How crystalsunlimited 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?
My name is Teresa Tomas. After almost 40 years of manufacturing jewellery using rhinestone crystals made by high-profile companies like Swarovski and Preciosa, we have accumulated a vast and impressive stock of components that can be used by other manufacturers to produce jewellery, accessories, embellishments, and many other products. We have experience making bespoke diamante jewellery. Our products are mostly sourced in Austria and the Czech Republic, which also produce superior-quality crystals and chains. In the current conjuncture, Swarovski has interrupted its supplies, but our 40-year experience enables us to source the highest-quality components from other factories in the Czech Republic.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
Our favourite product is diamante chain, which can be supplied in various different finishes, sizes, and colours. Our 6mm chain can be supplied in any colour combination, using coloured crystals and coloured pearls. It is our favourite because it is extremely versatile and has proved particularly popular with our clientele. We think this is because it is not readily available elsewhere. Our vintage crystals are likewise extremely popular.
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 us around three months to earn our first sale and about a year to get regular orders. We do rely on our excellent standard of service and our 5-star reviews. Many of our customers return to us, and much of our advertising is what people write about our service.
Managing crystalsunlimited
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?
My husband and I run the shop as a team. We use PhotoSmile, Photographic Cabinet, and Photoshop for photography. We have also started making videos. We use the Royal Mail Post Office tracking service for shipment and fulfilment. We usually send orders the same day if the order was placed before 2 p.m. or the next day for orders placed after 2 p.m.
The future of crystalsunlimited
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
Our goals are to produce and supply more components so that we can offer customers as much variety as possible, enabling them to further their own projects.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
Our advice is to be patient. Things don’t happen overnight. Apps like Canva can be useful for making videos. The quality of your photographs has to be very good and consistent. Good photography sells items, as photographs can be enlarged and viewed in detail. This helps sell your products.
