Featured Seller - Jewelry by Lorelei Eurto

What part of the world are you in?

Upstate NY, USA

What does customer service mean to you?

EVERYTHING! I treat my customers exactly how I would want to be treated when buying handmade items. Showing pride in my work, concentrating on packaging, sending confirmation emails, and leaving positive feedback for my customers- happens for every single sale.

What is your most memorable experience with a customer?

A pivotal point in my Etsy career was when I sold a necklace to a woman in Spain. It never made it to her. I made another and sent it. The second necklace never made it to her. The second necklace came back to me. The first one is sitting in customs somewhere. This directly resulted in my decision to ship Registered mail for every international order!

What sets you apart from other sellers who are selling similar items?

I believe that photographs play a large role in the sale of my jewelry. I try my very best to photograph the piece of jewelry in a way that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. That first photo is the one that pulls the buyer in to begin with.I also enjoy creating a bond or relationship with my customers, and this in turn, keeps them coming back for more. My jewelry is really fun and the shopping experience is easy-going!

How did you learn the skills that make you successful today?

I learned a lot by shopping around on Etsy. I love buying from fellow Etsians, I get a sense of how they do business, what I like and dislike from each sale, and I've taken pointers from these transactions. I have also been doing this for about 2 years, so I've had quite a bit of experience. Most of which is completely 100% positive!

What is your goal for the next year?

I'd like to get my own website up and running smoothly by next year. I'd also like to figure out how to have a nice online gallery of my sold work. Selling on Etsy is my hobby and most of my earnings go back into Etsy, or buying supplies. As long as I can keep selling, I'm happy!

What keeps you motivated when sales are slow?

Luckily, I'm part of a pretty amazing online beading community. Reading their blogs, and keeping up on what they're doing keeps me motivated! There is an amazing amount of talent out there, and they never cease to inspire me!

What do you do to attract new clients and encourage repeat business?

Sometimes I offer specials in my shop, or send coupons for 20% off of their next purchase. Seems to work like a charm so far!

If you could share one piece of advice with someone who is considering openingtheir own store of handmade items, what would it be?

Invest in a great camera! Online shopping relies heavily on decent photographs. Since the shopper can't touch, and feel the piece they are purchasing, you want to provide them with really great, bright, and clear photographs so that they know what they're getting. That visual is the next best thing next to touch!

SPECIAL PROMO FOR 'I MADE THAT" BLOG READERS - Enter the code I MADE THAT into the notes to seller and I will give 20% off of one item in my shop. Wait for a revised invoice before paying!

Great promo offer for our readers Lorelei! We love being able to share not only talented artisans but great deals with our readers!
You've had some great success over the last two years with well over 500 sales in your shop! We can see why, lovely choice of colors, shapes, and textures that are pleasing to the eye.

Check out Lorelei's online store, Jewelry by Lorelei Eurto, and don't forget that 20% off special promo!

Featured Seller - Adagio Beadcrafters

What part of the world are you in?

Sunny Florida, USA

What does customer service mean to you?

Customer service means going above and beyond to insure my clients are pleased with their purchases. This includes everything from using quality components to create my designs to listing them for a fair price (both from my point of view AND the purchaser) to packaging them safely and securely and includes follow-up and beyond.

In short, customer service goes from beginning to end and must be a top priority in any successful business.

What is your most memorable experience with a customer?

During the Christmas Holiday 2008, a woman purchased a watch from me for her daughter who was away at college. As often happens when our children move away, this young lady had grown and the watch was too small for her. She e-mailed me about the first of the year and asked if I could make it larger and change the clasp. I'm in Florida. Her college was in New England. I completed these changes without charge and in so doing, not only pleased my new customer but her mother as well. Result? Not just one new loyal client but two. What sets you apart from other sellers who are selling similar items?Although I am relatively new to the jewelry business, I try to make my items unique and different. As my skills improve, so do my designs. When I look back at some of the original designs from my old etsy shop versus the more sophisticated items now available on my artfire site, I see a uniqueness that I hope will insure my niche in this market.

How did you learn the skills that make you successful today?

Through trial and error. Lots of error! Practice, practice, practice! I am mostly self-taught. Watching videos on You Tube, reading books and picking up tips from my beading buddy.

What is your goal for the next year?

My goal for next year is to be continue to improve my skills, strengthen my customer base and increase my web presence.

What keeps you motivated when sales are slow?

Obsession! Beading is my obsession, my passion and my joy. When sales are slow, I keep hope alive that someone will browse into my shop and be drawn to my wares, appreciating their uniqueness and thereby validating my skills and rewarding my hopeful attitude.

What do you do to attract new clients and encourage repeat business?

It's a combination of strong customer service and unique design. Making each customer feel as if she or he are your only client and making them happy will keep them coming back.

If you could share one piece of advice with someone who is considering opening their own store of handmade items, what would it be?

Persistence, persistence, persistence. There are going to be many frustrations at all levels. Don't give up! Patience and persistence WILL be rewarded if you hang in there!

**SPECIAL OFFER FOR "I MADE THAT!" BLOG READERS

Mention this blog article in the notes to seller and you will receive a 20% discount on any purchase!

Thank you so much for that awesome deal Heather from Adagio Beadcrafters! We really enjoyed your interview! We'd like to add that your excellent customer service as shown in your answer to your most memorable customer question will certainly make you a most memorable seller! Check out Heathers beautiful jewelry pieces via her online store, adagiobeadcrafters.artfire.com. Prices range from $15-$38 for her lovely creations.

Featured Seller- Michigan Hemp

What part of the world are you in?

I live in Cheboygan, MI. A tiny town with a population of about 5,000 which is locatedabout 15 miles southeast of the Mackinaw Bridge.

What does customer service mean to you?

To me, customer service means ensuring that each and every customer is treated as if theyare the only customer you have ever had. A seller's reputation is one of the mostimportant parts of running a business. If a business owner wants repeat customers, they need to be sure to address every concern or question that each customer may have. Being a caring, concerned seller leads to positivefeedback, and word of mouth is the best advertisement.

What is your most memorable experience with a customer?

Unfortunately, I have yet to experience a sale, but I am positive that my first sale will be a very memorable experience!

What sets you apart from other sellers who are selling similar items?

My hemp jewelry is absolutely one of a kind. I have never seen items that compare to mine anywhere before,and I try to make items that will appeal to all different kinds of people. I believe that every hemp lover in theworld deserves to own that one piece that calls out to them, so I'm trying to keep my prices low enough to eliminatethe regret that some people may experience.

How did you learn the skills that make you successful today?

All of my skills were self taught. I experiment with different braiding techniques and bead combinationsall the time in search of a new design. Basically, I get an idea and then I play around with my supplies untilI can make the idea become reality. As far as my people skills go, I have always been a very caring person that tries to help others. I believe strongly in the idea that what you give is what you get.

Do you have any formal training in your craft?

No. All of my skills are self taught. Each piece of jewelry that I make is an experiment and I am always trying new ideas to keep my items interesting and fresh.

What is your goal for the next year?

By the end of the year, I would like to reach at least ten sales per week from my Etsy shop, and have a desinated area in my house for my crafting. At the moment, all of my creating is done in the living room. :)

What keeps you motivated when sales are slow?

My husband. He is the man of my dreams and my hero. Every time that I get frustrated or depressed, he is there to remind me that the day will come where my jewelry will sell and that all I need to do is be patient. He constantly tells me that my items are a higher quality at lower prices, and that there will come a day when my items will start "flying off the shelves".

What do you do to attract new clients and encourage re-occurring business?

Since I just recently started trying to sell online, I haven't had the opportunity for re-occurring business, but I have been trying to get the word out about my new shop. I have joined several social networking sites in order to spread the word, including Byhand.me, Indiepublic, and Twitter, to name a few. I also sell myitems on four different venue sites. Spending time in the Etsy forums also seems to get people looking at myshop. Hopefully, this will be a winning combination.

If you could share one piece of advice with someone who is considering opening their own store of handmade items, what would it be?

Research, research, research. I didn't do enough of it before I dove head first into the online marketplace.Since then, I have found many new resources that would've helped me make better decisions about selling, networking,and advertising. Most all of the venues for selling handmade wares are great, but reading up on them a bit canhelp find the perfect fit for a new seller.

Thanks Theresa! We are so happy you have found a wonderful, supportive mate that helps you along your journey! It's nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of and have a shoulder to cry on when times are tough. I fully understand and appreciate that as I myself have an amazing man in my life who inspires me everyday. We enjoy your hemp jewelry as it is not something we come across everyday. Variety is the spice of life and we wish you much success in 2009!

You can check out Michigan Hemp at their online store located at http://michiganhemp.etsy.com or at any one of their additional sites:

http://www.michiganhemp.artfire.com

http://www.zibbet.com/michiganhemp

http://www.michiganhemp.wordpress.com

Featured Seller - Silver River Jewelry

What part of the world are you in?

I am in the Ohio, in the United States.

What does customer service mean to you?

I think that along with a really good product, customer service is what will make or break your business and can make the difference between being really successful or not. This means keeping in contact with your customer throughout the process from confirming receipt of the order, when it will ship all the way through to your packaging etc.



What is your most memorable experience with a customer?

I have been blessed in that all of my customers have been wonderful! For me when a customer becomes a friend through the communication about an order, that is just so cool and I have met so many nice people because of this.
What sets you apart from other sellers who are selling similar items? That's a tough one, there are so many talented people out there. My items are all well made, and I do stand behind my jewelry, I love what I do and I hope that I am developing a style that people will recognize as my own.

How did you learn the skills that make you successful today?

Most of it is self taught, with lots of trial and error (sometimes the best way to learn is to make mistakes, it makes you really think about how something is put together), a great deal of good advice and hands on learning from the wonderfully skilled people at the Summit County Lapidary club (they taught me and are still teaching me, the skills necessary to cut my own cabs) and one metal smithing class taught by an extremely talented lady named Rita. I also have been fortunate to be a member of several online selling venues where the other sellers have been more than generous with their knowledge.

Do you have any formal training in your craft?

No

What is your goal for the next year?

To build my skills and really stretch my imagination with the metal smithing. Also to build my business and really start to focus on how to reach my target market.
What keeps you motivated when sales are slow? I love what I do. I am going to make it anyway, I can't NOT make things. So when I sales are slow I just keep doing what I love and building inventory lol!

What do you do to attract new clients and encourage re-occurring business?

To attract new business, I do some advertising campaigns on project wonderful and I also do some give aways and spend some time networking with several different groups. I also promote and do give aways for other artists. This might sound counter productive but it does bring lots of visitors to my blog and besides I like helping other artists out and its fun. Recurring business I hope is based on good customer service and an awesome product.

If you could share one piece of advice with someone who is considering opening their own store of handmade items, what would it be?

Make sure your photo's are good. Make them stand out so that people really want to take another look. Also be prepared to work really hard for a fairly long time before you are even close to successful. Building a business means not just being able to make beautiful things, it means learning how to be a photographer, a web designer, an accountant, a tax preparer, learning to design business card, logo's, online ads, networking with other people, etc. Its a huge amount of work but in the end there is a great deal of satisfaction knowing that this is YOUR business and you did it yourself.

Check out the lovely collection available by Silver River Jewelry online at silverriverjewelry.com. We had a hard time choosing our favorite piece to feature! Lovely work Sonja and best of luck to you in 2009!

Featured Seller - Easy-On Jewelry

What part of the world are you in?

I live in upstate NY

What does customer service mean to you?

Being totally available to the customer, fast shipping and a well pakced item are all important.


What is your most memorable experience with a customer?

my first sale with my jewelry was an unexpected purchase from my friend. She started the ball rolling.

What sets you apart from other sellers who are selling similar items?

I make jewelry with easy on clasps . Alot of my jewelry is made on stretch cord yet the pieces are very elegant. I combine swarovski crystals together with pearls to make a lovely, easy to wear piece of jewelry.

How did you learn the skills that make you successful today?

Watching instructional online videos, asking questions in the forums and jewelry selling websites.

Do you have any formal training in your craft?

No

What is your goal for the next year?

To keep making jewelery and perfecting my craft.

What keeps you motivated when sales are slow?

exploring new selling venues and remembering it only takes one person to make a sale.

What do you do to attract new clients and encourage repeat business?

shipping items out quickly and having good comunication with the customers.

If you could share one piece of advice with someone who is considering opening their own store of handmade items, what would it be?

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Sell your items on different venues and sites.

Please check out Easy-On Jewelry's online store, http://easyonjewelry.etsy.com