The process of a custom order through Etsy

I have had a store on Etsy for a while now. Recently I received a custom request from a person on the other side of the country from me. When viewing an item, she had clicked on the “Request a Custom Order” button.

In the convo accompanying the request she asked if I had any more of the red rose fabric which I had used in an apron and pot holders. If I didn’t she wanted to know about any other dark -colored flower fabric that I might have. She wanted me to make new pot holders for her.

At this point I must specify that these pot holders contain upcycled bath towels for heat protection. This makes them quite thick.

I replied that I only had two scraps of the red rose fabric, and I suggested a black fabric (photo attached to the convo) to accompany them. I also attached another photo showing the dark colored flower fabrics I had on hand at that moment.

She sent me a few convos as she went through her decision process. She ended up asking if I would do three separate pot holders – 1 each of three colors, and checked on the price for three.

I said that I could do the three, and agreed to the price. I made sure to tell her that we were just about to go on vacation, and gave a target shipping date.

My buyer was very nice, and agreed to the shipping date. She also specified the three fabrics she wanted to purchase.

After that I created the listing, she bought it, and I went on vacation.

I finished the pot holders a few days before the target shipping date, but too late in the day to ship them off. Then it would be a holiday, and the following day I was completely booked. I sent a convo to my buyer with a photo saying that they were finished, and specifying when I would ship them off.