What do you currently do?
At Sparklable Jewellery I design and make genuine gemstone jewellery using a whole range of beautiful gemstones. I also take bespoke orders from customers for pieces that reflect who they are and what they love.
I also have new ranges (just launched in the last month or so) including Silver charm bracelets and Shamballa style.
All my jewellery is affordable, I don’t believe that people should pay silly money if they don’t have to but that shouldn’t me a compromise in quality either. Everyone deserves to own that one piece of jewellery which they created and will last them for many years to come.
I have 1 or 2 new ranges due to come out in the next 2 months and will be making an appearance at a very big local show in September donating 10% of my earnings to a charity.
What is your inspiration in Business?
I want to create something which is individual and unique.
I also want to give something to my customers which they will love and treasure.
Who do you admire?
I admire anyone who starts their own business off their own back and makes a go of it. I admire those people who follow their dreams.
Looking back, are there things you would have done differently?
Sparklable Jewellery has been up and running for just under a year now, I think I would have planned a little better rather than finding something I loved doing and just jumping in head first.
There have (and still are) challenges with gaining customers and gaining their trust when they do not know who I am and what I can offer. If I could go back and talk to my past self I would suggest that saving first to enable me to have a PR campaign might be a good idea.
What defines your way of doing business?
Just being me, I like to make things that I would love to wear but I also like to try new things, mixing colours and materials to see what happens.
I’m very much a ‘try it and see’ kind of person, willing to try most things once.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Research your market, see what else is available and try to find that niche market.
Check out the ‘competition’ and see how they do things, try and find ways of improving on someone who is already a success and make it your own.
Most importantly, be yourself. Don’t try and fit in with everyone else. It’s your dream and it should be how you want it to be.
Running your own business (as I’ve discovered) is a lot of hard work and nothing comes without promotion and customer feedback. I also have a full time job and am studying for a degree through distance learning, time is very precious when you have a busy life. Always make sure you have time for yourself and your family.
