Starting a New Online Jewelry Shop on Etsy

I've started making Jewelry just over two months ago. I've quit my job last Sept, and for 6 months I had been traveling all over - San Fran, Singapore, NY, Phuket, Bali, Bhutan, Bangkok, Hainan Island and many times back to Tokyo to visit my bf and friends.

In March, I've decided to start to take a break from all the traveling and wanted to settle a bit in HK. I heard there were many cute, fun beads shops in Sham Shui Po so I've decided to take a look one afternoon. I was really mesmerized by all the different types of beads, chains, ropes and various fabrics available on just one street! I was hooked!!! My gf also took me to the big Jewelry Fair that takes place every quarter in HK and I bought a bunch of sterling silver jewelry parts there.  At first, I was making  Jewelry for fun and very soon afterwards I decided that I could potentially make this into a business as I've been having a blast making my jewelry. Ever since I was in high school, I've always wanted to have my own business, but could never really think of something very specific I would love to do. The good thing about having an online jewelry shop is its flexibility in terms of working hours, and location. This job can be done anywhere around the world, and the fixed cost is low as jewelry making can be done at home.

I've had an Ebay account from years ago but never really used it much. I've decided to do a test and posted a pair of sterling silver earrings I made on Ebay to see if I would get any traffic and sales.  Unfortunately that was a pure fail as I did not do any research on how to promote my items. 

My gf Cheryl suggested I use Etsy instead to build my online shop and I can understand why. Etsy feels emotionally more welcoming to users. You also feel that Etsy is for artists and creative individuals who wants to present their artwork/gift to others. Etsy just looks esthetically more pleasing and classier.

Starting an online shop on Etsy is surprisingly quick and easy. I started posting my jewelry online exactly 14days ago. My initial mission is to figure out how to create lots of traffic. Having people visit your page is the KEY, the more people that add your store or items to their favorites will bring sales.

So far, I have 13 sales. These sales were thanks to postings on my FB page to promote my new shop, and it was really my gf who posted my link on her page first and also posting my page on her blog. Therefore, all these sales were from my friends or friend's friends. Word of mouth is very important, and getting friends to promote this on your behalf is crucial. I was told by my friends that they've showed my online shop to colleagues, bosses, and friends and people seem to have a positive feedback and some are even interested in buying from my shop (fingers crossed!).

I think right now my goal needs to be getting sales that are not coming from friends or family. 

I've joined teams and commented on forums to increase my exposure and also learn from other successful Etsy sellers. I've also bought advertisements to showcase my jewelry. Another thing I did today was browse around different people's pages on Etsy and add their items to my favorites when I liked their products.  The forums mentioned that building Treasuries would also boost traffic and visibility so that would be the next task I will execute this week.

Please come check out my shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Yoju

Bali Restaurants - places worth going to - Western food

GROCER & GRIND

Address: Jl. Kayu Jati 3x Petitenget Beach Denpasar Bali

Tel:  +62 361 730481, 737321 or Call Marie +62 81 735 4106

http://www.grocerandgrind.com/

This cute bistro we went to for lunch as we both were craving for some paninis or sandwiches.
The place has a very laid back decor and it is surrounded by foreigners. There were tons of visitors like us, and also expats with their Macbooks sipping on coffee. Although I like the relaxed and stylish interior, I thought the service was just mediocre. There were tons of people working behind the counter but they needed more attentive waiters to get our order and our check. I would like to come back one day though to try their other dishes.


Roasted chicken, camembert, mango chutney & mixed lettuce -
My bf ordered this and it was a very tasty sandwich, I wished I ordered this instead of my BLT.

Italian blt – bacon, avocado, tomato, camembert & cos lettuce w/ mayonnaise - Thought the BLT portions were a bit too big for me, I really got tired of the huge slaps of bacon after eating half of my sandwich. I liked the cheese a lot though. Chicken , jalapeno, lime coriander quesidella w/ sour cream- Best out of the three dishes!  I really enjoyed the perfect caramelized onions that are smacked between the juicy chicken and citrusy lime. My bf and i liked this dish so much that he replicated this when he went back to Tokyo.

My ratings:
Food 3.5
Service 3
Value 3.5
Atmosphere 3.5

THE JUNCTION
Address: corner of Oberoi Jl. Kayu Aya Oberoi, Seminyak
Tel: +62 361 735 610
Opening hours from 11.00 till midnight everyday..


http://www.the-junction-bali.com/

My bf and I had passed by this cool contemporary restaurant every time we left our hotel and was attracted to their white washed, funky and modern exterior. I love white buildings and decors, and we just had to check out this place for lunch after looking at their menu online. There is big open spaces when you enter, and I kind of feel like I was in a library where shelves are full of books on the side, but instead here at this restaurant they are full of jars that contained all sorts of spices and ingredients. They have an extensive variety of international foods to choose from - sandwiches, pasta, smoothies, crepes, and wraps... and of course their wide selection of Asian stables (Nasi Goreng etc). I wanted to try everythingggg!

Overall, I enjoyed the food and would like to come back to try their other dishes on another sunday afternoon the next time I go back to Bali for a visit!

Chicken shrimp coriander and carrot wrapped in rice paper roll:
When we ordered this dish,we didn't expect it to be a warm dish. From reading the name on the menu, I don`t know why it reminded of spring rolls! We also thought the dipping sauce would be on the side instead of being on the plate. This dish is a vietnamese style spring rolls with a twist. Thought it was rather clever of them to do that, it was actually quite tasty! I slightly feel that transformation made this dish to a more an entree instead of an appetizer.

Ham & Cheese Crepe:

Vietnamese style sandwich:

My ratings:

Food 4

Service 4

Value 4.5

Atmosphere 4

Restaurants I love in Tokyo

YAKINIKU (Grilled Beef):

JUMBO

Address: Dai-Ichi Azabu Bldg.|3-1-1 Shirokane Minato-ku - Tokyo, Japan 108-0072

Tel: (81-3) 3446-8156

http://yakiniku-jambo.com/

RAMEN (Noodles):
IPPUDO ー風堂

Address: Hiroo 1-3-13.  Shibuya-ku(Ebisu) Tel: 5420-2225 
Direction: on Meiji-dori near Hiroo


Or/
Address: roppongi 4-9-11
港区六本木4-9-11　第2小田切ビル1F District: Minato-ku(Roppongi) Phone: 03-5775-7561 
Note: 11:00〜4:00AM Friday 11:00〜5:00AM (Sun Holiday)11:00〜1:00AM 


http://www.ippudo.com/index.html


UDON (cold/hot noodles):
TSURUTONTAN
Address: 東京都港区六本木3-14-12 (next to Donki - big superstore. If you are taking the cab, just tell them to drop you off at Roppongi Donki)
Phone: 03-5786-2626
Opening hours: 11am to 8 am 
http://www.tsurutontan.co.jp/

ROBATAYAKI (Grilled Seafood):

INAKAYA - This is my fav place to bring my visitors when I used to live in Tokyo, the seafood is fresh and displayed right in front of you while you point and choose anything from seafood such as fish, crabs, shrimps, clams to various veggies and steak. They also serve sashimi and good selection of sake which they pour into a wooden square cup. Another great reason to come here is its Japanese atmosphere - you are seated in a U shaped big counter where the chefs kneel (yes, they are kneeling like the whole time but rotates people!!) while grilling your food in front of you, and they hand you your dishes via a huge long wooden paddle. Also, everytime you order, the waiters would loudly yell out your order to the chef in Japanese which my visitors would find it amusing. Given the fresh high quality seafood, be prepared to pay 10,000 - 15,000JPY per person for the meal.

Address: 5-3-4 Roppongi Minato-ku,Tokyo.

Tel: 03-3408-5040
http://www.roppongiinakaya.jp/en/index.html TEPPANYAKI: RESTAURANT OMAE XEX Address: 東京都港区六本木7-21-19 Phone: 03-3479-0065 http://www.ystable.co.jp/restaurant/omaexex/ SUSHI: Matsukan すし屋のまつ勘  Address: 3-4-12 Azabu Juban 麻布十番３丁目４－１２ Tel: ０３−３４５５−４９２３ Direction: Small street near Exit 4 Azabu Juban Station   JAMAICAN: Aalawi Jamaican Jerk Chicken & Pork Address: 1-26-13 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku (Nearest station: Ebisu (JR and Hibiya lines) Tel: (03) 5793-5027 Open:  11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. (Sunday & holidays 11 a.m.-9 p.m.) MEDITERRANEAN: CICADA Address: 5-2-40 Azabu Minato-Ku  Tel:0354475522 http://www.tyharborbrewing.co.jp/restaurants/cicada_e.html   SINGAPOREAN/ HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE Hainan Jeefan Shokudo Address: 6-11-16 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tel: +81 3-5474-3200

http://www.route9g.com/?lang=en

CHINESE (DIM SUM)
Le Parc
Address: Ebisu-Nishi 1-19-6. 
Tel: 3780-5050
Opening Hours :11:30am-2:30, 5:20-10pm (LO)
http://www.vaou.com/viewRestaurant.do?objectId=285

Ryutenmon Chinese Restaurant

Address:  1-4-1 Mita, Tokyo, Tokyo,Japan 153-8580 

Tel: +81 3 5423 7000 

www.westin-tokyo.co.jp

MOLECULAR GASTRONOMY

Tapas Molecular Bar

Address:
38/F, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 2-1-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Tel: +81 3 3270 8188

Opening hours: Open daily, 6–10:45 p.m.

Price: JPY14,000 (+10% service charge)

www.mandarinoriental.com

 

Best new hotel in Bali? W RETREAT & SPA BALI - SEMINYAK

W RETREAT & SPA BALI - SEMINYAK

• Jl. Petitenget
• Seminyak,
• Bali
• 80361

Phone: (62)(361) 738 106

When my bf and I found out Bali is opening a new W Hotel in March, we really wanted to go after looking at all the pictures online. We've stayed at a number of W Hotels worldwide but we both thought that the Bali one is the best out of their line so far.  The hotel has a perfect location in Seminyak, which is on the main island surrounded by cool hip restaurants and bars.  There are 237 suites and large number of pool villas. There are soooo much space at this hotel and a perfect getaway with your other half to relax and indulge in delicious food.

 We were really surprised that the hotel was very empty, but it is probably because the hotel just opened a month or two ago. Like other W hotels there is always a DJ pumping loud music at the hotel bar, but this bar is dead at night. It was unfortunate to see as I would think the chicness of this trendy hotel could be the next Kudeta in Bali where young couples and families would come for dinner and drinks. 

We would like to a full advantage of the facilities in our hotel so we went to check out the spa and asked the hotel staff to give us a full tour. The spa salon was humongous ! It is about 1500 meter square with 7 spa treatment rooms, 1 Beauty room, and a hair salon + mani/pedi room. Both the gym and spa salon are opened 24/7. My bf ended up getting a haircut which was better than expected, and I tried the Zen Balancing massage. This massage was quite interesting as it is a martial arts inspired treatment where bamboo is used. The bamboo is warmed and rolled on my back with soft strokes by the therapist. The therapist also utilizes the bamboo to provide stretches to my body. I guess I prefer the traditional massages as the bamboo was a bit uncomfortable on my shoulders but I did enjoy the experience and it actually made me more energized afterwards.

We also tried the hotel's fantastic asian fusion restaurant Starfish Bloo (please read my other blog about this restaurant), and definitely enjoyed the fresh ingredients and delicious food we had the opportunity to taste. Overall, I really loved this hotel.

Room interior:

Amenities:

Pros:

• Bliss amenities
• Large clean & beautiful contemporary suites with balcony overlooking the pool and beach
• 24 hour spa and gym available
• Large open spaces, with a nice pool facing the beach hotel 
• USB port connected to the TV so you can just download movies on your computer, copy it to a memory stick and watch it from the TV
• Excellent asian fusion restaurant - Starfish Bloo (pls read my blog about this restaurant)
• Perfect location- close to urban clothing/jewelry stores and restaurants/bars
• Free Wi-Fi with good connection

Cons:

• We were feeling the vibrations in our room from the bar`smusic next door at night
• Incomplete Booklet - we were trying to look through the Room Service Menu but discovered that the English version is missing so we had to asked the hotel staff to give us a new one
• Mosquitos in our room - Our room had a balcony and we think that maybe every time the hotel staffs clean our room, they will open the balcony door which will give mosquitos an opportunity to relax in our room. We've got numerous bites at night while we were sleeping.
• Waiting for taxis - normally have to wait for 5 to 10 mins
• Hard rock paths from lobby to main street

My ratings:

Cleaniness 5

Room 5

Location 5

Service 4

Value 4

Quality Sleep 4.5