Annual Review

I just had mine at work and it went well.  Today is my three year anniversary with Etsy, so I thought I'd go over my accomplishments and struggles before asking for feedback from you all.  And this happens to be my 400th KBS post.  Wow!

Even though I opened my Etsy shop on February 15th, 2008, I didn't get my first sale until March 26th.  My friend Cassie scooped up some nuggets.  I think she felt sorry for me that I hadn't had any sales yet.  And she was the reason why I started selling on Etsy in the first place.  Some pieces of jewelry I had made and other beads sold, but it wasn't until May that I had my first 'real' customer (meaning it was friends or family buying pieces to help improve my rating and my sales #s).  In June, Lorelei bought some beads from me.  I was new to Etsy and hadn't started following blogs yet, so I had no clue what a massive following she had or how successful she was at making/selling jewelry.  I was just thrilled to have a new customer.  Little did I know that she would become one of my best friends, which is really so much more valuable to me than all of my sales combined.

My Etsy business slowly grew, as did my photography abilities.  Looking back, I wonder what I was thinking using the lighting I did or the backgrounds I chose.  I think I have come far in some aspects.  But others, I don't feel or see the growth.  So many of my bead designs are the same.  I like spirals and waves and swirls and have consistently stuck with those over the years in making new beads.  Something about the way the rod of glass moves in and out of the flame to make those waves and swirls is so calming for me.  I'm always a little take aback when someone says that my beads are getting so much better or so much cooler.  I'm stuck in my own mindset of doing what I do.  I'm just melting glass, like I have for the last five years.  Perhaps the novelty has worn off a little?  Or perhaps I have nothing to compare my work to because I follow so few other lampworkers (the ones I do follow all have their own styles that are much different from my own)?  I don't know, but I am always thankful for the compliments.

Over the last year, I branched out and tried new things.  My eggs were in phenomenal demand (I am still in awe of how many weeks people patiently waited to get some of their own).  I started making headpins.  And buttons.  Which makes me wonder, what will I do this year that is new?  Perhaps a twist on my buttons.  I have some ideas brewing, but haven't put them into effect yet.

Over the last six months, my focal bead sales have increased.  As a result, I have started making more of those.  Those sales continually surprise me because some of them are expensive (at least in my opinion).  I suppose all of my sales surprise me, but that is more because I'm just not a true beader.  And the sales are constant reinforcement that people like my work, which is so wonderful in itself.

I need to make more worry stones this year.  I'm out of all of them right now and don't even have a spare to keep in my pocket.  Worry stones make me happy.  My torch time over the last year has been more limited, so I have not devoted as much time to worry stones since they take me upwards of 30 minutes each to make.  Honestly, I've got bills to pay and have focused on making sets of beads that are more likely to sell faster than the worry stones.  Maybe this will be the year those two factors change for me.  We'll see.

As far as blogging, I feel I've been pretty scattered.  Some weeks, I'm on a roll and diligent about posting and setting up posts in advance.  Other weeks are spent flying by the seat of my pants, with days passing between posts.  I'm pretty sure the number of pics of my kids have increased over this last year, but you have stuck with me through them all.  I apologize to those of you are here strictly for the beads, but do appreciate the fact you are good, kind people and keep coming back to check in.  I think my number of random posts has also increased, which says something about the state of my mind and lack of focus or planning.  Whaddya think, is it part of my charm?  :)

Many of the blogs I follow, I follow because I'm more interested in getting to know the blogger and what they do in their day-to-day lives moreso than the beads/jewelry they are creating.  Sometimes I tend to zone out a little on the bead/jewelry paragraphs (it feels a little like work to me and I admit I just don't feel I fit in as a jewelry designer) and scan for the tidbits about personal lives, pets and kids or even vacations.  I feel safe with you all, being able to share bits and pieces of my personal life with you on my blog.  Thank you for that.

I have struggled to keep my torch top clean and organized, but am pleased I am keeping my glass cabinet neat and tidy.  I don't think either one of these things will change.  I have struggled with setting time commitments on when I will finish custom orders, which leaves me wondering what do I need to do to change that going forward.  Buckle down and just meet the commitments?  Or be better about adding a disclaimer about when I will have beads cleaned and photographed for approval.  At some point, I know it will no longer be okay to hope people will understand.

This past month, I have felt like I am on the slow climb of the first roller coaster hill.  I am filled with anticipation for this new year.  New plans are in the works to push me on a different path, but it is without a timeline on the events.  I feel like I'm wearing a blindfold on this roller coaster and have no clue how many more little clicks and ratchets I will hear before I reach the top.  There is no one sitting shotgun to whisper in my ear that it's just another breath or two away before plummeting down the hill at breakneck speed.  I am excited and a little bit terrified.

One of my beads was included in the book Chainstyle (and on the cover, no less!) and others were included in magazine publications when other jewelry designers incorporated my beads into their work.  That was a major thrill being able to walk into my grocery store or book store and pull out a beading magazine and see my beads.  My own dash with a little celebrity.  ;)  I also paid for an advertisement in the Artisan's Village section of BeadStyle magazine last year.  That was pretty cool, but I have no way of knowing if that really brought me any new business.  I have heard that some of my beads are featured in Lorelei's jewelry designs in the new book Wire Style 2.  Now I have to buy myself a copy!

So that is as far as my brain is stretching right now on my lampwork and blogging.  If you have new ideas on things I could do better or differently, I would love to hear what you have to say.  It is national de-lurking month, after all.  ;)

Feedback on Etsy: Part Two

Did I mention before that feedback makes me happy?  Especially when it is as lovely this!

"The earrings and worry stone I received from Kelley's Bead Studio are exquisite- lovelier than the photos by far.  There is no way to describe the way the light plays with these glass beads.  They are beautiful and it is obvious that Kelley loves what she does- her care and creativity shine through brilliantly." -GMG

These kind words are in regards to a custom pair of earrings and a special worry stone I made especially for a friend.  I had told her previously that I wish I could put cameras in my packages to capture the first reactions upon being opened.  But her words let me know I hit the mark and maybe, just maybe, passed it.  Her words are fulfilling and reassuring in that what I make with my own two hands does affect others. That what I create is appreciated.  Valued. 

It makes me think about the lyrics in a song Jewel Kilcher wrote called Hands:

I will not be made useless

I won't be idled with despair

..............

My hands are small, I know 

Feedback can be so validating.  That how my time is spent is worthwhile and was not wasted.   That my efforts are not useless.

Which brings me to Part Two, after writing Part One last month.  I'm curious about the feedback practices of other Etsy sellers.  Do you leave feedback immediately upon receiving payment?  Or do you wait to see what/if any feedback is left for you from the buyer?

I normally leave feedback after receiving payment to both thank the buyer for their purchase and to provide confirmation of when their item shipped (sorry LE, I realized today I didn't do that on your last two sets.  where was my mind?!).  But sometimes there is a nagging worry at the far reaches of my mind.  Particularly on custom orders.  Will the buyer be pleased?  Is it what (s)he had in mind?  What if I missed the mark?  Will the customer allow me the opportunity to make it right?

What if?

Because any type of negative, or even neutral, feedback would be devastating if I was not given the chance to make things right if I failed to meet someone's expectations.  And let me tell you, there are some people with extremely high expectations (some, I fear, that are higher than my own!).

My entire working life has been, in one form or another, delivering customer service.  As a teenager, I began as a courtesy clerk and then a cashier at the local grocery store.  I moved onto waitressing for several years before entering the world of corporate America to pay off the credit cards I had so horribly abused.  I have moved up that working chain over the past two decades from interfacing with the general public and standing on my feet all day while wearing an apron to partnering with directors and VP's of Fortune 100 companies.

I know which paycheck and which position my feet like better, but the responsibilities are very similar.

I nurture customer expectations and perceptions about the company I work for on a daily basis.  It is through my performance and my work ethic that I shape those perceptions.  It is how I have built my reputation.  I have worked hard to get to where I am.  Not just with the phone company, but with my beads, jewelry and Etsy shops.  I strive to create quality and unique products and make my customers so happy they come back for more.  That they have nothing but good things to say about me.

As the first-born and only child, I suffer from that overpowering drive to succeed, to care for others and to receive validation.  In that spirit, I can't foster the "What if?" mentality or the option of retaliatory feedback.   At the end of the day, as I close my eyes with my head on my pillow and am buried under countless covers and layers of clothing (because even in the summer, I freeze), I know that I tried my best.  That I gave my all.  And I hope that that is good enough. 

My hands are small, I know

I do love what I do.  GMG, I'm glad it is obvious to you.  I hope it is just as obvious to others.

Between my bead and jewelry sales on Etsy and selling my work at craft or bead shows, I have near 750 sales behind me.  It sounds like a lot, doesn't it?  It doesn't feel like it to me.  I have collected hundreds of comments of delight about items I have made with my hands.  Many of those comments are visible via etsy, but others are held carefully in email folders, special drawers or my own memories of conversations followed by hugs.  I always think back and wonder if I could, or should, have done more.  What else can I do differently/better going forward?

I have worked hard to build and earn my reputation.  And so, I will continue on in this same path, for it has worked well for me.  Using my hands and inspiration to melt glass and shape expectations.  To trust that what I have put out in the world will come back to me.  That I can leave positive feedback for others upon receiving payment and trust it will not make me feel sorry later.

Fellow Etsians, what are your practices on leaving feedback for your buyers?  Do you wait?  Why/why not?

Feedback on Etsy: Part One

I'm taking a look at the Buyer/Seller Feedback coin.  I think each side is important.   For buyers, it builds a reputation of trust; especially for new customers coming to your Etsy shop.  It shows not only that previous customers were pleased with their purchase, but that a shop provides good customer service and products.  As a buyer, that's important to me.  Either on Etsy or eBay, I look at sellers' feedback to see if it's even worth looking at items in their shop.  I want to know that I've got a good shot of receiving my purchase quickly and knowing that it was accurately described.  It is also comforting seeing there are repeat buyers who keep going back for more.

The flip side of that coin is that it's a boost to sellers that we are providing valuable service and worthwhile goods.  Sometimes, I have had my fill of my own beads and I lose sight of their 'specialness'.  Or I get positive/plus sign feedback with no words, no thanks, no "oooh, I really, really just want to lick these they look so delicious!"  And then I receive a text/email/convo/feedback in my shop with a 'SQUEEEEEEEEE! I can't keep my fingers off them! OMG! OMG! OMG!' and my faith is renewed in my skills/abilities.  My inspiration is sparked again to move forward in new directions and create more.

I also look for feedback to post to make sure my beads or jewelry were received.  If I don't get feedback, I wonder if they got lost in the mail.  I always have little butterflies in my stomach when I send out beads until I know they have been safely delivered.  After receiving a delivery confirmation, I will give it a couple of days before sending a convo to the buyer asking if they received the beads and to make sure they are happy.

It's nice when buyers acknowledge particular details about my beads or service.  I think everyone likes validation and being acknowledged for their efforts, yes?  I spend alot of time on the torch (granted, it never feels like enough time for my creative spirit!), as well as cleaning out the beads, scrutinizing their structure and integrity before creating a set to photograph and spend time uploading and cropping pics (that's the extent of my editing as it is extremely rare I muck with the tint/colors/contrast of my bead pics) and then going through the Etsy listing process.  Please don't get me wrong or think that I'm whining, because I'm not.  It is just a lot of work that goes into getting to the point of listing beads before ever shipping them out.  It is finding/making the time to do all this on top of working full time for the phone company, taking care of my husband and two kids, a zoo of pets and not sleeping more than a coupla hours because Weeping Pony thinks he must cry and bark all.  night.  long.

So when feedback is left in my shop that is more than just a green plus sign, I'm thrilled.  Seeing what excites other people about their purchases is fun.  Knowing that it is something I made is even better.  I may even do a little jump with a heel click.  :)  It recharges me and keeps me going.  It pushes me to do more and try new designs.  It ignites a desire in me to, in turn, delight my customers even more.

Fellow Etsy sellers, please weigh in with your thoughts.  

What else do you think is important about feedback?  

How does it motivate you?

How My Weekend Was Made

While I did run many errands this weekend, went to a rollerskating birthday party for a seven year old and zipped around the rink clicking away on my camera, the highlights were really bead related.

First:
Keirsten Giles of Lune Designs posted about my beads that she received as the surprise tundra recipient.  She had already emailed me her reaction in chronological ordered steps.  I LOVE this! 

1) (get package) mild bewilderment (what did I buy?) 2) (look at return address) deeper bewilderment (I bought that?). 3) (open package, read note, drop jaw.) Get out. GET OUT!!! OMG!! GET OUT!!! 4) (open box, look at beads) SCORE!!! I SCORED!!! SCORE!!! (stand up, do a little dance) 5) (sit down again) Awwww!!! She likes me! She really really likes me! 6) O. M. G. 7) (very) brief moment of stunned silence. 8) dawning admiration for sly and very effective crack dealer marketing scheme. 9) bead fondling. 10) Repeat #9 as necessary throughout the day.

Second:
Between the two days, I made over four dozen new beads. The sun peeped out on Sunday, which allowed a little photoshoot. I got more than a handful of new sets listed last night. Lorelei scooped up the nuggets before I even got them all listed.  To make sure no one else could snatch them out before she got them, she had me change all the listings for nuggets to RESERVED just for her.  :)

Third:
Lorelei left this feedback for me in my Etsy shop on these beads:

When I opened this box of beads, the bright and beautiful colors just about knocked me on badunkadunk. Gorgeous beads, one of the best lampworkers on etsy. thank you for your fast shipping and your willingness to create custom work. I thank you from the bottom of my beady heart.

Lorelei has been one of my regular customers from the very first month I opened my Etsy shop over a year ago.   Her blog and jewelry designs using my beads have most definitely generated extra traffic to my own blog and shop, as well as new sales (so cool!).  In the process of doing business, we have become friends.  She makes me laugh and I count on her as a sounding board for ideas and honest feedback.  Her feedback enthusiasm was part of what inspired me to sit down at the torch to make dozens of new nuggets this weekend.  But it also meant alot to me to hear that my beads were valued by a good friend.

Fourth:
I booked the hotel room for BeadFest 2010 in Philadelphia this August.  It will be filled with the major talent of Lorelei, Cassandra, Nancy and myself.  I'm so excited and CAN! NOT! WAIT!  I booked my flight and am waiting on Cas to book hers.  I'm hoping she can get the seat next to mine because her company on the planes will be FUN.  She's already talking about stuffing our pockets with earrings to use as bribes so people will move for us to sit together if that seat is taken when she books her flight.  A weekend away!  With GIRLFRIENDS!  AND BEADS!  WOO FLIPPIN HOO!!!!

I LOVE this kind of feedback!

Today was a long day and normally simple tasks took much longer or were just extremely difficult. But this convo back from one of my Etsy customers totally made my week!

Kelley llegaron mis hermosos beads!!!! me encantan, estan bellos. Muchas gracias. Esas bellezas solo pueden ser hechas por alguien que le pone mucho empeño y cariño. Okay now in english!! I got my beautiful beads!! I loved them, they're beautiful!!! thank you so much!!! A beautiful thing like that can only be made by someone that puts a lot of effort and love into making them!!!


I was a little confused at first because I don't speak or understand Spanish (in spite of two of my cousins being from Puerto Rico and being fluent in Spanish). The language is on my mental To Do list of things I want to learn within the next year. But she translated it and it was the best! Now I re-read the Spanish and wonder if I'm pronouncing the words correctly. What would her voice sound like in person if she was speaking them to me? I imagine they would sound more beautiful than they look in writing.

Thank you, Mari. You totally rock and I'm so glad you love your beads!

Random

Here are most of the beads that have kept me busy this past week. I spent close to three hours in front of my sink this morning removing 75+ beads from mandrels and cleaning them. The girl child made sure to tell me several times that the sound of my dremel is HORRIBLE to her ears. I agreed and wished I could blink my eyes like Samantha Stephens and have them magically cleaned in an instant. Oh how my back & hands would love that!



Yes, there are two worry stone beads in there. The lower was an experiment with forest greens with a couple other colors. The other side of it is textured and looks like it is swirled in icing. The top is a variation on my Starry Night worry stone...this one has a little layering and depth between the spots which I think turned out pretty cool and sparked some new ideas on my mental To Do list.

There is also the start of a set of rounds to match my River Runs Through It worry stone bead because Lorelei asked to see what they might look like here. Whaddya think L, did I hit the mark? Be honest!




Positive feedback gives me such a warm, toasty feeling. After several tough work weeks with my real job, these comments were so nice to see appear in my shop!

Lorelei - Awesome! Wonderful and friendly customer service and super fast shipping. You can't go wrong with Kelleys Beads. The product is superb! These greenies are no exception! Thanks for doing this special order for me Kelley!




Jeune - Always a pleasure doing business with you. I really appreciate your willingness to go the extra mile for me....I know I'm a picky girl ha! These are yummy! Part of the thrill is waiting to see the extras you so generously include... Your the best Kelley!