I was recenlty featured in a blog! Read my interview.
Q. What is the main site address for your business?
http://www.pila12903.etsy.com/
Q. Tell us about the products you make and the materials you use.
I handcraft beautiful unique jewelry that has color and style! I use glass beads, Swarovski crystals, metal charms, you name it! I try to incorporate a lot of different material to make each piece all the more special and stunning!
Q. How long have you been developing your craft?
I’ve always had an interest in making jewelry as a child. I’d love stringing pony beads on some stretchy cord with my 3rd grade teacher after school. I’d always drag my mother into the crafting sections of every store and beg her to buy me some beads. But it wasn’t till about four years ago that I really got into it. I’d create pieces for myself to wear or make gifts for family members.
Q. How did your craft evolve into a global store front?
My husband encouraged me to try a local farmers market. I was so excited to get out and sell and just hear what all the customers had to say about all my pieces. I had many women come to my table and look around, they complimented the great selection but weren’t willing to pay anything over five dollars for a necklace. One customer however, grabbed a couple bracelets and said, “You know, you really have some talent. You should give Etsy a try.” I asked her what Etsy was. She explained what a wonderful online venue it was and how great her shop did on Etsy selling jewelry as well. That same day I signed up and 500 sales later I couldn’t be happier that I did.
Q. What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?
The most effective way I promoted my shop, I’d say would be the many web sites I joined to market my shop. Twitter is a great web site to get lots of traffic and I’ve even had a few sales from Twitter. I also use Myspace, Facebook, Plumdrop, and many other sites. My best marketing tip would be to hand out your business cards where ever you go and wear your product if possible; word of mouth is very effective. I always get compliments when I wear my jewelry and when someone asks where I buy my jewelry I hand them my card and hope they can be a future customer. Post flyers where ever you can, like at colleges or boutiques. The more promoting you do the better!
Q. What mistakes have you made while building your Etsy shop that you wish someone had advised you NOT to do?
Sit there on your butt and wait for sales!!! Selling online requires a lot of time. You can’t expect for millions to stumble across your shop and buy like there’s no tomorrow. You need to promote, promote, promote! You also need to have great items, prices, and photos! The list just goes on but the harder you work the greater the reward is when you finally get those sales.
Q. Is your Etsy business a full time job or is it something you do in your spare time?
When I first started out this was something I did in my spare time but I’ve realized how much I enjoy making jewelry that it has become a part of my everyday routine and all the compliments I get has really given me encouragement. My online business is my full time job now. I’m creating something new everyday. I can be sitting at my crafting table being productive and before I know it, 3 hours has gone by. It truly is a great feeling when I’ve put love into the pieces I make especially when my customers tell me how happy they are with the jewelry. It makes all the time I’ve spent well worth it.
Q. What goals do you wish to accomplish within the next year for your Etsy shop?
My goal is to reach 1,000 sales next year! I want to keep this business flowing and make it a success so that many others can be encouraged and do the same. It really is an awesome feeling when I wake up in the morning and see that I’ve had a few more sales.
Q. Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a town girl born and raised in Mendota, California. I’ve lived in this small town my whole life. I have a wonderful family that I adore. My family is the ones who encourage me to keep going when I feel like giving up. My husband is so supportive of me and of my dreams. I’m grateful to have such a loving husband.
I’ve always been known as the “artistic one”. I draw, paint, and make jewelry just to name a few. High school is where my creativity really grew. Entering my drawings in contests and actually winning them was such a reward. My art teacher would hang just about every piece I created in his class. I also have my passion for music. I play piano, guitar, and currently learning how to play the violin. I’m just a creative person all around, I’d rather be using my hands to create something stunning rather than be stuck behind a desk answering phone calls. I just have to be making something new everyday or it feels like all the ideas are going to explode out of my head if I don’t create it soon!
Q. Outside of Etsy, in what venues do/have you sold?
I’ve only tried local farmers markets with very little luck. I really just sell locally and on Etsy. It’s so much work keeping up with my shop and meeting with local customers/businesses, I can’t imagine keeping up with anymore venues. Although in the near future, I’d like to try opening a new shop on Etsy selling some of my drawings and paintings.
Q. What sets you apart from other sellers in your niche?
I believe its great effort put into making the best pieces possible and keeping my customers happy. I really strive at keeping my prices affordable and the quality impeccable! There just aren’t enough hours in the day for me to get as much creativity done as I’d like to. I pore creativity and love in every single piece I create. Carefully picking each bead, crystal, or charm and putting it all together in hopes when someone puts it on they’ll know and feel all the love that went it.
Q. List one or more Etsy sellers which you admire? And why?
There are just so many wonderful sellers out there it really is hard to name one I admire. I really admire the sellers who built their business from the ground up. The sellers whose shop is a full time job and made it a successful business. I can only hope that my business will grow and my jewelry will be worn by millions.
http://www.pila12903.etsy.com/
Q. Tell us about the products you make and the materials you use.
I handcraft beautiful unique jewelry that has color and style! I use glass beads, Swarovski crystals, metal charms, you name it! I try to incorporate a lot of different material to make each piece all the more special and stunning!
Q. How long have you been developing your craft?
I’ve always had an interest in making jewelry as a child. I’d love stringing pony beads on some stretchy cord with my 3rd grade teacher after school. I’d always drag my mother into the crafting sections of every store and beg her to buy me some beads. But it wasn’t till about four years ago that I really got into it. I’d create pieces for myself to wear or make gifts for family members.
Q. How did your craft evolve into a global store front?
My husband encouraged me to try a local farmers market. I was so excited to get out and sell and just hear what all the customers had to say about all my pieces. I had many women come to my table and look around, they complimented the great selection but weren’t willing to pay anything over five dollars for a necklace. One customer however, grabbed a couple bracelets and said, “You know, you really have some talent. You should give Etsy a try.” I asked her what Etsy was. She explained what a wonderful online venue it was and how great her shop did on Etsy selling jewelry as well. That same day I signed up and 500 sales later I couldn’t be happier that I did.
Q. What are the most effective ways you have promoted and marketed your Etsy business? What's your best marketing tip?
The most effective way I promoted my shop, I’d say would be the many web sites I joined to market my shop. Twitter is a great web site to get lots of traffic and I’ve even had a few sales from Twitter. I also use Myspace, Facebook, Plumdrop, and many other sites. My best marketing tip would be to hand out your business cards where ever you go and wear your product if possible; word of mouth is very effective. I always get compliments when I wear my jewelry and when someone asks where I buy my jewelry I hand them my card and hope they can be a future customer. Post flyers where ever you can, like at colleges or boutiques. The more promoting you do the better!
Q. What mistakes have you made while building your Etsy shop that you wish someone had advised you NOT to do?
Sit there on your butt and wait for sales!!! Selling online requires a lot of time. You can’t expect for millions to stumble across your shop and buy like there’s no tomorrow. You need to promote, promote, promote! You also need to have great items, prices, and photos! The list just goes on but the harder you work the greater the reward is when you finally get those sales.
Q. Is your Etsy business a full time job or is it something you do in your spare time?
When I first started out this was something I did in my spare time but I’ve realized how much I enjoy making jewelry that it has become a part of my everyday routine and all the compliments I get has really given me encouragement. My online business is my full time job now. I’m creating something new everyday. I can be sitting at my crafting table being productive and before I know it, 3 hours has gone by. It truly is a great feeling when I’ve put love into the pieces I make especially when my customers tell me how happy they are with the jewelry. It makes all the time I’ve spent well worth it.
Q. What goals do you wish to accomplish within the next year for your Etsy shop?
My goal is to reach 1,000 sales next year! I want to keep this business flowing and make it a success so that many others can be encouraged and do the same. It really is an awesome feeling when I wake up in the morning and see that I’ve had a few more sales.
Q. Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a town girl born and raised in Mendota, California. I’ve lived in this small town my whole life. I have a wonderful family that I adore. My family is the ones who encourage me to keep going when I feel like giving up. My husband is so supportive of me and of my dreams. I’m grateful to have such a loving husband.
I’ve always been known as the “artistic one”. I draw, paint, and make jewelry just to name a few. High school is where my creativity really grew. Entering my drawings in contests and actually winning them was such a reward. My art teacher would hang just about every piece I created in his class. I also have my passion for music. I play piano, guitar, and currently learning how to play the violin. I’m just a creative person all around, I’d rather be using my hands to create something stunning rather than be stuck behind a desk answering phone calls. I just have to be making something new everyday or it feels like all the ideas are going to explode out of my head if I don’t create it soon!
Q. Outside of Etsy, in what venues do/have you sold?
I’ve only tried local farmers markets with very little luck. I really just sell locally and on Etsy. It’s so much work keeping up with my shop and meeting with local customers/businesses, I can’t imagine keeping up with anymore venues. Although in the near future, I’d like to try opening a new shop on Etsy selling some of my drawings and paintings.
Q. What sets you apart from other sellers in your niche?
I believe its great effort put into making the best pieces possible and keeping my customers happy. I really strive at keeping my prices affordable and the quality impeccable! There just aren’t enough hours in the day for me to get as much creativity done as I’d like to. I pore creativity and love in every single piece I create. Carefully picking each bead, crystal, or charm and putting it all together in hopes when someone puts it on they’ll know and feel all the love that went it.
Q. List one or more Etsy sellers which you admire? And why?
There are just so many wonderful sellers out there it really is hard to name one I admire. I really admire the sellers who built their business from the ground up. The sellers whose shop is a full time job and made it a successful business. I can only hope that my business will grow and my jewelry will be worn by millions.
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