Meet Veille sur toi
Today, we’re talking with Karine Foisy from Veille sur toi, to get acquainted with a practice that is still too little known: online commerce!
How do you start an online store? What are the challenges of online selling and what are we ultimately aiming for? Since online commerce is fundamentally different from selling with a physical storefront, these questions arise!
Karine Foisy, from the Veille sur toi boutique, answered our questions about online selling! Get to know her journey in e-commerce, her tips, and recommendations.
Meeting with Karine from Veille sur toi
Panierdachat: What is the story behind the company?
Veille sur toi: A primary school teacher by profession, a mother, and an entrepreneur, I am also a lover of the arts. In 2010, I discovered fused glass and fell in love with this technique. Then in 2013, I opened my Etsy shop and my Facebook page and officially launched Veille sur toi, a small business specializing in the design and manufacture of glass night lights for children. Quickly, there was a growing enthusiasm for my creations! In addition to being an artist in my spare time, I am also the mother of three children: Béatrice, Raphaël, and Elliot. I draw inspiration from the children’s world to create my designs, creating benevolent companions who watch over the sleep of the little ones. Bright colors, fun and endearing characters, the products I create are unique, colorful, and very reassuring! Night lights are also very practical for the bedtime routine. The child will become attached to their little companion and will turn it on at night and off in the morning. It will be THEIR little light! :) In just three years, Veille Sur Toi had over 34,000 followers on Facebook, sold more than 15,000 night lights across the United States, Canada, and Europe, and had over 85 retail locations in America.
Very soon, the demand became very high, I hired help for production, shipping, and accounting. May 2015, out of over 400 Quebec creators, my company stood out and won the Etsy Best of Quebec contest. In July 2015, a Veille sur toi creation appeared in the American film Southpaw. Yes, indeed, you can see my little pink raccoon in it! And in December 2015, I realized a big dream by participating in the Montreal Crafts Fair.
Panierdachat: Why did you open an online store?
Veille sur toi: Since I don’t have physical stores, selling online was the most accessible solution for selling my products. Beautiful products, a beautiful presentation, good marketing on Instagram, and a presence on social networks help a lot to start selling!
Panierdachat: What are the biggest challenges in your business?
Veille sur toi: Since my product is handmade, the challenges we encounter are adjusting production to demand. Too much growth could be harmful if we do not take care to adjust our methods and production costs. We cannot produce 10,000 units per month, unlike machined or printed products. Growth
will therefore have to be carefully calculated and planned.
Panierdachat: What are the biggest challenges in your e-commerce?
Veille sur toi: It is difficult to match the conditions of companies that sell online like Amazon. 24-hour delivery or free delivery is not always feasible for individual businesses like mine. People are sometimes upset to see that delivery times are 2-3 weeks, but they must realize that the products are handmade in a workshop and that I am a mompreneur. My reality is different, and it also shows in online sales.
Panierdachat: What have you learned about e-commerce since you opened your online store?
Veille sur toi: I have learned a lot about online sales! Having a reliable platform is crucial. Ease of use is an asset so that other employees can also operate the platform. Printing shipping labels is a major asset that I wouldn’t do without!
Panierdachat: What is your success story for promoting your business on the Internet? What hasn’t worked as well?
Veille sur toi: Facebook is the number one tool for online selling of my products for me. Without this social network, I’m not sure my business would be where it is now! Instagram is also an interesting ally, even though I’m still in the early stages. However, I stopped promoting my work on Pinterest because my products were found a lot in DIY folders!
Panierdachat: What are your goals for the coming year for your online store?
Veille sur toi: Since my products are also sold in over 85 retail locations, I must continue my efforts to attract my customers to my website and not just to stores near them. To do this, I prioritize new products and collaborations that are only available on my website. For example, stuffed animals, comforters, and wall stickers that match my night light characters are not available in stores. This ensures that I have some exclusivity on my online store that is not found elsewhere in stores.
Panierdachat: Do you have any advice for a business looking to sell online?
Veille sur toi: The choice of platform is important, and presence on social networks is essential to get noticed. Beautiful photos and a nice presentation on the store will give a professional look to your online store. Because people buy mainly from the photo! 😉 Surrounding yourself with a good photographer and a graphic designer can certainly help.
Micheal Villeneuve is the President and founder of Laradev. Laradev is certified in Laravel development, specializes in universal application, and offers training and support.
