How TypewriterDecalShop 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 shop is a hobby project that went out of control. More than 20 years ago, I started cleaning up and restoring antique typewriters for my collection. When they were done, what was still missing were the decals. I went looking for a way to reproduce them, found a printer that could create metallic gold and silver, and started making my first decals for myself. As a photographer with lots of experience in Photoshop and other software, the artwork was not a problem. When friends saw what I did, they asked if I could produce more. So, by the time I lost interest in the collection and sold it, I had dozens of models, and more and more people asked for them. When I looked for a way to put them online in an easy-to-operate shop, I found Etsy. End of story :-)

Favorite items

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

My personal favorites are the ones that were the most difficult to reproduce. I'm really proud of the artwork it did for them. They are all extremely rare machines, and I keep them in the shop more for display than for sale. Just have a look at the Kosmopolit, the Hammonia, and the Sholes and Glidden typewriters.

Decals for the Kosmopolit Index Typewriter
Decals for the 1886 Hammonia Index Typewriter
Sholes and Glidden decal set - More than 30 decals!

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 informed the community of typewriter collectors about the shop, and sales started immediately. Not a tsunami, but a couple per week. I now use the standard services that Etsy offers, with ads in the shop and online. Because I also do custom work, people also ask for special projects, so by now I've done decals for other antiques, including toys, telephones, calculators, and scales. The collection of typewriter decals has grown to over 150 different models and brands, which makes my offer on Etsy unique. They are all exact replicas of the originals, which cannot be said of a handful of other sets I have seen online.

Managing TypewriterDecalShop

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?

Yes, it is just me. Each morning I check if there are any orders or requests and handle them. Because decals are paper, I can ship them as regular mail, which is a lot cheaper than parcel mail. I offer tracking as an option. Problems are very rare. I always try to ship within 24 hours, unless people have special requests.

The future of TypewriterDecalShop

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

I'll continue doing this as long as I enjoy it and buyers are happy. It is a side project that I am not financially dependent on, so I don't have strict goals. I love making those decals, especially the artwork. It is very labor-intensive to recreate those images. It is like Zen meditation for me.

Advice for new sellers

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

Be unique in whatever way you can.

Alura Team
Alura Team

Alura is your all-in-one platform for selling on Etsy. With more $500.000+ gross sales over four years selling on Etsy, Alura is built by experienced sellers for sellers. Start with a free account and explore all the features you need to start, run, and grow your Etsy shop.