Etsy Seller Interview with Stefanie of StefanieSheehan

How StefanieSheehan 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?

Hello! I am Stefanie. My shop name is Stefanie Sheehan on Etsy. I first began my journey with metalsmithing in college. I went to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, first with painting as my concentration, but quickly changed my major once I saw the Jewelry Department's senior thesis show happening my freshman year. Once I graduated with my BFA, I knew that I wanted to create my own jewelry ideas and sell them myself, so Etsy was a no-brainer for giving it a try. I didn't have a lot of money to start anything crazy, so I had a small, workable studio in my garage and used simple wire and solder to make some of my first designs. I have since grown my collection and now create a lot of things with what is called lost wax casting, along with hand fabrication. I hand-carve designs in wax first, which allows me to get a lot of fun and detailed work, and then the jewelry pieces are cast into solid metal in materials like yellow brass, sterling silver, and 14k gold.

Favorite items

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

It is so hard to choose my favorites sometimes! Right now, I would have to say my brand new Love and Dreams Ring, Cat Ring, Light in the Dark Necklace, and Gold Evil Eye Ring are a few of my favorites for all different reasons. One of my newest pieces, the Love and Dreams Ring, just feels really true to me and my jewelry’s path right now. I love the heart-shaped cabochon stone and how it is kind of unexpected in this super-textured yet whimsical ring design. My cat ring is something I have always been super proud of. It was modeled after my dear cat from childhood, whom I loved so much. Everyone who buys one seems to have a special connection with a cat of their own that they want to celebrate or commemorate, and it makes me happy. My Light in the Dark Necklace was created at a time when I had to remember that there are always good times to look forward to. Slumps come and go, and it’s important to know your strength to get you through sometimes. I have to tell myself that if I made it through the last one, I can do it again. So this piece has always felt very powerful to me, and I wear mine every day. Lastly, the gold evil eye ring was one of my first designs from back when I first opened my Etsy shop in 2012! It is sleek and simple yet edgy, and I have not gotten bored of making them. The cat ring and gold evil eye ring are definitely two of my best sellers, I think because of their price point and the fact that they are unique in the categories people may be searching. The Light in the Dark Necklace has been selling more lately, but at a higher price point, it may hold some people back. The Love and Dreams Ring is super new, and I’m excited to see who connects with it and decides to make one theirs! Either way, they are all special and can hold lots of meaning for their wearers, which is part of what I love about making jewelry.

Love and Dreams Ring, this is the link for gold but there is one for silver too

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?

If I remember correctly, I first opened my shop in June, and my first sale was made in August. It felt like a really long two months! I currently just get customers on Etsy with my social media and Etsy search, and quite a lot of them are repeat customers, which I truly appreciate!

Managing StefanieSheehan

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?

It’s a one-woman show over here. I now have a room in my house dedicated to my business where I create my items, pack and ship them, take photographs, and more. It is hard at times to find the time to dedicate in my studio as a mom to a 3-year-old, but I wouldn't have it any other way! I use Instagram often (or at least try to) to show pictures and videos of my work in all states of creation. I also try to use Pinterest and Facebook here and there. I use the Etsy Seller app to keep track of what's going on with my sales on Etsy. I usually purchase my shipping labels for orders made through Etsy on the platform and use USPS as my carrier of choice.

The future of StefanieSheehan

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

I used to worry about creating a whole new collection every season as they do in the fashion world. But I have decided in the last few years to severely edit what I decide to create and offer in my shop. I feel like this has made it a lot less stressful on my creative self, so I’m less likely to get burned out. It has allowed the new pieces I am creating to feel a whole lot more like me and the direction I want my work to grow. I hope to become even more skilled in my work in the future and just keep pushing what I can and want to do with the items I create.

Advice for new sellers

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

Take your time when creating your listings. Make sure you offer all the information that needs to be known clearly. Having good tags and titles is essential to getting found. But most importantly, make sure your photography is on point. It is the only way a customer can see your item, so it needs to really shine!