How URGHH 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?
Hi, I’m Maria, and I run URGHH Card Co. from my home studio in Avoch! I initially started selling embroidery pieces on Etsy, but after adding a card that I’d designed for a friend, I soon found that they were selling more than any other item in my shop! I decided to add a few more cards, and it just grew quickly from there. I design all of my cards on my iPad with Procreate and have them printed by a UK-based family-run printer company. I also source my envelopes and sleeves from an eco-friendly UK-based company and sometimes print my own cards at home!
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
My favourite product right now is my ‘Pride and Prejudice’ 27th Birthday Card. It’s inspired by one of my favourite films, and although it’s a niche age card, it’s selling so well! I really love my new ‘Pride Brides’ card design, and the Taylor Swift designs never fail to fly off the shelves all year round!
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 remember it taking less than a fortnight to receive my first sale, and I still remember the excitement from those days. I used to look at my sales number when it was somewhere around 15 and think, Wow, it’s going to take me forever to get to 100. And now, 6 years later, I’ve just crept past 9000 sales! I share my work on Instagram and Pinterest mostly, but a lot of my sales come from Etsy searches too, which is great.
Managing URGHH
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?
I run URGHH solo with a little help from my partner, Chris. We’ll pack orders together over a few cups of tea, particularly during busy times like Valentine's Day and Christmas. I handle pretty much everything, from shop administration to customer service. I use Royal Mail Click and Drop for all of my Etsy orders, and I have the Etsy Seller App on my phone so that I can reply to customers on the go!
The future of URGHH
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
I’m pretty happy with my growing collection of cards at the moment. I’ll keep dabbling with stickers, gift wrap, bunting, and other paper products, but my main focus is to continue selling cards that stand out from the crowd!
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
My advice for anyone starting an Etsy shop is to research their market. If you have an idea, search and check that it hasn’t already been done by lots of other sellers. Don’t be afraid to price your items for what they are worth; you don’t owe anyone affordability at your own cost. Be patient, learn as you go, and remember to share your story. People who shop on Etsy like to connect with the seller they’re purchasing from. Another important thing is lovely, clear product photos. Lastly, don’t be disheartened if you haven’t sold anything straight away; keep adding to your shop, and you’ll be surprised at what items your customers can’t get enough of!
Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.
Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: Average of £850 - £1000
Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: 71%
Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: 6.6
