How SteamyLab 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 Silvia Marzucchi, the owner and founder of SteamyLab on Etsy. I design jewelry in sterling silver and with precious and semi-precious stones. My collections include bold designs as well as minimalist ones, both with a rustic industrial feel. I also particularly love creating custom, meaningful oak gifts that will be treasured for years to come.
My passion for jewelry started while I was living in London, where I graduated while selling Murano glass jewelry in markets around the city. I particularly loved my trips to Venice, where I could stand next to master glassmakers performing magic with their hands, resulting in pieces of outstanding beauty. However, the "jewelry bug" started to grow only after returning to my home country.
SteamyLab was launched in 2012, a time when I really needed to develop a business model suitable for my needs as a mother of two small twins with a great desire to follow them closely without giving up my professional growth. Armed with a lot of patience and determination, I began to read up on materials, tools, and anything else that was necessary to be able to approach the silversmith world, a world I am grateful to have discovered and nurtured.
As soon as I discovered Etsy, I immediately thought to myself that I wanted to be part of this passionate and ethically driven community. My creating process is spontaneous and ever-changing, just as we all are, but the focus is always on enjoying the journey and sharing it through my pieces. Tailor-made jewels are a rewarding experience for me; I have the honor to connect with my customers and their stories, and I truly love to recreate a special memory. As a self-taught silversmith, I mainly work on my own, and it has been pretty challenging and lengthy to master all the necessary skills, but at the same time, I learned a great deal by handling the metal itself. My latest designs lean more towards antique finishes and strong textures, which add character to each piece.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
There are many favorites of mine, so just to name a few best-sellers:
Another piece that is very dear to me is the Unisex Ouroboro Stone Silver Ring Black Spinel Snake Texture on Etsy Italy, which is one of my latest creations.
The success of these items lies in the opportunity for customization for the cuff and the brooch; in design originality and versatility for the Sicily necklace, where the corals can slide around the chain allowing many styles and it's fun to wear; and finally, in textures and meaningfulness for the Ouroboros ring.
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 heard my first "ch-ching" just over a month after it opened, and I can vividly remember the buzz that it gave me! I made another sale the month after, and so forth for about 5 months. Slowly but steadily, my income increased, and customers appreciated my work and kept returning. After a couple of years, my business was ready to become my main source of income. At present, I run an Etsy shop and my own website, and I also do wholesale. I promote my business mainly on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. When I buy handmade, I seek a connection with the maker and with the idea behind the piece. A friendly approach to customers and an effort to meet their expectations and go beyond are undeniably keys to success.
Managing SteamyLab
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?
SteamyLab is a solo business, so I do it all, from top to bottom and around — but that's exactly how I want it. Working from home is both convenient and challenging. It is important to organize the work wisely. Etsy offers great support on this matter. The platform is extremely easy to use and allows you to quickly manage each order to its fullest. I also use Photoshop and Canva for photo editing and marketing content. I ship worldwide, either via standard shipping or courier, depending on the customer's needs.
The future of SteamyLab
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
In the future, I look forward to seeing what comes next, and as long as I enjoy what I do, I won't be longing for retirement.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
Opening an Etsy shop is very exciting, but keeping it up and running is an ongoing process that can be overwhelming. Online shops need constant tender loving care, just like you would with a physical shop. This means SEO, great photos, a consistent look, engaging content, clear item descriptions, and the list goes on. It may seem like a lot, and it sure is, but with passion and patience, you'll find the right path for your business. As a final piece of advice, be grateful for finding your element.
