This is the last in a series of interviews with Etsy entrepreneurs.

It was through social media that Kathy Swenning first heard about Etsy. Kathy is a polymer clay artist that specializes in custom beads and jewelry. In this interview, learn how Kathy started her Etsy Shop – Roz Petalz Studio.

What brought you to become an Etsy shop owner?

I heard about Etsy from a fellow crafter on a social networking site. I was tired of the high fees on Ebay, so I gave it a try.

How do you market your business?

Facebook, My Space, Business cards handed out at local fairs & included in my packaging (from all online sales).

How has social media helped your business? What have you found works best for your store?

Facebook has proven to be helpful. I can link my Etsy items to post when they go up in my shop. They also have a helpful Etsy app. I have gotten several custom orders that way – my page is set to public so anyone can view it.

What is your favorite part of being an Etsy store owner?

Low fees – no charge for store setup, etc. I especially like the “Street Teams”. I belong to two – PCAGOE (polymer clay artists guild od etsy) and Ct. Etsy Team I have participated in promotions and shows as a result of this.

What are some of the ways that you find Etsy helps in your success as a store owner?

Etsy promotes alot on their own – our success is theirs! Also the Virtual Labs has lots of good tips and ideas that have helped me along the way with suggestions for picture taking, tagging & more. The Custom section has also allowed some additional sales.

What advice would you give new Etsians just starting out?

List a few items each day instead of all at once, so you don’t get buried in the “pile” of new listings. Also, make sure your name reflects your business. I changed mine as a matter of fact due to advice from fellow Etsians. I was using my Ebay I.D. (KathyS711); decided it was better to be more recognizable to Etsy customers. Buyers on Ebay want something for nothing. Etsy buyers appreciate handmade!!!!!!

How did you come up with your shop name?

Roz Petalz Studio is the name of my business – named for my daughter, Hannah Rose.

How do you brand yourself to make your shop unique?

I make my product speak for itself. My items are one of a kind and affordable.

Do you feel a sense of community among the Etsy shop owners?

Yes! I have had strangers contact me with advice, etc just because they wanted to help a fellow “Etsian”. I have also done the same.

How do you connect with your buyers?

I respond ASAP to purchases and custom requests, etc. I include a thank you note and small “freebie” with every item. I also wrap my items with attractive packaging, etc. Most importantly, I ship FAST & leave feedback as soon as I get paid.

Visit Kathleen’s Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/RozPetalzStudio
Follow the Roz Petalz Studio blog at http://rozpetalzstudio-kathys711.blogspot.com/
Visit the Roz Petalz Studio website at http://www.rozpetalzstudio.com/
Become a Facebook Fan at http://www.facebook.com/RozPetalzStudio

Julie Barnes is the author is this post. Julie is excited to be living in Generation E – the age of the Entrepreneur. As a writer, she enjoys writing about all aspects of the entrepreneurial journey. She enjoys interviewing entrepreneurs whose experience and wisdom can inspire others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron, lovable dog Hank, and sweet kitten Sammy. You can visit her site at www.julieabarnes.com. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieBarnesKS. Become a Facebook friend at Julie Barnes.

This is # 12 in a series of interviews with Etsy entrepreneurs.

Ella Averbukh, a New York-based knit apparel and accessories designer, was on a quest to figure out how she could earn a living using her creative skills. She found the answer in Etsy. In this interview, learn how Ella is building a brand using her combined creative skills and interest in her Etsy store – Ellita’s Flying Snail.

What brought you to become an Etsy shop owner?

I have always been interested in design, fashion, and art; continuously searching for my own artistic identity, and questioning how one can earn a living by honing their creative side. When I heard about Etsy, my interests merged, and I found the answer. So here I am!

How do you market your business?

There are many ways one can promote their business online. Besides Etsy, I also post my work on such sites as www.trunkt.org, www.senseoffashion.com, www.dawanda.com, www.wholesalecrafts.com. Facebook is another site that is quite useful, as I can upload images of my work on the assorted fashion communities’ pages and interact with people with similar interests, thus promoting my work. And of course, wearing my own designs draws immediate attention; and since I always have a batch of business cards with me—the marketing is also always on the go!

How has social media helped your business? What have you found works best for your store?

Social networking definitely helps my business. I often attend NYC fashion events where I mingle with people interested in style and fashion, thus assembling either creative collaborations or business connections, while promoting my work at the same time. I also attend various trade shows and trunk shows in and around NYC, and I try to plan attending similar events—when I travel—in Europe.
　
What is your favorite part of being an Etsy store owner?

My favorite part of being an Etsy store owner is playing the major role in the little world I created, combining all of my skills and interests. I love interacting with my customers and with the fellow Etsians. I draw constant inspiration through this communication, and not only for my creativity, but also for the appreciation of beauty in the minds and hearts of others.

What are some of the ways that you find Etsy helps in your success as a store owner?

Etsy has many promotional tools which are quite useful. One of such features is “Treasuries,” wherein the items from various stores are combined into a beautiful mosaic to be posted on the front page. Etsy shop owners can also promote their work by featuring one of their items in the “Showcases” and “Gift Guides.” Etsy administrators could also select Etsy shop owners to be the “Featured Sellers.” Featured sellers are asked to give an interview about their work and the experience of being the Etsy shop owners, and the interview is posted on the front page for two days. This usually attracts attention of many people to the shop, thus increasing popularity and sales. An interview about “Ellita’s Flying Snail” shop can be found here: http://www.etsy.com/featured_seller.php?featured_user_id=5311402

What advice would you give new Etsians just starting out?

My first advice to the new Etsy shop owners would be to come up with their own authentic look and style in their designs, something that can stand out among other products. Having good quality product photography is crucial, as the buyers want to have a clear image of what they are getting. Photography, as well, can help define the store’s brand style, so that when people browse the items on Etsy, the image of the product will let the customers recognize the store right away.

How did you come up with your shop name?

“Ellita” has been my nickname forever, and I always had an affinity to the symbol of the snail with wings (I have no idea what it symbolizes, I just love it!) Together it came to be “Ellita’s Flying Snail.”

How do you brand yourself to make your shop unique?

I have previously described how photography could be crucial in creating the brand image of the store. I can also add that I have an affinity towards Renaissance, Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Steam Punk influences in fashion, and my designs reflect it. Finding models for the pictures that resonate with these fashion periods in their look also contributes to the creation of the whole “feel” of the brand.

Do you feel a sense of community among the Etsy shop owners?

Absolutely. As I mentioned before, communication with other Etsy shop owners is one of the best Etsy features, as it contributes to the sense of community and provides continuous feedback.

How do you connect with your buyers?

I always attach a hand-made tag to each item with the shop’s logo and the name of the design. I also make sure to gift-wrap each item and include a thank you card with each order.
　
Visit Ella’s Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Ellita

Julie Barnes is the author is this post. Julie is excited to be living in Generation E – the age of the Entrepreneur. As a writer, she enjoys writing about all aspects of the entrepreneurial journey. She enjoys interviewing entrepreneurs whose experience and wisdom can inspire others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron, lovable dog Hank, and sweet kitten Sammy. You can visit her site at www.julieabarnes.com. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieBarnesKS. Become a Facebook friend at Julie Barnes.

This is the eleventh in a series of interviews with Etsy entrepreneurs.

Katy Mims was looking to add more retail sales to her South Paw Studios Jewelry business when she decided to start her Etsy shop. Kathy uses only the finest Swarovski Austrian crystals, glass pearls, fresh water pearls, Balinesian beads, Venetian glass, sterling silver, semi-precious and precious stones, and vermeil in her handmade jewelry. In this interview, learn how Katy started her successful Etsy shop – South Paw Studios – that has customers from all over the world.

What brought you to become an Etsy shop owner?

I decided to add Etsy as another facet to my business because I needed to add more retail sales to my business plan. Etsy was the key! I had been hearing about Etsy for a while, and just decided to join one day. It was VERY difficult at first to figure out how to get noticed and get sales, but with drive and 100’s of hours of research I broke the code and figured it out and haven’t looked back.

How do you market your business?

I market my business using Social networking, and I take out a few online ads once and a while. During the holiday season I step it up a notch and do more online ads. I also send out a quarterly newsletter to my customer base. This newsletter consists of new products, upcoming events, and usually a sales code so they can get something free or for a percentage off. For my local customers, I send out postcards for any local art shows that I am doing and I tell them where I sell at local galleries and museum shops.

How has social networking helped your business? What have you found works best for your store?

I love social networking. It really is a way to network for online stores. Really it is the new “business lunch meeting” or “dinner party”. Online stores don’t get out much to do face to face networking, so the new life of social networking has opened that door. I have a blog that I try to tend to once a week, I use facebook and twitter; a combination that has been very successful for me.

What is your favorite part of being an Etsy store owner?

On the personal side of being my own boss and having a successful Etsy shop, I really realized when my son was born, if I didn’t feel like working after not sleeping all night – that was ok. As a family we didn’t have to worry about maternity leave, or missing out on work or child care. That was all part of the plan and has worked out beautifully. Now my son is 3, and I haven’t missed a thing. On a business side, Etsy opens up a whole new realm of customers that never would have known South Paw Studios existed. I have mailed orders all over the world, from Spain, to Israel. It really is very exciting to see.

What are some of the ways that you find Etsy helps in your success as a store owner?

Etsy has made me a more successful business owner because it generates more retail sales for me. Etsy does this by having its hand in all the cookie jars, all over the world, funneling all these buyers into one central location. With Etsy drawing in consumers of handmade goods, and marketing to businesses like me that supply them, it is just a match made in heaven. It just makes perfect sense.

What advice would you give new Etsians just starting out?

My advice is to have good photography. I invested in a great Nikon SLR camera, and it has been worth every penny. I have been in the jewelry business 13 years and counting, and this camera is one of the best business decisions and money well spent, ever.

How did you come up with your shop name?

My store name, “South Paw Studios”, means that I am a lefty. It originated as a boxing and baseball term for someone that is left handed. I felt that my business name should be more than just Katy Mims jewelry, I needed something that I could identify with, and that other people would notice too.

How do you brand yourself to make your shop unique?

I feel that I offer functional jewelry that you can wear everyday with jeans and a simple white t-shirt, yet you can wear it to a formal function if preferred. I don’t want my customer to seem pressed on the thought of “I love this necklace, but where am I going to wear it?” I want them to be more, “I love this necklace, and I can wear it with anything”. I want there to be “No Fuss”. Jewelry shouldn’t be complicated, it should be enjoyable. That is why I feel I create jewelry that is much more appealing and affordable to a wider range of woman, from the younger jewelry lover to the seasoned shopper.

Do you feel a sense of community among the Etsy shop owners?

The sense of community is huge! Even though none of us ever meet, we are a big part of each others’ lives. I am an active member of two Etsy teams; The Etsy Twitter team and the Full Time Etsy Crafters team (FTEC). Both teams are so supportive and offer all kinds of business advice, and we are all in the same boat so they “just get it”. Some other people that I talk about Etsy to just look at me with a stare in their eye, and say, “what is it called again?” They just can’t grasp that it really propelled my business to the next level. So the Etsy community fills that part of my life. We all live and breathe our craft and are so passionate about it. Knowing that others are out there just like me, makes me feel a little less crazy and a lot more normal.

How do you connect with your buyers?

To connect with buyers, I always enclose a special hand written note, thanking them for their order and hoping to see them again soon. I use my own South Paw Studios note pads that are printed with my business logo and websites and I include a few business cards. For the holiday season I always include holiday gift tags too. The jewelry is placed in a special made, silver foil-stamped gift box and is lined with white tissue. All gift boxes come with a silver bow. People just love it when they get to “open” a gift, it makes it more exciting. I can’t tell you how many times I have received compliments on my packaging. It really is something I take great pride in. It really shows to the customer that I spare no expense when they buy something from me. I also encourage customers to sign up for my quarterly newsletter – which they can do from my blog – and to find me online on Twitter and Facebook.

Visit Katy’s Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/southpawstudios
Visit the South Paw Studios website at http://southpawonline.com/
Follow the South Paw Studios blog at http://southpawstudios.blogspot.com/
Become a Facebook Fan at http://www.facebook.com/SouthPawStudios?v=wall
Follow South Paw Studios on Twitter at http://twitter.com/southpawstudios

Julie Barnes is the author is this post. Julie is excited to be living in Generation E – the age of the Entrepreneur. As a writer, she enjoys writing about all aspects of the entrepreneurial journey. She enjoys interviewing entrepreneurs whose experience and wisdom can inspire others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron, lovable dog Hank, and sweet kitten Sammy. You can visit her site at www.julieabarnes.com. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieBarnesKS. Become a Facebook friend at Julie Barnes.

As women, we have fun with accessories.  Scarves, hats, shoes, jewelry, handbags….the possibilities to personalize a look are endless.  But just how much personality is professional in the work environment?  Is it possible to take it too far, to cross some invisible line with too much of a necklace?

With ever-changing trends in the jewelry industry, it’s easy to get caught up in the But-So-And-So-Is-Wearing-It fever. Especially now with so many  trends flooding the market.  This is no longer a time of simple, understated jewelry.  The bigger and more colorful, the better.  Piles of bangles, statement necklaces, chunky rings, shoulder-dusting earrings.  It can all be acceptable, even for the workplace….in moderation.

Stock up on the more classic pieces that will be around for a while, and have fun with the obvious trends while they’re still here.  Bib necklaces are an odd but growing trend in the market right now.  They can be worn over a dress, with an open or high-neckline, and they look great with wrap sweaters and collared shirts.  Ann Taylor Loft has revamped their accessories line and has quite a few affordable options in this trend.  For more one-of-a-kind pieces, try Etsy….designers everywhere are having fun with this trend.  Just be sure to keep the rest of your accessories simple when donning these elaborate pieces….simple studs for earrings or nothing at all is more than enough.

Cocktail rings are back, and they’re not just for after-hours.  These statement-making pieces are adorning fingers everywhere.  This yellow enamel and pearl style from Kenneth Jay Lane is sure to be remembered, and Forever 21 has a seemingly endless array of floral-inspired options.  Keeping on the flowers, Juicy Couture has a floral bauble that I am in love with….the bouquet of colors and intricate details help to keep it understated, even though it’s anything but.  For a more earthy vibe, be sure to check out Alexis Bittar’s latest collection.  Dusty gold, quartz, and subtle colors…..these sophisticated pieces are stunning and will be a great addition to digits in any workplace.  Limit yourself to one piece, and don’t go overboard with bracelets at the same time.  You don’t want it to look like your arms are weighing you down!

Bangles, cuffs, beaded and balled….go ahead, pile them on. Mixed metals, stones, plastics, just have fun with it.  Be careful to avoid the Cleopatra look by going elbow-deep though, that’s only good for Egyptian times.  And arm-bands, a definite no.  Nicole Richie can pull them off, but for most of us, in the work environment, not a chance.  If you’re just getting into the bracelet trend, try starting with a simple cuff.  This twig-inspired cuff by Elizabeth and James is great for beginners and fashionistas alike, while this Oscar de la Renta number would not be for the light-handed….but is a definite fashion YES.

Earrings, the workplace staple.  There are so many fun styles out right now, from miniature studs to shoulder-skimming beauties.  It goes beyond the basic diamond, pearl, or hoop….branch out a little and have fun with it.  Just keep it in line and leave the over-sized strawberries and jingle-bells at home.  Classy and professional is key when it comes to earrings.  Asprey has a line of kitsch-y studs coming out later this year…unexpected details can be a great way to make an impact, just keep it grown-up and sophisticated, there’s a fine line here.  These Kate Spade sunbursts are the perfect every-day piece, while these House of Harlow medallions bring the bold to a whole new level.

Jewelry in the workplace shouldn’t be feared.  It’s the easiest way to dress up an outfit, to follow the trends, to add personality or a touch of glamour.  And what’s more feminine than a great piece of jewelry?  So dig through your old pieces and spruce up your collection with some of the latest trends.

This is the tenth in a series of interviews with Etsy entrepreneurs.

Marisa Haedike is the artist behind Creative Thursday, an online art boutique. Marisa started Creative Thursday while still working in the corporate world. An artist at heart, Marisa designated Thursday as her creative outlet day. Creative Thursday has grown into a full-time business that includes artwork, children’s books, podcasts, workshops, e-courses, and an Esty shop. In this interview, learn how Marisa went from the 9 to 5 grind to thriving artist.

How did you begin to build your business?

I began podcasting in 2006 and was encouraged to start a blog as a way to promote the podcast. I was hesitant to start a blog because I had not been much of a journaler, but I discovered I could use the blog as a way to do these daily paintings. I learned about daily paintings in a magazine article when Domino magazine was still around. They where featuring these artist, who were doing daily paintings and using their blogs to post them. That inspired me in as a way that I could express my creativity. I could put art work up on the blog without doing much writing and also promote the podcast that I was doing. What came out of the daily paintings was a new art style. There is something to be said for setting down and making yourself create every day. Things happen. Things evolve. I developed these characters. I was having so much fun painting and they started to sell. My work before was more collage based. A little bit more abstract and impressionistic. I started working on these characters, and they really took hold.

When did you start selling on Etsy?

The success of my new art style, this is what led me to Etsy.

How have you grown your business into the success it is?

With minimal advertising on my part, aside from contributing to the online world, letting people know I was there, and having my work shown at Velocity Art and Design, along with the few wholesale locations I had. That was it. That in itself is pretty amazing. I had no budget for advertising, so everything I did was self generated.

As a creative entrepreneur, how do you structure your day/week?

The first thing I’m trying to implement is limiting my online time. I check email twice a day. I’m also the kind of person who finds it helpful to stay in one mode for a period of time, to really get the momentum going. I try to do my shipping and preparation for shipping all on the same day, so I’m in shipping mode. If I’m in creative mode, I will set aside a day for painting. If I’m in teaching mode, I will set aside the day to focus on the classes that I am teaching and sharing information. I also try to work around my own personal time clock. I tend to have lulls in the afternoon, so I’ll work in the mornings and later in the evenings.

Do you miss anything about having to go to a j.o.b.?

No, of course there are times when knowing what my paycheck is going to be at the end of the week would be very helpful. Other than that, nothing really. I’m fortunate to live in Los Angeles. I have enough of a community. I have a lot of creative people that I can see in person, which ironically, the more that I’m online, the more I realize how valuable in-person relationships are. Ultimately, that can never be replaced. I have a sense of community, so the coworker I don’t miss because I see people.

What advice would you give new artist?

Love what you do!

For more information on Marisa and Creative Thursday’s visit http://www.creativethursday.com/
Visit Marisa’s Etsy Shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/creativethursday
Follow the Creative Thursday blog at http://creativethursday.typepad.com/
Check out Marisa’s e-course’s at http://www.creativethursday.com/teaching.htm
Follow Marissa on Twitter at http://twitter.com/creativethurs
Become a Facebook friend at http://www.facebook.com/people/Marisa-Cummings-Haedike/1003524340

Julie Barnes is the author is this post. Julie is excited to be living in Generation E – the age of the Entrepreneur. As a writer, she enjoys writing about all aspects of the entrepreneurial journey. She enjoys interviewing entrepreneurs whose experience and wisdom can inspire others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron, lovable dog Hank, and sweet kitten Sammy. You can visit her site at www.julieabarnes.com. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieBarnesKS. Become a Facebook friend at Julie Barnes.

This is the ninth in a series of interviews with Etsy entrepreneurs.

After pounding the pavement trying to get her line of pillows into brick and mortar shops, Julia Duncan-Roitman decided that the time and money did not balance out. Julia found the perfect solution in an Etsy shop. In this interview, learn how Julia opened Pink Baby Mouse Shop, where which sells her unique line of cone dog pillows.

What brought you to become an Etsy shop owner?

I had a few false starts creating my own line and trying to sell it wholesale and consignment through pounding the pavement hitting up brick and mortar shops. I could never make the time and money balance out between the design, production, marketing and selling all by myself. Etsy is the perfect solution; I make things to order and sell directly to customers totally cutting out the process of dealing with stores. I also sell to stores wholesale directly from my site. They find me; I don’t have to go to them.

How do you market your business?

That is another advantage of Etsy, they do most of the marketing for me! People come across my pillows because of the tags that I use for my items, sometimes my items make it to the front page where I get thousands of views, other Etsians include my items in treasuries, the Etsy Storque blog has featured my pillows and they have been featured in gift guides. Bloggers include my pillows in their posts through finding them on Etsy. Last year Heather Armstrong put my cone dog pillow in her 2008 holiday gift guide on www.dooce.com and really jump-started my whole business. At the time I had only sold a couple of pillows and was just making them as a hobby. All of a sudden my store was completely sold out; I re-listed the items and they sold out again and again and again. Within 2 days I had to figure out pillow and fabric wholesalers and a shipping solution. I am also a member of the New New York Etsy Street Team and we have a blog, Facebook page and hold sales events twice a year.

How has social networking helped your business? What have you found works best for your store?

I always post my new items on my Facebook page and on twitter. Friends and members of my street team re-tweet my posts and I for them, to expand viewership. I do get sales this way but I always feel kind of weird selling to friends and family, I always try to give them the item for free and then they refuse, etc. It’s kind of awkward; I prefer selling to strangers.

What is your favorite part of being an Etsy store owner?

I enjoy working totally on my own terms. I set my price, deal directly with my customers and design completely to my own aesthetic. I can experiment and make one of a kind items, so I don’t get bored. I also love working on the Internet; I’m not very good at “selling myself” in person but I can write decent copy and take decent photos of my work.

What are some of the ways that you find Etsy helps in your success as a store owner?

Etsy has been so supportive of me. My first sale was from an Etsy staff member and as I mentioned above they regularly include me in their gift guides, blog articles and treasuries. They even brought my pillows on a segment of LXTV on WNBC in December. I did holiday art show with them in December and I met lots of the staff and they were all so nice and eager to learn how they could improve the site.

What advice would you give new Etsians just starting out?

One of the draw backs of Etsy is the dearth of items one has to weed through in order to buy or sell successfully. I think you need to have a distinct point of view and really form a strong identity so that you stand out. I am known for my cone dog pillows. It’s weird but it’s distinct.

How did you come up with your shop name?

Pink Baby Mouse Shop comes from my first job, which was breeding mice and selling the babies back to the pet store. I would get ten cents per baby mouse.

How do you brand yourself to make your shop unique?

It never occurred to me to brand myself but I try to stay consistent in my design aesthetic, simple bold graphic, colorful, whimsical, funny off-beat. I think this is what makes my pieces recognizable and unique.

Do you feel a sense of community among the Etsy shop owners?

Definitely amongst the members of my Etsy street team. In fact, I am about four months away from opening up my own brick and mortar shop in Brooklyn and I am using my fellow New New York Etsy teammates as vendors in my shop. Some of them will be collaborating with me in designing and producing unique items for the shop and some of them will be my wholesalers. I can spend hours looking through the shops on Etsy; there are some amazing items for sale, it’s very inspiring. Fellow Etsians are very supportive of one another; I have done trades with several of them.

How do you connect with your buyers?

I don’t get too much into that; I used to do a hand written thank you note with every purchase but it felt a little desperate. I now package my pillows as professionally as possible in a cellophane sleeve with a printed hang- tag and thank you note with my logo designed and produced by a fellow Etsian.

Julie Barnes is the author is this post. Julie is excited to be living in Generation E – the age of the Entrepreneur. As a writer, she enjoys writing about all aspects of the entrepreneurial journey. She enjoys interviewing entrepreneurs whose experience and wisdom can inspire others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron, lovable dog Hank, and sweet kitten Sammy. You can visit her site at www.julieabarnes.com. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieBarnesKS. Become a Facebook friend at Julie Barnes.

This is the eighth in a series of interviews with Etsy entrepreneurs.

Celeste Meyeres had been designing, crafting, and selling her scarves for about four months when she heard about Etsy. Celeste opened her shop – Crickets Creations on November 26, 2007. Celeste uses only soft, cruelty free, designer, vintage or novelty yarns (vegan) with no potentially allergenic or irritating wool/animal fibers in her scarves. Celeste maintains a large collection of hundreds of yarns so she’ll have a varied palette of colors & textures; each new project is an adventure & custom orders are welcome! In this interview, learn how Celeste is living the creative entrepreneurs dream through her Etsy shop – Crickets Creations.

What brought you to become an Etsy shop owner?

With the encouragement of my husband, I had begun designing and creating scarves and selling them to retail boutiques and to individuals. After four months of this, I heard about Etsy from another crafter. I checked them out along with a few competitors’ sites and I was sold! I set up an account that day, November 26, 2007 and I’ve now been with Etsy for over two years.

How do you market your business?

I tend to use the rule of thumb of investing about 10% of revenue in marketing and/or advertising. So, for example, if an advertiser approaches me with a $200 print ad proposal, then I ask myself, “If I buy this ad, will it likely result in $2,000 in direct or indirect sales?” If the answer is no or probably not, then I pass it by. If the answer is yes or probably yes, I’m likely to go for it. I advertise in a couple of product-specific venues (such as a photo prop website for my photo props) and have participated in a few blog giveaways and contests. Most of my advertising budget is spent listing and renewing my designs on Etsy.

How has social networking helped your business? What have you found works best for your store?

When I was first starting out and had more time than sales, I spent quite a bit of time setting up a blog as well as accounts with Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Ning, and just about every other social networking site! I found it takes about an hour each to build a profile and learn the ropes, then just a few minutes to post (I find non-spammy posts and paying attention to your audience to be more effective than non-stop, “Look at my stuff! Buy my stuff!”). Now that I have less time for marketing, I have honed down my social networking. There is one notable exception; one of my core lines is photo props, so I post professional photos of my pieces on Flickr, an online photography community.

What is your favorite part of being an Etsy store owner?

I love being able to interact with my customers in a meaningful way. I can tell that they really appreciate when they can communicate directly with the owner, designer, creator and “shipping department” of the business they’re supporting…because all those people are me! Many of my customers have become true friends and it’s very rewarding bringing joy to people and helping them feel special.

What are some of the ways that you find Etsy helps in your success as a store owner?

What advice would you give new Etsians just starting out?

Here’s what I did:

1) Have confidence in my own creativity. Ignore any doubts. Be willing to take reasonable risks (i.e. spend or risk a little to make a lot). That means accepting custom orders, personal checks, paying craft fair booth fees, renewing on Etsy as often as is productive for me (I experiment & pay attention) & making my shop welcoming to international customers.

2) Feel & express gratitude, humility & helpfulness always. This is a symbiotic relationship: I provide excellent product, excellent customer service & a piece of art; my customers provide word of mouth marketing, good feelings & revenue.

3) Diversify my market. For example, I offer over 100 different scarves in various styles, colors and weights to cast a wide net and grow my target market. I cater internationally to women, men, youth, seniors, belly dancers, country club types, goth, emo and indie types, anyone with sensitive skin, people of different ethnicities & cultures, vegans & other animal-friendly types, etc. For me, the key has been to have diffused focus; specializing in lots of different variations of just one or two products.

How did you come up with your shop name?

That’s a fun one! My nickname is Crickets because when my husband and I always seem to be reading one another’s thoughts since we’re so much on the same wavelength. When we were first getting to know one another, we took a country drive and starting talking about our favorite things. He asked, rhetorically, “You know what my favorite sound is?” And I replied with the first thing that popped into my head, “The sound of crickets?” Well, he was very surprised and exclaimed, “How did you know?!” So that became my nickname and now, whenever we say the exact, same thing simultaneously, we call it “crickets!”

How do you brand yourself to make your shop unique?

Nicky, my husband drew my logo of a cricket wearing a scarf and my logo is on all my hang tags and business cards. Online, a photo of my face is part of my banner, avatar and most of my listings. I want people to be able to look into my eyes, get a sense of me and know that they can trust me. I now realize another benefit is that my face can’t be imitated, it is uniquely mine. I am a big believer in designing all my own work and following my heart. Rather than looking at others’ designs for ideas, I follow my own inspiration or my customers’ custom orders (about one third of my business consists of special requests).

Do you feel a sense of community among the Etsy shop owners?

Yes, absolutely! I belong to about ten community or product-based teams on community. We work on projects together, exchange information and provide one another with fun and support.

How do you connect with your buyers?

Each customer receives a personalized, online message from me thanking and acknowledging their order and providing them with shipping information. I also include a handwritten note, write out addresses by hand, color the scarf my logo cricket wears with colored pens so it will be the same color as the scarf it’s attached to (and decorate the package with fun stickers!) and leave personal and appreciative feedback. I adore my customers and I think that’s why I have such a high rate of returning customers.

For information on Celeste and her Etsy shop visit http://www.etsy.com/people/CricketsCreations.

Follow Celeste’s blog at http://cricketscreations.blogspot.com.

Follow Celeste on Twitter at http://twitter.com/CricketsKnits.

Become a Facebook friend at http://www.facebook.com/CricketsCreations.

Check out Celeste’s professional pictures on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/cricketscreations.

Julie Barnes is the author is this post. Julie is excited to be living in Generation E – the age of the Entrepreneur. As a writer, she enjoys writing about all aspects of the entrepreneur journey. She enjoys interviewing entrepreneurs whose experience and wisdom can inspire others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron and lovable dog Hank. You can visit her site at www.julieabarnes.com. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieBarnesKS. Become a Facebook friend at Julie Barnes.

This is the seventh in a series of interviews with Etsy entrepreneurs.

Jackie Kaufman was looking for a venue to sell her handmade jewelry when she ran across Etsy. Jackie creates her jewelry using a unique method of jewelry casting for her Etsy shop – Rock My World Inc. In this interview, learn how Jackie built a successful Etsy shop that includes her most popular line of Fingerprint Jewelry.

What brought you to become an Etsy shop owner?

I was looking for a venue that I could sell my handmade jewelry. Ebay was the only one I was familiar with, and that was not really an option. So I just fell upon Etsy in my searches..noticed that it was only 20cents to list and that was for 4 months, and you did not have to pay anything else until it sold..and everything else was free..so I thought I would give it a try. Within 1 week I had my first order which was over $200.00 to 1 customer..and I said this was for me!

How do you market your business?

I twitter only about my business, but not to often, I have a Facebook Fanpage with over 340 fans where I post about once a week. I try to get a little involved with the Etsy Community, answering questions in the forums and giving advice. I use Haro quite a bit, and have found different ways to market through this. I contact local newspapers and magazines, and let them know when I have a new product, or something that might be of interest to them. I try to let them know what I do, and why it is different. I also always wear all of my own jewelry all the time..a great marketing tool!

How has social networking helped your business? What have you found works best for your store?

When I want views for my products, I twitter, but I am not sure if I have gotten any sales. I use Facebook, but I also am not sure how much that has helped. The best social networking is with Etsy itself. If you make your products interesting, and your store unusual, you have to try to get noticed. The “Best” is being highlighted by Etsy itself. That has gotten me the most exposure and sales. But it is not easy.

What is your favorite part of being an Etsy store owner?

The sales!! I am in this for my art, but also for business and to make money. I love being able to add things all the time. Also the fact that you have customers from all over the world, and they have purchased and are wearing your product. When you wake up and you have 2-3 sales overnight from Australia, England, France…it is great! It has also opened up wholesale accounts..across the country which would not have happened if I was not on Etsy.

What are some of the ways that you find Etsy helps in your success as a store owner?

Luckily I have been highlighted a few times..have been on the front page..and had an article written about 1 of my products. There is nothing like this type of exposure to insure sales on Etsy. I know I am lucky..because it does not happen to everyone. Also Etsy is getting larger and more of a reputation, which is helping all of us on the site.

What advice would you give new Etsians just starting out?

To be realistic about what you are selling..really look at your product and think what makes it unusual, unique, why would someone buy it from you? Is this a business to you, or a hobby? Just because you list it, does not mean it will sell. Do not copy other people.. you will only be a follower..not a leader. I am a professional, and I always brought this to Etsy.

How did you come up with your shop name?

It is what I named our retail store about 5 years ago. And I just used it to brand my jewelry line. I think it reflects the look and feel of my jewelry. It is a little edgy,, and that is my core customer. This was before Brett Michaels had his show!!

How do you brand yourself to make your shop unique?

What makes my shop unique is my method of creating my jewelry. I am a jewelry caster, and that means I carve my pieces from wax, melt my own silver, cast and finish. This takes many years of learning, expensive equipment, and my expertise. Not very many people on Etsy do this type of work..so I am confident in my shop, that it is unique. My look is organic..and one of a kind..not for everyone..but it is my signature. I also am able to do custom work for other stores and businesses.
I have also created my own line of Fingerprint Jewelry..which is the number 1 item in my shop..and I really do not have any competition for this product.

Do you feel a sense of community among the Etsy shop owners?

Yes, I do, especially for the ones who are professional, take it seriously, and have shops that take whatever product they have created, and made it a success. Some people that do it on a whim…I am not that thrilled with.

How do you connect with your buyers?

Mostly with convo’s and emails back and forth. Also with the feedback that is left at the end of the sale. My fingerprint Jewelry is very personal..and I hear very personal stories as to why the customer is buying it. It is very emotional for me.

For more information on Jackie visit http://www.rockmyworldinc.etsy.com/

Visit Jackie’s main website at http://rockmyworldinc.com/

Follow Jackie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/rockmyworldinc

Become a Facebook Fan at http://www.facebook.com/RockMyWorldInc?v=wall

Julie Barnes is the author is this post. Julie is excited to be living in Generation E – the age of the Entrepreneur. As a writer, she enjoys writing about all aspects of the entrepreneur journey. She enjoys interviewing entrepreneurs whose experience and wisdom can inspire others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron and lovable dog Hank. You can visit her site at www.julieabarnes.com. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieBarnesKS. Become a Facebook friend at Julie Barnes.

This is the sixth in a series of interviews with Etsy entrepreneurs.

Julie Boyles learned the art of hand binding books while taking a break from her oil painting career in early 2008. In April of 2008, Julie opened her Etsy shop – Julie Boyles Books. Julie pays careful attention to every detail while making her beautiful handmade leather journals. In this interview, learn how Julie used her creativity to create a career she is passionate about.

What brought you to become an Etsy shop owner?

In early 2008 I was taking a break from my oil painting career, and made the decision to change my focus.  I began to explore different types of crafts I was interested in, and came upon book binding.  While learning the art of hand binding books, Etsy came up in a search; I looked into it and signed up in February of 2008.  After doing a lot of research, and really digging into the way Etsy works, I opened up my shop in April of that year.  Now, almost 2 full years later, I’m enjoying myself more than I ever thought I would, and have a great career making something I’m passionate about.

How do you market your business?

I think of marketing this business a little differently than some would.  First and foremost, my two most important marketing tools are excellent, personal customer service, and consistently creating a quality product at a fair price. Word of mouth testimonies are priceless, and can become viral. Another way I market my business is by diversifying into several well chosen venues both on and offline.  Whenever I want to open a shop in a new venue, I think very carefully about how it will affect my business as a whole.  It’s just me making these journals and I would like it to remain that way. I don’t want to spread myself too thin so I only have a few online venues, and 2 brick and mortar stores I work out of. Creating and maintaining consistency of my brand is also critical to my marketing plan. I do this by making sure all my media looks the same, and remaining diligent when I create new things. I want to be sure that everything I create has my own aesthetic and that it carries through everything I make. I advertise on selected blogs, and use some of the promotional opportunities that Etsy provides. I purchase Showcase spots several times a year and either list new books daily, or renew existing ones to stay near the top of the category searches.

How has social networking helped your business?       What have you found works best for your store?

I look at social networking as exposure. I have a blog, a Facebook page, and occasionally I use Twitter.   I use these networks solely as a means to get my name out there, and to share any news I feel will be helpful.  Of these three, I enjoy blogging the most, so I use it more.  I like to write, and can be a little “wordy” sometimes, so this media fits my personality a little better.  On my blog, I share news about my shops and a few personal tidbits as well. I try to keep a healthy balance.  I’m currently working on growing my Facebook and Twitter presence, so as the year progresses my frequency of using these mediums will change.

What is your favorite part of being an Etsy store owner?

My favorite part is the pleasure I get from interacting with people from all around the world.  It thrills me that I will create a journal, or a photo album, and someone will get pleasure from writing in it or using it. This has been one of the most rewarding careers I have had. It’s all up to me.  Any success I achieve, or failures I have are all my own. I like the fact that the buck stops here.  I worked in retail management for many years, and the one thing I didn’t like was I was always held back from making the decisions that were right and fair for the customers.  I would have to say things like, “I can’t accept this return because it’s been more than 30 days since you purchased it” or “I’m sorry, we aren’t able to do this, it’s not our corporate policy.”  This is radically different.  I can take a return for any reason, or make any decision that is best for my customer, and my business.  In a nutshell, I can do the RIGHT thing, and feel good about it. I’m not perfect by any means! I forget things once in a while, and occasionally make a wrong decision, but at the end of the day I’m the only one accountable for the way I conduct this business.

What are some of the ways that you find Etsy helps in your success as a store owner?

Etsy has created a vibrant venue for sellers to sell their goods.  They also provide many opportunities to help initiate success.  The obvious things such as paid Showcase spots, relisting a sold item, or renewing a current item are often thought of first.  But there are other valuable tools available to sellers. Having Google Analytics connected to my shop has been very eye opening, and has really helped me maintain my marketing focus. It has also given me ideas for new products since I can easily see what people are looking for when they search.

The recent changes in Search Engine Optimization and all the discussions about how to optimize keywords have really helped me understand the importance of keywords, and search engines. I know my business has increased because of this. Treasuries, Front page exposure, and the Featured Seller spot have also been instrumental to my business growing, and I’m grateful each time I’ve been chosen for these things.

What advice would you give new Etsians just starting out?

Patience is the key for all Etsians in opening a shop. I would suggest doing a lot of reading on Etsy, especially the Terms of Service and the Do’s and Don’ts before even opening a shop.  Look into the categories to see where your product fits, and get an idea of who your competitors will be.  Search around the site to figure out how it works, and maybe even make a purchase in order to know what your customers will experience when they buy something from you. Make the very best product you can, and keep improving it. Practice taking good photos of your products, keep looking for ways to make your items look more appealing, but be honest. Don’t edit them to look better than they really are!  Provide exceptional customer service; get to know your customers as much as you can, and let them get to know you.  It’s these personal interactions that get me fired up each day, and help me to put in the long hours it takes to run this business. Etsy is a great venue that I think will continue to grow in size and popularity. I consider it a privilege to have it as one of the venues for my business.

For more information on Julie and her shop visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/julieboyles

Her main website at http://julieboyles.com/

Her blog at http://julieboyles.blogspot.com/

Follow Julie on Twitter at http://twitter.com/julieboyles

Become a Facebook Fan at http://www.facebook.com/JulieBoylesJournals

Julie Barnes is the author is this post. Julie is excited to be living in Generation E – the age of the Entrepreneur. As a writer, she enjoys writing about all aspects of the entrepreneur journey. She enjoys interviewing entrepreneurs whose experience and wisdom can inspire others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron and lovable dog Hank. You can visit her site at www.julieabarnes.com. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieBarnesKS. Become a Facebook friend at Julie Barnes.

This is the fifth in a series of interviews with Etsy entrepreneurs.

Karen is part of the ever growing community of handmade artisans who are making a real living on Etsy. Not only is Karen a shop owner, but her husband and daughter are also shop owners with her son working behind the scenes as an important part of the team. Karen and her family have been selling on Etsy since October 2007, and have been Full Time Etsy Sellers since July 2009. The family calls Livingston, TX, their home, but they have a house near Rolla, Missouri and still manage to spend as much time as they can traveling in their other home, a 40 foot RV. The kids are homeschooled, and always have been. They love being homeschooled and all the great opportunities that they have been given!!! In this interview, learn how Karen and her family began with one Etsy shop that has now grown into four Etsy shops.

What brought you to become an Etsy shop owner?

A friend knew we were selling jewelry at local craft shows and she suggested we try Etsy. This was 2 1/2 years ago and we had not heard of it at that point. We took a look and thought it was a good fit for our product, and it was very accessible, meaning, at that point we did not have any on line blogging, social networking or any on line selling experience. I had experience buying on line from Amazon and had a PayPal account. That was it. But, even with only that, we found that it was easy to set up our shop on Etsy. We even had our first sale on that very first day!

How do you market your business?

I utilize social networking, blogging, promotions on our site, handing out freebies at craft shows, word of mouth.

How has social networking helped your business?

Social networking has helped in two ways. First, we use it to stay connected with other shop keepers. It is great for sharing information and also to have a sense of community. Second, it helps us to promote our sales and new offerings to both existing and prospective customers.

What have you found works best for your store?

We use Twitter and Facebook. I have a personal and a fan page on Facebook, with the Fan page linked to Twitter. I usually list each new creation on our fan page and then it goes to Twitter automatically. I have over 5000 followers on Twitter and I try to spend some time every day chatting, retweeting good quotes, and mentioning some of new/sale items. I retweet other’s sales and neat handmade creations too. Both, Twitter and FB definitely drive traffic, AND sales. Night before last, I posted some new red earrings on Flickr and then tweeted about them with a link to the Flickr pic. I immediately got a tweet asking how much they were. I tweeted back the price and she went and bought them. It was her first Etsy transaction. Yoohoo!

What is your favorite part of being an Etsy store owner?
It allows our family to work together, to have a creative outlet, and educational experience for the kids (they are homeschooled). Being a part of Etsy means that we are a part of a worldwide community of artisans. That’s fabulous!

What are some of the ways that you find Etsy helps in your success as a store owner?

When we stared on Etsy, we hadn’t know about it before a few weeks prior and when we would mention to friends or customers at a craft show that we had an “Etsy Shop” they would ask about it as they didn’t know what that was. NOW, and for about the past 8 months, when we say we have an “Etsy Shop” the response is,”Oh cool! I will check you out there” or “My Mom has an Etsy shop too”. And, I have seen Etsy shops in mainstream magazines like Woman’s Day, Reader’s Digest and Ready Made. They are branding “handmade” in a whole new way. It’s no longer cutsie, country craft stuff, but cutting edge artisan made creations.

What advice would you give new Etsians just starting out?

Make something that you love, something that you really believe in and the rest is just hard work.

How did you come up with your shop name?

We are an un-common family…so it’s a play on that.

How do you brand yourself to make your shop unique?

We offer unique and colorful interpretations of traditional chainmaille.

Do you feel a sense of community among the Etsy shop owners?
Absolutely! And, we belong to several teams where we have many very good friends and a great support group.

How do you connect with your buyers?

We hand sew envelopes, hand sign the invoice, include a thank-you gift or gift wrap…and well, you will have to buy something to see what else!

For more information on Karen and her family’s Etsy shops visit:

http://unkamengifts.etsy.com/ – Sells unique and colorful chainmaille
jewelry and modern jewelry.

http://unkamensupplies.etsy.com/ – Quality hand crafted supplies for jewelry.

http://favmoongirl.etsy.com/ – Sells funky chainmaille and unique creations.

http://unkamenkeychains.etsy.com/ – Sells KEYCHAINS and Accessories

Their main website at http://unkamengifts.com/

Follow Karen on Twitter: http://twitter.com/unkamengifts

Become a Facebook Fan at http://www.facebook.com/pages/UnkamenGifts/269222395062

Julie Barnes is the author is this post. Julie is excited to be living in Generation E – the age of the Entrepreneur. As a writer, she enjoys writing about all aspects of the entrepreneur journey. She enjoys interviewing entrepreneurs whose experience and wisdom can inspire others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Julie lives and works in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, KS with her husband Ron and lovable dog Hank. You can visit her site at www.julieabarnes.com. Follow Julie on Twitter at @JulieBarnesKS. Become a Facebook friend at Julie Barnes.