What is your Etsy shop name?
Ranier Jewels
Where are you located?
Miami
Summary of what your shop offers:
Handmade chic accessories for men and women. Gemstones and crystals that look fabulous at work or at play. Most of my designs are one of a kind; add to it the fact that gemstones are never alike and you have a truly one of a kind jewelry.
How long have you been practicing your craft?
I am not new to the field of design. Jewelry design in particular – I have been doing for two years now.
Have you had any formal training in it? Where did you learn your skills?
No, I don’t have a formal training in jewelry making. I am a self- taught designer and maker of everything you see in my shop.
What made you decide to start an Etsy shop?
What started as unique handmade gifts for my friends, soon grew to be so absorbing that before I knew it, I had several necklaces; more than I knew what to do with. That is when I decided to share my designs with the world. It was very scary at first. I was nervous about what people would think of my pieces, but little did I know what I was getting into! After seeing my Etsy shop, I was invited by a curator to show my pieces at their art gallery in South Beach, Miami. Now, I am excited about sharing every single new piece that I design.
What makes your Etsy shop stand out from all the others out there?
Customer service and designs. My designs for women are mostly geared toward a working professional. In my previous profession I had to wear suits to work and was always impressed by the glamour a single piece of accessory could add to very professional work attires. They don’t have to be in-your-face bling kind of accessories. This is what I try to achieve in my designs – a modern sophistication. I also design casual pieces to wear over the weekend for both women and men. My designs for men are mostly influenced by Miami and the beach and spirituality. Wood and gemstones are my favorite materials for men’s accessories.
What do you find to be the most fun and rewarding about having your own shop?
For those of you who don’t own a shop here on Etsy, there is a feature that provides the sellers with a snapshot of what happened in your shop during the day. To me, that is the most fun part of owning my shop – wake up every morning, go online and see how many people visited Ranier Jewels the previous day. Sometimes people from half way across the globe are viewing my jewelry!
What does customer service mean to you?
I admire people who shop on Etsy. I know that there are plenty of options available for people to buy things for a lot cheaper elsewhere on the internet. The people who purchase on Etsy are looking for quality and the personal touch that is never present with the mass produced, machine made merchandize. So when someone buys something from me, I respect the fact that they are spending their money on encouraging artists who spend time hand making every individual piece. In return I want to make sure they get quality in my product and the pleasure of dealing with a real person. I have been asked to remove or add something to a piece, or someone recently asked me if they could pick up their purchase in person rather than having things mailed; all these things are possible when there is a good working relation between the artist and the patron.
Where do you find your motivation and inspiration when sales are slow?
Etsy has a great community that I am slowly discovering. The teams and forums are full of veterans that take time out of their personal schedule to be available for the newbies. When my sales are slow, I venture into these forums and realize that sometimes, my shop is not the only one in slow season! I am learning that there are periods of time during a year when sales are just slow. Of course, this does not stop me from designing more pieces. In fact, it gives me more time to do so. So when the sales are slow – the designing is gung-ho!
What helps to inspire you when creating?
I work with beautiful, beautiful, beautiful gemstones. It always amazes me how many years and natural processes had to come together to create a gemstone. The color, the texture and of course the way they were cut, make these stones an inspiration. I want my creations to be worn for a long time, and hope that whenever the owner is bored of their jewelry, the stones find a way into some other design. Vintage, recycled and upcycled jewelry, and beads are bought and sold on Etsy every day, and it gives me heart.
Where do you see your Etsy shop in a year? Or where would you like to see it?
In a year, I would like to have established at least a few customers who come back to Ranier Jewels for their accessory needs.
What words of wisdom do you have for readers who are considering opening a shop on Etsy to sell their own handmade creations?
If you are on the fence – just take a leap. It’s a huge community where people help each other out. And I mean help each other about everything – they will help you with how to increase your sales, better your designs, improve your presentation, and whatever else is not your strong suit. So just do it.
Which item in your shop is your favorite?
Large Semi Precious Gemstone Pendant
Mens Tribal Wood Bracelet
Geometric Pendant Necklace Shells
Do you have a current promotion you would like to share?
I always have coupon RANIER10 active for a ten percent discount on all items in my shop!
Visit Made by Ranier Jewels Etsy Shop here: http://RanierJewels.etsy.com
