Etsy Seller Interview with Taisia of MyShinyBox

How MyShinyBox 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 Taisia, and I`m the owner of MyShinyBox. I sell handmade crowns and accessories with natural gemstones. If somebody had told me five years ago that I'd be running my own Etsy shop, I really wouldn`t believe it! I grew up in Russia during a really tough time, and I think that exactly because of this and my poor childhood, I became so crafty. "If you can`t buy something, just make it!" I would say However, I never thought about anything serious. I had a steady office job in Russia, but when my husband was offered a job in the United Kingdom, we didn't hesitate and packed our belongings.

There was another problem that many emigrants faced. What can I without local education and good English skills do here? It was a really difficult time, but then my husband said, "Hey, why don`t you start your small business?" We both know how you like creating things. I can help for the first time with money for supplies and other things. Just try.` I would be forever grateful for this! It really means a lot when your loved ones support you. I have always loved crystals and gemstones. My grandmother had a box with a lot of unique gemstone accessories. God, it looked like a treasure chest for little me. I think because of this, I chose to use natural gemstones and crystals as the central pieces of my accessories.

Favorite items

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

This is so difficult to say. Every new design or product becomes my favorite the moment I create it. Let`s say it is the Penelope crown with rose quartz. I named it after one of the main characters of the Bridgerton Netflix show, and I created it while watching season one. I love its delicate but unique design. Yes, it`s selling very well, mostly for weddings. I think it`s popular because it is in classic wedding colors (light pink and gold or silver), but it has the most zest in rose quartz crystals. This design is also available with amethyst and clear quartz crystals.

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?

This is so silly! It took about a week or two once I launched my shop, but I was so inexperienced (don`t forget my poor English!). and pessimistic, so I stopped checking the shop for a long time, and when I found that I had a sale, it had already been canceled by Etsy.
Most visits come from Etsy, so I spend a lot of time finding the right keywords and tags.
I also use popular social media such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest. I even used Tumblr, if you remember what it is.
I can`t say much about Etsy ads, but I researched them and decided that they weren`t worth it for me. Just spend some more time on your SEO. But I did try it a few times this year, and I thought it didn`t give much.
I occasionally use Facebook and Instagram ads, and as far as I can tell, they work.
Tiktok works great, but I must say I`m bad at this. It`s so difficult! You never know when your video will become a hit or if you just spent 2 hours of your life for 200 views.
I have never tried collaborations with influencers, so think carefully before trying it.

Managing MyShinyBox

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?

Yup, mostly me. I`m a designer, photographer, model, and editor. I pack and ship my orders. I order all supplies and check the stock. I`m in charge of customer service. But! I finally hired an accountant last year to help me with taxes and I order my fliers and business cards from a UK-based printing company. Etsy helps a lot with shipping and fulfillment because I buy all labels directly, but when I started my Etsy I didn't have a printer so I had to write all addresses by hand which extended the time at the post office a lot. I can't imagine how many times I was cursed by people in the queue. So yes, if you are going to start your small business buy a printer. I`m begging you! 

The future of MyShinyBox

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

I would like to create more professional jewelry pieces with better-quality materials. I've already saved a few courses in London. I don`t want to do the same things for the rest of my life. No! I would like to learn more and create something new.

Advice for new sellers

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

1. Do research. Check the Etsy Guide for information on how to start an Etsy shop and other free resources. There are a lot of blogs and articles about this.
2. Did I mention a printer? Oh, yes.
3. Draw or write down your ideas. Even if your mind is racing with ideas for new designs and products and you can`t sleep, just draw them or write them down. Working at night is bad for your health. Believe me.
4. Be patient. It will be tough; you will cry, sometimes a lot. Your orders will be lost or damaged during shipping. Your designs and pictures could be stolen. You could even start to think that it`s all worthless, but do not stop. There will always be good things, too. For example, while answering these questions today, I got a message from my customer from 2019. They just wanted to say that they still loved their crowns and hoped that I was well. I also really adore the pictures my bride customers send me from their weddings. Just think! They chose to wear my crowns for such important days of their lives! I keep working for these warm moments.
5. Good picture quality is your friend. Spend some time taking beautiful pictures and videos for your Etsy listings and your social media. I still see sellers with low-quality, boring pictures where you can`t see the product well.
6. Try to provide the best quality you can. Do not ignore messages, even if you do not like them—especially if you don`t like them! Good customer service is the key to your good reviews.