How DerbyGirlDesigns130 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 Kara Vorkian, and I own Derby Girl Designs. I make jewelry and gifts using stainless steel roller skate wheel bearings with natural gemstones, cubic zirconia, and crystals. These #bearingbeauties happened in 2011 when I was cleaning my bearings before a roller derby game. I had a magnetic hematite gemstone bead nearby and thought, "Hmm. 8mm gemstone bead, 8mm bearing. Let’s see what happens!" The bead fit right in the middle of the bearing, and Derby Girl Designs was born! After several years of trial and error, design changes, and supply issues, I’m very excited about my current offerings of pendants, jacket pins, cuff links, bookmarks, magnets, keychains, and rings. I try to use USA-made products whenever I can. I’ve been working with two companies for years to provide my rust-resistant bearings and ball chain necklaces. I use only stainless steel in my products. No nickel, no plated anything.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
Hematite and Yellow Tiger Eye were my first ever jewelry pieces and two of my favorite gemstones, so they have a special place in my heart.
But, my favorite ones right now are my Crystal Transmission and Vitrail crystal pendants, and they’ve been a big hit with everyone.
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 months to make my first sale. Etsy was still pretty new, and I definitely have a niche market item. Today I use Etsy’s marketing tools to attract customers. I pride myself on providing excellent customer service. If you’re not happy, I’m not happy, and I’ll make it right to the best of my ability. Word of mouth is still, to this day, where the majority of my sales originate.
Managing DerbyGirlDesigns130
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?
It’s just me! From cleaning the bearings to printing mailing labels, I do it all! I’ve worked hard over the years to refine my processes and source quality materials, so I’m able to provide a very quick order turnaround. I don’t use any specific tools or apps; I just use what Etsy currently provides, and I keep track of revenue via Quickbooks.
The future of DerbyGirlDesigns130
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
The pandemic hit roller derby hard. We’re now making our way back to the track, and I’m excited to have my pendants in several vendor booths traveling all over the country! I hope to sign up more vendors and skate shops to carry my items and come up with a few new product ideas this year.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
Don’t be discouraged if it takes a while for your first sale. Use the marketing tools that are available on Etsy and provide the best customer service that you can!
Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.
Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: I’m still working to build that backup, but all-time in the 10 years since they started tracking in 2013, I’ve made 29K.
Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: 87.5%
Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: According to the 10 year view, 2%
DerbyGirlDesigns130
Derby Girl Designs
