This is the third in a series of interviews with Etsy entrepreneurs.
Amber Zrust started her Etsy shop RockerByeBaby in 2007. Amber the mother of two little boys had grown tired of blues, greens, and teddy bears and thought she could design something way cooler. Amber’s designs have been included in celebrity gift baskets for Angie Everhart and Tori Spelling. In this interview, learn how Amber began RockerByeBaby whose shop moto is WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN STOCK FOR YOUR BABY TO ROCK!!
What brought you to become an Etsy shop owner?
I honestly don’t remember how I found Etsy… call it fate I guess. Back in August of ’07 I started RockerByeBaby. I had been pregnant for 2 years back to back and had two boys 11 months apart. I can’t even begin to explain how sick of blues and greens and teddy bears I had grown to be. I knew I could do something better, so I did. Before that month was up I was settled in on Etsy. From the moment I started there it was great. Many sellers have strayed and tested out the
competitors “craftier sites” but not I. Etsy has been good to me, and in turn, I like to think I’m pretty good to etsy. (At least I’m sure they love my monthly fee payments.)
How do you market your business?
You will never believe me, but I don’t really spend money on advertising. I am completely invested in networking with friends, customers, and family. This has helped greatly as there is always someone referring my store. I also do the occasional celebrity gifting. You can see us in “Pregnancy Magazine” for the bedding we made for Angie Everhart. As well as Tori Spelling’s son Liam rockin’ our Regent Skulls polo and many more celebrities with RockerByeBaby. Most
importantly, I set the bar VERY high for customer service. This is a major marketing technique in itself. It keeps my return customers coming back, new customers feeling “safe & comfortable” with their purchase, and almost always guarantees they will tell their friends. Which in turn means more business for us. Lastly, lots and lots of social networking. Twitter has been HUGE for RockerByeBaby, but I believe that’s for another question.
How has social networking helped your business? What have you found works best for your store?
Social Networking has changed the face of RockerByeBaby. If it weren’t for Twitter,
Facebook, Myspace & my blog, there is no way we would be where we are today and I truly
believe that. It’s because of these sources I am able to get away with playing little to no money on advertising. I have met so many great people through these sites. We help each other out a lot…everything from spreading the word about stores, sales, new items, etc… to trading banners on sites, and sometimes I even trade goods for advertisement. This saves me HUNDREDS of dollars.
What is your favorite part of being an Etsy store owner?
Just one favorite? That’s a hard choice. Can I mention a few? I love the community of Etsy. I love what Etsy has helped me achieve, and mostly, I love being a major part of the handmade movement. So many people are choosing to buy items handmade in the USA… this is better for SO MANY obvious reasons, but the big ones are (1) eco friendly…we’re not importing items made in factories from other countries (2) it’s helping OUR economy. Allowing stay at home moms, out of work dads, retired grandparents and more to be able to contribute in any way that they want without having to even leave the house. Whether it is a small store or a larger store like mine… RockerByeBaby allows me to be home with my kids all day long, but still bring in a significant amount of extra income. We get the best of both worlds.
What are some of the ways that you find Etsy helps in your success as a store owner?
Etsy is a great, reliable source for a steady amount of customers. Etsy itself is growing daily and getting more attention. This in turn helps me. If Etsy has a shout out on a news channel that brings in thousands of new customers which could obviously find their way to me. Though my store did amazing last year, I couldn’t have done it without Etsy. I have a website that offers almost all the same items but my sales ratio is not even close. I probably sell 20 items on Etsy
for every one that I sell on my website.
What advice would you give new Etsians just starting out?
(1)Relist – Relist – Relist… I know there are people that disagree but I strongly believe you can’t be successful on Etsy without relisting every single day, you will drop to the bottom of the
searches and be lost forever. This is the biggest & most important tip I could give anyone.
(2) Create something people want and do it well. Sounds simple right? But it’s not. I can’t tell you how many people are out there opening shops just to steal others ideas, make a lower quality version, undercut, and try to make a quick buck. Some of my best “Etsy” friends have copycats, I have copycats. It’s so frustrating to those of us that have worked so hard to come up with our own ideas.
How did you come up with your shop name?
My hubby actually did. He is very witty like that. RockerByeBaby is a play on the nursery rhyme Rock-a-Bye Baby… with Rocker being the play on Punk Rock. He also helped come up with our slogan “Everything in STOCK for your baby to ROCK”
How do you brand yourself to make your shop unique?
Branding is something I am always working on. The RockerByeBaby name is slowly becoming a brand. We are known on Etsy for our high quality materials, great craftsmanship, and amazing customer service. We have a very recognizable logo (the hot pink & turquoise skull with checkerboard behind it) which I think play a big part in “branding” ourselves. I know we’re still a long way from RockerByeBaby being a household brand name, but I think we are headed
in the right direction.
Do you feel a sense of community among the Etsy shop owners?
Completely. Some of the people I met through Etsy have now come to play important roles in my everyday life. Whether it is helping to promote the store, cross promoting items & wholesaling. Even just being a friendly voice on the other end of the phone to get through a stressful day. I just wish they all lived closer to me. Another big sense of community through Etsy are the street teams. I am currently involved in two of them (EtsyDarkTeam & EtsyKids Team), and again, it’s another way to be a part of some free networking & advertisement. It’s comforting to know there are always people looking out for you and your brand.
How do you connect with your buyers?
I like to think this falls into my customer service category. I get back to my customers usually no more than 2 hours from when they email… It is me personally sending out each and every email. I chit chat, make them laugh and I am very relaxed and welcoming in my mails. I bend over backwards to be sure they are completely satisfied with their purchase. If they don’t see anything they just “must have” I find it for them. If they need it fast, I find a way to get it there.
I offer discounts in exchange for customer photos (because at the end of a bad day, customer photos pull me through to the next) and (another cross promotion tip.) I have teamed up with a hand full of other Etsy sellers to send out samples in my packages. In every blanket order, I send out a little goody bag. It usually contains any random assortment of HANDMADE candles, chap stick, hair bows, magnets, buttons, really anything small that a seller feels would grab my
buyers attention. Then they usually offer a discount code as well, so that they can go check out their shop. It’s a great way to help out other sellers, yet please my customers at the same time. I always get great feedback about how much they appreciate the extras.
For more information on Amber’s Etsy shop visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/RockerByeBaby or visit http://www.rockerbyebaby.com
Julie Barnes is a Freelance Writer focusing on her passion of entrepreneurship. Julie published “So You Want to Start a Business…Now What?” (http://www.so-you-want-to-start-a-business.com/ ) in December 2009. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron and lovable dog Hank. You can visit her site at http://www.onewhowrites.com.
