Nothing makes Danielle happier than sending out her “Happy Mail” – sweet, colorful packages filled with kawaii treasures. Kawaii (pronounced “kuh-why-ee”) means “cute” in Japanese and describes a pop culture genre of wide-eyed characters and playful design, from Hello Kitty plushies to pastel stationery.
Danielle’s love for kawaii started in childhood, and now reaches buyers around the world. From surprise freebies in every order to fun packing videos she shares on social media, her goal is to spread joy far and wide. For her, eBay is more than a marketplace – it’s a way to make real connections, through things people love.
In her own words, here’s how Danielle turned a passion for kawaii into a global business through her store @ladydfunkyg:
A love for cute Japanese finds since childhood
I started selling on eBay 26 years ago, and over time I found my niche in kawaii merchandise. I had a love for these fun Japanese items when I was younger, but they were hard to find. So getting to sell them now feels like I’m pleasing my inner child.
Most of what I sell is Sanrio – and especially Hello Kitty, its most famous character. There’s a real demand for it, and she never goes out of style. She’s cheerful, she’s full of optimism, and she makes people smile all over the world.
My buyers span generations, from teens discovering kawaii for the first time to women making their childhood dreams come true. Some tell me their moms wouldn’t let them have kawaii things back in the ’70s, so now they’re finally treating themselves – and that makes me so happy.
Making every package personal and joyful
I have a lot of repeat customers because they love getting my “Happy Mail.” Every order feels like a gift – I wrap it in iridescent cellophane and glitter tissue and seal it up with shiny washi tape in a colorful mailer. I add a kawaii note card, and then decorate the envelope with more washi tape and stickers for the final touch.
I include a surprise freebie in every package to keep my buyers guessing – anything from a face mask or special sticker to a compressed towel or nail file. No two shipments are the same.
Packing the orders brings me a lot of joy. I get a rush of dopamine when I create something fun, knowing my buyers will be excited to open it. And when they share their positive feedback on eBay, I always send them a personal thank you note.
Sharing the fun (and orders) on social
Posting my cute packing videos to social media has been key to my success – I now have more than 34,000 followers who are excited to get a behind-the-scenes look at my kawaii-themed workspace. I’ve got a little shop area, a gaming setup, and a packing station all in one.
For every order I pack, I create a quick video for social media, to show off the product and all of its cute details. I film each item from different angles in short, three-second bursts and show the cute extras I’m adding before sealing it up.
Each buyer gets a special shout-out by city and state on social so they can spot their order, all set to K-pop music or whatever anime I’m watching at the moment. “Demon Slayer,” “My Hero Academia,” and “Sailor Moon” are some of my go-tos. I also share sneak peeks whenever I drop new merch on eBay to keep fans excited and coming back.
I post to Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and more with the handle @ladydfunkyg – and my views range anywhere from a few hundred to over 30,000. It’s fun to see the orders roll in from everywhere – from Puerto Rico to Finland, and France to the Virgin Islands, all to get my Happy Mail. Between social and my eBay following of 460, I’m sending out 20-25 items a week – all through my eBay store – and I’ve sold over 3,000 items total.
Through eBay for Charity, 10% of my sales go to Robin’s Hope here in Chesterfield, Virginia, which helps adults heal from trauma, grief, and loss. I love sharing that part of my shop on social, too; my buyers like knowing their purchase makes someone else’s day a little brighter.
Hosting Seller Circles to grow her community
In 2024, after selling on eBay for more than 25 years, I realized I’d never actually met a fellow seller in person. I was working alone and knew I needed a community to grow. So I decided to check out Seller Circles and see what they were all about.
At my first few meetings, I felt like a deer in the headlights – but a year later, I’m the one hosting them, both in my home and virtually. We talk about eBay’s latest updates and discuss what’s working and what’s not, and brainstorm how we can improve and grow together. We also run tests: experimenting with eBay ad strategies, comparing our numbers, and sharing tips.
Our Seller Circle meetings are always cooperative, never competitive. And along the way these sellers became friends. One of the most valuable things I’ve learned from another seller was how to establish my business as an LLC. That changed everything. By July of last year, I officially had my own business – and I remember thinking, “Wow, I’m really doing this.”
Connecting over things people love
There are so many things that keep me inspired to sell on eBay: the community, the people, the buyers. Meeting other sellers has been incredibly rewarding. We share our stories, our wins, and our challenges, and we learn from each other. It really feels like we’re growing together.
At the end of the day, I love finding a small treasure, wrapping it up as Happy Mail, and knowing it’s going to brighten someone’s day. That’s why eBay’s slogan “Things.People.Love” means so much to me – it captures the connection between sellers and buyers. That connection is the heart of eBay.