It does not matter if you have or do not have a loved one in the army, almost everyone wants to find a way to support our troops. Inspired by the people around her, Lyn Fleischman took a chance and created a very successful Etsy store. Her line of military themed bags, Absolutely Cute and Unique, offers the wives, girlfriends, and other family members a way to show their support in a fashionable way.
Lyn also donates 25% of her sales to Operation Home Front, giving us the opportunity to give a little something to help the military with our purchase.
What inspired your line of Absolutely Cute and Unique bags? Why Military-themed bags?
The Military women around me, they all want pretty things and they all want to support their men in uniform, so with that I made something they could wear on their arm to show the world.
I wanted to create something beautiful and special for someone supporting our Men and Women in uniform. I have been in a Military family for 24 years so it is something I hold dear to my heart.
On average, how long does it take for you to create one of your bags? How much do they cost?
Depending on the style it can take anywhere from 3-5 hours. They start out at $25.00 and go up to $50.00.
How long have you been making them? When did you decide to start selling them?
I’ve been making them for about 8 months now. Probably right around the same time I started making them.
Was there any previous experience that you were able to apply when starting up your Etsy store?
I have been doing graphic work online for about 3 years now. My experience with selling my work is you have to do something that is unique, that can only be found in your store.
Why did you decide on Etsy as your store platform? Do you sell anywhere else?
Etsy was something I was aware of for a few months before I started selling. I loved the environment, ideas and creativity everywhere. It seemed like the perfect starting point for me.
I sell locally by word of mouth and I do Vendor Shows.
What are some of your long term goals for your business?
Maybe one day I will open a storefront. It would truly be a dream come true and I am working on details to possibly making it happen in the coming years. I also want to think behind bags and make other things that Military Families would enjoy.
What were some of the resources that helped you grow your business?
The Internet, it is a big wealth of information out there. Etsy also gives you good tips on their site when it comes to selling handmade stuff. Also ask yourself, when you go into a business to purchase things, what do you expect, what makes you keep coming back to that store, use your answers to get ideas on how you can make your business one of the ones people want to come back to.
What are some of the things you’ve learned since the launch of your store that has really affected how you run your business?
Never get discouraged when someone isn’t 100% satisfied. Like people always say you can’t please everyone you just try your best and keep on going.
What are some of the positives and negatives of working from home?
The positive and negative is the same thing for me, my kids. I love spending time with them, I love being able to invest as much time as I want with them, but at the same time it can get hectic to work in my office with my 3 year old knocking on the door because she wants to play in my sewing room. It is also hard to ignore the laughter outside my room and not want to drop what I am doing to join in the fun.
Was there any advice that helped you through the start and growth of your business? Do you have any advice for someone else that might be interested in selling their own handmade products?
Keep your product unique, even if what you think is beautiful isn’t the current trend start a new trend! Never get down on yourself because you aren’t selling as much as you think. For the first few months my store was open it had no orders coming in but since that first one I have been going steady. Word of mouth is the best advertisement! Lastly sell where you market is, online is the best place for anyone to start, you can touch a world of people.
jaeda on July 23rd, 2008 at 5:49 pm
i like the design, so cute.. fashionable.
cassy on July 24th, 2008 at 1:39 am
Just like its name absolutely cute and unique!