Tell us your name, the name of your shop and what it is that you do here on Etsy.
My name is Melinda. My shop is Missy Maddy Shop and I sell classic children's clothes, mostly items for girls.
What is your family life like? (i.e. how many children, their ages, names, are you a single mom? Are they supportive of what they do and so forth?)
I have one daughter, Madeleine, who we call Maddy. She is the inspiration for my shop and everything I design. Maddy just turned one year old this February. My husband, Shawn, is very supportive of my business. He's an incredible father and husband.
Do you have another job outside of Etsy and outside of the home?
Yes, I have a "day" job. However, I work out of my home office, which affords me the time to create and care for Maddy.
How do you balance home life, Etsy and work?
I do? LOL. I break everything down into clusters and assign priority. This allows me to dedicate100% of my time to the most time-sensitive items and move it off my plate. Then on the next one!
What made you decide to sell on Etsy?
I've always loved Etsy and the amazing artists that sell through the site. It really seemed like the most relevant and efficient way to launch my shop's online presence.
Do you feel pretty successful in your Etsy shop or is there room to grow? If you feel successful is there a secret you'd like to share with us?
There is absolutely room to grow. I'm new to Etsy, so I do not have the luxury of hundreds of sales like some of the more senior shops on the site. I think even then, there's always room to grow. Even at my level, I would advise on staying connected with your audience. Take advantage of all the free social media outlets. Also, treat each customer like your only customer. I’m such a stickler for customer service in generally, so I strive to treat all of my customers like gold.
What do you feel makes your shop special and unique?
What brings uniqueness to my shop would definitely be my own personal taste for fashion. I love all that is classic, vintage, and girly. Since all of my designs are for kids, I have my daughter in mind when creating anything. I consider how it would look on her, how flattering is the piece, and most importantly do I absolutely love it. Each item that I offer to the public is a little part of me that I love and have crafted to perfection.
As Mom's, things get chaotic and find it hard to stay focused, how do you stay focused and motivated?
I'm fortunate that I really enjoy what I do. However, sometimes I do get side-tracked with life and lose a little focus. What brings me back is the fact that I love the end result. I love holding that dress that was just a few pieces of fabric and lace when I started and thinking "wow! this looks gawwwgeous!" I actually love my creations so much that I get a little sad each time I have to send it to the client. I always have ideas for new designs or altering existing designs, which keeps me consistently focused on getting it done.
Is there anything else you'd like the readers to know?
Yes! Thank you for reading through my feature and enjoy a special 10% discount on your next purchase at
www.missymaddyshop.etsy.com. Just use code "LittleMissCards" at checkout.
Stay connected withe Missy Maddy! Check us out on:
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/MissyMaddy
Blog:
www.missymaddy.com/blog
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/missymaddyshop
We have new member getting us to 65 minions followers so here is the coupon code of the day!
