Etsy Seller Interview with Lena of TochtervonWalter

How TochtervonWalter 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 Name is Lena, and I started my Etsy shop in 2018. My mission is to make everyday life easier through sewn products. For this, I rely on practical solutions for more order combined with beautiful and unique design. I started to sew my products in high school, a very long time ago (almost 10 years ago!). My first customers were family and friends, and this is what I can really recommend before selling them online: Present your products to your Inner Circle and get Feedback! At first, I bought all the material in a local shop; this is totally fine in the beginning, and you don't need to buy huge amounts. Over the years, it got more professional, and I sourced from wholesalers. Because I am based in Germany, I try to buy inside the EU to support the local Industry. My customers really appreciate this.

Favorite items

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

My very first product in the store were my pencil cases. Through the combination of a sloppy bag and pen storage, you are perfectly organized in everyday life and have everything in one place. And to make it a unique Gift, you can also personalize it with a Name or Wording on it. The Fox print, in particular, is a bestseller in my shop and so cute!

After a long day at your desk (or, in my case, the sewing machine), there is nothing better than heating up a Nick Pillow. The Products sell well because the Prints of my fabrics are very modern and for a younger Target group. Also, all of my products have an "innovative" Feature, which no other product on Etsy has. My tip: improve the existing products and solve an issue! Look at the market and work with trending colors and patterns.

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?

The first couple of years were slow. Don't get discouraged too quickly! I started to optimize my shop in 2020 and put a lot of effort into SEO. This was a big game changer for me. I attract most of my customers through ETSY or selling on creative markets. At markets, I have little coupons to lead visitors to my shop. In Germany, "Christmas Markets" are a huge thing. These work wonderfully, especially for gift items like mine. The special thing is that customers remember the booths years later and buy again.

Managing TochtervonWalter

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?

"Tochter von Walter" is a one-woman shop! I do everything (including sewing the products) on my own. I learned that automation is key. For example, all my Invoices and accounting are created automatically. Also, at the end of the year, I take a lot back and see what "cost" a lot of time and how I can make it faster, e.g., invest in new machines, speed up processes, etc.

The future of TochtervonWalter

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

I would love to have co-workers and a little store in the future. At the moment, I am still working part-time, and it would be cool to work full-time for my small business.

Advice for new sellers

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

Knowledge is key! I watched so many YouTube videos about Etsy Shops, read Blog Posts on Pinterest, and got new information through Instagram and Facebook groups. Be an Etsy Customer and see what you liked at the shops where you bought your items. And most important, Do not get discouraged! There are always days when something does work out as it should, but there are so many better days!