How RousseauCollective 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?

ROUSSEAU COLLECTIVE began with a simple but persistent frustration—despite hours of searching, we couldn’t find art we truly loved at a quality and price point that felt right. So much of what was out there felt generic and mass-produced. That’s when the idea sparked: what if we created the kind of art we were actually looking for? Art that felt elevated, thoughtfully curated, and beautiful enough that we would proudly hang it in our own space.

As a trained product designer, I’ve always had a keen eye for visual balance and aesthetics. I’ve spent years searching for pieces that are not only striking but also rich in character and emotion—art that balances beauty, harmony, and soul. I never run out of ideas, and Etsy became the perfect platform to channel that creative energy into something tangible.

Inspiration is everywhere—from travel and architecture to nature walks, Pinterest deep-dives, museum visits, and flipping through old botanical books. Each print is a distillation of those impressions, brought to life with the help of carefully selected  tools, which we use as part of our creative process to build something truly unique.

Since our founding in 2024, we’ve stayed true to one principle—we only create and sell what we personally find beautiful and would want in our own home.

All our designs are created in-house and printed on museum-quality 250 gsm fine art paper. We collaborate with trusted fulfillment partners in the US, UK, Europe, and Australia to ensure premium craftsmanship, ethical production, and fast, eco-conscious delivery.

Whether it’s a lush botanical, a colonial-inspired art piece, or a whimsical wildlife portrait, our collection is designed to bring warmth, elegance, and originality to modern interiors.

Favorite items

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

It’s always a challenge to choose a favorite because every piece in our collection is something we genuinely like and would choose for our own walls. Each design is crafted with intention, and they all offer a distinct aesthetic or atmosphere—some feel bold and dramatic, others more serene or whimsical. They each tell their own visual story and are meant to speak to different moods, spaces, and styles.

That said, if I had to highlight one collection that feels especially close to our hearts, it would be our "Colonial Vintage" series. These prints blend tropical nostalgia, moody interior vignettes, and a quiet sense of historic elegance. The scenes often feature vintage architecture, timeworn textures, lush jungle foliage, and eclectic decor—from tribal masks and antique furniture to rattan lounges and colonial facades. The palette tends to be rich and earthy, with deep greens, soft ochres, and warm browns, giving the artworks a timeless, atmospheric charm.

Colonial Vintage Collection

Some of these pieces have become customer favorites and consistent sellers. We believe it’s because they offer something truly unique—they don’t feel mass-produced or trendy. There’s a sense of place, emotion, and story in each one that resonates with people who want their walls to reflect a more layered, soulful aesthetic.

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?
We were lucky to make our first sale within just a few days of launching—it was a small but meaningful moment that gave us the motivation to keep going. Since then, we've focused on gradually building out the shop, refining our presentation, and introducing new themes and collections across both ROUSSEAU COLLECTIVE and our sister shop OHDEARROUSSEAU, which offers digital downloads.

Our approach to visibility is equal parts creative and strategic. We pay close attention to how customers search and shop on Etsy, and we craft our listings with that in mind—writing clear, thoughtful titles and descriptions, using relevant keywords, and curating our collections with a consistent visual identity. Nothing is random; we want the entire shop to feel cohesive and intentional.

High-quality imagery is key. We use styled mockups that help customers imagine how a print could look in their own home. Whether it's a cozy reading nook or a bold gallery wall, setting the right mood makes a big difference.

We're also experimenting with different ways to grow our reach. Etsy Ads haven’t been a major driver for us so far, but we’re continuously testing and adjusting. Looking ahead, we plan to lean more into Pinterest as a visual discovery tool—it feels like a natural extension of our aesthetic and a space where our work can really resonate.

Overall, it’s a mix of creative storytelling, smart positioning, and staying true to the visual language of our brand. While we’re still a relatively new shop, we’re constantly evolving and learning with each step.

Managing RousseauCollective

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?

It’s a joint effort between me and my partner. While I take the lead on the creative vision and overall direction, he’s become increasingly involved—especially on the design side. With a background in business, he brings structure and strategy into the mix, but Etsy has also given him an unexpected outlet for his own (previously suppressed!) creativity. It’s been exciting to see that unfold. 

Between the two of us, we manage everything in-house—from concept development, visual design, and listing optimization to customer service and shop maintenance. We use Photoshop and Canva to bring our ideas to life and style our product mockups. We also explore image generation tools for new design directions or to test visual ideas—but we’re very intentional in maintaining a consistent, refined aesthetic.

For fulfillment, we work with Gelato, our trusted print-on-demand partner. Through their global network of local fulfillment partners, our prints are produced close to the customer and shipped directly on museum-quality paper. This not only ensures excellent craftsmanship and quick delivery but also helps reduce our environmental footprint.

We also use a few analytical tools like Alura to help guide our SEO strategy, monitor trends, and optimize listings. Every part of the shop is carefully curated and managed, blending creativity with structure in a way that keeps things both exciting and sustainable.

The future of RousseauCollective

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

Our main goal is to continue evolving—creatively, visually, and strategically. We’re constantly exploring new themes, styles, and directions to keep the collection fresh and inspiring. As our shop grows, we want to expand the range of offerings while staying true to our core aesthetic: refined, story-rich, and emotionally resonant art that people genuinely connect with.

We’re always refining the look and feel of the shop—improving how we present our work, strengthening our brand identity, and creating an experience that feels cohesive and elevated. There’s so much creative ground left to cover, and we’re excited to keep building on what we’ve started.

At the heart of it all, we simply want to keep doing what we love—creating meaningful art and sharing it with people around the world. If our work brings joy, beauty, and a sense of inspiration into someone’s home, that’s the ultimate success for us.

Advice for new sellers

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

Be persistent and patient—don’t expect overnight success. Building momentum on Etsy takes time, and it’s easy to get discouraged in the beginning. But if you’re consistent and keep improving, things will start to move.

Our biggest piece of advice? Focus on creating a unique identity and strong brand presence. While a broad, one-size-fits-all approach might work for some, we believe that clear, distinct positioning is the key to long-term success. Know what makes your shop different, lean into that, and let it come through in everything from your product design to your visuals and tone of voice.