designs using research I’ve taken directly from Etsy. For stamps, I hand-draw and create everything in Procreate. For SVGs, I sketch my concept in Procreate before heading over to Illustrator to trace. I make sure all my products are well organized, and I check every file in the different software programs my customers will use to make sure everything looks good. Doing this final step has been crucial to the success of my shop. Customers frequently comment on the quality and ease of use of my files.

Favorite items

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

I have two favorites. The first is my "Funny Skull SVG BundleFunny Skull SVG Bundle," a collection of hand-drawn human skulls with sarcastic or ironic phrases (Living The Dream, Feeling Good, etc.). I really like this product because it is truly me. I have a dark sense of humor and love bringing two opposing concepts together to create something weird and wonderful. They’ve been really popular, and I love how they look on the products I’ve seen in customers' photos.

My second favorite product is my Groovy Bridal Party SVG Bundle. When searching through wedding designs on Etsy, I found the common theme was elegant calligraphy. I wanted to create something a little different and in line with the 1970s trend and style I’d been developing. The bridal party titles are hand-lettered in a groovy retro 1970's style with cute sparkle doodles in the bundle. Customers usually buy this bundle to create bachelorette t-shirts or wedding favors. I love the concept, and I like being able to provide a bold alternative to the classic wedding style.

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 made my first sale a month after I’d opened my shop. However, this was for a physical product. Once I switched my focus to digital products exclusively, my first sale for one of those came a couple of weeks after I’d published my first digital listing. I’ve used Instagram in the past to attract some customers, but I mostly just work really hard on SEO and then let Etsy search do its thing. I’ve found that by finding strong keywords, building a quality product, and taking care to research my listing titles, tags, and descriptions, I’ve been able to attract a large audience through Etsy.

Managing RachelStClairArt

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’m the only person running my shop at this time. I love using Google Sheets to keep track of my keyword research and earnings. In the past, I’ve used Marmalead to do keyword research too. I also have the Etsy seller app downloaded on my phone, and I wouldn’t be anywhere without my Adobe subscriptions. As for shipping and fulfillment, as a digital seller, these are things I don’t have to think about. Once a customer purchases their item, Etsy makes it easy for them to access and download their files, and from there, they’re good to go!

The future of RachelStClairArt

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

Ultimately, I’d just like to keep creating more products, particularly bundle products, as these sell better. My goal for 2023 is to be harsher with my listings and make sure I’m removing those that aren’t selling at all. I’ve started to branch out into other online marketplaces and want to continue building my presence there. I like to set myself modest goals as I’m one of those people that can be easily deterred if I initially set my sights too high. By the end of 2023, I’d like to reach 8,000 sales which I feel is doable and will be a great milestone for my small business. 

Advice for new sellers

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

My best advice for new sellers is to read the Etsy Seller Handbook. It’s so important, and Etsy literally lays out exactly what they’re looking for when it comes to getting found in search, keeping the algorithm happy, and how to create a winning product listing.
I also can’t stress enough how important good customer service is. It might sound obvious, but how you speak to your customers makes a huge difference in getting good reviews and repeat sales. I always read my messages back before sending them to make sure I’m being clear, kind, and respectful. The nuances of communication can be lost when typing, so take care to ensure there are no misunderstandings!
Beyond that, I’d say just try and stay positive, persevere, and cherish every small victory. Making your first sale is such a good feeling, and you should try to remember that feeling. It’ll help you stay motivated as you continue on your selling journey.