How Decoden UK Supplies 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?
Hi! My name is Sinead, and I have been making jewelry and collecting pretty beads and crafts for as long as I can remember. I love a challenge and I started my supplies business in February 2011 when my son was due to be born in days! I loved the idea of being able to be home for him and not have to go back to the full-time job I currently had in retail as a retail manager.
Little did I know, that my business would be catapulted by my hard work and dedication that I probably work more hours than ever! That said, I would not change it for the world and instead, encourage everyone to follow their dreams no matter what.
I remember not being able to find the style of beads that I could imagine me making into beautiful pieces of jewelry, so I decided to start sourcing my own supplies and selling to like minded people too.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
I absolutely love making sweet jars for Christmas and Halloween and my favorite listings have to be the candy cane decoden sets and Halloween cabochons. These pieces are so unique and I found a beautiful clay product that allows you to create fake icing to stick absolutely any items that you treasure and want to showcase too.




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?
It took me about a month to get my first sale and once I had hit 10 sales, there was no stopping the orders that I was getting though my unique beads and style. This allowed me to keep sourcing new products at bigger quantities to ensure I could pass the cuteness and savings over to my customers too!
I still list as much as possible and find listings daily, working on my shop front, and creating unique sets and custom kits allow me to progress and attract more customers constantly.
Managing Decoden UK Supplies
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?
I am the sole owner of my shop and run it completely by myself. I use Etsy postage labels to enable me to keep track of my Etsy finances and also speed up the dispatch process. A label printer was a game changer to my business and highly recommend anyone looking to expand and speed up their daily business routines with one of these.
I also use Royal Mail apps, Etsy apps are very handy when staying in touch with customers and the desktop has finished running for the day, as we all know that running a business never stops! Etsy’s automatic message reply is also crucial for upping your daily game and I’m encouraging everyone with a store or thinking or opening a store to use this feature.
I now hold a massive inventory of craft supplies (over 1200 listings) so organization is key, as well as good storage if based from your home.
The future of Decoden UK Supplies
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
I would love to expand further once my youngest child starts school full time, and hire staff members to help with order fulfillment and day to day running. Now that most retail outlets are online, the world is your oyster. With selling goals and staffing, these would help make expansion a reality.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
I would definitely advise opening an Etsy shop. It is one of the easiest selling platforms to navigate. There is a huge worldwide audience that you can cater to with ease.
Passion is all you need to turn your creations into sellable items the world will love. Listing is so important, as are clean, bright pictures that are so easily done now with simple technology.
Take the plunge and enjoy it, as it is one of the best things I did and wish I had done it 5 years earlier if my mind hadn’t held me back!