Etsy Seller Interview with Suzanne of VintasticHome

How VintasticHome 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 had a real shop with vintage and Danish designs for more than 10 years. Before that, I was working at an auction house. It was time for a change, a new challenge: my own online shop here at Etsy. I always love to visit flea markets, thrift stores, and charity shops. I love retro and vintage, and I love to find beautiful things and make other people happy with my finds.

Favorite items

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

My favorite items listed are the Fire King jadeite products. That US glass is from the 1950s and 1960s, and it is not only beautiful but also multifunctional because the glass is so hard that it is oven-proof. It is very popular, and I always have it in stock.

Another love of mine is the tableware of Figgjo Flint. It is tableware from Norway from the 1960s. The designs are amazing and give me a smile, especially the design ‘Market, with women and men who are selling flowers and fish on the market. There are a lot of people who collect this tableware. I always have multiple patterns from Figgjo Flint in stock.

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?

A friend of mine who taught me how to open my shop had been on Etsy for a couple of years already. She told me to be patient because people have to find me, and that takes time. I was happily surprised that I had my first sale after two weeks. Now, after many years, I have customers from all over the world who are coming back. I do nothing special, like offer discounts or something like that, but I try to upload new products every day.

Managing VintasticHome

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 manage my shop myself, although my mother is a very good vintage hunter as well, so sometimes she surprises me when she comes from a flea market. We also travel together to foreign countries to visit flea markets and charity shops. These are the best holidays! For the rest, I manage everything myself, like cleaning, photographing, sending, contacting customers, etc. I do not use special apps, but for my photography, I use Photoshop. That works the best for me.

The future of VintasticHome

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

A year ago, I had a goal: to own my own warehouse. We found our perfect house with a warehouse, so that goal is set. I have about 400 listings in my shop. My goal is to reach and maintain 500 listings. The flea market season is coming, so I am thrilled.

Advice for new sellers

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

Make sure that your pictures are great and that the product is visible from every angle. You have the opportunity to add 10 photos. Use all 10 as much as possible, and make sure that the description is clear.

I am very happy that I chose to sell on Etsy because it gives me the opportunity to sell worldwide. I live in a small country in Europe, so it is nice to notice that people from Asia and the USA (for example) can find me.