Etsy Seller Interview with Milena of GemstoneWorldUK

How GemstoneWorldUK 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 Milena, the owner and founder of GemstoneWorldUK. We sell semi-precious gemstone cabochons and cut stones. My journey wasn’t an easy one. I wish I could say that I woke up one day, decided to open a shop on Etsy, and I got my first sale that same day. Wouldn’t that be something? No, in my case, I’ve wanted to be my own boss ever since I started working in an office, a place that left me feeling unfulfilled, but it took a long time to figure out how to do it. I shot many arrows before I reached my goal. I opened many shops on Etsy and I tried other platforms too. I kept trying and learning, and eventually I made it work for me. I still have some of those shops, but many of them flopped.

I think what I needed to reach my goal was time, hard work, and perseverance. I don’t believe that there is a magic solution that will work for everyone. We all have different journeys, different passions and skills. You can believe in yourself and keep trying, and you can become your own boss too.

Favorite items

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

Rainbow moonstone, without a doubt! I just love how flashy they are. They lift my spirits, but what I love the most about them is that each one is unique. My customers usually prefer blue-flashing ones, but I am partial to a rainbow shine.

Here's a link to it: 

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 think it was about two weeks. There are two main ways we attract our customers:

• Quality: We try to source great quality stones. This is what sets us apart from our competitors. Our customers often come back because they know they can trust us to always receive a quality product. It’s especially important in our case because the photos don’t always show the nuances of our products (is it well polished? calibrated? Free of imperfections? Providing great quality builds trust and keeps our customers coming back.

• Excellent customer service: While I personally do not believe that the "customer is always right," our primary goal is to have satisfied customers.A customer wants to return the product because they ordered the wrong size. No problem! We try to treat our customers with respect and kindness, not just because it’s good for our business but because it’s what makes running it so much more enjoyable.

Managing GemstoneWorldUK

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?

It’s mostly me, although my partner helps during busy times. We post our orders using the Royal Mail ‘Drop and Go’ service, so there is no need to wait in a queue. We don’t use any fancy tools, just a laptop and a Dymo label printer, to prepare our orders, but that’s it really.

The future of GemstoneWorldUK 

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

We are mostly focusing on curating our selection of gemstones. We are constantly adding new stock and discontinuing the ones that aren’t doing so well. I used to think that the more items, the better, but having lots of uninteresting items can hurt a shop just as much as not having enough of them can.

Advice for new sellers

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

My advice is:

• First and foremost, customers-If you want to sell your products, you need to think of your customers first. Who would buy it? Why do they need it? Why would they choose you over your competitor? I’m all for doing things we love, but if we want to sell those things, they often only need small adjustments. For example, I also love painting. I started selling more once I offered personalized paintings.

• The beginning is the hardest—The work we do at the start often doesn’t pay off until much later, so don’t be discouraged and keep at it, but also remember to...

• Evolve: Keep testing new products, keep learning. Times change, people change, and our shops need to as well.

• Imagine your success—what would your day look like if your shop became successful and you started getting tons of sales? Do you still like what you see? I think this exercise encourages us to think about the practicalities of running a shop and to find out whether we pay ourselves enough. Don’t undersell yourself just to get that first sale!