This is Christine, a successful Romance Author who has written plenty of books, enough to fill a bookshelf. Take a look at this Good Reads showcase and you will see. But that’s not how I came across Christine’s work.
Lately, I have been on the lookout for some writer-friendly stickers to decorate my laptop. When I’m on a writing spree at a coffee shop, I want these stickers to attract wandering eyes. It will tell them I am a writer. I will show off Edgar Allan Poe quotes. I’ll even make them think I’m writing about them. All with the muted messages displayed on my laptop. It will be (wait for it) L-E-G-E-N-D-A-R-Y.
So I searched the internet long and wide until I ended up finding some pretty unique stickers on Etsy. That’s how I met Christine, the entrepreneur, who was kind enough to carve out time for the conversation that follows.
Christine, tell me about your Etsy journey. What was your motivation to start “Bookish Owl Designs” in 2021?
Since 2011, I’ve been an independent author, writing romance novels on platforms like Amazon, Kobo, and Apple. I started Bookish Owl Designs because I wanted to create stickers and bookmarks to give away at my book signings. Readers went crazy over them and told me I should sell them on Etsy. So that’s precisely what I did.
With over 7k in sales and operating from New York, what does a day in the life of an Etsy business owner look like?
I have a home studio (it’s just my basement) where I write and illustrate. After getting my kids to school, I split the rest of the day evenly between designing artwork, cutting out stickers and bookmarks, and writing. I pack any orders that come in at the end of the day and run to the post office to drop them off.
So you are a Writer by day, and a Sticker-maker by night. How do you balance time between both passions, and everything else you do?
The best way I balance everything is making sure I stick to a strict routine. As soon as I get into my studio, my phone gets silenced, and I just create. When it’s time to end my workday, that’s it, I put myself into mom and wife mode and try my best to have a personal life. I find if I keep them both separate, it’s easy to feel fulfilled in both.
Apart from design skills, what other skills or tools did you have to invest in to build the business over the years?
I make all my stickers by hand, so I had to invest in a really good printer and cutting machine called a Cricut. I also design on my iPad using Procreate. As for skills, I went to college at the School of Visual Arts in NYC years ago and still take classes in design yearly. I think it’s always good to take professional classes in whatever your career is, just to stay in the know about what’s trendy and new. There are so many ways art and publishing have grown over the last decade, it’s best to make sure you grow with the market if you want to be part of the market.
Customer service is paramount, especially in the b2c business model. I was amazed at how quickly you responded to my request and the help you provided to resolve issues with my order. What lessons have you learned over the years to maintain a 5-Star seller status?
It’s really simple: always think like you’re the customer. I treat my customers how I want to be treated as a customer—with kindness and respect. I even have my Etsy account hooked up to my phone, so if there’s ever a problem with a purchase, I’m readily available to help.
What are the hidden truths, struggles or challenges in running an Etsy business that you didn't realize until you got your feet wet?
There are numerous fees that Etsy takes on every sale you make, and there’s no such thing as free shipping. You have to build all that into your price and add your worth to that as well.
Yes, I have read that Etsy fees are on the high side — the listing price and renewal price per item, and the transaction fees for each sale. How do you offset these fees with your monthly sales goals and still make a profit?
Etsy's fees are a huge factor when pricing products to sell. There’s always a listing price, processing price, transaction fee, and shipping fee. After you figure the total of all of those, then you need to add all the materials you used. When you get that total, then you add what your time was worth creating it.
TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, or direct from Etsy — which source helps you get more sales?
Right now, TikTok is one of the best ways to get more sales. Posting every day reaches people you wouldn’t normally reach.
I am assuming most of your customers are writers like me. What is your message to writers who may be interested in working with you, and how can they contact you?
Anyone can contact me through Etsy messages. My message to any writer is written all over my writing stickers, especially my favorite one: Someone out there needs to read your story.
Christine’s goal for 2024 is to publish a new book and also to set up an Etsy store for signed copies. I wish her the best.
Are you an author working on your next book?
Are you a writer struggling to balance work, life, and your passions?
Have you considered offering products to complement your writing?
If your answer is “Yes” to any of the above, then Christine’s journey is proof that you too can make it happen. All you need is perseverance and resolve.
So keep writing. Be creative. Follow your passions.
Remember, you are not just one thing.
Do you enjoy getting exposed to new ideas outside your usual bubble? Do you pine for fresher voices in your media diet, for a respite from the banality of your social media feed? Me too. The Sample was designed to amplify independent writers who you haven't heard of already. You can set a few topics you're interested in, and then each day The Sample picks a different article to send you. When you get one you like, you can subscribe to the author's newsletter in a single click. Easy as pie. Sign up here.
I admire a good system when I see one. This is one worth admiring
I enjoyed this read, Raj. Kudos to Christine!