Etsy Seller Interview with Mykaela of YoungMethod

How YoungMethod 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?

The Young Method was created in December of 2016. I sell handmade jewellery made with quality gemstones, crystals, and glass beads. My items are affordable, ranging from plated to gold-filled. I had the idea of starting a shop in middle school. I didn't know much about making jewellery outside of the toy kits that I used to play with when I was little. So I started to practise making glass bead bracelets, and then I really got into gemstones. I did this for two years, then published my shop as a Sophomore in high school. Ever since then, I've been hand-making jewellery periodically throughout college.

Favorite items

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

My most popular items are wire gemstone rings, specifically the gold-coloured ones. I enjoy making these rings because they are all unique since the stones I use are natural. It was actually the first item I sold in 2017, and it was extremely popular in 2020.

I'm always looking to wear my personal favourite, the garnet dangle earrings. While it's not a high-selling item, they are really beautiful and mark an important milestone for my shop. A couple years ago, I decided to offer more high-quality items, and these earrings were a part of my first collection that did so.

My favourite new item is the braided wire ring. I just love how this one looks! I was inspired by the trendy braided wire rings and came up with this design, which feels very elegant to me.

I think my charm wire ring is my most unique item, and that's why it has been well received. I was so excited to publish this one on Etsy because it took me a while to figure out how to make the charm actually dangle, but it was worth it.

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?

It took me about six months to get my first sale. During that time, I was still creating and perfecting my listings in order to reach my target audience. Today, I have four social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest for my shop's promotion. I also focus on attracting customers through Etsy by optimising my listing’s SEO.

Managing YoungMethod 

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 run the Young Method myself. I package my items using a scale and label printer paper to make shipping more efficient. I utilise a lot of what the Etsy seller dashboard has to offer, along with websites like Google Analytics, for more details on how Etsy users are interacting with my shop. I take my product photos with my cellphone using a light box, then edit them on my computer for a professional look. However, I started my shop by using just natural light and an editing app on my phone, and that works too.

The future of YoungMethod 

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

My goal is to transition my shop from offering ‘made-to-order’ items to ‘pre-made’ items. I graduated college recently, and my focus is on putting my degree to use, so my shop goals reflect that.

Advice for new sellers

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

Don't be deterred by not seeing results right away or slow sales. Spend that time making your listings or products better. Enjoy the process!