How Elisilverdesigns 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 Mihaela. I started this business while I was a stay-at-home mum of a two-year-old boy. I’ve always liked making things with my hands, sewing and drawing, and a friend of mine once showed me how to make a pair of earrings. I thought this was something I could do for fun. Initially, this was just a hobby, making earrings and bracelets with swarovski crystals and gemstones. I was trying to see if I could make it a full-time business. My first store was on another platform, and it was picking up very slowly. I figured it was time to sink or swim, so I increased the assortment of my items, including wire hoops, nose rings, and stamped disc necklaces. As the business started picking up, I asked my husband to help me with the orders as well, so now we run it as a family business. Most of the items in our store are made of solid sterling silver or gold-filled wire. It’s important for the wire to be hypoallergenic, so we source it from a reputable US or Australian supplier. We also use ready-made components and wire to create unique pieces that our customers love, like our plain disc earrings, which are very simple yet comfortable and elegant, or our initial or number necklaces.

Favorite items

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

The items that I love in our store are the little wire hoops I make. Those are very simple, yet elegant and lightweight.

ARC ARCH U sterling silver, yellow or rose gold wire small open hoops earrings

Another design that I love is the hexagon hoops. We have those in different sizes. They are so comfortable to sleep in and are perfect for work or sport.

A pair of 12mm HEXAGON small sleepers in sterling silver, yellow or rose gold small hoops, geometric earrings

Another very popular item in our store is the fake septum or nose ring we make of wire. We have those in several different designs. They are for anyone who wants to make a statement without the pain :)

ONE fake faux no piercing hammered nose septum ring sterling silver, yellow and rose gold filled wire 

Our best sellers are the super thin 26g rings. They are so popular because they are extremely minimal, elegant and subtle. Our clients love them. They are a popular choice for nose, earlobe, and cartilage piercings. The 26g rings are perfect "barely there" hoops or nose rings.

Extra thin 26g wire sterling silver, 14K yellow or rose gold filled helix, tragus, rook, daith, cartilage, lobe hoop earring, nose ring

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?

My first shop was on eBay, and I started with some crystals and stones. It took a few trials and errors to see what sells and what doesn't, but by the end of the first six months, I was making a steady amount of sales. I was so excited when I got my first sale. I ran to the post office to post it. It was very encouraging. That’s why it’s very important to persist. We currently rely on Etsy to draw our customers. We also rely on repeat customers.

Managing Elisilverdesigns

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 started the business by myself, as it grew, I also included my husband to help me with the accounting, going to the post office and being a full time business partner. He has been supporting me throughout this journey for the past 10 years since I started the business.

Though we do have an Instagram account, we mostly rely on Etsy for support, advertising, and drawing our clients to us. Since the Australian postal services increased their international shipping fees, we lost most of our international clients, which was a big blow for us and, I imagine, for many other small businesses in Australia, so we now focus mainly on our local market.

The future of Elisilverdesigns

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

Our goals are to reach more customers by improving our Instagram, Pinterest, and other social media presence.

Advice for new sellers

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

Persist, do not give up. If you don’t succeed at first, try again. Tweak your shop, study the market, try new things. Your success is out there. If you persist, you will find it.

Build your inventory; you will need more than a few items to become visible. Be courteous and helpful when your clients reach out to you for help or advice.