How HandmadebyJoolz 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?
Originally, I began selling knitted and crocheted items on Etsy as just a little side hustle. I was making numerous items and had gifted as many things as I could.
It was in the winter of 2016/17 that I took a class in stained glass, fell in love with the artform, learned everything I could in a short space of time, and got as good as I possibly could with hours and hours of practice. When I felt confident that my work was of good quality, I began listing a few items on Etsy. Initially it was simple flowers and hearts, but I soon branched out into much more complex designs, and now I adore making pieces that have 3D elements to them.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
Picking a favorite is quite difficult. However, the rainbow daisy is one of my favorites and attracts a lot of compliments. There is something so pleasing about colors arranged in spectrum order, and it makes any window so much brighter, even on a gloomy day.
Another favorite is from my origami-inspired series. The polar bear is a majestic animal, and I’ve created this piece using glass that has a mother-of-pearl type finish to it. Though the glass is mainly opaque and doesn't let a huge amount of light through, the light that bounces off the surface is truly magical.
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?
I think it took a few weeks to get my first sale. I promote my shop through my Facebook page, Instagram, and Pinterest, though I do find it difficult to keep up with regular social media content.
Managing HandmadebyJoolz
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 show. I am a designer, maker, marketer, bookkeeper, shipping fulfiller, and customer service department. I am fortunate that the local post office is only a mile from my home, and the courier delivery service has a drop-off point at the corner store a few hundred meters away. I’m pretty old-school when it comes to organizing my workflow and love a diary and daily planner to write where and when things need to happen. I find it works much better for my business than using apps to schedule stuff. I’ve always been a prolific list maker, so I am able to indulge my second love after art and design, which is hoarding stationery!
The future of HandmadebyJoolz
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
As an artist, it is always difficult to balance the projects I want to do because they are meaningful to me with having my work be appealing and relevant to a wider audience. Obviously, for my shop to remain successful, I need to be creating pieces that my customers wish to buy, but not to the point where I am creating hundreds of the same things and then it becomes a less personal item that is being purchased. I am looking to find a way of making more of my products customizable with either unique colors (though all of my pieces can be made in any color) or with the addition of names, dates, etc. as a personalized memento.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
Don’t believe all the YouTubers and TikTokers who say you can earn thousands in your first month. It takes time for the Etsy algorithm to find your items and match them to those who are searching. Obviously, having a good understanding of SEO will massively help, but don’t be discouraged if it takes time to get a few sales under your belt. Use your own ideas, and most of all, it needs to be something that you love doing, because running a small home-based business takes way more time than you would first imagine, and if you’re not fully invested, it doesn’t matter how successful you are if it’s not what makes your heart sing.
HandmadebyJoolz
Stained glass decorations for you and your home.
