How SimpleDesignsOKC 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 started selling on Etsy as a way to sell some of the jewelry items I was experimenting with. I was already selling my pieces in a brick-and-mortar local shop. I wanted to experiment with making some different styles, so I took them online to Etsy. I started making jewelry in the first place because I couldn't find what I liked in the store, so I made it. I began by upcycling and eventually moved into some metalsmithing and wire work. Upcycling was fun because it meant I could take thrift store finds and older jewelry, dismantle it, and then use the pieces to create something new. I still do this sometimes, especially when I get bored with an older piece that's not really selling.

Favorite items

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

My best-selling items are my wire-wrapped herkimer diamond studs. These are popular studs in general on Etsy, and I'm not the only one to sell them. They are very pretty. I really like the simple wire earrings I make, like the horseshoe hoops and ear huggers. They are also fairly popular. I just like working with wire. My other favorite that sells pretty well is the emerald studs I wrap in a handcrafted bezel. I think they are so lovely and simple. My peacock-ore dangle earrings are also quite popular with their sparkle and vibrant coloring.

Tiny Horseshoe Earrings, Dainty U Shape Minimalist 14K Gold Filled Earrings Ear Climbers, Unique Handmade Jewelry Gifts For Her, Mom Gift
Herkimer Diamond Studs, Cute Earrings, Mother Day Gifts For Her, Quartz Crystal Earrings, Minimalist Jewelry, April Birthstone Healing Studs
Emerald Green Raw Stone Studs, May Birthstone Jewelry, Cute Earrings, Mother's Day Gifts For Her, Handcrafted Unique Gifts For Mom
Peacock Ore Hoops, Metaphysical Mother's Day Gifts For Her, Large Statement Earrings, Cute Rainbow Earrings, Rough Uncut Stone Jewelry

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 has been a while since my first sale, so hopefully, I am remembering accurately. I believe it took a few weeks to finally make my first sale. The sales trickled in very slowly in the beginning. As I started marketing more on Facebook and Instagram, the sales picked up. I also put money into Facebook ads and Etsy ads. I did this for about a couple of years until I had fairly steady sales. I stopped paying for ads on Facebook and stopped marketing a lot on Facebook and Instagram after that because I needed to take a step back. I was too busy with my full-time job and family to keep up with the sales. Now I still have a pretty steady customer base and sales without marketing on social media.

Managing SimpleDesignsOKC

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 is only I who runs my shop, makes my jewelry, packages, and ships it, communicates with my customers, updates my listings' titles and keywords every season, photographs new jewelry, creates new listings, etc. I have a full-time job at the local university, a spouse, and two kids. So it all keeps me pretty busy. I typically make the jewelry and fulfill my orders in the evenings in the living room while I hang out with my family. I use the Etsy app to keep up with communication with customers and update my listings. I have somehow been able to manage my shop throughout the day without having to set aside time dedicated to managing. I just fit it in where I can.

The future of SimpleDesignsOKC

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

Right now, my primary goal is to create some new unique jewelry pieces. I need to take some time to look at various images of tending jewelry and make something similar but with my own twist.

Advice for new sellers

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

Persist! It takes a while to get steady sales. You will have to invest more effort up front by marketing your shop as much as you can. Join one of the online Etsy communities for new shops and grow with them. Support and help each other out. That really made a positive difference for my shop in the beginning.

Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.

Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: It really varies. Lately, during the summer months, it's been in the $400s. It was between $7 and $800 during the winter. It was in the $1 to $300 range last spring. This February, I was randomly featured on a website, and my sales spiked. That was a lot of fun... and a lot of work. 

Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: Since I invested most of my money in my shop early on, my profit margin has been good. It is typically at least 70%.

Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: It typically sits around 3%

Alura Team
Alura Team

Alura is your all-in-one platform for selling on Etsy. With more $500.000+ gross sales over four years selling on Etsy, Alura is built by experienced sellers for sellers. Start with a free account and explore all the features you need to start, run, and grow your Etsy shop.