Over the next three days I wanted to share the experiences and successes I have had over the last month with my jewellery label, Epheriell. I’m sharing this in the hope that I can inspire and help other micro-business owners. I’m not an ‘expert’ – I’m muddling along like everyone else. But I seem to be going in the right direction…
This is how I’ve gone from no sales in early March to an average of a sale a day (actually a little bit more!) as of now.
I have broken this up into three posts, because it just got massive! I’ll post them over the next three days.
The Backstory
Over Christmas and New Year 2009/2010, I took time off from the online world – shut my shops and did almost no blog posts – because there was lots of stuff going on in the ‘outside’ world. I had just gotten married in late September when my boss told me he wanted to sell the business I was managing, so I finished my job; we moved house – in with my parents – and decided to go travelling; bought a van and converted it from an empty shell to a campervan; and I also had a big run of dental problems… in short, I was really busy and had no time (or energy) for my business. In fact, as my husband and I are going travelling around Australia this year, I had decided to give it up altogether until I got home. My how things have changed!
Problems with the van mechanics arose once we had finished the conversion, and I suddenly found myself with a lot of time, and nothing to do, while this was getting fixed. Anyone who knows me knows that a bored Jess is a cranky Jess, so I decided to open my shops back up, and try to sell a few things before we left on our holiday.
Well, it’s now a month later, and we are about to leave. And I’m taking my business with me. I love it, and I love my blog, and I’ve decided to make a real go at it this year.
What I’ve Achieved
Okay, so now to the nitty gritty. Since I re-opened my shops, which I believe was on around the 6th of March, (Etsy, MadeIt, Supermarket, and just the other day, my own store), until today (the 12th of April as I’m writing this) I have had a total of 40 sales in 33 days. For the Etsians out there, 22 of those were on Etsy. Now, this is during a time of turmoil on Etsy where many people are claiming that their views and sales have drastically reduced due to an error with Google indexing their results.
In detail, here are my numbers for the last month:
| Date | # Sales | Venue |
| 11-Mar | 2 | Etsy |
| 12-Mar | 1 | Etsy |
| 13-Mar | ||
| 14-Mar | ||
| 15-Mar | 2 | Etsy |
| 16-Mar | ||
| 17-Mar | ||
| 18-Mar | 1 | Etsy |
| 19-Mar | 1 | Etsy |
| 20-Mar | 1 | Etsy |
| 21-Mar | 1 | Etsy |
| 22-Mar | 1 | Etsy |
| 23-Mar | ||
| 24-Mar | ||
| 25-Mar | ||
| 26-Mar | 2 | Etsy |
| 27-Mar | 3 | Madeit |
| 28-Mar | 1 | Etsy |
| 29-Mar | 4 | Madeit |
| 30-Mar | 1 | Madeit |
| 31-Mar | 1 | Etsy |
| 22 | ||
| Date | # Sales | Venue |
| 1-Apr | 1 | Supermarket |
| 2-Apr | ||
| 3-Apr | ||
| 4-Apr | 1 | Madeit |
| 5-Apr | 1 | Etsy |
| 6-Apr | 2 | Etsy |
| 7-Apr | 2 | Madeit & Etsy |
| 8-Apr | 3 | Etsy and Madeit |
| 9-Apr | 1 | Etsy |
| 10-Apr | 6 | Madeit and Epheriell.com |
| 11-Apr | ||
| 12-Apr | 1 | Madeit |
| 18 |
So that’s a total of 40 sales in 33 days. You can see that weekends are quieter in April (Easter weekend especially).
To be honest, I’ve actually amazed myself at how many sales I’ve made over this time. Every single time I get a sale it’s a big thrill, and I clap my hands in excitement!
So, how have I done it? Stay tuned…
Tomorrow I’ll share the first 3 of the six strategies I’ve used to get this far.
Edit: They’re now published – here they are!
You can now download this whole series as a FREE e-book over here
***
Want more Epheriell-y goodness? Subscribe to Epheriell Designs! Also, you can follow me on Twitter!
If you found this post interesting, please share it – there are some handy-dandy buttons below for just that purpose 🙂
Very impressive-you have beautiful pictures. I’m following your blog, I can’t wait to hear how you’ve done so well being back online for such a short amount of time. I’m particularly interested because I sell jewelry too, and it’s such a competitive market! Good luck in the future as well!
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Beaded Flower Necklace with Vintage Daisy =-.
Thanks Michelle!
Yes, jewellery is an awfully competitive place, especially on Etsy… that makes it all the harder for those of us in this niche.
I’m really interested to read the rest. I’d love to duplicate your success when I open in May.
Thanks Sarah! The first thing I’d advise is to definitely join twitter and start finding cool tweeps to follow 🙂
Also, look around on Etsy and find one or two Street Teams to join.
That will be a good start….
Oooh I can’t wait until your next post! I don’t sell jewelry but I am so ready for more sales in my shop!!
This is awesome for you! But now I’m on the edge of my seat wondering how you did it… you meant to do that to us, didn’t you? I’m hoping I remember to come back here tomorrow and read more! LOL! =)
Yay Jess! I can’t even imagine making a go of selling jewelry on Etsy…I can’t wait to see how you did it. I really do love your stuff! =)
.-= Jennifer Jubilant Junk´s last blog ..Yarn drawing…we have a winner!!!! =-.
Hehe, Shannon, what I have to tell applies to anyone!
Adriel… did you remember to subscribe… you won’t forget then 😀
Jennifer, thank you!
.-= Jess´s last blog ..10 Aussie Indie Designers using Embroidery =-.
I’ll stay tuned!
It’s really not surprising because your pieces are truly lovely.
.-= June Gardens´s last blog ..20% OFF every item from 10th to 17th of April. =-.
I am so interested to hear the rest of this story! I just joined this site so I don’t forget to keep checking back!
.-= Lisa – Alterity´s last blog .. =-.
You are the queen of cliff-hangers. I can’t wait to read more. You are my inspiration to get my butt in gear again.
.-= Studio MME´s last blog ..The Telephone Room sketch =-.
Congrats on such great sales! I can’t wait to hear your strategies, in the world of etsy with so much competitions it is very hard to get sales. I had 6 sales in 6 months which is very disheartening.
Thank you so much for the comments, everyone!!
I’ve been thinking more about this series… and I may have to add a fourth post to it discussing and sharing all of the resources I have found helpful.. books and websites and ebooks and such.
Does that sound like a good addition?
.-= Jess´s last blog ..10 Aussie Indie Designers using Embroidery =-.
Love your ability to restrain yourself. You know I would have had to blog it all at once. No self control LOL. I’m so glad to see you making progress, couldn’t happen to a nicer person.
Looking forward to reading the rest of this series Jess. Definitely curious as to how you’ve achieved your sales.
Thanks too for sharing your knowledge!
And yep – helpful resources would make a great fourth post 🙂
Cheers,
Tasha
.-= Tasha Chawner´s last blog ..Swarovski Crystal Bracelet in Red – The Colour of Love =-.
Oh Jess you just can’t leave me hanging like that. Where’s part 2??? 🙂
Cate… it was a struggle!!!!
Tasha, thanks 🙂
Caitlin…. not long now!! LOL…
.-= Jess´s last blog ..10 Aussie Indie Designers using Embroidery =-.
Well done Jess! Can’t wait for part two 🙂
Talk about a thriller, I was totally immersed and ready to
take my second sip of coffee…only to discover I have to wait
until tomorrow for the next episode! anyway I’ll be reading.
Thank you so much for sharing your good fortune : )
Dabanga
Hahaha, thanks Dabanga!! Your jewellery is amazing, btw!
Thank you for sharing. And I love your jewelry! Back tomorrow!
.-= Lida´s last blog ..Teeny Tiny Handmade Knitted Sock Green Red =-.
i love your comments (below) on an etsy forum i was just reading:
“Basically – this has to be your passion, full-stop. If it’s not, don’t keep banging your head against the wall – find what is!
And then work very long, long hours to make it happen ;)”
what a great summation of what this is all about.
thank you so much for that!
Oh, thank you, bo betsy! Yep, I have come to realise recently that this is only going to happen if I put my heart and soul into it… and luckily I love it so much that I can 🙂
.-= Jess´s last blog ..10 Aussie Indie Designers using Embroidery =-.
I’d like to read your tips!! 😀
Thank you for sharing!
.-= Lorena´s last blog ..Ancient GREEK & ROMAN Jewelry at MET Musem =-.