Etsy Seller Interview with Bree of VinylDaisyShop

How VinylDaisyShop 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'm Bree Kim, and I am the proud owner and operator of VinylDaisyShop on Etsy. It all started in 2020 when I received my very first Cricut machine as a Mother's Day gift. I quickly dove in, creating all sorts of personalised cups, coasters, and shirts for my circle of friends and family, and I absolutely fell in love with the whole creative process. It became a true outlet for my imagination and inventiveness.

Fast forward a few months, and I decided to share a picture of a decal I made for myself with a car enthusiast group. To my surprise, the response was overwhelming! I received countless comments from people requesting the same decal as well as new custom designs. That's when a little lightbulb went off in my head—maybe I could turn this passion into something more!

The next day, I made the decision to open my Etsy shop, and VinylDaisyShop was born. It has been an incredible journey since then, and I am so grateful for the support and encouragement I've received along the way.

Since the very start, I've always believed in only creating things that bring me joy. It is very important to me that I continue to nurture this creative outlet to ensure that it never becomes an obligation and that I can avoid turning this passion-fueled pursuit into a chore or burning out.

I've discovered that by doing this and having diverse interests and a good sense of humour, I’ve attracted a wonderful community of people who share those interests and genuinely care for the things that I create enough to support my little dream.

Although I've included a few outsourced products in my collection lately, the majority of what I offer is created right in my cosy home office. Even after three years, there's still something very special to me about making every order step by step with love and appreciation. Listening to a great podcast while writing thank-you cards, weeding vinyl, and neatly packaging everything for a safe ride to its destination is truly my favourite way to wind down and wrap up my day.

Favorite items

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

My current favourite listings are my You Matter decals, My Mom Said No Speeding Decal and Anti Social Book Club sticker

These are some of my bestsellers that I absolutely adore because I feel they really reflect both my shop and myself as a person.

I'm a strong advocate for mental health, and I offer a range of decals and stickers that serve as simple personal reminders or caring messages to share with others who may need something encouraging to get through the day.

One of the key elements that defines me is my sense of humour, especially the sarcastic type. I take great pleasure in creating things that will make people smile. Just imagine getting stuck behind a slow car with a decal saying, "My mom said no speeding." Wouldn't that make you giggle a little?

Additionally, a significant part of my shop is dedicated to my other love—books. Within the last few years, I’ve rekindled my enthusiasm for reading and have found a wonderful sense of community within that realm. Therefore, it only made sense to create designs that resonate with fellow book lovers.

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?

Thanks to the unexpected attention given to my Facebook post in the car enthusiast group, I received my first few orders within a couple hours of opening my shop.

However, after that initial excitement died down, reality hit me hard. I had absolutely no clue what I was doing. So I jumped headfirst into weeks of research. I devoured blog articles, watched endless YouTube videos, and even sifted through numerous threads on social media discussing the secrets to running a successful shop. The same three points were emphasised every single time: SEO, top-notch pictures, and providing excellent customer service.

I spent countless hours tweaking my keywords and titles and making sure my product photos were nothing short of amazing. I wanted my items to stand out clearly and concisely while also grabbing people's attention as they scrolled through page after page. It was a lot of work, but slowly but surely, orders started coming through.

There have been slow weeks—even slow months—since I opened my shop. It hasn't always been easy. But I also experience some weeks when I barely have time to catch my breath.

There is definitely a huge value in social media marketing, but admittedly, I’m nowhere near the best at keeping up with regular posting or follower interaction. Despite my shortcomings in that area that I’d love to someday improve, I attribute my success to a combination of optimised SEO, product images, and dedicated support that results in customers coming back to my page.

Managing VinylDaisyShop

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?

From time to time, I will utilise free online tools to ensure my shop is running smoothly and I’m not missing any key information that I may have overlooked for optimization. I also enjoy reading up on any new tips and tricks that can help me improve. However, when it comes to managing my shop and taking care of some truly incredible customers, I take massive satisfaction in doing it all myself.

Most of the stickers and decals I sell can fit into regular-sized envelopes. So, I simply print off Etsy shipping labels and lovingly slap them on before dropping them off at the post office the following day.

The future of VinylDaisyShop 

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

I'm really proud of what I've accomplished so far, and it still feels surreal to think that I've been able to turn what started as just a simple creative outlet into a means of support for myself and my daughter for the past three years. Looking ahead, my goal is to maintain steady growth. I want to tap into the power of social media to reach new customers and share what I'm passionate about, hoping to bring a little brightness to someone's day. Additionally, I'm excited to expand my offerings and potentially set up my own website to complement my Etsy shop.

Advice for new sellers

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

If you have a creative drive for making and want to share it with the world, do it! Whether you're dreaming of turning your hobby into a sustainable career or simply enjoying making a few pieces every now and then, Etsy is an incredible marketplace full of opportunities for success.

With so many resources available, you can really make the most of their platform. Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you.

A piece of valuable advice that I had to learn the hard way and feel is not emphasised enough: avoid messing with copyright or trademarked subjects. It is extremely tempting to tap into those popular trends that seem to bring in thousands of orders and loads of money, but losing your hard work and potentially facing legal consequences is not worth that risk. There’s a market for everything, and you can find your audience without having to piggyback on something that belongs to someone else.