Etsy Seller Interview with Miha of WoodAllGood

How WoodAllGood 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?

Hello, I’m Miha. I’m the proud owner and creative mind behind Wood All Good on Etsy. Our specialty lies in crafting one-of-a-kind products using wood and resin. Our journey began in 2016 with a collection of handmade jewelry. Over time, we expanded our offer to include a diverse range of decorative home items, such as kitchen accessories and furniture.

Our company started out as my passion project. I didn’t plan on selling any products; it just sort of happened. At the time, both my hobby and job included sitting behind the computer for 14–16 hours per day. All the sitting was taking a toll on me, so I started searching for a hobby that would involve some physical labor. I stumbled upon woodworking, and I soon found myself spending most of my free time in my grandfather's garage. At the start, I had no idea what I was doing, but my passion made up for it.

Originally, Wood All Good was simply my personal passion project. I never intended to sell any products; it just naturally evolved that way. At the time, both my work and hobbies revolved around sitting behind a computer screen for 14–16 hours a day. The sedentary lifestyle started taking its toll, prompting me to search for a hobby that involved physical activity. That’s when woodworking crossed my path, and I found myself spending most of my free time in my grandfather’s garage, even though I had no clue what I was doing. Nevertheless, my passion made up for my lack of expertise.

After getting a grip on basic woodworking, I began to explore other materials. Creativity has always been close to me, so I naturally started combining different kinds of materials. It was during this time that I discovered the lovely fusion of wood and resin. I found the fusion of materials wonderful, and so did other people around me. Until that point, I had never even heard of Etsy. However, by sheer chance, I met someone who had experienced success on the platform. Encouraged by positive feedback from friends and family, I decided to give Etsy a try, and within a week, I made my first sale.

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 are our Aurora Borealis Opal Necklace and our Unique Magnetic Knife Holder. Most people seem to agree with me, as these are also some of our best-selling products.

The color-changing necklace looks absolutely amazing in person, and I’m especially fond of it. For quite some time, seeing the Northern Lights in person has been a cherished wish of mine. This necklace serves as a constant reminder of that aspiration. Hopefully I’ll be able to experience it soon, with my special someone.  The knife holder epitomizes the essence of my vision for my products. It combines functionality and aesthetic appeal, serving as both a practical tool and a work of art.

Both of these designs are original creations that showcase our innovative approach to materials and design. Over the years, numerous sellers have recognized the value of our work, resulting in attempts to replicate our unique pieces. However, this has presented an ongoing challenge as we continuously strive to combat copyright infringement and protect our intellectual property. Removing infringing listings from the internet has become an unending battle in our journey.

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?

Fortunately enough, we achieved our first sale on Etsy within a week of launching our shop. In the early years, we refrained from investing any money in advertising. Instead, we relied on the power of social media to attract customers. Our primary focus was creating top-notch products that stood out from the competition, ensuring their exceptional quality served as a magnet for potential buyers. Recently, we have ventured into utilizing Etsy’s built-in advertising features, and we have experienced good results.

Managing WoodAllGood

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?

During the initial years, I managed all aspects of the business alone. However, as time went on, it became increasingly challenging to juggle multiple responsibilities. Striking a balance between dedicating time to my workshop and handling administrative tasks in my office posed a significant struggle. In the last few years, I've taken a step back from our workshop and instead designed products and managed the day-to-day operations of our business, making sure that it ran smoothly.

 We manage everything in-house, including shipping and fulfillment. My now-ex-long-term partner is helping me manage the shipping and accounting sides of operations. Juggling our personal and business lives has presented its fair share of challenges, especially following our breakup. Nevertheless, we have found a way to make it work.

Erank is a great SEO tool for getting those much-needed views without spending much money on advertising.

Adobe Photoshop: We do our own photographs, so most of the time the lighting and color are not really optimal. Photoshop helps us correct some mistakes made during photography so that our product photos look as close to the real deal as possible.

The future of WoodAllGood

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

As artists, our strength lies in creating unique and exceptional products, yet we often face challenges when it comes to effectively selling them. We are eager to collaborate with individuals, boutiques, and shops that can help us reach a broader audience and introduce our products to a wider range of customers. We are also working on expanding our range of products, especially into furniture and other beautiful and practical solutions for your home.

Advice for new sellers

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

I would say that standing out from your competition is most important.

Focus on delivering top-notch products with good photography.

Spend your time educating yourself. I believe that you have to understand how everything works in order to improve yourself and your business.

And lastly, don’t expect success to happen overnight. Work hard, have fun, and be good at what you do, and success will eventually find you.