Etsy Seller Kimberlee Brady Cantwell of the Etsy shop “Gracefully Girly” was kind enough to let me interview her on experiences as an Etsy seller. Here she breaks down for us the trials and rewards of having a shop on Etsy as well as how she keeps herself motivated and focused.

What is your name? Kimberlee Brady Cantwell

What is your Etsy shop name and link? Gracefully Girly http://www.etsy.com/shop/GracefullyGirly and my website is http://www.gracefullygirly.com

What type of items do you make? I started out by making items for my baby girl and after requests from friends, I branched out into selling the kinds of things I made for her. I’ve done crib bedding and nursery sets, lamps, night lights, feather-flower wreaths, wall decor. For my daughter’s first birthday I made her a tutu and birthday party hat… and that began a tutu explosion for me. Tiaras, floral hair clips, and headbands matching the

tutus have been a huge hit too.  I’ve been selling them as a set with fairy wings and matching hair accessories. They are popular in the boutiques where I sell them in my hometown and people seek me out for custom orders. Another popular item outside of Etsy is my mother-daughter bracelets. Because of the CPSIA laws and my expanding interests I am reducing the baby items and have expanded into wedding jewelry and floral hair accessories. I have also been prompted to do cards from the friends who have received gifts for them or their daughters. My friends and family have been super supportive and encouraging and are what has motivated me to start a business and expand as I have.

Who is your target market? It used to be just moms and people buying gifts for the little ones in their lives. I have recently branched out into women’s jewelry and hair accessories and some cards so I would say my target market is people looking for accessories for special occasions: babies, birthdays and bridal. I’m expanding into making more accessories for parties, birthday, baby and bridal showers.

What are some of the hardest things about selling on Etsy? Having a toddler as my number one priority makes it difficult to spend the kind of time required to make a shop successful. I feel pulled in so many directions between making/creating, photographing, editing and listing… I have a hard time focusing on each important aspect and in addition have spent many an hour reading about how to create a successful business. I’d definitely say it’s the lack of time that’s my biggest hurdle. With more of it I feel I could find new and creative ways to get more folks to my shop (marketing myself and my wares) and I’d love to spend a LOT more time crafting.

What do you do to get people to your shop? I haven’t spent much time marketing, which is something I know I need to do more of. I did a really focused FB ad and didn’t get anything from it. I did a giveaway on a blog and had no new traffic from that either. It had a small following so I think if I do that again I will not give away something unless there’s a bigger potential

payoff. I’ve spent a little time looking into Posh Boutique Shops, Mod Momma, PoshLittle. I haven’t put any energy in so I can’t expect anything to come of it. It’s that darn lack of time thing again! A lack of money to advertise has something to do with it too! I’ve started to renew my items a littl more often on Etsy in the hopes it will get me seen. I have had 5 things featured in treasuries (love the etsy love) and once was on the front page, which definitely got my views higher. Love that. Sadly, it was not long lasting though. My idea is that someone can’t buy from me if they don’t see my products in the first place so I am working on marketing a little more.

Is this your full time job? Would you like it to be? My toddler is my full time job. No, actually I quit my FT teaching job when I had her and went back for 2 weeks after 2 years off. It only took 2 weeks back at work to decide that I wanted to focus on my crafting business to stay at home with her. I had just started the business and wanted to try to make it work as the family’s extra income. Little did I know just how much time would be required!

Do you sell anywhere outside of Etsy? Yes. I sell on consignment in 2 boutiques in my home town. I have also hosted 2 home parties that were fantastic, fun, profitable. I have set up a booth at 2 craft fairs and only broke even on one and lost money at the other. I’m not sure that’s where I want to focus my energies.

What inspires you? Having a daughter inspired me beyond belief. My creative energies were unleashed as soon as I found out we were having a girl. I haven’t been super girly but that energy came to the surface and I have had a blast creating pretty girly things. My style is simple elegance with a relaxed attitude so the super over-the-top girly things are m of the fantasy and it is so fun to explore that side of me and let the inner princess emerge. It is so much fun playing princess and dress up with my daughter and our little neighbor friends. We have tea parties and blow bubbles and dance and parade around happily. That’s inspiration!

What advice would you give to new crafters on Etsy? Create for yourself, not for what you think the buyers want because those things will have no “soul.” Try not to expect Etsy to be the only place to sell/ market your items unless you have the really popular stuff that’s on Etsy at the moment. Keep an eye on the trends but don’t be a slave to them. Love what you do, but spend time on the organizational things like good record keeping and marketing too, even if you’re like me and don’t love those parts.

What do you do when you get in a rut? I have been in a HUGE rut lately. I have been grappling with the CPSIA laws and looming taxes (see spending time on record keeping above!) so I have not been crafting much and it’s tough on my creative energy. I’ve been having a hard time deciding whether to focus on one age group instead of making things for girls of all ages. My heart hasn’t been in it as much and I miss that. Spending time with family NOT working or thinking about it on Easter weekend really helped get myself back on track. I felt energized and refueled and ready to get back to it.

What would you say the most satisfying thing about being an Etsy seller is? I really like feeling like a part of something that I have gotten by being part of the Etsy Mom’s team and being in the forums. It feels like a nice way to be part of an online network with people who have similar goals and experiences.

Thank you Kimberlee!