Featured EtsyBlogger - Spotted Cow Soaps

This month's featured EtsyBlogger is Linda Wheelock of Spotted Cow Soaps. Like I did with last months featured EtsyBlogger, I decided to ask Linda a few questions about her shop, her craft and Etsy. Here it goes ...


1. How would you describe your shop?
The handcrafted soap shop that has something for everyone. Handcrafted in the Heart of Vermont ~ 100% pure & natural the way Mother Nature intended it to be! Your Skin Will Thank You!

2. How long have you been making soaps for?
I have been making soap for over 8 years.

3. How did you get into this line of work/hobby?
I was looking for unique gifts to make family, friends and teachers when I
happened across a soapmaking website. I spent several months researching
suppliers and lurking on various soapmaking forums before placing my first
order for supplies. The recipients were enthusiastic and eager to buy more
if I would continue making the soap.

4. What is your favorite item in your shop? Why?
Right now ~ Gingerbread Whipped Sugar Scrub. It is my favorite because it is yummy goodness for your skin. I'm a big lover of sugar scrubs but not a very big fan of the oily tub and skin that most leave behind. After a bit of experimenting, I developed this scrub that cleanses,
exfoliates and leaves your skin feeling fabulously silky smooth afterwards. The sugar is fine enough that the scrub could be used on your face.

5. What are some of your favorite Etsy shops or items?
This item is a hoot and I happen to have purchased one to give as a gift last spring. I see they have a nice gift set for Holiday gift giving this year - Veggie Folk Carrot
I love this shop - agoodwitchtoo She's a good Witchy, and I love her soap!
I am amazed at the artistic abilities, not to mention, patience of Lily aka Hot Lips from Tulips Treasure Box

6. You currently have 485 sales. How do you attract customers to your shop?
A lot of promoting both on and off Etsy. Promoting eats up a lot of hours every day. Aligning myself with groups both on and off Etsy has proved to be beneficial, as well as being active in the forums, chat rooms and virtual labs on Etsy. But it doesn't stop there...social networks are a great tool. Twitter...if you don't Twitter, you should. It is the single most important marketing tool one could use. It is helpful if you don't bombard your followers with sales pitches all the time...try to keep an even balance by tweeting non-sales related info to your followers.

7. What advice can you offer other Etsy sellers to boost their sales?
Don't give up. This is my second attempt at marketing my products. The first attempt was not very successful in terms of sales, but it was helpful in that I learned a lot about what doesn't work. If something isn't working, then stand back and reassess your approach. It helps to attact customers to your shop if there are different price points.

8. Are your items available anywhere other than etsy?
I've opened a shop on ShopHandmade.com and I'm an artisan listed on The Artisans Shoppe


Business Details:

Owner Name: Linda Wheelock

Business/Shop Name: Spotted Cow Soaps

Location: Vermont

Website URL: spottedcowsoaps.com (currently directed to Etsy Shop)

Etsy URL: spottedcowsoaps.etsy.com

Blog URL: spottedcowsoaps.blogspot.com


Hope you enjoyed the interview and check back for the next featured artist.