Friend Review Launch Strategy

A strategy for launching successfully on Etsy by leveraging initial friend purchases and authentic reviews to build marketplace credibility. Based on the success story of Smithy Home Couture, a throw pillow business.

Key Points:

• Initial Launch Strategy:

  • Had 10-20 friends purchase products at cost through Etsy
  • Friends left genuine reviews to build initial credibility
  • Ran minimal advertising (~$100 in ads)

• Growth Method:

  • Let positive reviews drive organic growth
  • Relied heavily on word-of-mouth marketing
  • Kept marketing spend extremely low ($300 over 2 months)

• Results:

  • Achieved nearly 10,000 sales on Etsy
  • Generated high 6-figures in revenue in 2023
  • Built to over $1 million in total revenue

• Business Evolution:

  • Started with home-based production
  • Expanded to small warehouse operation
  • Hired 4 part-time sewers for production
  • Established daily UPS pickup system

• Key Success Factor:

  • High-quality product that generated natural word-of-mouth
  • Customers loved the product and told their friends
  • No complex marketing hacks - just authentic growth through satisfied customers