Etsy Seller Interview with Kelsey of ScenicRouteShop

How ScenicRouteShop 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?

I’m Kelsey Reust, the artist, and founder of the Scenic Route Shop. It is the home for artwork drawn from your own beautiful journey. You choose the artwork that tells your personal story of the things you love, the places you’ve been, the dreams you have, and so much more. I’ve always felt that your home, your office, or wherever you spend your time should be where you display artwork that tells your story, not just artwork that is the latest trend. And those pieces can spark conversations or evoke daydreams about those places or things that cause you to lose track of time because they’re so uniquely beautiful to you—your scenic route. That’s what the Scenic Route Shop artwork will bring to your home.

The first art pieces I made in this style many years ago were for my husband to represent some of his favorite summer activities: Wrigley Field (go Cubs), daisies (he loves gardening), and an Indy Car (he’s an Indy 500 fan). Friends and family saw these on display in the living room and started asking for their own pieces, so the idea that my artwork could grow into something more was planted.

I’m actually a licensed architect, and you may see some of that precision in the lines and depth of the pieces. While working full-time, I started working on new drawings in the evenings and on weekends to grow my portfolio and develop my style. And finally, one evening, I sat down and started my Etsy shop. It was a "now or never" conversation I had with myself, and I listed my pieces, and Scenic Route Shop was born in 2017. It began with a dozen pieces. Today, you can find your piece among more than 300 designs with multiple sizes and options.

All of my pieces are drawn, printed, and packaged in-house. And I even screen-print all of the packagings by hand with my logo. Keeping everything in-house means I’m able to do custom artwork, and specific quantities, and can be flexible to almost anything a customer may need without having to wait to order something from a third party. This way, I am also able to personally ensure the quality of each piece throughout the entire process. I work with a local paper supplier to get a lot of my raw materials, both because I want to support local businesses and because it’s nice to be able to see and touch the paper and products before actually purchasing them.

Although so many years were spent as an architect drawing walls and floors for buildings, I’ve finally found what I truly love to do in the Scenic Route Shop. I love being able to help you imagine your dream destinations, relive your favorite experiences, and cherish your furry loved ones through artwork personally chosen and displayed by you.

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 based on my own scenic route. I love visiting all of the National Parks (I've visited 41 so far!), traveling internationally, hiking in Arizona, where I live, and loving my golden retrievers, Gary and Dave. And the Scenic Route Shop has mix-and-match pieces for each of these passions, so I have pieces of Yosemite National Park, Paris, Piestewa Peak Mountain, and a custom drawing of Gary and Dave hanging in the studio. Skylines and dogs are definitely two of the best-selling categories because they have some of the strongest and most cherished memories for people.

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 opened my Etsy shop, checked it daily, and continued to make adjustments and add pieces. I was so excited and had read blogs and seen other interviews about how successful you can be on Etsy! And then I heard crickets. In all, it took a month to get my first sale, and that month felt like an eternity. It was a slow start, with a lot of learning, adjusting, and refining along the way, but sales grew and eventually became more steady. Now Scenic Route Shop is my full-time job, with over 300 original designs. Currently, I attract customers through online ads, social media, word-of-mouth, and even the old-fashioned business card.

Managing  ScenicRouteShop

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 run Scenic Route Shop as a solopreneur, with the exception of the two golden retrievers that provide endless support throughout the day. And that has required me to learn many things, from accounting to supply sourcing, that was a bit outside of my comfort zone. But in the end, it’s all worth it for the dream.

And the Scenic Route Shop would not run without a few key tools:
Adobe CC—it’s what makes graphics possible. Including everything from the printing of the artwork to the creation of social media graphics.
InkPad—on my phone. Because work never stops when you’re a solopreneur, and it’s a great way to jot down notes wherever you are.
Gsuite and Google Calendar It keeps me organized across all of my devices so I don’t miss meetings or tasks.
Google Voice: So I can have a digital phone number for my business.
Pens and notebooks: I am a junkie for a quality notebooks, and I still keep most of my to-do lists in notebooks.

The future of  ScenicRouteShop 

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

I’m always working to expand the portfolio of the Scenic Route Shop so my customers can find exactly the pieces that fit their journey. I hope Scenic Route Shop can continue to grow and continue to create quality, meaningful artwork, and I would love to have my pieces available in retail stores as well as online in the future.

Advice for new sellers

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

Begin your shop for the love of your products and the process. In my experience, success wasn’t quick or easy, but it was overwhelmingly worth it. So if there is something that you are truly passionate about, work on honing your skills and learning more about the platform and how it will work for you.