Enjoy this interview about the launch of my webshop, conducted by Laura Szitár, the creator of the WEBB by Szitár Laura website and webshop design courses :)
Hi Orsi!
Could you please tell me in a few words what Hoopla Sewing is?
What do you do and why?
Hi Laura!
My pleasure, and thank you for the opportunity 😊
Hoopla Sewing is the fulfillment of a long-cherished dream for me. I've always loved crafting, and sewing, in particular, was very close to my heart. I combined my love for the craft with my commitment to sustainability, and that's how my little brand was born.
I create products designed to replace plastic in our daily lives. My goal is to help as many people as possible drastically reduce unnecessary waste production in their households.
(What are your favorite products and what do your customers like the most?)
I mainly make washable sanitary pads, facial cleansing pads, reusable napkins, and pouches.
Washable pads are very close to my heart, as sustainable menstruation is a key issue today. Not to mention its positive health effects.
An average adult woman spends one-sixth of her life menstruating – that's 60 days a year, or two full months! So, it matters what kind of menstrual aid she uses.
How did this opportunity (re)find you? :)
At first, I started making these environmentally friendly products for myself, then for my friends. Eventually, even strangers reached out to me for help with this.
This confirmed to me that people need such alternatives, they are hungry for change, and I am not alone in this feeling.
My sincere goal is to help as many people as possible with my products. And especially women, as menstruation is present for a significant part of our lives.
You were still working at a multinational corporation when you started your business. How did you experience the initial period?
Yes, in the very beginning, I was still "filling out spreadsheets" at a multinational company, and although many people enjoy this kind of work, my creative self was increasingly suffering, even dying... Yet, for months I deliberated whether I should leave my secure job and venture into something completely unknown to me, but something I knew I wanted to do with all my heart and could 100% identify with.
Did you have a strategy at the beginning? How did the word of Hoopla Sewing reach customers?
In the very beginning, I focused heavily on the 'why' of my business, and Zsófi Tölgyessy's heart-centered marketing school was a great help in this. It was there that I finally found my path and articulated what I wanted to represent.
I was sure from the outset that I wanted a webshop. At that time, I knew nothing about how to create one, what I would need for it, or how to get started.
I was mostly afraid of it, so I was sure I would need help.
I started using social media to show people what I do. I began posting my work on Instagram and Facebook and soon started to get noticed. I found a fantastic supportive community.
My main platform eventually became my Instagram page; I feel much more at home there.
When and why did you decide that a webshop would be beneficial?
Initially, I tried to find cost-effective solutions for managing orders, and I tried all sorts of solutions, but in the end, I was completely worn out by all the unnecessary administration (for example, I spent hours in front of Excel again...).
I felt that, on the one hand, this was not professional at all, and on the other hand, with so much administration, I didn't have time for what I actually loved to do.
Did you definitely want to build your webshop yourself?
Yes, I definitely wanted the webshop to accurately reflect me, my personality, and my style. Moreover, I considered it important that if I wanted to change anything on it (which happens frequently, as I constantly like to develop it), I wouldn't always have to turn to a third party and wait for them, but rather be able to make these adjustments myself. This creative freedom is very important to me.
Did you hesitate before purchasing the Profi webshop egyszerűen course? If so, why?
When I found this opportunity, I immediately knew it was what I had been looking for all along! 😊
A course that teaches me the main settings, the basic operation and management of the program, based on which I can create my own webshop, according to my own ideas and the needs of my brand.
Within a day, I decided that this investment was very much worth it for me, as it saves me a lot of time and energy, and I can be part of a supportive community.
I am sure that without the course, this journey would have been much longer and more difficult.
How has your business changed since opening your webshop? What important results and successes have you achieved?
New horizons have opened up! The numerous emails, coordination, and administration have been replaced by an automated system, allowing me to dedicate much more attention and energy to creation, my customers, and marketing. As a result, my orders have continuously grown.
My webshop turned six months old in January 2021! I often can't believe that I was able to create this all by myself. The initial fear was replaced by enthusiasm, and my sales grew month by month. My investment in the course paid off from the very first month 😊
I always see how much you care about your customers, what cool extra things and surprises you come up with for them, and I'm sure they truly appreciate it and become loyal customers. Where do you get your inspiration and new ideas from?
Thank you 😊 Honestly, my customers are the most important to me, and I try to be there for everyone who needs my help. I've always been people-centered and I love providing the best. I think they feel this in my work, which is why so many of them return to me, and that brings me great joy.
Anything can inspire me! I often browse other sites, and I'm open to everything.
I also get a lot of inspiration from my customer base. And I'm especially happy when they share their needs, ideas, requests, fears, or problems with me. It's very important to pay attention to these, because if they weren't there, I wouldn't be here either.
What are your future plans?
Regarding the webshop, I have two big plans for the near future. I would like to find a solution for the automatic creation of shipping labels. Currently, this is done manually and takes up a lot of time.
I would also like to have professional photos taken of my products, as beautiful images are the key to everything. Not to mention that customers can examine the products more closely this way.
As for the brand, I plan to introduce new products and expand the team, but I can't reveal more about that yet 😊
If you are also thinking about launching a website or webshop, I wholeheartedly recommend Laura's program! Click here :) WEBB by Szitár Laura