How CajasBoutique 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?

The idea of selling on Etsy came to me when I started making handmade jewellery for friends and family. The positive reactions and interest in my creations encouraged me to make my jewellery accessible to a wider audience. Etsy seemed like the perfect place to do this because the platform is known for its support of craftsmen and artists.

Creating a Glass Bead Preparation: First, stainless steel rods are dipped in a release agent and dried (to ensure that the finished bead can be easily removed from the rod). To heat the glass, I use an Arnold burner called the Isihead. This is a two-gas burner operated with gas and oxygen. To protect my eyes (from glass splinters and radiation), I wear protective goggles, or so-called Didymium eyewear. The toxic gases released during glass melting are extracted by a strong ventilation system. When working with silver or silver-containing glasses, I also protect myself with a respirator (Protection Class 3).

Types of Glass: I mostly use rods made of Italian Murano glass, German Lauscha glass, Reichenbach glass, Ornella glass, Kugler glass, Double Helix, and CIM glass for my beads.

Making a Glass Bead: The tip of the glass rod is slowly melted in the flame. When the glass is soft, it is carefully wrapped around the mandrel (stainless steel rod). This is done repeatedly until the bead reaches the desired size. The bead must be constantly rotated, or the glass will drip down. By constantly and evenly turning the mandrel, the bead takes on a round shape.

You can decorate the bead with a gold leaf, a silver leaf, or stringers. Stringers are long, thin glass threads. With them, you can paint lines or dots on the bead. You can either melt them in or leave them raised. By repeatedly applying, melting, applying, melting, an endless range of possibilities emerges. You can also change the shape of the bead with heat-resistant tools (e.g., knives, spoons, pliers, etc.). There are also a lot of specialised tools for this purpose.

When the bead is finished with decorations, it is slowly cooled down in the back part of the flame. After that, it goes into the digitally controlled annealing oven. I use a chilli pepper oven. In it, the beads are slowly cooled down to room temperature. This gentle cooling process is called annealing. It reduces the tension in the glass bead. A bead that is cooled down gently is much more resistant. It has a significantly longer "lifespan" than an unannealed bead.

The cooled bead is removed from the mandrel and gently hand-cleaned with a diamond file under water.

Then, it is ready and can be used to create jewellery.

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:

Red lampwork necklace with a large handmade glass ball, minimalist ball necklace, rubber necklace with a big pearl
Sunflower necklace with red rosehips and leaves, handmade glass flowers and glass leaves
Red orange wave pearl necklace, handmade glass pearls, extraordinary glass necklace, statement necklace

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?

In February 2017, I opened my shop on Etsy. On March 4, 2017, I made my first sale. To attract new customers, I advertise on Etsy.

Managing CajasBoutique

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?

I am a "one-woman operation." I make my glass beads myself and use them to create my jewelry. I purchase jewellery-making supplies from wholesalers. I use Bilbee for invoicing. I buy packaging materials from the Post and DHL. I also use this shipping company to send my packages. I am registered with Landbell and have a website.

The future of CajasBoutique

What goals do you have for your shop in the future?

I would like to celebrate my 20th business anniversary next year. I am currently considering a promotion that I can implement on Etsy. For the future, I wish for many happy customers.

Advice for new sellers

What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?

  1. Take good photos without distractions in the background.
  2. Calculate correctly and keep notes on labour time, material costs, packaging materials, business cards, shipping costs, advertising expenses, rent, electricity, and any commissions you need to pay. These are all expenses that must be covered, and the most important thing is that there is something left for you in the end.
  3. Advertise on Etsy. Don't promote all the items in your shop; that can become too expensive. Promote 10–20 items. Monitor and, if necessary, change the items. This, of course, takes some time.
  4. Be patient.
Alura Team
Alura Team

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