Author | Lightnews

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · 7d

Pre-sale is now active & I truly was not expecting to receive a #pre-order of *two pairs* of earrings in the first half hour after publishing 😱😱

Now it's your time to pick your fave among the 4 new designs -or wait until official launch on Thu 30th to see what else is coming ❤️

#smallbizowner #etsy

MIRIAM earrings were the chosen ones of this customer's pre-order ❤️
"Fallen Aurelia" collection officially launching on Thu 30th October

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · 9d

I hear you!
I know my most popular #crowns & #tiaras are costly for many.
So despite the jewelry market oversaturation, I'm now trying to find a middle ground -offering little pieces with my signature style. Budget-friendly treats with a bit of my soul ✨
#newshopdrop #autumnvibes #etsyseller

Preview of one of the 4 styles of earrings that will be available on pre-sale on Friday 24th October. Official launch of new Autumn mini collection "Fallen Aurelia" on Thursday 30th!

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · 16d

I'm very thankful for previous chances of #collabs with many talented content creators. Working together served us in the past... Not anymore 🥲

If I ever send pieces again to an influencer, it will be because I truly feel like it. For the present moment, it's too big of an effort for the results.

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · 16d

My most amazing pieces are usually the most time consuming to make (not to mention materials).
One singular SM post is just not worth 1000€ IMO.
Kudos to brands who can afford that -but for a #smallbizowner this is beyond too much.

A slim peak of exposure won't pay for my bread.

Disclaimer 👇🏻

1

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · 16d

New line drawn:
No more collabs with influencers/events unless I explicitly so desire in the 1st place.

It's just not worth it.

Too many expect small makers to send their most spectacular pieces over & keep them -and in exchange share a single post on SM (which does close to nothing).

#Thread👇🏻

1 1

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · 16d

In a world craving for more #handmade, the stories behind items and how they're crafted, I'm wondering if I should widen up my range of creation to formats that don't actually sell a piece, and allow you to experience it regardless...
Thinking YouTube and Patreon 🧐
#smallbizowner

Current WIP: a wreath of autumn leaves with gold foil 🍁 Coming soon!

1

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · 25d

DDP - Delivery Duty Paid

🔸The sender (me) is to be charged for importation tariffs -not the addressee (customer).
🔸Tariffs are always the importer's responsibility -so they're now included in shipping costs to the US.
🔸This way, you know the total costs beforehand, with no extra surprises!

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · 25d

USA Customers!! 🇺🇲✨

Shipping to the US is back! Every parcel will be shipped to the States via DHL with DDP as a standard for the time being -to ensure top quality customer experience and grant a smooth customs clearance in these uncertain times.

Learn more about DDP 👇🏻 thread

Credits:
Model - Joy Vega
Photography - Alba Gesti
Stays, shoulder piece & tiara - M Pardo Couture

1

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Sep 30

Feeling forced to watermark every pic of my work on top of the actual piece to avoid folk editing my logos out of my images 🤦🏻‍♀️

I hate to do that & guess I'll find an aesthetic way to do it.

For now, I'm tired of seeing my #crowns all over #Pinterest w/o credits

#smallbizowner #couturemillinery

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Sep 18

#Smallbizowner mental health check
🔸It's overwhelming, you're not overreacting. It will be ok
🔸Sales & SM don't reflect your worth. Your work is beautiful, you haven't found your tribe just yet
🔸Your unique artistic vision matters, it enriches the world

You got this!

#selfreminder #affirmations

Holding my pieces for dear life! Nobody said running a small business would be all roses and rainbows. Challenges are an everyday thing to deal with when you run your own business, and there's a solution for every inconvenience.

2

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Sep 16

I'm just too overwhelmed to carry this new weight of DDP issues on my back, too.

And as much as I'd love to make things easy on my customers, I'm unsure if I'll be able to assume this new slice of meat on my already full plate.

#ddp #ustariffs #smallbizonwer #etsyseller

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Sep 16

As a one-woman-band, I hope you understand this is way too much pressure.
I design & create, I take pics & videos and edit them for SM & Etsy, I attend my customers, I run biz errands, I curate & order supplies, I brainstorm new ways of boosting my biz...
All of this alone.

1

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Sep 16

I would only have an estimation of shipping costs + tariffs before the parcel gets in the system.
I would be entirely responsible of:
🔸Applying the correct HS code for tariffs to be applied correctly.
🔸Tariffs -hoping I estimated them correctly beforehand.
🔸Shipping costs (they may differ, too).

1

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Sep 16

I've been dealing with DHL to re-establish shipping to the US potentially with DDP.

If with DDP, customers would know what they'd be paying for the piece + shipping + import tariffs beforehand.

The ugly side is that I wouldn't know 👇🏻

1

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Sep 16

Trying to re-establish shipping to the USA is breaking my records of anxiety levels 🫠
Thread👇🏻

1

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Sep 9

Thank you so much!! 🥰

1

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Sep 9

As a matter of fact, I'm working on several more Dreide headpieces with other materials & crystal colours to suit as many tastes as I possibly can.
Goths, brides, cosplayers & alternative folk beware: you're going to need one 👑

#jewelrymaker #wirewrapped #crowns #smallbizowner #artnouveau

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Sep 9

The Dreide headpiece is back!!✨

Many who've been following my work for a while remember this design from the Dracula's Brides collection.
I've got a very limited stock of crystals for each colourway. First come, first serve!

#artnouveau #aphonsemucha #byzantinecrown #jewelrymaker #etstseller

This Dreide headpiece is now back in my Etsy shop as a limited quantity piece. Available in this gold with amethyst purple crystals, and in gold with emerald green crystals.

1

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Sep 9

The Dreide headpiece is back!!✨

Many who've been following my work for a while remember this design from the Dracula's Brides collection.
I've got a very limited stock of crystals for each colourway. First come, first serve!

#artnouveau #aphonsemucha #byzantinecrown #jewelrymaker #etstseller

1

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Sep 4

Los ayuntamientos, recortando en gasto, y luciéndose como siempre 😭

1

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Aug 29

New customs tariffs to the USA are a nightmare for all small biz's exporting there 🤦🏻‍♀️

How am I dealing with this new level of uncertainty?...

💅🏻 I'm making myself a costume!

No plan of action. Scraps only.

Shall you join me on this adventure?

#smallbiz #etsyseller #usatariffs #costumemaker

Laying on top of some fabric scraps that I'm using to sew myself a new fantasy costume.

1 1

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Aug 23

⚠️Shipping to the USA is temporarily suspended.

European post companies have all suspended their service to figure out how to proceed when the new US importation tariffs are implemented on Aug29th.

This is going to hurt all small biz's, not just mine. Let's hope it's all solved soon 🫂

Shipping to the US is temporarily suspended.

European post companies have all suspended their service to figure out how to proceed when the new US importation tariffs are implemented on Aug29th.

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Jul 17

... It happened! ⚜️ My customers do have a specific #medievalcore taste 😎
I hope I did my research well enough to accurately name this type of Ottoman inspired headdress.

If you know more about Ottoman hotoz headdresses -or Ottoman headwear & costumes in general- I'd love to know!!

#artisancrafts

1

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Jul 4

What the actual flying rainbows of a terrible "freedom of speech" sort of policy is this!?

Let's make things clear: supporting this merch & ideology is pouring venom in everyone's tea.
What's happening in the US is against basic human rights. Full period.

#etsy #antiracist #notofascism

Patricia Y. Hatcher @fallaxharuspex.bsky.social · Jul 3

I WAS going through and flagging all the items being sold with the "Alligator Alcatraz" stuff on it, then I got angry that Etsy wasn't doing this themselves.

I was on their chat with customer service to complain. Here are the screenshots of what was said. UNBELIEVABLE.

#Etsy #immigration

A screenshot of a live chat window with Etsy customer support. The Etsy Support Bot says the estimated wait time is 1–3 minutes. Then, a support agent named Nora joins and introduces herself: "Thanks for reaching out us, I'm Nora from support team and it will be a pleasure assist you today." The user responds in a dark blue text bubble:

"Hi Nora-- I know you are not responsible for this, but I need to know why is Etsy letting people sell merchandise for 'Alligator Alcatraz'? This is hate speech.

I was going through and flagging all the items I found, but then realized... this is not my job. It's Etsy's.

What is Etsy doing to combat this horrific merchandise being sold?"

The message is timestamped at 12:51 PM. The chat input field is visible at the bottom of the window.

A screenshot of an Etsy customer support chat. The support agent, Nora, replies with a message in two parts. First, she says:

"We understand that certain products may feel upsetting or out of line with your values, and we appreciate you voicing how this particular item made you feel."

Then she continues:

"We take feedback like yours seriously and regularly review listings on our site to ensure they align with our policies and community standards. While individual sellers manage their own shops and product offerings, we strive to maintain a marketplace that respects a broad range of perspectives while staying within our guidelines."

The user responds in a dark blue message bubble:

"It is out of line with Etsy's purported values as well. This is glorifying a concentration camp.
But now I know Etsy's stance. Thank you."

The message is timestamped as "Sent · Just now." The chat input field is visible at the bottom.

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Jul 3

Update: my trustworthy informatic guy managed to save the file!! ✨
Considering it was a 14 minute long video on 4k, it was quite important for me to save it so I could show you that wonderful bespoke headpiece in all its glory ❤️

#hurrem #ottomanempire #cosplaycostume #fantasycouture #happyending

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Jun 19

Panicking over potentially having lost key footage of a bespoke piece I've recently finished & shipped 🤦🏻‍♀️
Immediately called my informatic savvies to get them working on saving those archives -hope is not completely lost RN

#fingerscrossed #smallbizowner #smallbizissues #hurremsultan

M Pardo Couture @mpardocouture.bsky.social · Jul 2

And just like that she's gone! This limited edition cute wreath will be unavailable from now on.
Now I wonder if I should be making more pretty little crowns like this! 🌱✨

#smallbizowner #outofstock #flowerwreath #hobbitcore

Last unit of this pretty wreath with leaves and golden faceted beads just left to it's new home! Now officially out of stock.

2