Etsy Seller Interview with George of StencilDirect

How StencilDirect 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 started with Etsy in the winter of 2012. There was a "glow in the dark jar" project, and I started to sell the paints with stencils, like star stencils. Several months later, I decided to prioritize the stencils. We are a small family business with an arts and crafts store, so we use the materials, create, and design the stencils.

Favorite items

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

One of my favorite products is the Flower of Life stencil. But I love all of the sacred geometry motives. The second favorite is the Super Hexagon stencil. The inspiration was to make mathematical motives from nature. That was the birth of a hexagon-style mixed-media tool.

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?

When I first heard about Etsy in 2012, I decided to upload some products for the glow in the dark jar project, and the first sale happened a few days later. I'm also really proud that the Etsy Studio Team ordered me to the Brooklyn office. I'm curious what project they did with the tools. Nowadays, it is harder than in the beginning. Etsy became huge, and the sellers needed to check out the new features and other stores.

Managing StencilDirect

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 is a family business, but I basically manage the store. I have not used the vacation mode yet. If I'm on vacation, my family members help out to manage the orders and conversations. One of the best tools is the Etsy Sales app, so I can respond quickly to everyone.

The future of StencilDirect 

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

Right now, my goal is to "survive" the winter holidays. This is the busiest season of the year. After this season, I'll follow up with my ideas. I have a huge list of stencils I have to make. And the list is always growing.

Advice for new sellers

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

I advise new sellers to be unique. Create new things and ideas, not just resell old ones. I really like shops with 1-2 day handling, and the customers like the fast dispatching, so the new sellers can use the shipping upgrade option at Etsy Settings.