Creation|Collaboration Friday Feature - featuring Claire Ogden of Claire Ogden Designs

We're really delighted to be bringing you yet another Feature Friday article - today we're featuring Claire Ogden of Claire Ogden Designs.

Thanks so much for chatting to us today Claire - can you introduce us to you and your company?

I am Claire Ogden and I have my own business called Claire Ogden Designs, it is an online company that specialises in individual and unique handmade jewellery, wedding jewellery, tiaras and bridal combs. 

I have always been a very creative individual and like making an impression.  I am self taught and run with the ideas that I see in my mind when I look at the materials - no planning or research, I just make what I see! 

I created my website myself - I created it as a scrap book theme to catch my thoughts and processes of making and creating the jewellery, just like a snapshot of what I see before I settle down to create. All of my products have been created to infuse each piece with a sense of individuality, boldness and an impression made to last. A ‘Once seen never forgotten’ philosophy! I love to make a difference and create jewellery that shines through and gets noticed but designing each piece to last the decades and be wearable for a lifetime.

Where did the idea of running this as a business come from?

I began making pieces of jewellery for myself initially, which I found received a lot of interest and comments so I decided to expand into making pieces for friends and family.  I then ran with the idea of a website and just keep adding new designs and creations all the time!

What do you love most about your business?

I LOVE making the pieces, I LOVE people wearing my jewellery and I get a large amount of bespoke orders and repeat business but what I ultimately LOVE is the fact that a bride is wearing MY jewellery collection on her wedding day and people are noticing! There is nothing better than making people feel special and I order such a personal service I can do just that!

What would you like to change?

I find that quite hard to answer because I feel I change things all the time, I change the site pictures often to create more interest and work with new designs all the time. My notice board and directory on the site are updated frequently and I run blog and website polls and votes often. I love interacting with everyone else, especially when I have to decide between options or jewellery colours or pieces, it is so much fun!

What is your aim for the next year?

To be a recognised brand on the web, I want people to be wearing my jewellery everyday and coming back and passing the information on, I want people to be rushing on line to buy my new releases!

Where do you ultimately see yourself?
I want to be happy, I want to know I have provided an excellent service to each and every person who has passed by my site, I would love people to stock my jewellery and talk about the fact that it is so very different and desired.

What are your Top 5 tips for new Business Women?
Tip 1 NEVER give up, even if you feel really bad! Opportunities arise when you are not looking for them.

Tip 2 Customer service is the MOST IMPORTANT thing, offer a fabulous service and be remembered for it.

Tip 3 Don’t be afraid to ask for help, advice, support, other peoples input and opinions

Tip 4 Believe it what you do and ENJOY it.

Tip 5 Be committed and work really hard, my motto is that you have to do it yourself because nobody does it for you.

A few last words - How can a prospective customer contact you?
I can be contacted in several ways - via Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Claire-Ogden-Designs/121632454543156?ref=ts, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/cogdendesigns, on my website at http://www.claireogdendesigns.co.uk/ or by email on claireogdendesigns@googlemail.com.

Thanks so much for chatting with us today Claire - your work is exceptionally beautiful, any bride would be utterly thrilled to wear your pieces on her big day!

Next week, we'll be featuring another fabulous woman run business - make sure to check back next Friday!!!

If you are a woman running your own business and would like to be featured in one of our Friday Feature articles, please email us at creationcollaboration@yahoo.com with the words "Friday Feature" in the subject line.