Welcome to MoonBloom - home of enchanting wax melts, candles and homeware inspired by witchcraft, mythology and all things alternative. 🖤
Welcome to our very own spooky sanctum! Starting my own website has felt like a great milestone in my small business journey, so I thought I’d share a little update about where we started and where we're headed!
The story behind my little goth business
I started MoonBloom in 2021, launching my Etsy Store in late August 2021 - just in time for Spooky Season! A little bit later, in May 2022, I finally got up and running with my own little website (hi!)
I’ve always loved a darker, gothic aesthetic but I found it difficult to find things that were truly in my style: dark without being too morbid, quirky without being tacky, and of course doing it all whilst remaining environmentally conscious. I knew I wasn’t the only one looking for that little something different, so I decided to start my own business to share my passion with likeminded souls.
An Update on our Etsy Store
Like many small business owners, I got my start on Etsy. Many of you reading this will have first discovered us there and new customers continue to join our coven each day. I'm so grateful for all the support shown to my little store there - we recently passed the 400 sales mark which feels incredible for a little business that just twelve months ago, existed only in my head!
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I will never badmouth Etsy - getting started on the platform allowed me to focus fully on the product and bring it to you in the quickest, most cost effective way possible. My Etsy store is still, and will remain, open for business, but there were a few reasons I decided to start my own website too.
Passing on savings 💰
The fee structure on Etsy means I have to pay a little bit more for every sale I make on the platform and, as a business selling mostly low cost items, the recent fee increase hit us super hard. Between listing fees, payment processing fees and a premium on top of any postage charges, the fees quickly tot up. As a result of this and increased costs throughout my supply chain, regrettably I had to up my prices on Etsy earlier this year.
Times are tough for everyone and as a non-essential product it is important to me to keep the MoonBloom range affordable so everyone can enjoy a little bit of luxury during these bleak times! By supporting me directly through my website, I can pass on the savings I make on fees back to you lovely lot! Prices will always be cheaper on my website - it's my little way of saying thank you for supporting me directly.
Creative freedom 🎨
I love being able to indulge my artistic side through MoonBloom, and the website is yet another angle for this. I can make it look how I want, set things up how I like them, and generally enjoy a bit more freedom! Rather than having to fit into a one-size-fits-all structure, on my own site I can do things my way. Although it has meant a few late coffee-fuelled nights trying to wrap my head around code!
Broadening my product range ✨
This is the big one! Setting up my own page has allowed me to expand the range of MoonBloom products. Etsy listings are all supposed to be either vintage or hand-made, and whilst some stores decide to ignore that rule (don’t get me started!), I don’t think it’s fair on customers who are expecting something bespoke. Being on my own website means I can transparently curate a range of gothic homeware and gifts that I think you’ll love!
I’m always trying new things, and I’ve got some great plans for the future, so be sure to keep checking back or follow @MoonBloomWax on Instagram to see what I’ve conjured up next.
I'm hoping to turn this blog into a regular thing and I'm looking forward to sharing product updates, small business stories, spooky lifestyle inspo and much more! If you are a small business owner who does things a little differently and you'd like to be featured please get in touch!
Stay spooky,
