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 - MuffinTopDesigns

What part of the world are you in?

I am in Toronto, Ontario, Canada!

What does customer service mean to you?

Customer service means treating people the way i would like to be treated. It also means making a high quality product at an affordable price!

What is your most memorable experience with a customer?

Someone purchased two sock monkeys for her children last Christmas. Making these perfect for her two little ones was a wonderful experience! She still sometimes sends me photos of them with their monkeys. It really makes me glad that they love them that much!

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

I would hope that my design sense keeps people coming back! while i like to offer classic pieces, i also enjoy going out on a creative limb and trying new things.

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

While i have always been an artsy person, it wasn't until early 2007 that i started beading and making jewelry. I'm mostly self-taught, but have taken a few classes in different techniques. I'm actually taking a beginner's metalsmithing class right now that i'm thoroughly enjoying!

Do you have any formal training in your craft?

I actually have my BA in Visual Art and my Masters in Art Therapy - and would LOVE to take a jewelry making certificate sometime in the future!

What is your goal for the next year?

My goal is to learn to balance my life! :) We're expecting our first baby in late April 2009! I'm excited to be a mother... and to see how motherhood will influence my designs. Sales-wise, I'm hoping to hit 1000 sales in my etsy shop.

What keeps you motivated when sales are slow?

The fact that i have tons of beautiful stones and shining metal to work with! when sales are slow, it actually gives me time to work on new things - take the time to sketch and "test drive" new designs. I also spend more time looking for inspiration when things are slow - packing and shipping really takes up a lot of time!

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

I wish i could do more, actually. Working a full time job and creating on the side really doesn't leave much time for marketing. However, i'm hoping to draw up an "official" marketing plan one of these days and figure out how i can reach more people! In the meantime, i hope that good customer service and my sunny personality (lol) keep people 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?

Be confident in your craft, and create something that you are proud to have out there in the world! Take creative risks, and let your love for what you do shine through.

Thanks so much MuffinTopDesigns! Congrats on your new little buddle of joy that will be joining your family in April! What an exciting time for you. We wish you all the best. Please check out Cylene's designs on her wepage http://muffintopdesigns.etsy.com/.

Featured Seller Carol Bright

Bright Creations - Ogham Inspired Silver Jewelry

What part of the world are you in?
I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida

What does customer service mean to you?
I believe customer service is key to a successful business. I want to know if my jewelry is well received. If the customer is not happy then I am not either.

What is your most memorable experience with a customer?
The most memorable customer experience so for is creating a custom Ogham pendant for a proud parent whose daughter is in the Police Academy.

What sets you apart from other sellers that are selling similar items? Their are alot of talented people out there doing metalsmithing and precious metal clay. What sets me apart from them is I bring my life experiences to each of my pieces. The places I travel to and the sites I see give me inspiration for my jewelry designs. I also do custom Ogham jewelry, which was the first form of the gaelic language.

How did you learn the skills that make you successful today? Do you have any formal training in your craft? Several years ago I went with my mother to a metalsmithing class at the recreation center in our city. I never did much with that instruction at the time. Then about two years ago a friend of my mothers dismantled her metalsmithing and precious metal studio. My mother called me and asked me to come over and see if I would like any of ther equipment. I was inspired by all the equipment I was given by my gracious benifactor. Up until then I had been making my own earring wires and earrings. Now I had a complete metalsmithing studio and precious metal clay studio. I took a class at the recreation center in pmc. I started my etsy shop with the pmc pieces. Since then I have taken a couple of metalsmithing classes from a local bead shop in the brandon area. Hopefully one day I will get to one of those wonderful schools that teach metalsmithing and also certify you in precious metal clay. Until then I will keep doing what I can.

What is your goal for the next year?
My goals for next year is to possibly get some formal training in my craft. To learn some new techniques and appy them to my style. What keeps you motivated when sales are slow?
My family, friends, and customers keep me motivated when sales are down. They praise my work ,they boost my ego....Bless them All

What do you do to attract new clients and encourage re-occurring business?
I encourage repeat business by giving a free gift with every purchase. I try to create new pieces every week so the customers do not get tired of seeing the same thing.

If you could share one piece of advice with someone who is considering opening their own store of handmade items, what would it be?
My advice to new shop owners is to take good pictures of your craft what ever it is.

To see more of Carol's lovely creations, please visit her website: Bright Creations

Thank you so much Carol for the interview and best of luck in 2009!