[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message]Niche : Home and Living
Shop link : https://www.etsy.com/shop/mirror3dart
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/mirror3dart
Pinterest : https://www.pinterest.com/mirror3dart/_created
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/mirror3dart[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Tell us something about yourself. What is your niche? How did you get your idea or concept for the business?
I started 3d printing a few years ago just for myself, making things that I liked or needed and things that I couldn’t find anywhere to buy. In time friends started asking for some things for themselves, so it was nice to see endless possibilities for 3d printing. I made some models from comic books and Monta painted them so nice and good, that everybody started asking can they buy one… We were sold…!
What are your responsibilities as a business owner?
We have a small company and only workers are just us two, that’s why as a business owner I have to do all things from a to z. in beginning it was harder while you learn all stuff, but for now it’s easier as its daily routine and is more predictable what can happen.
What are your best selling products, what type of materials are used in your creations, how do you design your products, what makes your products stand out?
We don’t have one best selling product as we offer custom printing and painting. In beginning, most sold products were from that time trends, but for now, custom requests from customers are about half from the business. I think that makes them stand out as we can produce any customer’s idea.
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What do you enjoy most about being an entrepreneur? What’s the hardest about it?
I can’t say one or two things I enjoy most. All process together is quite enjoyable from meeting new people, getting new ideas up to providing new workplaces and paying taxes. The hardest part probably is keeping continuous workflow, managing all needed parts for production.
Who do you sell to (and how do you get customers)? What marketing tools or strategies you use to boost your sales? Are you satisfied with the results?
Our customers mostly are 25-40 years old and advanced in today’s technologies. We don’t use many marketing strategies just Facebook and Instagram posts.
Do you believe there is a winning formula for becoming a successful entrepreneur? What is yours?
You have to keep customers happy and satisfied, then they will come back or will advise their friends to use your services.
What was the toughest moment you have experienced in your business practice? How did you succeed to get over it and move forward?
The toughest moments are when sales are low, but You have to pay daily bills, then You have to think out something new that would sell or find a new niche.
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?
I’m creating things I like myself, it’s easier to work with things you like. I have a lot of ideas for new things, time is limiting to make them all.
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?
Yes, we ship internationally as that is a bigger market. We offer free shipping because then it’s easier for the client to calculate the total amount of order, I include shipping costs in the price. That is for standard shipping, it takes up to 30 days for deliveries around the world, if clients need it faster then I’m using faster shipping carriers, but they are much more expensive and can exceed the price for the product. Packaging main rule is that item needs to be packed securely because it has to travel long-range and get till the end in one piece.
What would you say are the key elements for starting and running a successful online business?
You have to find your niche and decide if it’s what You like.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs who are starting out?
The beginning is hard in every business, don’t give up and keep trying. Make some plan what You want to reach, break it into smaller milestones that You can reach in month/week/day then You’ll be happier doing it.
How do you personally define business success? Is it money? Freedom? Influence? Creative expression and innovation? Something else?
First of all, it’s money. If You can pay all the bills, salaries and taxes, then it’s good. The next one is freedom doing things You like, then it could be like a hobby, but You don’t have to pay for it from Your own pocket.
Describe your day-to-day operation. How do you manage your time?
First-year it was all together, home and work as you have to build “foundation” to Your business, now it’s little easier to plan time for work and other things, but You have to keep an eye on customers every time because of differences in time zones around the world. it could be that some client needs your attention outside your normal work hours because at that time there is daytime.
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How do you plan on growing your business? What is the biggest impact on your profitability?
I’m investing all the time in my company and slowly growing our business. for now, we have reached that point where we need to expand, need to get more workers for usual things to be able to focus on future and new items.
What are some things you did to set your shop for success on Etsy? What is one lesson you learned the hard way?
I invested in photo technique to be able to take better photos for listings. Descriptions for listings should be precise and correct, You don’t want customers complaining about their order and that it was written in the listing different that it is in real life because you forgot to change or add something in the listing.
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