How influencedbycultures 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?
Welcome to my shop, Influenced by Cultures! The shop was started in 2013 after I learned about Etsy from a member of my book club. We were told to bring hobby items to a meeting. I brought in some waist beads I made for an outfit. The next day, I posted my items and they sold! I began selling waist beads on Etsy. Until I decided I needed help, I went to Facebook and Craigslist and asked for help. A young lady from Kenya reached out and began helping me make more waist beads. Then, two years later, my friend met a gentleman on the beach who was from Ghana and was willing to help me. Seeing I needed more than one product and others began asking how to contribute, I added friends’ and family's handcrafted goods to my shop. But still, my number one seller is my waist beads.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
My favorite items are every item in my shop, so I will just say my top three.
One, the tie-on waist beads in the "Bright and Flirty" colors. These are all designed to be colorful and meaningful color combinations. These are also one of my best sellers.
The next item I like the most are my candles, because the scents are so tantalizing and the candles are so beautifully crafted.
And last but not least, is a product created by a friend and I that we believe is unique, convenient, and beneficial. The Slim Bar is a body wrap in a solid form.
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 three days to earn my first sale. Currently, I'm attracting people to my shop through Etsy Ads.
Managing influencedbycultures
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 totally dependent on Etsy. It is just me and Etsy for the management of the shop. Etsy makes running a shop easy. I can do marketing, posting, shipping, bookkeeping, social networking, and messaging on one platform.
The future of influencedbycultures
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
My goals are to expand my other products and create other items that attract new customers to my shop.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
Provide the best customer service.
influencedbycultures
Custom- Made Waist Beads and Body Adornment
