Etsy Seller Spotlight Two!

Hello all! Welcome to my second Etsy Seller Spotlight! My goal in these interviews are to focus on sellers with which I shop regularly or just plain want to know more about! So, this week's interview focuses on the latter and I would like for everyone to get to know Etsy seller Lulu's shop DippyLulu .

Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Your name, age, where your from, etc?

My name is LuLu, I'm 37 and originally from London, UK but have lived in VT since 2004. I collected a couple of degrees in graphic design and typography at the London College of Printing and Norwich School of Art which led me to become obsessed with typography. I’ve been working ever since (16 years) as a freelance art editor for large publishing houses in London (Penguin, BBC, Dorling Kindersley, Harper Collins, Scholastic). It's a tough telecommute because of the time difference, but I love it.

Q: Your products are so much fun and so unique to anything on Etsy. So, when did you first decide to start you amazing Business? What was the very first product you created?

I was a buyer on Etsy for a long while and then suddenly thought well, I could do some of this selling type stuff. It was as simple as that. I'm paid to come up with ideas for my job so it wasn't hard to drift off and think of ideas for an Etsy shop. I was a collector of ACEO's and so my first products were ACEO's, two of which sold within 20 minutes of listing. At that point I was hooked! The idea of Farty products came to me because we have matches all over the house for *ahem* a certain purpose. I’m so obsessed with farts that I have extended my line to include Stinky Lites, Lady Lites, Veggie Lites (coming soon!) and a Deluxe Fart Kit (and if you believe that explanation, I have a sub-prime mortgage to sell you).

Q: Where do you get some of your ideas for your products? Do you create most of your products for yourself or friends first, then sell them to others?

Ideas come into my head while I'm doing other things, and then I file them in the back for a while. Most ideas never come out to fruition and it's only when I feel really confident that an item will be popular that I am ready to make it. Most of my products are fart related so there's little to explain how I came up with those. The Birthday Lites were torturing me for at least a couple of months before I could let them out and create them. I had been working with matchboxes and wondered what other things I could make with them, especially the empty ones. I had seen some little candle holders in a store and something struck me that they could be joined together somehow. They are an acquired taste, but I love them, and so do my buyers! 

I list items in the shop as soon as they're made and test the waters that way. If items don't sell, I don't make any more and try another route. I don't like the idea of flogging dead horses. With my shop it is evident what isn't going to work when the sales don't happen.

Q: You always have really unique products as I mentioned above. What is your favorite item to make and what is your most popular item with your customers?

I'm only ever happy with a steel rule and scalpel in my hands. That sounds dangerous, but it's not, honest. I love making the Birthday Lites as there are so many little components to cut and stick together. It's nice to think they're specifically bought to give as a little gift. The most popular item with customers has to be Farty Lites. I think I made over 400 boxes over last holiday season. It was a busy and crazy time!

Q: What is next on your list to create?
I have a few ideas brewing. As I strive to be a bit different, it's nothing that I can reveal at this point I'm afraid!

Q: Where else do you sell your products?
Etsy is the only outlet at the moment.

Q: Whats your personal favorite aspect of owning an Etsy shop?
Getting paid for making silly stuff and having fun doing it.


Q: Where do you see your business in a year?
Hopefully still selling, lots of new items in my shop, and an extremely large Paypal balance.

Thank you Lulu for a really fun interview. I love getting to know more about these awesome Etsy sellers.
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Lulu has been generous enough to offer all my blog readers a special discount in her shop! See below for more info!

Discount: 20% off all orders over $15 (excluding shipping) up until end of June '08 with code "Gabrielsaunt".
Visit Dippylulu's shop

BIG WINNER!!!!!

OK, Earth Day was a lucky day for me. I was the lucky, lucky winner of 2 blog giveaways! I never win that kind of stuff!!
So, to say a huge "thank you", I want to introduce you to these awesome shops and show you what a lucky gal I am.

First, This Old Hen House was featuring an AWESOME artist named Justin Vining and everyone that went to his shop, picked out their favorite item and left a comment about that item, were entered into a drawing to win one of his amazing prints. I was immediately drawn (no pun intended) to his interpretation of the famous Van Gogh painting, Starry Night, and left a comment about that on her blog. Anyway, He is so talented and I am very, very excited to receive this from his shop: My Starry Night by Justin Vining. Please check his shop out and This OId Hen House's blog and Etsy shop! They are both amazing shops!

Second, I stumbled upon this great blog yesterday in my Earth Day postings and found this very Eco-Friendly Etsian, Mandy Bags. Mandy was posting about her Earth Day activities on her blog yesterday mandybags.blogspot.com and I was really taken with the products she offers that are totally Eco-Friendly and so cute. I posted some of my musings on the day and right before bed, I got a lovely message from Mandy telling me that I would receive a special gift from her! I do not know what I will receive, but if it is anything like what she has in her shop, I will be thrilled! All of the items in her shop have a reduce, reuse, recycle element to them (as mentioned in her shop announcement). I love shops like this and will be back to her shop for some of her amazing totes! Please take a minute to visit these great shops and blogs. My lucky day taught me to always support other folks in their endeavors by reading their blogs, leaving comments and talking about their shops. This not only introduces our craft to the general public, but to other Etsians out there. So, keep blogging!

Love Your Mother (Earth that is....)

Anyone that knows me knows that I am very passionate about the environment. I started, many years ago, acting in a more respectful way when it came to my daily consumption of goods. The first step I took was starting my candle company around 6 years ago. I wanted to create candles that used naturally occurring scents and, at the same time, helped the air you would breath instead of hurting it. Many people were not aware of how dangerous those ever-popular paraffin candles were (are). When a product actually steals healthy oxygen from your air and replaces it with petroleum by-product toxins, you will not have healthy air to breath. So, years later, I am still making those candles and still feel passionate about the environment, but I have added many things to my list of Eco-Friendly practices. Today, I want to focus on the 2 things I feel are crucial to change in your daily life and changes that I have committed to making. First: Plastic Bags-Not only are these another petroleum product (we all know that more petroleum products mean more coal and oil use throughout the world), but they are piling up by the MILLIONS in our landfills, oceans, streams and streets. Many retail outlets are wising up and either charging for plastic bags or getting rid of them all together (Whole Foods is a great example of a company who has made the decision to rid their stores of plastic bags). Well, I made 2 big changes to my shopping habits. First: I now reuse a small amount of plastic bags and keep them handy in my car for those unplanned stops to the store and so I won't ever be without them. Second: I always have 4 or 5 large reusable totes made from heavy duty plastic or cloth that never need to be thrown out or recycled. I purchased a great tote made out of plastic "yarn" from an Etsy Shop called Claudia's Creations. It is super durable and made completely from plastic shopping bags! I love it and use it for many different things from a purse to a shopping bag.

OK, Second big change I have made is no longer purchasing water or any other plastic drink bottles from the store. There are so many options for SAFE bottles that can be reused and travel with you. Many places like Starbucks will let you fill your container with the beverage of your choice so your don't have to worry about finding a place to recycle your paper or plastic cup. If you do find yourself with one of these plastic or paper cups, then you can keep a bag in your car with you for these items and every few days remove the items from the bag and recycled them at your home or office. The point is, you do not have to thrown these things away just because you don't have an immediate way to recycle. I also encourage everyone to demand your favorite coffee shops and fast food establishments have recycling bins available for their packaging and cups.

So, bring your own bags cups or keep a bag in your vehicle for all those items that can be recycled! It is really easy and once you start looking at these items in a different way, you will act in a different way. So, make the commitment and change your habits! It is one of the best decisions you can make!

Have a great recycling habit that you have adopted? Tell me about it! Everyone that posts will receive a coupon from me to use in my shop! Just make sure you leave me your email address!!

National Spa Week!

Well, the week we have all been waiting for is here! SPA WEEK! YAY!! OK, I admit, I didn't even know this week existed until just recently, but I am embracing it! I am a big, big fan of pampering yourself, whether it is a massage, pedicure or just a relaxing bath; treating yourself is a great and healthy thing to do. In celebration of Spa Week, I am offering 15% my entire Etsy shop "Gabriel's Aunt.Etsy.com" (just use the code "SPAWEEK" in the notes to seller) and 15% off my "Just For Fun" collection at "Gabriel's Aunt.com".
So, go ahead and pamper yourself!!!!!

Call for Perfumers!

Are you a natural perfumer? I would love to get to know more about you and your products! I have some favorite perfumers, but I want to meet you and find out what inspires you to create blends! I will feature a perfumer every 2 weeks and need someone for my first interview. Please contact me at @info@gabrielsaunt.com!

Etsy Seller Spotlight!

"Wash The Day Away's Etsy Shop"
So, I am branching out and, finally, getting to know another Etsy shop owner a little better! I have been interviewed several times myself by other amazing Etsy sellers so it is time for me to reach out. I patronize so many great shops on Etsy, but this shop has got to be in my Top 5. This week I am interviewing Wash The Day Away.Etsy.Com, a shop that specializes in Aromatherapy products containing organic ingredients for your body and face. I am in IN LOVE with their products and want you to know more about this great seller, Rebecca.

Here we go:

Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Your name, age, where your from, etc?

My name is Rebecca, I am 26, and I grew up in Menasha, WI. Last year I moved to Madison, WI to go to Massage School. I live with my Husband and our 3 year old son. We have 2 cats. I have always been Artistic/Creative and have done Photography, Sculpting, Painting, Writing, Knitting, Drawing...all kinds of stuff. I love to read, and I love Movies. Usually Psychological Thrillers, or Dark Humor Indie films. I love any movie by Wes Anderson, or with John Cusak in it! I also really love music. 80's stuff like Lou Reed, David Bowie, Iggy Pop. I also love good Indie music like Belle and Sebastian, Blonde Redhead, Cat Power. And I'm a HUGE tea head! I'm a freak for TeaNoir's Tea, the best I've ever had. I probably have like $60 worth of her tea at any given time. She has an etsy store too and everyone should go check it out!

Q: I absolutely ADORE your products. They have single handedly changed the health of the skin on my face! So, when did you first decide to start your amazing Aromatherapy Business? What was the very first product you created?

Thank you so much! There isn't a better reward than hearing stuff like that from customers. I first decided to start my own business last Christmas. I took an Aromatherapy course through my Massage school and my Mom bought me a bunch of Pure Essential Oils that Christmas. My passion was rekindled! (My Aunt and I used to dabble in making stuff when I was 18) But I started to make stuff, and found I was much better at it. My friends loved the stuff I made so much that I decided to make some money off of it! The very first thing ever I made was some Lavender soap with My Aunt when I was 18. It...probably could have been used as a weapon. [laugh] It was heavy and so loaded with Lavender buds it could have scratched the skin off someone's face if they used it. We had a good laugh over it. But the first thing I made when my passion was rekindled was some Cologne and Aftershave for my Husband.

Q: Where do you get some of your ideas for your products? Do you create most of your products for yourself first, then sell them to others?

I guess a good answer would be my weird love for experimentation. I don't like to be boring. In the Aromatherapy course I took, (I was taught by Kathy Keville, she wrote many books on Aromatherapy) I would come up with Essential oil combinations that made Kathy say, "Ooooh! Nice! You've done this before haven't you?" It made me blush. [laugh] The other part of it is, I do create some things for myself. Like the Black Honey soap you love, I made that for me. And I was so amazed by it's effectiveness, I had to share it with others. And actually, most of the products I initially make for myself, turn out to be best sellers. Or if I make them initially for a friend. I think that it's the personalization that make those products special. Some extra love goes into those. :)

Q: You always have really unique and organic products. What is your favorite ingredient to use and what is your most popular item with your customers?

I can only pick 1? [laugh] I can say my favorites really change with the seasons. Lately I really love Aloe Butter & Coconut Oil. And my favorite Essential Oils lately are Ylang Ylang and Sandalwood. My most popular product with my Customers is by far the Black Honey Soap.

Q: I check your Etsy shop all of the time to see what new products you have listed! What is next on your list to create?

That's cool to hear! Well, tonight I was planning a couple new soaps. I just got some new extract powders today that I'm excited to experiment with. 1 idea is for a Pore Refining Soap made with Strawberry Extract, and the other is Anti-aging with Apple Extract. I also have quite a few things that are new and already made that I just haven't listed yet. The other night I made a Body Balm the same scent as the Apricot Jasmine Body Oil I made because I love it so much! It's nice stuff!

Q: Where else do you sell your products?

I have sold some wholesale to Paper Sparrow in New York, Stellaria in Chicago, and Muskie Bay Resort (My In-laws Fishing Resort) in Nestor Falls, ON, Canada. Other than that I often sell locally to people who hear about me through either Etsy or my personal Blog - http://blackdreams.livejournal.com/. I also have a Wash The Day Away Blog that's new - http://washthedayawaynaturalbathandbody.blogspot.com/.

Q: Whats your personal favorite aspect of owning an Etsy shop?

Working at home in my Pajamas! [laugh] I'm lucky enough to have a Husband who's so supportive he works a full time job and
lets me be a stay at home Mom and do Wash The Day Away (and the occasional Massage). I also just love to experiment, and read up on related things to what I do. I also love being able to, like you mentioned, really change people's skin for the better. That's very satisfying.

Q: Where do you see your business in a year?

In another year, I would like to see my Etsy business itself really grow. I would also like to sell more outside of Etsy. Be it Craft Shows, or the Farmer's Market. Maybe another Website all my own. My long term goal is to have my own actual store and to be able to really make a living off of it!

Rebecca, thank you so much for letting us get to know you better! I hope that your business continues to thrive.

Rebecca has been kind enough to give the readers a great discount so stop by her Etsy shop and use this coupon to receive 20% off: "GABRIELSAUNTBLOG4.08". Just put this code in the "Notes To Seller" section to receive the discount!

Thank you Rebecca!
"Wash The Day Away's Etsy Shop"

Time for Tea!

I am in the process of finishing by brand new candle scent (name to be announced) and couldn't wait to share it with you!
I have been working on ways to incorporate some of my favorite things into my candles and I am a tea fanatic! So, without further ado, I give you my Green Tea and Honey candle. This candle is subtle, sweet and slightly citrus. I love how different this one is from my other candles; with Japanese Green Tea mixed with bits of Fruity White tea, this candle really stands out. I am sure you will fall in love with it as I have. It is a perfect candle to burn when you want a warm, sweet and subtle fragrance that will sooth and calm. So, grab a cup of your favorite tea, a good book and light this one! I am listing this in my Etsy shop as a pre-sale as my labels are not finished. You could be the first to try it! Stop by my Etsy shop and take a peek at this and many other amazing scents!

"Green Tea and Honey Candle in my Etsy Shop"

Thank you Kittens Korner Cafe!

I want to thank "Kittens Korner Cafe" for featuring me in her blog this week! It was a blast being interviewed by her and getting to know another Etsy shop owner! Her Blog is filled with awesome information so go check it out!

New perfume "Summer Love"

As many of you know, I am a fanatic about scents! I am in love with all things that smell good, especially when they are natural. My line of Botanical Perfumes "GA Essence" embodies all things natural and lovely. I worked very hard to come up with blends that would be unique, yet appeal to men and women. Well, after many months of no blending, I have listed my new scent for the girls only: Summer Love! Summer Love is what I think of when I think of the warmer months and the arrival of Spring and Summer. Summer Love is full of gorgeous floral notes, like Neroli, Orange Blossom Water Absolute, Magnolia, Jasmine and lovely Citrus oils. This is such a pretty and feminine scent and will make any girl feel special. There are no synthetic fragrances in any of my blends, just rare and precious absolutes and essential oils.