[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message]Niche : Home and Living
Shop link : https://www.etsy.com/shop/sindibadrugs/
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/sindibadrugs/
Website : https://sindibadrugs.com/[/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…
I’m a carpet trader, inspired by my father, uncle, and grand-father who went into this business in the early ’80s by the name of “Artisan du Sud – Tapis Sindibad”. We were traveling across tribes of Morocco’s mountains and gathering whatever crafts they made. We did that because we believe that need global recognition for their hard work, knowledge, culture, and crafts as so. And Also to encourage more Berber tribeswomen to continue their traditions of creating handmade objects within their homes, and fight the unemployment problem in those poor villages.
How did you discover Etsy? Did you have any previous experience in selling handmade products? Why did you start selling online?
I moved to this online platform (with a friend’s help) after the COVID19 impact on tourism that had emerged deeply into this economy. So as to survive this pandemic, I needed to change my traditional selling channel that was effective in the past (Past COVID19) to the Etsy platform. Which by the way I found very crowded with similar sellers of mine.
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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?
I sell handwoven carpets, poufs, pillows, and covers. that consist of sheep wool, cotton, and natural silk. Those products are made by local women that have a keen eye for attractive designs, as their whole environment is embellished by natural beauty, and also for their cultural traditions of makeup and tattooing. They are transferring their knowledge into those crafts we sell.
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?
I don’t create that product, but I know how they’re made and the process of making them, as I passed many journeys living with those crafts.
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?
I do this selling as my full-time job, as I’m 100% committed to it, I need to make my popularity grow in this online shop to a similar level on my local one.
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?
Actually, I needed a lot of information about this online shop, as there are some fears about not getting much traffic and many more problems. I still struggle with getting customers to buy some of the merchandise I offer.
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?
Till today, I still have no sale. But I’m hoping for some next year.
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?
Actually, I do have my local shop, I do manage it directly and every day. And also I have a partner who is tech-savvy who manages my online shop.
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?
As I mentioned before. I cannot control what will be the next design, as it is a spontaneous and creative process. But if a client needs a customized product I will be glad to help. the main tool used in hand waving is the Mensej.
What is the biggest impact on the profitability of your shop? How expensive are the materials you use? How do you price your products?
My products’ prices are highly related to travel, maintenance costs, and the complexity of the fabrication of the craft. Which makes some products unprofitable if not affordable. And therefore goes into the losses margin.
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 are inspired by our culture. As some of you know that Moroccan Berber Culture is full of art, we love our culture, and as so we strive to save it from abandonment.
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?
We ship internationally, and we include all postage fees in the final price, as for the processing of the product, it may take 1 to 2 days. And for the shipping, we don’t want to bother people with the costs as it’s relatively high, so we offer them the free shipping cost. Also, we make sure the packaging is hard. water-resistant, and tightened from loose.
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 stand out?
As far as I know, competition is not much of a problem if you have a good price vs good value. Which makes our products stand out for their originality and relatively affordable prices
How do you deal with disputes or bad ratings/feedback? How do you manage presale and post-sale communication and customer satisfaction?
For a bad rating/review. I communicate and try to solve the issue if it is in my power. however, if a customer needs assistance I will be glad to follow up with his questions, as I care as much about his satisfaction as I care about my sale.
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’m positive about getting my shop to success, I will do more work on that by hiring more professionals into the promotion area. And for my customer relationship, I’m easy going with my workers and dealers, we are already a family,
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?
I use Instagram for my main promotion.
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 thing I could wish to be in Etsy is product import/export integration. Other than that I couldn’t ask more!
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What are some things you did to set your shop for success on Etsy? What is one lesson you learned the hard way?
I cannot say I’m in success right now. And I’m still learning to bring my shop to public expectation.
What piece of advice would you give to new or established sellers or those considering selling on Etsy? How can they avoid beginner mistakes?
I advise the new sellers to take care of studying their product niche. And do not go cheap for their product photos quality. As it’s the only window that a customer sees!
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