You've seen those big sellers on Etsy who seem to be making sales left and right. You have to wonder how they've made it to where they are: can they actually be FOR REAL? What's their recipe for success? And just how do they do it?

This week's Etsy Success Story spotlights Luca, the sassy, fresh mastermind and undeniably cute dynamo behind everything that is Lollibomb! Lollibomb was born in Florida and has recently moved up the East coast to New Jersey. We couldn't be more excited to have her so much closer!

Though she's only been on Etsy a year and half, Luca has already made over 2,300 sales on the site. (That's a lot of delicious smelling people!) Luca also travels all over the country to bring Lollibomb to the people. You can look for her at the following shows this season:

• 11/10: Stitch Austin 2007 in Austin, Texas
• 12/08: Bust Craftacular in Brooklyn, New York
• 12/09: Atomic Holiday Baazar in Sarasota, Florida

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I first heard about Etsy through a LiveJournal community that I was a part of, and I was amazed at the cool stuff being sold. When I started creating handcrafted vegan moisturizers and bath treats, I knew that the Etsy community would appreciate the time and love that went into each item. Selling on Etsy proved to be a better decision than that time I entered an competitive kale eating contest.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
When it comes down to it, passion has been the key to my success for selling on Etsy. I am 100% passionate about creating unique quality products at affordable prices, and this has motivated me to come up with new bath and body treats to list in my shop. I love creating products that make you smell pretty (and look pretty sitting on your shelf) almost as much as I love spoiling my customers absolutely rotten. I'm pretty fanatical about giving free goodies with every order.

How do you promote your shop?
I'm thrilled that my shop is promoted primarily through word-of-mouth, and I am forever indebted to my wonderful customer base for telling their nearest and dearest about Lollibomb! I promote my shop in the Etsy forums, through MySpace, and the various online communities that I am a part of. I also wear my scents out on the town and keep business cards handy to give to people who comment on the fragrance I'm wearing.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
I create my products in small batches to ensure freshness and to introduce new fragrances into the mix. When I receive an order, I will typically whip up a new batch and then package a few bottles at a time for future orders. Sleep deprivation and rabid caffeine consumption has also served me well in pushing those orders out the door. There's going to be a point in the very near future where I will need to find some help, but in the meantime, I just try to stay as organized and jacked up on Mountain Dew!

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
My customer base is comprised equally of both diehard Lollibomb beauties and brand spanking new customers. I love receiving orders from first-time Etsy buyers that are new to the community. I'm always down for creating custom orders, whipping up duplicate fragrances, and accommodating special requests which I believe has motivated customers to keep coming back for more.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
I love what I make, and I love what I do! Staying motivated is easy when you're happy to be doing what you're doing. Working for myself is a dream come true, but I am the hardest boss I've ever had. Pimping myself ain't easy, but it sure is fun.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job, too?
Etsy is my full-time gig, baby! I have also been attending craft show events from Brooklyn to Sarasota this past year, and I am looking forward to bringing my goods to the Stitch Austin show!

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
Selling on Etsy gave me the push that I needed to take my business to the next level. I quit my 9-to-5 last fall and haven't looked back. Etsy has opened a lot of doors for me to do my thing, and for that I am eternally grateful.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
The Etsy Mini has given me the ability to promote my Etsy shop and favorite Etsy finds all over the place. I love it!

What features do you use most on Etsy?
Having the ability to check off that an item has been sent is absolutely fantastic. In addition to helping me stay organized, my customers are able to see when their order has been sent by accessing their "Your Purchases" section. I'm a sucker for the "Hearts Me" feature, as well.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop 1 year from now?
I plan on expanding my line to include more one-of-a-kind fragrances, unique bath treats and gift ideas, and to possibly include products to pamper your pets. Look out for paraben-free goods and more sass than you can shake a stick at!

Anything else you want to add?
"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us happy is something to be enthusiastic about." — Charles Kingsley

I've made it my mission to shine the Storque spotlight and bring these sellers to you in this Etsy Success Story series. I'll be asking them all those questions you're just dying to know about their success on Etsy. They have been generous enough to share their secrets with us and we want to spread their personal success stories to everyone so they can learn from their business practice.

See a smattering of Luca's current top picks on Etsy below: