Etsy Seller Interview with Joanna of TheGreenGooseStudio

How TheGreenGooseStudio 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?

The Green Goose Studio was born in a painting workshop. In the beginning, there was color, watercolors, and a fascination with minerals. From this combination, the idea of creating little jewelry pieces combining the natural colors of crystals and stones with their properties and benefits emerged. Thanks to customers and their unique needs, I learned to combine minerals into delicate talismans that, thanks to their minimalist form, do not disrupt, for example, the required dress code. According to buyers opinions, these talismans provide emotional support and are perfect as gifts. All of this led me to introduce my products to a wider audience, and as a result, I decided to set up an Etsy shop.

Favorite items

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

All of my products are centered around emotions and aim to provide a positive boost to thinking, motivation, and often a change in life attitudes. Because each of my products is tailored to address the different emotional needs of customers, it is not easy to pick a favorite among 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 made my first sale within 4 days of opening my Etsy shop. Brilliance! But not always is it so sweet. The most important are patience, regular work, and self-belief for achieving steady sales. It is also very important to optimize shops and listings with appropriate keywords, images, and descriptions to succeed. I have not found success with Etsy ads, so the priority for me is building lasting relationships with customers. I also try to optimize my listings for Google searches and utilize social media platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook.

Managing TheGreenGooseStudio

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?

The Green Goose Studio is a one-man business. I combine my full-time professional job at the University with my passion for creating in my studio.

I create all the products myself, putting a lot of love and dedication into this work. In addition to this, I try to update my listings every day, improve their visibility, and often introduce new offers.

I use Erank tools, but I am also considering using Alura.

My shipments are mostly international. I use postal shipping as standard, but I also use FedEx for express orders. I have my own dedicated business account manager at FedEx. Edith is indispensable in case of any problems with the shipment. She can move heaven and earth to make sure the shipment arrives on time, even to the end of the world.

The future of TheGreenGooseStudio 

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

My goal is to introduce additional models of jewelry made of minerals, gold, and silver, as well as home decor products. The works are already designed, and some of them are ready. I would also like to increase revenue by 20% to invest in expanding my offerings, improving their visibility, and keeping customer satisfaction at its current level.

Advice for new sellers

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

Everyone has something beautiful to share with the world.

Organize your time. Divide the work into stages. Be consistent and disciplined. Work every day, turn off the TV, and replace a book with an audiobook. When organizing your time, don't forget about rest and relationships with family and friends. Life-work balance

Don't copy the ideas of others, even in very popular and competitive product categories.
This will take away your uniqueness and hurt you in the long run.

Learn and be open to new experiences.