How SimpleSparrowStudio 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 shop is Simple Sparrow Studio. I opened my Etsy shop in 2008, but I believe at that time I was making wood signs. In 2010, I took a silversmithing class at my local community college and fell in love. For the first time in my life, I felt like I was actually good at something. I don’t rush by nature, so it wasn’t till around 2012 that I really started selling and getting more exposure. Slow and steady.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
Oh gosh, that’s a difficult question, but I guess I would say my buffalo nickel rings are one of my favorites. They are some of my best-selling rings, probably because they are sentimental to a lot of folks. I've had customers tell me their grandfathers used to collect the nickels, or they remember seeing them in circulation. Lots of good memories.
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 looked back at my sales, and my very first sale that came from a stranger was in June of 2012. Before that and even after, most of my sales came from people I knew. One thing I did to get more traffic to my Etsy shop was to sign up for Marmalade. I have also been a part of a local market in the town I live in, and when I make a sale, I sell directly from my shop. This helps with two things: one, it helps me manage my inventory, and two, it boosts my sales on Etsy, which gets my shop seen more.
Managing SimpleSparrowStudio
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 over here, and so far it has worked for me. Some little things that don’t seem like they would matter but to me did were investing in a good printer for printing labels and setting up an area to pack boxes that have all my supplies. Another thing that helps me manage my shop is taking all my product photography, editing, and uploading to my Etsy listings all from my iPhone. This way, I can make listings while watching a movie with my husband.
The future of SimpleSparrowStudio
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
As of now, I am trying to build my email database and start a newsletter. I also want to sell at more in-person shows.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
My advice is to just jump in and go for it; don’t be worried if you don’t have it all together; do what works for you. Doing what you love and enjoying the process will show in your work.
SimpleSparrowStudio
Handmade Silver Jewelry
