How IndePendantJDesigns 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?
I’m Candace Hendershot, owner of IndePendant Jewelry Designs, which is also known as IndePendantJDesigns on Etsy. I design and create hand-stamped jewelry and accessories. Using individual letter and design metal stamps, I strike them with a hammer to create impressions in metal. This process is much slower than engraving, but it provides an organic look and ensures every piece will be unique!
In 2017, I began hand stamping after falling in love with the organic look that hand stamping provides to a piece of jewelry. At the time, I was a single mom to my then two-year-old son and dreamed of being able to work from home so I could spend more time with him, so I practiced my new craft every day in hopes of being able to. After gaining confidence from receiving local orders for my hand-stamped jewelry, I decided to open up an Etsy shop in December 2017 in hopes of reaching a wider customer base.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
It is very hard for me to choose a favorite in my shop because so much love and thought go into every design. I create each piece while imagining the reaction it will elicit in its recipient. But, if I had to pick one, my "I am enough" ring I Am Enough Dainty Ring Friend Gifts Inspirational Ring - Etsy would be my first choice.I am so happy that this ring is one of my best sellers because the message it provides is so important. I want everyone to know and feel their worth. It can be helpful to have a physical mantra or positive affirmation that you can see and feel to be able to set your intentions, and I’m honored that this ring serves as exactly that for others.
Another favorite would have to be my #1 best-seller, the Grandma EST Keychain Grandma EST Keychain With Grandchildren Names / Personalized - Etsy. This keychain can be personalized with whatever nickname the customer would like; Grandma, Gigi, Bobo, Nana, Nanny, you name it. Additional heart charms can be added with the name of a grandchild. Knowing that so many Grandmothers are being shown love from their children and grandchildren and are smiling from something I created is definitely a special feeling.
Another favorite that I can't live without is my Forest Cuff Bracelet Christmas Gifts for Women / Christmas - Etsy .Available in copper, brass, and aluminum, this cuff bracelet features a woodline that brings to mind so many memories of exploring the woods, losing myself in the present, and enjoying nature at its finest.
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 remember my first sale so vividly. It was roughly 2 months after I created my shop on Etsy. I was a vendor at a local craft fair, and I remember being so startled by the loud "CHA-CHING" that came with my first sale. Once I realized what the noise was, everyone there got to see my happy dance. To attract customers to my Etsy shop, I continuously work on SEO within my shop and listings on Etsy.
Managing IndePendantJDesigns
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?
IndePendantJDesigns is a solo venture. Most of the tools I need to run my store and handle shipping and fulfillment are integrated within Etsy. I have many different steps in the production process of every item I make, so I heavily rely on the custom tabs within the "Orders & Shipping" section on Etsy. Each step has its own tab, and I move the orders accordingly throughout their production process.
Once an order makes its way to my "Packaged" tab, I use Etsy shipping labels. Being able to create batch shipping labels while still being able to edit each order individually, such as package type or shipping method, is very helpful, and I love that after I create that shipping label, Etsy automatically sends a fulfillment email to the customer.
The future of IndePendantJDesigns
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
I would like to expand IndePendant Jewelry Designs’ catalog with even more unique hand-stamped items!
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
My biggest piece of advice to a new seller starting an Etsy shop would be to always believe in yourself. Don't doubt yourself or your work if something doesn’t sell right away. You joined Etsy because you believe in your work and want to share it with others, so do just that! Work on your listings’ details (including product photos) to get your items seen.
IndePendantJDesigns
Hand stamped jewelry and gifts
