How pUkke 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?

Hey everyone! My name is Simona, and I am from Lithuania. I am so excited to share with you all about the soutache jewelry and how it came into my life. I became fascinated with the soutache technique completely by accident. One day, about 12 years ago, I was sitting nursing my baby girl while browsing the internet and saw some very interesting earrings. I am the kind of person who really likes all kinds of handicrafts; I like to try everything myself. So I started looking for more information, ordered materials online, started trying it, and really liked it. Time just flew by. It became my kind of meditation. Of course, it took me a while to find good-quality braids and different materials. But now, after many years, I know what I need and what suits me. And you know, I didn't even feel how everything grew into what it is now. Each piece is crafted with love and attention to detail, making it truly unique and beautiful. Soutache is a technique that involves sewing together colorful cords and beads. The result is a stunning piece of jewelry that is sure to turn heads and make a statement. You need to be really careful and accurate so that the soutache piece looks really beautiful and neat. And I think I have it. By specialty, I am a graphic designer, so I know how the smallest details can change it all.

Favorite items

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

I love working with colors, mixing them, and finding new combinations. And I like big earrings, so if I had to choose only one item in my shop, it would be these:

Big colorful chandelier earrings, light brown and turquoise soutache earrings

And what I love wearing every day:

Brown earrings with rivoli crystals, autumn earrings, brown soutache earrings, brown and orange drop earrings
Turquoise and purple soutache earrings, teal and gold dangle drop earrings, turquoise and gold elegant earrings

But the most popular items in my Etsy shop are:

Red embroidered earrings, red dangle drop earrings, red soutache
Black and gold soutache earrings, beige dangle earrings, black chandelier earrings, statement earrings, onyx earrings
Long black and gold earrings, black dangle earrings, onyx earrings

I could say these are the most popular colors: red and a black/gold mix.

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 had no idea that I would ever be able to make a living from it and not go back to my job after maternity leave. I remember thinking, "Well, why not try to sell?" I uploaded my first and only listing at the time, but about a week later I got my first sale. Someone trusted me with only one listing, no sales, and no reviews. I remember jumping and screaming, and it really inspired me not to stop and to keep trying. So I uploaded more and more. And now I have about 400 listings. It just happened. Of course I have ups and downs, but if you really love what you do and enjoy the process, I think it is the most important. I like being free; I like that I don't have to work 8–17 every day. Yes, sometimes I work more, but I can choose when: today or tomorrow, day or night.

Managing pUkke

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 the only person responsible for this Etsy shop. I design, create, make, take, and edit pictures, upload them to Etsy, track sales, pay taxes, do packaging, and go to the post office. And it is fine for me: At the moment, I live with my daughter in a small apartment, so everything happens in one room: I sleep, I work, I read, I watch movies, I paint, and sometimes I dance.

The future of pUkke 

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

I would like my Etsy shop to grow and become more visible. Now I'm working on item name descriptions and tags. I have to change a lot because Etsy's algorithm was changed, and I need to confess I haven't adjusted everything yet.

Advice for new sellers

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

The first thing you should ask yourself is, "Is it really what makes me happy doing this? Because you will spend most of your time here. Well, at least for me, it is number one. Not the money, not the status, but the warm feeling inside when you do it.

But if you decide to give it a try, the first thing you need are beautiful pictures. And then, just listen to what Etsy says and follow the updates.

Alura Team
Alura Team

Alura is your all-in-one platform for selling on Etsy. With more $500.000+ gross sales over four years selling on Etsy, Alura is built by experienced sellers for sellers. Start with a free account and explore all the features you need to start, run, and grow your Etsy shop.