Handmadeology Article: My Etsy Story

Handmadeology is a premiere support site for the handmade community, and by extension of course Etsy. They often ask for articles and have a strong presence in the Etsy forums - so I answered a few questions on a thread a few months ago, woke up this morning and found my post featured - yay!


My Etsy Story: Aerides Designs

Here's the full article:

1. Tell us your Etsy story.. how you got started in your craft and how you started selling on Etsy.

My first trip to a bead store with my mother as a child…maybe I was 12? Once I was allowed to have my ears pierced, we went and picked out beads to make our own earrings – and with that I was hooked! I’ve come back to it many times in my life, and last year decided that if I was ever going to work for myself, it would be via my own jewelry business. Research research research…and I found Etsy! Started very small, read a LOT, created a business plan. Redid(do) my pictures frequently. I’m still just starting but I like that it’s all mine to drive to success.

2. What have you learned about business since you launched your Etsy shop?

Once you have a wonderful product, marketing is really more important than anything else – so many wonderful shops list a few amazing items, then weeks later come to the Etsy forums asking why they haven’t sold yet. You can’t “list it and they will come” – not even the seasoned full time sellers. The business aspect, fortunately for me, is as attractive as the creative side.

3. Tell us one piece of advice for new sellers.

See #2…and have patience – if you sell one thing in your first month GREAT! Many don’t…but they do later. Many shops that are successful today will still tell similar stories. You said one, but the other tip is NEVER think your pictures are good enough (or at least, never say “I know my pics aren’t great but why else am I not selling?”) – Mine are always a work in progress. Plan to spend a LOT of time behind the camera.