How CLJewelrySupply 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?
I’m Leta Porter and am the owner/operator of CLJewelrySupply. Before I started this shop, I did have a handmade jewelry shop on Etsy that I opened in 2008 with the encouragement of my daughter. But as we all know, that category is very saturated. After about 5 years, I closed that shop and opened my supply shop as I still wanted to be connected to jewelry and craft making. I started by offering items that I thought customers would like, and over the years I could see what was purchased more often. Along with customer favorites, I also offer items that catch my eye when I am sourcing products, because you never know what will be a winner. Later, I started offering a small selection of craft supplies. For example, I started selling the small safety pins when I found that I couldn’t buy packs of safety pins ( any size ) by the 100 in a pack at my local fabric shops like you used to be able to, and that was the pack size I wanted and I thought customers would too.
I source my products from various places.
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 are the ones that my customers come back for over and over. It's hard to know why they sell well other than that it is what the customers are looking for. I think I offer my items at a fair price, and I go over every single item I offer ( before I package them in their individual packs ) to make sure it/they are usable. For example, I make sure all the rhinestones on a bead, charm, or pendant are all there and not wonky looking. About 20% of the items I source in large quantities are not usable.
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?
It took a few days. I used to post items on FB and instagram, but it is hard for me to make jewelry components look exciting. I rely on my SEO and the fact that my shop has been on Etsy for a long time. But most importantly to me is giving my customers the customer service that they deserve. I ship my items very quickly, respond to messages as soon as I can, and deal with any problems that may arise as quickly as I can. Customer trust is everything!
Managing CLJewelrySupply
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-person shop. I do everything myself. The only app I use is the Etsy seller app. When I am away from my desktop computer, the app helps me communicate with my customers and lets me know when I have a sale. I use Etsy shipping labels and am usually able to package orders the same day they come in. I ship the next business day, but when I am able, I will ship the same day and also on Saturdays.
The future of CLJewelrySupply
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
I will expand my item offerings and grow my customer base.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
It takes awhile to get traction on Etsy. As a longtime Etsy seller ( Kara Buntin ) that I follow on Youtube and FB says, Etsy is a marathon, not a sprint. Give the best customer service you can (this, however, does not mean taking abuse ). Fill out everything on Etsy pertaining to your shop, i.e., the intro, the about me section, policies, faq’s. You don’t have to be wordy, but give the customer a sense of who you are. All this helps with customer trust. Do what you can to help drive your own foot traffic to your shop.
CLJewelrySupply
Jewelry Supplies, Craft Supplies
