In a remarkable success story, Bailey, a 38-year-old Etsy seller based in Florida, has revealed how she earned $340 000 in revenue last year by selling digital tumbler designs on the popular Etsy e-commerce platform.
Bailey's journey from an email-marketing role, making $55 000 a year, to a thriving online business owner demonstrates the power of determination and the strategic use of AI tools to boost sales.
Bailey, the founder of Bailey Designed Co
Bailey's venture, Bailey Designed Co., began as a print-on-demand shop, but she quickly pivoted to a digital-only approach in January 2022. This decision proved to be a turning point in her business, leading her to remarkable success. Her Etsy store now generates an average of $14 000 in monthly sales, with her membership site contributing an additional $13 000 each month.
With a passion for volume-driven sales, Bailey set out to create a massive library of designs to attract customers. She draws inspiration from popular YouTube creators like Evelyn Weiss, Sandra Di, and Wholesale Ted, who emphasize the importance of researching trending products before creating designs. Bailey uses browser extensions like Erank.com and Everbee.io to gauge search volume, competition, and sales data on Etsy, enabling her to stay ahead in the competitive market.
After months of dedicated effort, Bailey's designs for tumblers began to gain traction. Recognizing the advantages of the digital market, she decided to focus solely on digital products, eliminating inventory management and reducing the need for extensive customer service. Her hard work paid off, and by June 2022, Bailey had amassed an impressive collection of 600 listings, which has now grown to around 3,600 designs.
To further capitalize on her growing success, Bailey launched a subscription-membership model, allowing customers access to all her digital designs and new releases each month for a monthly fee of $43. This model has been well-received and continues to contribute significantly to her overall revenue.
Emphasizing efficiency in her design process, Bailey relies on user-friendly AI-powered design software like Canva and Kittl. With no formal design background, she taught herself the art of designing through YouTube and Google tutorials. Kittl's commercial licensing agreement and higher-quality file-saving capabilities make it her preferred choice over Canva's "pro versus free" accounts.
Though Bailey's success has been undeniably impressive, she does face challenges in dealing with copyright issues and intellectual property concerns. However, she remains pragmatic, acknowledging the limitations and complexities of the Etsy platform's handling of such matters.
Bailey's revenue also exhibits seasonality, with major holidays like Halloween, Christmas, and Mother's Day contributing significantly to her sales. Additionally, designs catered to specific occupations, particularly nurses and teachers, have proven to be popular gift choices, allowing her to tap into niche markets.
Having built a huge following, Bailey actively manages a Facebook group with over 8 000 members and an email list with over 13 000 subscribers. These communities serve as valuable sources of design ideas and feedback from her customers, aiding in driving her business forward.
Always looking to expand her business acumen, Bailey recently ventured into the world of online courses. For $297, her course teaches people without a design background how to sell digital products successfully. The course has garnered considerable interest, with 200 people purchasing it so far. With a plan to increase the price and further enhance the course, Bailey has hired a dedicated marketer to help manage the growing demand.
Bailey strongly advocates diversification in sales channels, recognizing the importance of establishing an audience beyond Etsy's platform. She attributes her success partly to AI tools, such as ChatGPT for idea generation and Midjourney and Kittl's built-in AI tool for design creation, which have significantly increased her productivity and sales volume.
Conclusion
As AI continues to revolutionize the e-commerce landscape, Bailey's story serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs seeking innovative ways to thrive in a highly competitive market. Through determination, strategic use of AI, and a commitment to customer engagement, Bailey has demonstrated that dreams can become reality in the digital world.
