Etsy Seller Interview with Michael of OurCoordinates

How OurCoordinates 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 Michael Heckert, Owner of OurCoordinates on Etsy! At OurCoordinates, we specialize in made-to-order, personalized, handmade jewelry and gifts. Founded in 2019, we originally started out selling on our website, and expanded to Etsy in 2020. That move was a game changer for our business, as Etsy provides a large user base that is ready to purchase from small businesses, specifically those that produce handmade goods! We decided to focus mainly on our handmade bracelets, which are great for gifting to others. We source the string and charms locally, which gives us a nearby source if we run low on inventory, and we are able to ship out the same day as we get the orders.

Favorite items

What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?

My absolute favorite products would have to be our Magnetic Couple Bracelets; they have been a top seller for us, and they were really the first product we produced ourselves. The bracelets come in a set of two and connect with small magnets when couples hold hands.

We also offer a set of marble stone bracelets that is a slight upgrade from the original couple's bracelet set. The bracelets come as a set with the same unique connecting charms but are made of marble beads with sterling silver charms. They are very popular with couples that are in long-distance relationships. I really like these due to the quality and smooth feel; they represent a bond that distance will never break.

Another one of my favorites is our Spinning Sunflower Necklace, which we just recently added to our store. The sunflower-shaped pendant is made of crystal and is able to rotate 360 degrees. Similar to trendy fidget spinners, it produces a calming effect when spun and is great for people who suffer from anxiety. As someone who struggles with anxiety myself and has found relief from fidget spinners, I really like this product.

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?

To our surprise, we actually got our first few sales the first week we launched on Etsy! The feeling of that first "Cha-ching" is something I will never forget. Currently, we attract our customers through social media, and running sales, and lately, we have been really trying to take advantage of Etsy’s new Explore feature. We are still trying to find the right strategy, but we believe the explore feature will be hugely successful, and we want to be a part of that!

Managing OurCoordinates

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?

When it comes to managing OurCoordinates on Etsy, I am a one-man army. Thankfully, I am armed with several amazing apps and tools that help expedite and manage the daily tasks that come with running a successful Etsy shop! For finding trends, keywords, tags, and overall listing optimizations, we use this great tool named "Alura". It is great for auditing listings and finding opportunities that I would normally not be able to pick up on if I had to do the research manually. The other tools we use to help are the Etsy app itself as well as major social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and TikTok to promote our products and bring in organic traffic! When it comes to shipping and fulfillment, we do it all in-house. From printing the labels to dropping off the packages.

The future of OurCoordinates

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

Our goals for OurCoordinates are to scale and grow year over year, with the ultimate goal of hitting six figures within one calendar year. We also want to get involved with some local organizations so we can donate a portion of our profits and help change lives for the better. I am insanely excited about the future of OurCoordinates, and we hope you are as well!

Advice for new sellers

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

From my experience, starting an Etsy shop can be a fun and profitable way to generate additional income! You should know that it does take time, effort, and dedication to build a successful business on Etsy! My best advice would be to always provide excellent customer service! Respond promptly to customers, be polite and professional, and go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction. Also, be sure that your product media is on point! Beautiful, detailed, high-quality images will sell your products for you. Reversibly, listings with blurry, confusing media will drive customers away as fast as possible. Make sure you have several angles and that your photos show the benefits or specific details of why your product is great!

Last but not least, never stop optimizing and improving your Etsy shop! A lot of people will begin to see success on Etsy and stop doing what got them those initial sales. Always be adding new listings, updating descriptions, tags, etc. Connect with customers on social media, check up to make sure they are happy with their purchase, and just be genuine. By following these tips and focusing on delivering high-quality products and excellent customer service, you can create a thriving Etsy shop and build a loyal customer base.