How SublimeBirdy 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 am Deb Fries, owner and founder of SublimeBirdy Soft Goods on Etsy and SublimeBirdy.com. I have been designing and selling soft goods for people and pets since 2014. Those accessories include aromatherapy flax seed eye pillows, reusable hand warmers, sleep masks, baby and toddler hats, dog bandanas, dog collars, dog coats, bows for dog collars, cowl scarfs, wrist warmers, scented sachets, and bags.
I started my shop as a creative outlet from my deadline-oriented job as a digital producer, and although I loved my day job, I was equally delighted to find that I could also make some money from items that were created from my own imagination and hands! As a graphic designer, I enjoy color and texture and always try to bring my love of nature into each of my designs. That could include the selection of the perfect (and heavenly) scent of organic lavendar buds to include in my cotton sleep masks, selecting the perfect scented oil for my aromatherapy products, or choosing vibrant prints or organic or natural fabrics to work with.
For my pet designs, I do enjoy sourcing fun prints, linings, buttons, etc. to create products that are fun but also utilitarian. I also love refabricating tired, old garments into something new. I had a blast refabricating an old wool suit coat into a smart-looking (and toasty warm) coat for a rescue pup and recreating a men’s wool sweater vest into a belly-protecting sweater for my own short-legged dog.
I was attracted to Etsy as a selling platform because, as a lifelong maker, it was important to me to identify as a creative and handmade artisan, and Etsy definitely filled that niche for me. As my shop gained traction, I got invited to attend artisan shows, and I found these opportunities so important for networking, building brand identity, and meeting potential customers who would then follow my shop online.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
My favorite products are items that I designed to fill a need. As a fitful sleeper myself, I have come to learn that I sleep so much better in deep darkness. I wanted a sleep mask that would not only black out light but also be comfortable and stay on through the night. As I developed my sleep mask design, I incorporated details like a generous size, an adjustable button-hole elastic strap so the user can adjust the tension, organic, unbleached cotton fabrics and other natural fabrics like silk, black-out layers, and the addition of some heavenly lavendar scent.
Another of my favorite products came from a need to replace the moth balls used in seasonal storage due to my daughter’s allergies. The natural moth and insect repellent sachets I make are made of natural muslin cotton, some pretty and artistically placed felt leaves, and an amazing collection of natural bug-out ingredients. I also love the way my studio smells after making a batch of sachets!
I do love making dog bows just for the sheer joy of it! The pictures I get from customers of their pets make my day every time!
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?
Back in 2014, the Etsy game was much different than it is today. Initially, it took me about a month to get my first sale, and I gained traction through treasuries and favorites. Now, it is important to utilize SEO, social media, blogs, networking, and getting out to artisan and craft fairs to build your brand.
Managing SublimeBirdy
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?
For many years, SublimeBirdy was solely my efforts, and as it grew, I scaled up and down with assistant sewers and packagers to suit the business's needs. Currently, I am back to sole proprietorship because I have returned to full-time employment while I save for retirement and plan to continue designing and selling as long as it brings me joy. My office companions are my rescue pups, who also accompany me to the post office to drop off packages (they love that part of the job!).
Some of my favorite tools include my Brother sewing machine, industrial iron, and electric fabric cutter, which allows me to cut many layers of fabric at once. Digitally, I couldn’t get by without my color printer/scanner and Dymo label printer, which print my shipping labels, product material labeling, and smaller logo stickering for packaging. As a graphic designer, I love creative apps like the Adobe Suite for designing graphics for businesses, sewing pattern development, and Canva for photography and social media content. I use GoDaddy products for my website and blog and utilize the marketing tools on Etsy for social posting of new listings, shop news, and 5-star reviews. I also use the Etsy shipping labels for sending and tracking orders and PirateShip for shipping orders from my own website. My newest addition to the studio is a Silhouette Cameo 4 for cutting fabric patterns and personalizing products. And finally, for the accounting part of the business, I am a long-time user of Wave Apps. This accounting software is perfect for a small handmade business like mine and has helped me learn how to accurately keep the books for yearly tax accounting.
The future of SublimeBirdy
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
First, I would love to continue to make products that people enjoy. Then, during this year and into the future, I am working on designing and incorporating more sustainable operations into the business with recyclable packaging, replacing plastic packaging with alternative and natural materials, and incorporating clean, second-use textiles into new designs in order to keep them out of landfills.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
Patience, patience, patience! Selling takes time, especially on modern Etsy. Learn as much as possible about SEO and Etsy's good selling practices. Read the forums and seek advice from other sellers. It is also important to love what you create because success could mean that you make that product over and over again. I have sold over 55,000 sleep masks retail and wholesale (all made in my studio), and I still love making them!
SublimeBirdy
Soft Goods for People and Four Legged Friends
