Why I started my Etsy shop: Stories from the Buffalo Etsy Team

More than ever Etsy is connecting with individuals who want to sell their handmade and vintage items.  The Buffalo Etsy Team has seen a growth in members and with that a lot of new sellers want to know - how did you get started and why? So we asked some team members and here are their stories.

Jessie of Pigknit sells illustrated prints, clip art and other printables, and she's been selling on Etsy since 2012.

"I sell illustrated prints on Etsy. Years ago I opened an Etsy shop and listed a few items. I didn't know what I was doing, my listings were terrible, and after the unsold items expired I let my shop sit empty for years. It wasn't until a friend expressed interest in a series of alphabet prints I had designed that I decided to try listing them on my old shop. This time, with experience working in branding and marketing from my day job, I took Etsy more seriously and it paid off. I made my first sale within 2 days, and Etsy has since become a much bigger part of my life than I had ever anticipated."

Erica of PECollectibles and a team leader is a collector who sells vintage pieces ranging from jewelry to historic photos to books. She's been selling on Etsy since 2011.

"I am a vintage seller and have always had a passion for preserving history especially in Buffalo. This passion probably comes from my family who taught me about antiques and history beginning as a child. After having little financial success at flea markets and other selling venues, a friend suggested I sell on Etsy. Once I made my first sale I knew I could grow this into a nice part time business and it has been very enjoyable for me."

KitchStudios began in 2010.  Erin is a designer and screen printer who sells kitchen and home accessories including tea towels, table runners and other retro and vintage themed decor.

"My husband and I got started screen printing when we were both in touring bands and wanted to make our own merchandise. When I had my daughter, I let my recording contract run out and became a stay at home mom, while my husband ran our shop out of the Larkin building downtown.  When I found Etsy, I fell head over heels in love with their mission about hand made goods and decided to give it a go as a work from home mom. I started small with two tea towel designs and have grown every year since!"

Karin of KarinLorenc makes stoneware pottery coffee mugs, bowls, and serving pieces in bright modern colors.  She's been selling her pieces on Etsy since 2008.

"I've always loved working with clay. I started making pottery in my home after finding a rustic old kick wheel at a garage sale. I'm a minimalist so I couldn't keep everything for myself. I found Etsy almost 9 years ago, and I've been selling my mugs and bowls here ever since."

Jessica makes women's accessories including unique silk flower hair clips, bobby pins, earrings and necklaces. She opened her shop, Fast|crawl, in 2011.

"Mine is a story akin to the chicken and the egg; which came first? I don't remember if I had the idea for flower hair clips first or the materials, but at some point in 2011, I found myself in possession of two 100 gallon totes full of silk flowers, and Fast|crawl was born. I had found Etsy in 2008 through...StumbleUpon? Word of mouth? Sheer happenstance? and was hooked - I knew I had a ready made market, but didn't know where to begin. Four years later I'm still finding things to tweak, though my focus has shifted and I'm finding more business success. There would be no Fast|crawl if it weren't for the platform Etsy has provided."

Dan sells a wide range of handmade pieces including Concrete Decor, Original Art, Limited Edition Art & Photography Prints, Art Cards Editions and Originals (ACEOs), Jewelry and more.  He began his shop, DanDoroArtAndDesign, in 2009.

"I opened my Etsy Shop so that I could share my creative work online with a diverse array of people. My hope was to have others send feedback via conversations, favorites and purchases to learn what products of mine proved to have value in the eyes of others. Those hopes have been realized many times over and I am so grateful for having Etsy as a creative outlet. Much of my work includes rustic handcrafted concrete decor, paintings and illustrations."

Nicole of mealymonster makes creepy, strange, weird, and odd art dolls and creatures (as she describes them) using polymer clay and acrylic paint.  She started her Etsy shop in 2008.

"I put my artistic side on hold for a very long time in order to start a family. I found eEtsy back in 2008. I was looking for a place to reconnect with my artistic side and a creative community to share this journey with. Etsy fit the bill. Etsy inspired me to make art again and also offered a place to share and sell the art I was making."

Mary is a Buffalo Etsy Team leader who has been selling handmade wine charms in her shop, CharmedByWine, since 2011.

"I found Etsy in 2010 when I started planning my 2012 wedding. We didn't really have a wedding theme other than our black/ivory/burgundy colors, and that my family is Italian and naturally goes overboard with food and wine -- so we did end up incorporating some wine/vineyard aspects into our day. I found a really neat wine crate on Etsy to use as a card box, and I wanted to do wine charms as our favors -- but I hated all the designs I was finding! The charms themselves were made from weaker wire that bends out of shape easily, and a lot of the designs made it possible for beads to fall off the charm. To make it worse, nothing really reflected US as a couple. So, I designed and made my own!

1000+ wine charms and 3 months later, my fingers hurt and I had watched the entire Harry Potter series twice. I had leftover materials, and just started messing around with different designs other than the 6 I kept repeating for our guests. My "Vibrant Vino" wine charms were the first set I made for Charmed By Wine (which is why it is my profile photo!). Scared that wine charms would slowly take over my house, I officially opened my shop in November 2012. I love finding interesting beads and coming up with new designs, but my favorite part is helping people create something fun and unique for a gift or special event."

If you're new or want to start an Etsy shop, let us know. Looking for more work from Buffalo Etsy Team members? Visit the team's Buffalove Etsy page and the team's Facebook page.

Gifts under $25 from the Buffalo Etsy Team

Gifts Under $25 curated by Buffalove on Etsy

Buffalo Etsy Team Interview: Kelly from Nest Well

NESTING INSTINCTS

How long has Nest Well been on Etsy? What was your first shop offering? How long was it before you had your first sale?

>>> We opened our shop in April 2013. In December 2012 I received a sewing machine for Christmas from my mother in law. Once I ran out of things to sew around the house, I thought it would be a great way to start making gifts, and covers for others. Etsy seemed to be a natural progression. We initially offered wine bags and a few pillows, vintage tea towels and covers. Our first sale was that same month, with a wine bag to a friend of the family, and then things really started to roll. Over 180 orders later and it is still a thrill to hear the cha-ching ring out from our phones/ipad throughout the house!

Is Nest Well your full-time job?

>>> No, it is not. Bill and I both work full time—myself as a Physician Assistant, and Bill works for a medical software company. We also have 2 little boys, who are the light of our lives.  We keep busy with our schedules but always find time to create, design and push our company to the next level. Typically, most work is done after the kids are asleep so that we can maximize our time with them, although I have been known to sew outdoors during a nice afternoon of sprinkler time with the kids. The drive to constantly evolve and show what we have to offer, keeps us going sometimes late into the evening.

My sewing den is in the basement and my table was a roadside find that I cleaned, sanded and stained.My chair (with the stack of fabric) used to belong to Bill's grandfather. 

Describe your design aesthetic. Where do you find inspiration?

>>> Our design aesthetic is that of industrial vintage with a cozy cottage feel. I tend to sway in the direction of soft linens, with a focus on quality and craftsmanship. We love shopping for inspiration and pouring over design catalogs. There is also something about the look of a beautiful piece of wood or a rusted piece of metal. Inspiration can also come from a spin around the neighborhood, we are never opposed to picking up a roadside beauty or sifting around a dusty vintage shop. It is nice to find lost treasures, give them a new life and then transfer that to a new idea or product.

Your husband, Bill, is the other half of Nest Well. Describe the division of labor.

>>> Bill is a huge part of our company. He does all the woodcraft, partially because I do not yet trust myself with a saw or drill, but also because he is really good at it. He loves to figure out a new design, and all I have to do is make a suggestion and he creates it the same day. He processes and ships most items. We make major decisions together, like pricing, wholesale orders and new products. I do most of the shopping and also the sewing.

Bill's work station was built by him and is out in the garage.  

How much of your time do you spend on business versus inspiration?  >>> Inspiration is a constant throughout the day. That never stops, but hands-on work and labor is usually just in the evening hours. Weekends are a bit different, depending on our schedules. Emailing and working from our computers and mobile devices is a constant as well and we try to be swift about customer inquiries. We always appreciate a new customer finding us in the vast Etsy world and want to keep their business. In the future the shift and division of time may change but for now, this works great for us.

Describe your greatest success. Any epic failures you can laugh about now?

>>> Our greatest success has got to be our beer carriers. We started those because my husband enjoys brewing and drinking craft beers. Being in our 30s, carrying a ‘bag of beers’ or throwing them in the diaper bag seemed a bit outdated, so the carrier was a great solution! Thankfully others feel the same way! We have not yet had any major fails but we do have a lot to laugh about. I call us attic-addicts because of our love for ‘junk,’ as my dad calls it. Once my mom called me on my way home from work, it was about 9:30 and dark. As I was on my Bluetooth I had pulled over on a busy road to haul old fence posts into the back of my car. I thought she would die. Just the other day, Bill ran out to pick up a set of vintage lockers from Craig’s List, and each time I make him call me to let me know he is still alive.

Any new products on the horizon?

>>> I would love to add a Nestwell Baby line and a home fragrance line. Organic wraps, fun pillow covers and linen crib sheets are on the horizon. Right now, we are trying to gear up for the fall and holiday season. We recently launched a 22oz carrier for the home brewers, which has been a request for awhile, and seems to already be a popular addition.

Are your products available locally, and if so, where?

>>> We offer our products at Patricia’s Back Barn in Wheatfield. We are also planning on offering our carriers at Niagara Tradition Homebrew Supply in Tonawanda. Custom requests are always available by contacting us, and local delivery/pick up is always free of charge. We are signed up to attend the Sharon Springs Harvest Festival in September, we are looking forward to it as it is our first outdoor show. Etsy will also be attending that show so we are very excited to show them in person what we can do!

Lastly, and just for fun: In what stores would you love to see your products?

>>> If we ever had the opportunity to work with a large company, we would be thrilled to keep it local initially.  Premier Gourmet would be a dream, especially because of their vast array of beverages for the beer lover, I think it would be a perfect  fit.   A partnership with Wegmans for a summer line would also be fabulous.

Colin is our 5 year old watermelon loving boy, Keegan will be 3 in 2 weeks and is our firecracker. Parker is our golden doodle who never sits still long enough for a picture.

 

Here's where new friends and followers can find Nest Well online:

www.nestwellhome.com

www.etsy.com/shop/nestwell

https://www.facebook.com/nest.well.7

https://twitter.com/nestwell_kh

Many thanks to Nicole Johnson of Mealy Monster for initiating the original Buffalo Etsy Team interviews!

Until I ask questions again, this is Carla from 716 Buffalos wishing you a happy almost-autumn and loads of Buffalove!

Monday Interview with Buffalovely

 This week we have Amanda from Buffalovely!

 

Please tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Amanda Valentine and I was born and raised in North Buffalo. I originally went to school at SUNY Fredonia and graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education. After three years in the classroom, I discovered that I would much rather be doing my own thing. I started making anything that came to mind (felt board sets, hair bows, etc) and stumbled upon the idea to create pillows that were funky and unique. It didn't hurt that I had just purchased my first house and wanted decor that wasn't what everyone else had. I figured others would feel the same so I decided to give it a shot. Buffalovely was born.
 

What do you create? How long have you been working on your craft/art?
I create pillows that celebrate the city of Buffalo. My most popular product being my street sign pillows. All are customizable and made completely by hand. I have been building my business for about 2 1/2 years now and have been having a blast getting it off the ground. 

How did you come up with your store name?
I used the word Buffalovely a few times before, just in passing, and when it came time to decide on a name for my Buffalo-based business I knew that had to be it. I'm so in love with it now, and I feel so lucky that no one else thought of it first!

How does Buffalo influence your work?
My love for my hometown inspires all of the work that I do for Buffalovely. I have found that there is so much in our city to celebrate. I love creating work that people can put in their homes to reflect their love of Buffalo, whether they are local or an ex-pat. Our love of Buffalo endures.

What is the best thing about having a etsy shop?
I wouldn't be able to do what I've been doing with Buffalovely without Etsy. Having an outlet where you can showcase your work so inexpensively has been invaluable to someone just starting out. Being able to connect with other artists and gain advice from their experiences has made my business what it is today, and I am so grateful for that.
 

 Where can your work be found locally?
My work can be found at Thin Ice on Elmwood Ave, Home Roots in Cheektowaga, Reeds Jenss (both locations), Village Artisans, Homeward Bound, Tis the Season Gift Shop, Buffalo Adore in South Buffalo and Floral Explorations on Hertel Ave.

Do you have any up and coming art shows/craft shows that you would like us to know about?
I will be participating in a Mom and Pop Show at the Tri-Main Center from 10-4, at the Gay Pride parade the first weekend in June and the Southgate Plaza craft show at the end of June. Other shows I have applied to are still up in the air, but I'm excited for the Summer season and Christmas to come!

 Do you have any advise or suggestions for new sellers to etsy?
Ask for advice from those who have the experience. The community on Etsy has been so warm and welcoming, and I have gained so much knowledge from so many sellers that have been willing to help me.

do you do this full or part time? If full time how did you get yourself to that status?
I do some work on the side, but Buffalovely is my full-time focus. I am always working on making it grow in any way I can and am always thinking of new products that I think might be popular.

 Have you had any formal training in what you do?
None. Up until 2 1/2 years ago, I had never sewn a thing in my life! I decided that if I wanted to make pillows, I better learn to sew. Youtube has been a huge asset for me. There are endless videos on any topic or technique and have taught me all I have needed to know along the way.

 Where can you be found online?
I can be found on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter, all under Buffalovely.

 You can find me on Etsy at www.etsy.com/shop

Thanks Amanda for sharing your experience with us!

If you are from Buffalo and would like to be featured on the blog please contact me for more information!!