[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message]Niche : Home and Living
Shop link : https://www.etsy.com/shop/CosmicSnacks
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/cosmicsnacks[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Tell us something about yourself, how did you get started, do you consider yourself a crafter, maker, artist…
Cosmic snacks LLC is a family-owned and operated business out of Ogden Utah. We first started on July 4th, 2020. With all the events closed due to the pandemic, we wanted to bring something back to our community, so we bought a couple of snack machines and handed out free treats to everyone. We had so much fun doing it we set up again for “Ogden pioneer days” on the 24th of July and posted it on social media. From that point, things really picked up. We were setting up for friends and family. We had kids around the block come by for cotton candy daily. We decided to put a name on it and called it Cosmic snacks. Now we ship cotton candy nationwide and set up for local events in person.
How did you discover Etsy? Did you have any previous experience in selling handmade products? Why did you start selling online?
I’ve always enjoyed Etsy. It a great place for everyone to sell their own special products. And great way to get your business out there.
What products do you sell, what type of materials are used in your creations, how do you design your products, what makes your products stand out?
We sell gourmet style cotton candy mainly. We use a veriety of bags of all shapes and sizes. We creat each flavor by hand. Our flavors are custom made. You won’t find our flavors anywhere else.
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How was your experience in learning to craft, are you self-taught or did you have a mentor, how long did it take for you to be satisfied with your creations
We are self tought. Just bought the need items and dove right in. It been really fun!
What was your original goal when you opened up an Etsy shop? What impacted your decision to start selling online? Do you consider online selling as a side-job, full-time job, or extra income to pay for your hobby?
Selling cotton candy has become a full time job. It can be time consuming. And we want our product to be as flawless as possible for our customers. So we don’t mind putting in the extra work.
Did you have any fears or reservations before opening up your Etsy shop? Were you worried about profitability or product competitiveness? What are some concerns and questions you had before you got started? How did you overcome them?
Adding our company to Etsy was never our original intention. But we are glad to have or company on this website. It has been very helpful in spreading our product and getting our name out there.
How long did it take for you to get your first sale? Did you ever think you would make a lot of sales in the first year? What was the goal you were hoping for? How many sales an average you get per week?
Our first sale was very exciting. It was within our first week of being displayed on Etsy. We were instantly hooked after that.
Do you have a job outside Etsy? If not, are you able to commit full-time to online selling? How does your typical day look like? How do you manage time?
It’s been a pretty rough year. We are just getting back to normal. But I’ve created something fun for me, my family and others to enjoy and I’d be more than happy to give it my best as long as others continue to enjoy my product and continue to keep ordering from us.
How does your manufacturing process look like for e.g. your best selling product? Do you create products ahead of the orders? Do you customize your products, if so how? What are the tools that you are using in the manufacturing process?
We are always fighting the clock to get your order to you as fresh as possible. Nothing is made In advance. I have no pre made product. Most of the time your order was made within the hour of being shipped.
What is the biggest impact on the profitability of your shop? How expensive are the materials you use? How do you price your products?
The profit can be there if your heart is. I have trouble cutting back because I want to add so much to my product. I want it to be more than what you think you will receive. A hand made product is a symbol of your skills.
What inspires you when you’re creating? How do you get ideas for new products? What are some methods or tools you use to get creative?
We just go with the flow. We are launching a new set of Halloween products that we are super excited about. Got some new flavors being whipped up special for the season. And why stop there? We will also have an amazing new line of products for Christmas. Nothing goes better in a stocking than gourmet cotton candy!
Do you ship your product internationally? How do you handle postage pricing? What is the average time it takes from the order to the delivery? Do you use free shipping? If so, why? How do you package your products?
At this moment in time we only ship nation wide. We will eventually get our product to other regions of the world. And we are very excited for that day. As of right now I’ve never had a product late within our shipping boundaries. We use USPS mail. And we offer free shipping on orders over 35$.
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Are you worried about competitors? Does it impact your business in any way? If there are a lot of similar products, how do you make your own standout?
The way we view it is we’re a one of a kind business. Some other businesses offer a couple of similar ideas we offer. But trust me, they do not have the same products we offer. Our list of flavors continues to grow. I’ve never seen flavors like ours. I didn’t know it could be possible to turn a favorite childhood cereal of mine into a cotton candy flavor. But we’ve done it, and it’s delicious.
How do you deal with disputes or bad ratings/feedback? How do you manage presale and post-sale communication and customer satisfaction?
We offer a veriety of ways to make it up to you if we have not satisfied you. Just let us know if we have done anything wrong. We don’t want to let a single customer down.
Has selling on Etsy changed your life in any way? If so, how? Did you ever think you would get this far with your shop? Have you ever been stressed about dealing with customers and manufacturing products? How did you deal with that?
I have definitely had my hands full after adding my business to Etsy. Never a full moment.
How important is social media for your shop? What are some common tactics you use to promote your products? Do you spend money on ads outside of Etsy? How do you generate excitement/hype around your products?
We luckily have support from our friends and family. But we also do use Facebook and Instagram. Our Facebook page is a great way to connect with customers.
What are some things you don’t like about Etsy? If you could talk to the CEO of Etsy what recommendations would you tell him to improve sellers and customer satisfaction?
The biggest trouble I’ve had is printing labels from the app. But the website is great and I don’t mind using it.
What are some things you did to set your shop for success on Etsy? What is one lesson you learned the hard way?
Every order improves with experience. Custom orders are super fun. It’s like mixing our great product with the customers imagination.
What piece of advice would you give to new or established sellers or those considering selling on Etsy? How can they avoid beginner mistakes?
You can print shipping labels from home! It makes things very easy.
Anything you wish to add, feel free to do so here. We value your opinion
It’s been very fun and exciting everytime I connect with a customer. We value every order we’ve ever made, and would just like to say thank you to our loving customers.
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