[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message]Niche : Jewelry and Accessories
Shop link : https://www.etsy.com/shop/AscensionCrystals
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/AhimsaCrystals
Website : https://www.ahimsacrystals.co.uk[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Tell us something about yourself, how did you get started, do you consider yourself a crafter, maker, artist…
We are holistic therapists and work with Reiki, Angelic, and Ascension Energies – We have trained to help people remove blockages in their life that prevent them from moving into their Higher Purpose in life = We believe the use of crystals is part of this process. We started our business in 2004. We have also worked as professional therapists and as 12 step sponsors.
How did you discover Etsy? Did you have any previous experience in selling handmade products? Why did you start selling online?
We discovered ETSY in 2006 when searching for items to buy ourselves.
What products do you sell, what type of materials are used in your creations, how do you design your products, what makes your products stand out?
High-Frequency Crystals such as Moldavite Phenacite Herkimer Diamonds. We make our vials ourselves and also have a partner who works with clay and crystals and Wire Wrapping.
How was your experience in learning to craft, are you self-taught or did you have a mentor, how long did it take for you to be satisfied with your creations?
We are self-taught and a lot of the creations we believe are intuitive.
What was your original goal when you opened up an Etsy shop? What impacted your decision to start selling online? Do you consider online selling as a side-job, full-time job, or extra income to pay for your hobby?
To work full time as therapists and crystal retailers.
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Did you have any fears or reservations before opening up your Etsy shop? Were you worried about profitability or product competitiveness? What are some concerns and questions you had before you got started? How did you overcome them?
No.
How long did it take for you to get your first sale? Did you ever think you would make a lot of sales in the first year? What was the goal you were hoping for? How many sales an average you get per week?
A week or so.
Do you have a job outside Etsy? If not, are you able to commit full-time to online selling? How does your typical day look like? How do you manage time?
We are 50 percent selling online and 50 percent meditation teachers and therapists.
How does your manufacturing process look like for e.g. your best selling product? Do you create products ahead of the orders? Do you customize your products, if so how? What are the tools that you are using in the manufacturing process?
We live in a beautiful part of the Welsh countryside and our office overlooks fields and mountains close to the Brecon Beacons.
What is the biggest impact on the profitability of your shop? How expensive are the materials you use? How do you price your products?
We try to keep our costs low so that our crystals are made available to most people.
What inspires you when you’re creating? How do you get ideas for new products? What are some methods or tools you use to get creative?
Meditation and walking in nature – We lead a simple life with as few overheads as possible.
Do you ship your product internationally? How do you handle postage pricing? What is the average time it takes from the order to the delivery? Do you use free shipping? If so, why? How do you package your products?
Hi yes we ship via Royal Mail mostly tracked parcels.
Are you worried about competitors? Does it impact your business in any way? If there are a lot of similar products, how do you make your own stand out?
No not really – there are some beautiful creations on ETSY as well as our own products.
How do you deal with disputes or bad ratings/feedback? How do you manage presale and post-sale communication and customer satisfaction?
As politely as possible = we always refund or resend items when a buyer is not happy.
Has selling on Etsy changed your life in any way? If so, how? Did you ever think you would get this far with your shop? Have you ever been stressed about dealing with customers and manufacturing products? How did you deal with that?
Yes, it has enabled us to work full time in our therapy and retail business – Our sales enable us to offer low-cost therapy which would normally be out of people’s price range.
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How important is social media for your shop? What are some common tactics you use to promote your products? Do you spend money on ads outside of Etsy? How do you generate excitement/hype around your products?
We don’t advertise much in social media as don’t have the time.
What are some things you don’t like about Etsy? If you could talk to the CEO of Etsy what recommendations would you tell him to improve sellers and customer satisfaction?
Nothing really – just thank you for providing this platform for us.
What are some things you did to set your shop for success on Etsy? What is one lesson you learned the hard way?
Studied on crystal and Reiki therapist courses so we can target our audience with informed choices.
What piece of advice would you give to new or established sellers or those considering selling on Etsy? How can they avoid beginner mistakes?
Specialize in a particular area rather than just selling for profit.
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