You've seen those big sellers on Etsy who seem to be making sales left and right. You have to wonder how they've made it to where they are: can they actually be FOR REAL? What's their recipe for success? And just how do they do it?

How did you first hear about Etsy, and what made you decide to open a shop on the site?
I found Etsy while searching for online venues to sell jewelry. I think it was linked to someone’s blog. In 2006 I vowed I would never work another crazy job for anyone else, and Etsy was really the stepping stone I needed.

What do you think your key to success for selling on Etsy has been?
Definitely a combination of factors: listing and relisting items throughout each day, introducing new pieces regularly, and trying to create a ‘style’ that is recognizable. A big crutch for me has been trying to do too many things, so I set myself a goal to organize and focus my ideas to create a sort of brand, and I think it has paid off. Earlier this year I invested in a decent camera and I think my pictures have helped with streamlining the look of my store. Just as important is having clear communication - from setting out clear policies in each listing, to emailing every customer, to confirming shipping. Getting orders shipped out quickly helps, too. I will work until midnight to get pieces shipped out within two working days. When I buy things online I really appreciate it when my order is shipped promptly.

How do you promote your shop?
At the moment, I honestly don’t have time to do outside promotion. I consider my constant listing of items as my key form of promotion. The kind souls who add me to their Treasury lists or feature an item on their blog help more than they probably know.

How do you handle such a large volume of sales in your shop? What systems have you created to manage the orders?
I ship three days a week, and spend the other four days replenishing stock and working on new ideas. The shipping bit is the hardest, but I’ve gotten a routine down:

1) Print the postage online.

2) Log the shipping info into Paypal.

3) Check the item as shipped in my Etsy ‘sold’ file.

4) Email or convo the customer to confirm their order has shipped.

It’s a cumbersome list to check for each order, but it’s really helped me to keep organized. Looking up the relevant info for an order is much easier, and it’s easy to identify which orders are waiting to be shipped.  Shipping orders securely is important. I’ve found the best way to ship jewelry is on a card, inside a padded box, inside a bubble mailer. If it’s a large order the jewelry boxes go inside a larger box with tissue paper padding. I’ve had cards cut to fit inside my jewelry boxes so that the piece doesn’t get thrown around in the box, and presentation is nicer this way.  I make it a priority to check my conversations multiple times per day and try to answer any order/shipping status queries first so I don’t forget.

Are your orders mostly from repeat buyers or new buyers? What do you do to gain repeat buyers?
Lately I’ve had lots of new buyers, and more men! I think it’s a great sign that more men are finding Etsy. Lots of husbands and boyfriends are buying gifts from their loved one’s favorites. I do have a good amount of return business from loyal repeat buyers, and those who buy to resell in their boutiques. Buyers come back when they feel that you appreciate their business and they know that you’ll do your best to make things go as smoothly as possible. I think about how I want sellers to respond when I buy on Etsy and base my customer service on that.

How do you stay motivated? Does it come naturally?
It’s easy to stay motivated during busy periods, but I dislike the anxiety of having sales slow down. During slower times I focus on new designs and stocking up on popular designs. Having just moved to the beautiful, historic city of Edinburgh I am full of inspiration, so I can’t complain of a shortage of new ideas.

Do you "Etsy" full time or do you have another job too?
Full time, 6 or 7 days a week.

If you "Etsy" full time, were you able to quit your day job due to your success selling on Etsy?
Pre-Etsy I was selling my jewelry locally and selling supplies online, but since moving to the UK this year I’ve been able to live solely off of my Etsy sales.

What is your favorite current Etsy Feature?
Conversations. They're the first things I look at when I get up, and they help me stay organized. Being able to search by username and add notes to them is fabulous. I also love browsing Treasury lists and Time Machine 2 for things to buy.

What features do you use most on Etsy?
Conversations and the ‘relist’ button. I usually have three screens open all day, one for my conversations, one for my sold pages, and one for my shop front.

What goals do you have for your Etsy shop one year from now?
Overall I hope to have a steady growth of sales and to run a more streamlined system, possibly getting my husband to work with me full time on the admin side of things. I plan to be much more prepared for the holidays next year with a gift wrapping service, gift certificates, and a huge supply of stock ready to go.

Anything else you want to add?
A huge thanks to everyone who makes Etsy run smoothly day to day.