Etsy Seller Interview with Sara of SaraHynesDesigns

How SaraHynesDesigns 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?

My name is Sara Hynes. I’m the owner of Sara Hynes Designs. I decided to start an Etsy shop in college when I was going to school to get my graphic design degree. I started with pregnancy announcements and moved onto invitations and digital prints. Once I began designing more and more, I wanted to see my designs on physical items. I wasn’t having any luck finding any vendors that printed the quality I wanted, so I taught myself how to print mugs using the printing process called sublimation. I began with mugs and, over the last nine years, have expanded into tumblers, bags, apparel, koozies, towels, and many more that are still in the works. There are so many possibilities with this printing method, and I’m still learning and testing new things all the time.

Favorite items

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

My teacher tumbler It’s an okay seller, not a top seller. I like all of the illustrations on it that I drew and the fact that it’s customizable with a teacher's name.

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 was so long ago. I don't remember how long it took, but it was exciting when it happened. Right now, it seems the main way to attract buyers is to pay Etsy a lot for ad space. Over the years, Etsy has become more and more saturated, which makes it more difficult to be seen. Paying for ads boosts you in the search results, so buyers see your listings.

Managing SaraHynesDesigns

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 me primarily, but my fiancé helps during the busy season (holiday time), and my family helps out when needed. I use QuickBooks to help manage my finances. I do all my shipping labels through Etsy, and because we print the majority of things in our home studio, we do all the shipping and fulfilment ourselves.

The future of SaraHynesDesigns

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

Nothing in particular now. I have moved away from Etsy as my primary selling platform. I use Shopify to direct most of my sales. Etsy is wonderful for its built-in audience, but with Etsy, the more you make, the more they take. And as I mentioned previously, the only way to be seen on Etsy is if you pay more for ads. It’s unfortunate, but it’s becoming more and more difficult to be a seller on Etsy.

Advice for new sellers

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

Budget for ad space. Find a unique spin on something that helps you stand out from the crowd. Focus on good photography and work hard to align your tags and listing descriptions with your target audience. When all of these things align and you pay to be seen, you set yourself up for the best success.