I Launched A Gift Business From My Shed & Raked In Over 3600 Orders A Year
- Sarah, 32, launched her Etsy shop to fund her jewellery making hobby
- After pivoting to metal stamping she found her niche and the business took off
- At its prime the company was raking in 70 orders a week - over 3600 a year
- Sarah has been able to cut her work hours down and only goes to her job in a craft shop part time
- She shares her business tips after selling on Etsy for over a decade
Finding a profitable business idea can be tough, but if you love what you do and have a strong motivation to keep going then you’re bound to find success.
That’s what one savvy Etsy entrepreneur discovered after starting her online shop and pivoting to meet customer demand.
Sarah Louise Turley, 32 from Gloucester, told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: ‘My business was created over 10 years ago, when I was in my early 20s. I loved jewellery making and was obsessed with beads.
‘The problem was I had very little money to buy more beads, and was only creating for myself. I don't actually wear much jewellery myself, I just like crafting.
‘That's when The Trinket Box was born. I just wanted to make some money to buy more beads. ‘I started promoting my products on social media pages - mainly Facebook to start with. I have my own Facebook page and group.
‘The group is a VIP group, which means the people in it get more exclusive discounts, special offers, first look at new products and so on.
‘I use my main page as a business front and share my posts from there into other groups. I promote in craft groups, handmade item groups and groups related to various niches I cater to.
‘I also have an Instagram page, but my Facebook presence is more successful.
‘When I first started, I was offering beaded jewellery and these weren’t getting as much interest as I thought they would. Part of the problem was that many sellers had similar product offerings.
‘I decided I would pivot in order to stand out, and after some research I discovered metal stamping. This was more of a unique niche and once I was promoting these products on social media, they took off!
‘I was getting orders within a few weeks, and I was also able to create more personalised and meaningful items.
‘The first step for my metal stamping business was to get a basic starter kit - which is a metal block, hammer, metal blanks, metal letter and number stamps, and some designs. You also need jewellery fixings such as necklace chains and keyring rings.
‘It’s useful to have some form of ink to darken the imprints. I use paint markers, but you can also use enamel paint or nail polish.
‘Aluminium is a perfect starter material as it is soft and easy to use. I also use copper and stainless steel.
‘It takes a lot of practice to create high quality metal stamped jewellery and gifts. Each individual letter or design is hand stamped into the metal by hammering it to make an impression.
‘Each letter, number or design is done individually, so it’s important to ensure everything is lined up and spaced equally. The imprints are then inked and wiped clean.
‘As my business took off, I was able to reduce my hours at work to just 16 hours a week. I work short shifts over three days. When I first started The Trinket Box, I worked in a popular craft shop, and I’m still there now.
‘I like working part time and having my business part time, as I get variety by getting out of the house and doing something different when I go to work. Plus, I love the people I work with.
‘It’s easy to stay motivated with The Trinket Box as I love how special and meaningful my items are. I make a lot of different items for various special occasions - Mothers Day, Fathers Day, breastfeeding award keyrings, trainer tags for runners and even memorial items for humans and pets.
‘I love how much my items mean to people, and I love seeing customers come back to order time and time again.
‘In my first year of business, I was at a loss - I expected this, because I spent a lot on equipment and sold my items pretty cheaply to get my customer base going.
‘At the peak of my business operations, I was sending over 70 orders a week. I am just coming out of maternity leave, so I have expected a slow start and that has been the case, as I’m averaging 10 orders a week at the moment.
‘Slower sales at the moment may also be due to the cost of living crisis. Unfortunately, people are only buying items they need, rather than items they want or gifts.
‘I try to be budget friendly in general but I have started setting up more offers to help people with their budgets so they can still get personalised gifts. It’s an ongoing challenge to balance this with still bringing in sales and profit.
‘Currently I work from a big shed in the garden. It used to be part office, part bar - but the business has expanded so the office half has taken over the entire space. ‘It is just me running the day-to-day jobs and orders of the business. My husband helps occasionally, but he also works full time and we have a 10 month old.
‘Over the years, I think more sellers have launched their business with Etsy. That means there is more competition, but I also believe there are enough customers for everyone.
‘The biggest business lesson I have learned in the last decade is to change and diversify with the times. The products which were my bestsellers 10 years ago aren’t my bestsellers now.
‘It’s also good to look at, and try to get ahead of, trends in your niche. For example, during lockdown I sold a lot of Pocket Hugs and small token gifts that could be sent directly to friends and family to help them deal with the sudden isolation from loved ones.
‘To anyone who is thinking about starting their own business, I would advise you not to worry if it’s slow going at the beginning. It takes a while to become known and get your products out there.
‘A business is not created overnight, and it takes a lot of hard work to get it going. But if you keep at it on a regular basis, you will get there.’
Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said: ‘Etsy has become an increasingly popular destination for those who want to generate side income, but Sarah is a veteran!
‘Her advice is important for budding entrepreneurs to remember, as starting a new brand does take time and it’s patience and hard work that leads you to success.’
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