Etsy Seller Interview with Gwendolin of softmachines

How softmachines 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 Etsy shop is softmachines. I make pillows, plush toys, and cat toys that look like drum machines, old analogue synthesisers, and guitar pedals. I began selling on Etsy because I once needed a birthday present for a musician. I decided to sew him a huge Big Muff pillow (Big Muff is his favourite guitar pedal), and it turned out really good. I liked the idea of having your favourite music gear in a soft and cuddly version.

Favorite items

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

I don’t really have a favourite item in my shop. I like them all. My best-selling items are these:

I think they sell well because these are super-famous synthesisers that also look beautiful. Of course people want to cuddle them.

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 don’t remember how long it took. Maybe a week? I was lucky that my products kind of stood out at the time I started. I was the first person to make and sell synth pillows, and I attracted a whole group of synth lovers. A lot was posted about my pillows on the internet at that time. I think that was in 2008. I am not very good at self-promotion. I do have an Instagram, but lately I don’t post very much.

Managing softmachines

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 only me. No tools or apps

The future of softmachines 

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

I hope that my shop will exist pretty much in the same way that it does now. I am a musician, and I play in two bands. Also, I have a job. So I could not manage if my shop grew too much. I am super happy with how it is.

Advice for new sellers

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

Be creative. And don’t sell your products too cheaply. I exploited myself in the beginning and sold my pillows way too cheaply,  just because I was so happy that people liked them.