Etsy Seller Interview with Amanda of AmmieReeJewellery

How AmmieReeJewellery got started

Introduce your Etsy shop and tell us your story. How did you begin and decide on what to sell on Etsy, and how do you create your products?

Hello Everyone- I'm Amanda Reece, and I am the founder and owner of Ammie-Ree. In my Etsy shop, you can find a wide range of handmade jewelry and accessories. I focus on hammered and hand stamped jewelry and healing crystal pieces, as well as wire wrapped, beaded, and charm items. Ammie (pronounced Am-me, like Sammy) was my childhood nickname, so I thought it would be lovely to incorporate that into my business name. I am autistic and have ADHD, so I really love the freedom that being self-employed gives me!

My story began in March 2017 when I decided to make a bangle as part of the birthday gifts for our youngest daughter (so we would have spent equal amounts on her and her twin brother's gifts). The Pisces Bangle I'd seen was more than the amount left to tally up to make it even, so I sourced the pieces and made it myself instead! I enjoyed the process so much that I bought some more bits and made some earrings for myself and both our daughters, and I got the bug for making. My family said my work was really good and suggested I start selling my creations. Though I didn't share their confidence, I finally agreed to put two pairs of earrings up for sale on an online marketplace, and I said that if they sold quickly, I'd properly open up an online shop! Though the first pair of earrings sold immediately, I was still unsure about starting a business, so my husband purchased the second pair as a gift for his mother, explaining that with both pairs now sold, I couldn't back out—he knew I needed that extra support to get started!

My family then helped me choose a suitable marketplace; our youngest daughter suggested Etsy as she thought it would be a good fit for my handmade bohemian style jewelry, and then they helped me get to grips with the technical side of setting it up as it was all new to me. Five years on, and I now have over 7,200 sales and over 2,300 5-star reviews! I know being self-employed doesn't suit everyone, but I believe it has been the making of me, giving me extra confidence in my creative abilities and the business side of things.

When I started Ammie-Ree, I hadn't yet been diagnosed as being autistic and having ADHD, so now that I know, it helps me understand how my unusual work patterns and flow actually work for me (working for hours without breaks as I get so engrossed, or going a fair while without making new designs). It also explains why I struggle with promoting on social media and filling out forms like these! I now just try to take it in stride and go with the flow of things, knowing that's just the way I work best. I totally love creating and absolutely love my job. I never thought five years ago that I'd be so privileged to have my passion as my career!

Favorite items

What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?

I have several favorite items. I love these wire-wrapped crystal geode necklaces. I love their rustic Boho charm and how they glisten in the light. I have a purple one that I wear (I wear a lot of my jewelry to promote it)

My best-selling items, though, are my hammered cuffs and rings. My tapered cuff has been an Etsy best seller for a long time now. Along with my adjustable unisex rings that come in a variety of textures and sizes, These are the small-medium rings. I think my cuffs and rings sell so well due to being both unisex and adjustable, as well as non-tarnish and sturdy. They also look fabulous with any style, so what's not to like?

Getting sales on Etsy

How long did it take for you to earn your first sale and how do you currently attract customers to your Etsy shop?

I first opened my Etsy shop on March 23rd, 2017, and I had my first sale on April 15th, of a pair of faux pearl earrings. Another Etsy seller had seen my store after looking at my new business Instagram page and decided to support me; we are now friends. That's the added bonus of Etsy: the community feel and support from your peers! To help garner interest for your Etsy, it's imperative when you start out to get some business media. I use Instagram and Facebook, but I struggle with regularly posting and interacting due to my autism and ADHD, so now I post occasionally and let my reviews do the promotion for me!

Managing AmmieReeJewellery

How do you manage your shop? Are you running solo or do you have any team members? What tools or services do you use to run your shop and how do you handle fulfillment?

Though I manage my business alone, I do have the help of my family when needed; they will drop off loads of boxes at the post office or post box for me, which is a big help! Though what I'm most grateful for is when my ADHD kicks in and I vanish into my studio for hours on end and then emerge, and my husband has cooked the evening meal and done the chores, etc. Apps-wise, because I'm not very tech-savvy and find it difficult to grasp such concepts, I've only used E Rank, which I find useful for ensuring that I've filled out all aspects of my listings and so on.

The future of AmmieReeJewellery

What goals do you have for your shop in the future?

Looking to the future is very exciting! I'm aiming to grow large enough sales-wise so I can focus solely on this business, devote even more time to creating, and therefore gain more sales! At the moment I also have my own part-time cleaning business, so I split my time accordingly, but Ammie-Ree is my passion and one of my autistic "special interests"!

Advice for new sellers

What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?

I would say start off small—don't buy loads of stock without testing the market first! I've always waited before buying larger amounts of stock to check whether it actually sells well; once it does, then you can buy in bulk. With your Etsy listings, make sure you brush up on your photography skills. Take plenty of photos and display your best; it's the first thing people will see, and if it's not up to standard, they will scroll past, losing you sales! I'd also say talk to your customers and keep them in the loop. I always update customers on when they can expect their item to ship, and once it has shipped, I send a note too. The personal touch can't be beat! Also, always source high-quality materials and perform a quality control check before sending anything out; happy customers are more likely to become repeat customers! Good Luck!

Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.

Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: Depending on the Season £800 - £1100 per Month

Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: This year so far my Shops Conversion Rate is 3.7%