From Studio to Six Figures: How I Built My Jewelry Website for Free (And Sell on Etsy, Amazon & eBay)
By Sarah Chen, Founder of Luna & Gem
Three years ago, I was making polymer clay earrings at my kitchen table and selling them exclusively at weekend markets. I knew I needed to sell online, but every platform took a cut, and hiring a web designer was completely out of reach.
Today, I run a profitable jewelry business with a stunning website that cost me nothing to build. I sell on Etsy, Amazon Handmade, and eBay, but my own website is the hub of my brand. Let me show you exactly how I did it using free HTML templates from TemplatesJungle.
The Problem: Too Many Fees, No Control
I started on Etsy because it was easy. But after fees for listing, transaction, payment processing, and offsite ads, I was losing nearly 25% of every sale. I also had zero control over my brand. My shop looked like everyone else's.
I tried WordPress but got lost in plugins and monthly costs. A freelancer quoted me $4,000 for a custom site. I cried in my studio that day.
Then a friend who runs a small bakery told me about TemplatesJungle. She said, "Download a free HTML template, edit it, and upload it. That's what I did for my cafe website."
I searched their collection for "jewelry" and found the Jewels – Jewellery eCommerce Free Bootstrap 5 HTML CSS Website Template. It changed everything.
Why the Jewels Template Was Perfect for My Business
| Feature | How It Helped My Jewelry Brand |
|---|---|
| eCommerce-focused design | Product grids, shop pages, and call-to-action buttons built-in |
| Bootstrap 5 framework | Looks beautiful on phones (where 80% of my traffic comes from) |
| 100% customizable | I could match my brand colors (dusty rose + gold) |
| Free for commercial use | No hidden licensing fees — I could sell products immediately |
| Minimal, modern design | Made my handmade jewelry look high-end |
The template included everything I needed: homepage, product listing page, about section, contact page, and even a blog layout.
How I Built My Website (No Coding Experience)
I am not a developer. I learned basic HTML/CSS from free YouTube videos over two weekends. Here is my exact process:
Step 1: Download and Set Up
I downloaded the Jewels template, unzipped the folder, and opened it in VS Code (free editor). I used the Live Server extension to preview changes instantly.
Step 2: Change Colors to Match My Brand
My brand colors are dusty rose (#B76E79) and soft gold (#D4AF37). I opened the style.css file and replaced the primary color codes. It took 10 minutes using "Find and Replace."
Step 3: Replace Everything with My Content
- Logo: Created a simple text logo in Canva (free)
- Product images: Photographed my earrings and necklaces on my phone against a white background
- Product descriptions: Copied from my Etsy listings
- About page: Wrote my story as a self-taught jewelry maker
Step 4: Set Up Product Links
This was the smartest part. Instead of building a complicated shopping cart, I made every "Buy Now" button link directly to my existing marketplace listings.
For example, clicking a product on my website opens the Etsy listing in a new tab. I used simple HTML like this:
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/123456789" target="_blank" class="btn btn-primary">
Buy on Etsy
</a>
I added multiple options: "Buy on Amazon" and "Buy on eBay" for products listed across platforms.
Step 5: Add a Blog for Content Marketing
I duplicated the blog post page template and started writing:
- How I Make My Signature Marbled Clay Earrings
- The Best Earrings for Sensitive Ears (Hypoallergenic Guide)
- 5 Spring Jewelry Trends You Can Wear Now
Each blog post includes photos of my process and links back to my product pages.
Step 6: Deploy for Free
I uploaded my entire website folder to Netlify (free tier). Netlify gave me a live website address instantly: https://lunaandgem.netlify.app.
Later I bought a custom domain (www.lunaandgem.com) for $12/year, but the free Netlify address worked perfectly for the first six months.
My Content Marketing Strategy
My website is not just a store — it is my marketing hub. Here is what I do:
| Content Type | Where It Lives | How It Drives Sales |
|---|---|---|
| Blog posts | My website | Rank on Google for "handmade dangle earrings" |
| Product collections | My website | Link to Etsy/Amazon for checkout |
| Behind-the-scenes photos | My website + Pinterest | Pinterest traffic goes to my blog then to products |
| Email newsletter signup | My website homepage | Collect emails for future launches |
| Press & features | About page | Builds trust with new customers |
Every blog post includes a call-to-action button like "Shop similar earrings on Etsy" or "See my full collection on Amazon."
The Results After One Year
Month 1-3: I spent weekends writing blog posts and sharing them on Pinterest. Traffic was slow — maybe 50 visitors per week.
Month 4-6: Pinterest started sending consistent traffic. One blog post about "Earrings for Sensitive Ears" ranked on Google page two. I made my first website-originated sale: someone clicked from my blog to my Etsy shop and bought a $45 pair of hoops.
Month 7-12: I added 25 blog posts. Pinterest traffic grew to 2,000+ clicks per month. My website now sends an average of 15-20 customers per week to my Etsy and Amazon listings.
Today: My website is the #1 driver of new customer discovery. On Etsy alone, I can see which customers came from external links — over 40% now come from my own website. My total income across all marketplaces has tripled since launching the site.
How Much Did This Cost Me?
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Website template | $0 |
| Domain name (after 6 months) | $12/year |
| Netlify hosting | $0 (free tier) |
| VS Code editor | $0 |
| Canva for logo/graphics | $0 |
| Product photography | Used my phone |
| Total | $12 for the entire year |
Compare that to the $4,000 quote I received. Or the 25% in Etsy fees I avoid by driving my own traffic.
What I Learned
Your website doesn't need to be complicated. The Jewels template gave me a professional foundation. I simply added my products, wrote blog posts, and linked everything to my existing marketplaces.
Content marketing works for small makers. Every blog post is a permanent asset. People find my articles on Google and Pinterest months after I wrote them.
Free tools are incredibly powerful. TemplatesJungle, Netlify, Canva, VS Code — I built an entire business on free resources.
You don't need to be a coder. If you can use Microsoft Word, you can edit an HTML template. Change the text. Swap the photos. That is 90% of the work.
My Advice to Other Jewelry Makers and Small Creators
Stop waiting. Stop paying high Etsy fees without building your own brand. Go to TemplatesJungle and download the Jewels template or any free ecommerce template that fits your products.
Spend one weekend customizing it with your photos and story. Use the blog to share your process. Link every product button to your existing Etsy, Amazon, or eBay listings.
Within months, you will have a website that:
- Makes you look professional
- Drives customers to your marketplaces
- Costs nothing to maintain
- Builds your brand for the long term
I still sell on Etsy and Amazon — they bring me customers every day. But now those customers discover me through my own website first. And that feels incredible.
Ready to build your own free website? Browse the free ecommerce website templates at TemplatesJungle.com and find the perfect design for your handmade business. Your brand deserves a home that you own.