Etsy Seller Interview with Justina of ResponsibleMother

How ResponsibleMother 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?

Over the course of our first pregnancy, we knew that we wanted to raise our children in a healthy and eco-conscious way. The idea of ecology was already close to our way of life, and we believed that our lifestyle should not harm our children or the environment. As we incubated ideas about how we would diaper and feed our baby, we decided to use cloth diapers, dress our baby in natural fiber clothes (wool, silk, cotton), use only environmentally-friendly household, washing, and cosmetic items, and opt for wooden toys or items sewn by the mother herself. This is how a "responsible mother" was born.

In the beginning, ResponsibleMother started with just small orders for acquaintance mothers who wanted to raise their children in a healthy way. I received positive feedback and recommendations, which inspired me to continue working at full length. Today, ResponsibleMother is a family business that has been creating high-quality, handmade cloth diapers and wool diaper covers since 2010. We are proud to have been providing eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives to disposable diapers for over a decade.

As a business, we have evolved and refined our craft over the years, incorporating new materials and techniques to create products that are not only functional but also beautiful. Years of experience have allowed us to perfect our processes and offer our customers the very best in handmade, sustainable cloth diapers.

Since our inception, we have remained committed to our mission of creating products that are environmentally responsible, gentle on babies skin, and affordable for families.

At ResponsibleMother, we are committed to making the world a better place, one diaper at a time. We invite you to join us in our mission to create a more sustainable future for our children. Thank you for choosing Responsible Mother for your cloth diapering needs.

My journey on Etsy began in 2011, and it was a mother from Sweden who became my very first customer. I can still vividly remember the excitement I felt at the time. Word of mouth quickly spread, and soon my Etsy shop was receiving good reviews from satisfied customers. People loved the unique designs, the comfortable fit, and the durability of the cloth diapers. That was my start in the Etsy shop.

Favorite items

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

Our clients‘ favorite and most popular products are merino wool diaper covers and hemp-organic cotton cloth diapers

And of course, it‘s my favorite product. I raised my children with these products, so I know the best way to make them. Our merino wool fabric is made in Lithuania. This is a very high-quality fabric that is soft, gentle, fluffy, and absorbs wetness very well—all that is best for the baby.

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 wrote about my startup on Etsy, and it was very successful. I don‘t remember exactly, but it took maybe two weeks to make an order for a woman from Sweden. I noticed that customers like good reviews, quick answers, and pleasant communication, as well as help with purchases. In the future, I will try to offer faster and cheaper shipping and maybe sales, discounts, etc. I should also improve a little with my English; language barriers sometimes cause difficulties.

Managing ResponsibleMother 

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?

This is a family business. It all started with the idea of raising babies with cloth diapers. My husband has another job, but he volunteered to help because he has experience with IT. So we started all alone, and I think it‘s good because we can work together whenever we can from home. We use social media in our work Facebook and  Instagram we also have a web shop. We offer several shipping options to our customers: via post and UPS.

The future of ResponsibleMother  

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

My goals are simple. I‘m working hard on making ResponsibleMother a well-known household name. So I have to work as well as I have been working until now and even better.

Advice for new sellers

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

I have a few tips. You have to live with your hobby and handcraft. And of course, you need to know it very well. It is important to integrate your hobby and handcraft into your lifestyle and become intimately familiar with them. For instance, I have a comprehensive understanding of cloth diapers because I used them to raise my own children. Additionally, including high-quality photographs and straightforward yet informative descriptions is essential. Of course, timely responses and friendly communication also play a crucial role.