How StephanieMartinCo 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?
My name is Stephanie, and I am the proud owner of StephanieMartinCo on Etsy.
I started my small business back in 2012 with the idea of making some extra income through my hobby, which was jewelry making for the 10 years prior to that date. I had a vision of working with seed beads only, since I find them timeless, classic and very elegant depending how you use them. This type of beads have been around for 200 years, so I wanted to offer a more modern and fresh perspective.
When I started, I was offering a “bit of everything” in order to see the customer response, and I quickly learned what worked and what didn’t. Listening to my customers' demands and customizations was key for me. They know what they want, and it was up to me to deliver.
After about 6 months, my business was booming and I was able to do it full time.
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 the ones that have lots of colors.. I am a color person, and the brighter, the better! These products however are not my best sellers, but I have made peace with that, and I accept that we all have different tastes when it comes to jewelry. Some of us like it extra and some prefer a simple approach, and that’s okay!
When you run a business, and if you want it to be a successful one, you must be flexible and create what the customer wants. I always try to do this within my line and concept.
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 the first sale happened about two months after I opened my shop. It was a slow start, but then, it kind of exploded after 5 or 6 months.
In order to attract customers to my Etsy shop, I rely fully on Etsy. It is an amazing platform and they know what they are doing. They have effective marketing tools that you can use to promote your products.
Also, I always strive for great customer service and top quality materials and that is I think the best way to promote yourself. The customer will come back for more!
Managing StephanieMartinCo
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?
During the past 10 years, I have had help running my shop, but at the present time, it is only me. After all these years, I am able to run it more efficiently, make my products faster (practice makes perfect!), source my materials quicker, and overall my production has become very efficient in every aspect, so I am a one-person show at this point.
I ship my packages every day via regular mail which works great, and I only use the Etsy app to fulfill all orders. My motto is “keep it simple”. I have made things complicated in the past and realized it was unnecessary and not efficient.
As I gained experience running my shop, I have eliminated and added certain procedures that made my day to day easier to handle. At the end of the day, it is trial and error. Step back and look at it from different angles to see what you can do to make it better.
I am not afraid of change, and so I am always trying different procedures and trying to improve my operation.
The future of StephanieMartinCo
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
My goal is to keep providing colorful and timeless pieces of seed bead jewelry. My collection is well curated, top quality, and that took me years to accomplish.
So, I feel I have a great product to offer that my customers can enjoy year after year, season after season.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
My best advice, and I always say it, is don’t look at the competition. Don’t try to copy anyone else. Do your own thing, trust yourself. Trust your product.
If you make something with passion, people will appreciate it. If you are making this only for the money, you will lose motivation quickly and you will waste your time.
Also, I strongly recommend listening to your customers. They have the key to your success. Keep your products and store cohesive, but adapt your designs to their needs. Finding that balance perhaps is the most difficult thing, because it is the line between your creative mind and your commercial mind, but sometimes you have to compromise in order to succeed.
StephanieMartinCo
Seed Bead Handmade Jewelry
