On Starting A Handmade Jewelry Business

Emily T.

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Published: February 4th, 2021

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Emily T.

Founder, Emily's Beaded Jewels and Creations

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Want more updates on Emily's Beaded Jewels and Creations? Check out these stories:

Hi! My name is Emily and I am the founder of Emily’s Beaded Jewels and Creations. We sell jewelry and yup, you guessed it, fabric creations. Some of our items include our Face Masks, Tie Me Up blankets, Robin’s Egg earrings, and more. Our customer is an everyday person. Someone who needs to spice up a casual look. Someone who needs an extra sparkle. Someone who needs practicality. Our customer is the everyday, average, ready to go, person.

Our success started with two ideas. I wanted to make jewelry and thought another easy side hustle would be making and selling sew free goods. Eventually, this pandemic came along and my mom suggested I make face masks. Using Square I built a site and now a new, small, online business. Thanks to my mom I am becoming more and more successful each day. Believe it or not, masks are our best seller.

What's your backstory and how did you get into entrepreneurship?

I am a young entrepreneur. I am currently still in my teens. I have always been really creative. I have always loved getting my hands on materials and making something. I can’t remember a time in my life where I wasn’t wanting to create. I am also a very hard worker. I thrive under pressure. My mother also owns her own small, local business. You could say it is in my blood. She was the one who encourages me that would make things and would tell me different strategies I could use to get business.

A good entrepreneur needs to be able to understand that there will be hard times. Maybe you have hit a giant bump in the road. You must remember it will get better.

I had started selling different things on Instagram and then opened an Etsy shop. When Covid started to get worse, my mom suggested that I make masks. After a long time of thinking and figuring out how to make masks, I opened a website using Square. I love using Square and highly recommend it to anyone.

I decided to cross the names of my Instagram business and Etsy page making Emily’s Beaded Jewels and Creations. It was pretty easy to know if my items were wanted by consumers. Jewelry appeals to everyone, all genders, all races, and creeds. Masks are 100% needed nowadays and all of our creations are 100% functional. It was obvious that our products would appeal to all kinds of consumers. When it came to affordable pricing, I created a formula to ensure we made a profit and I could also get paid for my work.

Take us through your entrepreneurial journey. How did you go from day 1 to today?

I got started on passion. I opened my computer, made a Square account and website. I added all the products I had and went for it. I started with barely any money and very little material to make a new inventory. I ordered mailers and got a little cart to keep myself organized. My best seller is masks and still are to this day.

When I hit a slope and was barely even getting site views, I decided to start advertising but didn’t have much money to pay to advertise. I created my Google My Business page and all my social media attempting to reach out and connect with people but that didn't work. It was a very hard time. I had no motivation.

I finally got out of a bad mindset. I went online and researched where I could advertise for a good price. Alignable came up and I set up an account. I am so happy with the results for only being on Alignable for about a month. I love connecting with others, learning about other people and their businesses. The representatives from Alignable are amazing as well. I am so happy that I joined.

Today as I am writing this, Emily’s Beaded Jewels and Creations is doing pretty well. I am looking to start expanding into being more versatile. I want to release a men’s watch line in a few months. I am currently working on revamping my site as well. After the revamp Emily’s Beaded Jewels and Creations will be a lot more inclusive than it is now.

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How are you doing today and what does the future look like?

Today I am doing pretty good for not even being open for a year. We are profitable and make sure of this based on our pricing formula. Our pricing formula ensures we make back the money we paid to make the product, we profit, and we can pay our designers. We must stick to the formula to stay afloat. I would recommend creating a pricing formula for all businesses.

Eventually, I would love to open a small storefront. Where my business is based there are many little “villages” full of small shops where people sell products they handmade. I just feel like I have to grow a lot more and get Emily’s Beaded Jewels and Creations out there. I will have to grow my clientele. I know it is possible if I work hard for it.

Through starting the business, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?

I have learned a lot since starting my business. I never realized what it takes. You need to work really hard. I have it in me to do, but I thought it would be a lot easier than it is. Especially in regards to building clientele. I figured just being on Google I would get customers. I soon realized that isn’t the case at all. I would not be able to just rely on having a Google listing. I had to advertise and put myself out there.

I also realized how pricing works. I figured I could just pop a price on an item and be all set. Yet again this is not the case. Not only do I have to make back the money it cost to make, but my business also has to profit, and I need to be able to pay myself and the employees I plan to have in the future. Now that I have realized this, I do use a formula to price my items, as I have said before.

What platform/tools do you use for your business?

I use Square for almost everything. Square allows me to keep everything in one place. My income, orders, client info, etc. I was also able to build my website using Square. It is really convenient and I really don’t need another site or service.

Square is also amazing because if I ever opened a storefront, I could purchase a Square terminal. Also, when I opened a Square account, they sent me a magstripe reader 100% free. Using the reader I could just use a computer if I were to open a storefront, again very convenient. If anyone is looking for a new program that has everything you need and is affordable, I highly recommend you try Square.

What have been the most influential books, podcasts, or other resources?

Honestly, the most influential resources have been other people. My mom really inspired me as I previously mentioned. Also watching shows like Shark Tank where people build a successful business from an idea.

Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting?

Number one, the best piece of advice, be open and motivated. It is not about the money, how you start, how and where you get materials to make inventory, etc., it is about what you put in. Are you dedicated? Are you motivated? Do you enjoy what you are doing? If you can’t answer yes to all of those questions, then maybe this just isn’t for you.

I would also say that a good entrepreneur needs to be able to understand that there will be hard times. Maybe you have hit a giant bump in the road. You must remember it will get better. It will not be bad forever.