Feature Friday featuring Viv Smith of Poppy Sparkles

Welcome to another of our excellent Friday Feature articles featuring new women run businesses - today we're talking to Viv Smith, the designer/owner of Poppy Sparkles.

Hi Viv - thanks so much for taking the time to chat to us this Friday.  Can you tell our readers something about you and your business?
I’m Viv Smith, a self-taught jewellery artist and the owner, designer and jewellery creator of Poppy Sparkles. I am based near Blackpool, Lancashire. I have been making jewellery since my early teens. Poppy Sparkles was launched this year, 2010, and offers handcrafted jewellery, predominatently bridal jewellery. The majority of my jewellery is made using Freshwater Pearls, Swarovski Crystal and sterling silver. I aim to create beautiful jewellery using high quality materials, that are designed to be lasting pieces to treasure.

Where did the idea of running this as a business come from?
Ever since I began making jewellery as a young teen I have sold bits and pieces. In more recent years I started to sell online with some success. With two young children, I am currently on a career break and decided that this was a perfect opportunity to put more time into creating jewellery, promoting and selling it. And so, Poppy Sparkles was launched earlier this year. With a real love for Freshwater pearls and Swarovski crystals, it seemed logical to focus on Bridal jewellery. Plus, I love being a part of the magic of someone’s wedding and helping a Bride to look her absolute best with well-chosen accessories.

What do you love most about your business?
I love creating beautiful jewellery, especially custom orders. Interacting with customers and creating a piece that is just perfect for them in style and colour is perhaps the most enjoyable and satisfying part of my business. But, in all honesty I love all of it – except the paperwork and accounts side!

What would you like to change?
Jewellery is notoriously difficult to photograph. At the moment I am trying to find the best way to capture my jewellery on camera – looking at different backgrounds, lighting etc, as well as trying to learn how to use my camera to its full potential. I want to ensure that each and every image I have shows my jewellery off properly, so for now the thing I want to change is my product shots.

What is your aim for the next year?
Over the next year I hope to develop my website further, adding an online shop so that people can buy direct through my website. I also want to begin to establish Poppy Sparkles locally and nationally as a place to source quality handcrafted jewellery, especially Bridal jewellery.

Where do you ultimately see yourself?
Ideally, I would love to be a full time WAHM. Realistically, it is extremely difficult to make a full-time living from creative work. Bearing this in mind, I would like, once my time being a full-time mummy at home comes to an end, to be able to return to work in a more part-time capacity. Obviously, if I were to be able to do Poppy Sparkles full-time I would be extremely pleased.

What are your Top 5 tips for new Business Women?
Tip 1 Write a business plan – it helps you work out where you want to go and how to get there
Tip 2 Keep up to date with paperwork
Tip 3 Create a network of supportive people around you, for WAHMs who may struggle to network whilst at home with children, the internet and social media, like Twitter, is a valuable resource
Tip 4 Have some proper time for your different roles i.e. quality time with family, dedicated time for the business
Tip 5 Enjoy what you do!

All your pieces are so beautiful - if a client was interested in purchasing, where can they contact you?

I can be contacted via my website at http://www.poppysparkles.co.uk/ or by email at viv@poppysparkles.co.uk; I also have a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/poppysparkles and you can Tweet me at http://www.twitter.com/VivPoppySparkle.

Viv, all your pieces are stunningly beautiful! We wish you the very best of luck in the future and thank you so much for talking with us today.

Remember, if you are a woman running your own business and would like to be featured on our regular Feature Friday, please drop us an email to creationcollaboration@yahoo.com and put the words "Friday Feature" in the subject line and we'll forward on the information to you.  If you're interested in joining our forum, you can find us at http://www.creationcollaboration.myfastforum.org/ - we'll be happy to see you there!

Feature Friday featuring Emma Hall of Emma Hall Designs

 

Welcome to our regular Feature Friday on Creation|Collaboration - today we'll be talking to Emma Hall of Emma Hall Designs. 

Hi Emma, thanks for chatting with us today - can you introduce us to you and your company?

My name is Emma Hall and I have been running Emma Hall Designs for the past 4 years. I am 30 years old and have been married to my amazing husband for 5 years. I live in a beautiful village in a barn coversion that myself and my husband converted ourselves. I work from my studio that was my old stable – don’t worry we built another stable in the field for our horses! 

At the moment it is just myself running the business, which covers everything from Bridal Jewellery & Tiaras, Stationary & Favors to Bouquets and Buttonholes, which are all handmade. We also have many items to hire, which is the other side of the business. Choose from Ostrich Feathers, Beautiful Silk Flowers and Vases, Bay Trees, Wishing Wells, Lights and many many more items.

Where did the idea of running this as a business come from?
I initially started making jewellery as a hobby and sold to family and friends at parties. Within 4 months, I gave up my job as a full time chef, and decided to concentrate on the Bridal Jewellery. I was working out of my living room with “Brides to be” making appointments to see me on a regular basis. This quickly escalated into Stationary, Favors and Wedding Bouquets. The Table Centrepiece Hire is the newest part of the business but has quickly become very popular, along with the Candy Bar! 

What do you love most about your business?
I Love, Love, Love my job! To see a clients face light up (and sometimes there are tears of joy) when they see their design for the first time is priceless! I also love working for myself, its so fulfilling when you can actually see the difference you are making to someone’s Big Day!

What would you like to change?
I would love to have some help as the business is really busy, and although I have had lots of job offers I am finding it hard to take someone on. I have frequently been called a control freak, which makes me good at my job. If I could clone myself I would, as there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done.

What is your aim for the next year?
My aim is always to beat the previous years targets and to promote the business. I would also like to increase my range of hire items to include more unique items that are simply gorgeous. I also have lots of new ideas in my head for some unique bridal jewellery and tiaras, which I simply haven’t had time to create.

Where do you ultimately see yourself?
In the future, I see myself expanding my range and, eventually getting some much needed help. I would love my husband to work with me more, as we work really well together. He usually adds at this point, “when she makes her first million, I will” He might be waiting a long time!

What are your Top 5 tips for new Business Women?
Tip 1 Make the most of every situation whether it’s good or bad
Tip 2 Treat everyone as a valued future client – manors don’t cost anything
Tip 3 Never say NO to a job just because it would make your day longer or harder
Tip 4 Definitely make the most of free adverting & repay the favour if you can
Tip 5 Remember to have fun along the way, you might be a workaholic (join the club) and work hard, but you stated the business for a reason, so enjoy it!

A few last words - How do we contact you?
I can be contacted via my website at http://www.emmahalldesigns.co.uk/, by email at info@emmahalldesigns.co.uk, you can chat to me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Emma-Hall-Designs/241253909915?ref=ts or you can catch me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/emmahalldesigns

Thanks so much for chatting with us today Emma, your designs are so beautiful and any bride would be delighted to wear any of your products. 

Remember to check back next Friday when we'll be featuring yet another fabulous woman run business! If you would like your company featured one Friday, please drop us a line at creationcollaboration@yahoo.com putting the words "Feature Friday" in the subject line and we'll get back to you.

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.

Feature Friday - NuJoolz at Creation|Collaboration

Welcome to the fourth of our Feature Fridays on Creation|Collaboration!  Each Friday, we profile a woman run business by interviewing the founder and finding more out about them, their business, their life and loves!

For our fourth Feature Friday, we've chatted to Alison Thomson, owner of NuJoolz in East Scotland, a bespoke jewellery and tiara maker. 

Hi Allie, introduce us to yourself and your company!

Hi C|C, my name is Alison Thomson and I am owner, designer and manufacturer of every piece of jewellery that carries the NuJoolz brand. 

NuJoolz is a small family run company specialising in jewellery and tiaras for special occasions. I work predominantly with wire and beads and, as a result, no two items are ever identical. I also offer a bespoke service that allows certain styles of tiara or jewellery be customised or tailored to meet your own needs and wants. NuJoolz believes that, no matter what your budget, you deserve to feel and look like a princess on your special day.

 

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

 

I never actually had an idea of running a business; I had taken a few wire work jewellery courses in the past because it interested me, I enjoyed it and used to make bits and pieces as gifts for family and friends but nothing more. Then I decided to get married. I chose my dress but, no matter where I looked, I just could not find a tiara that I wanted and imagined I would wear. I also wanted my bridesmaids to be wearing complimentary jewellery and matching hair pins.

So I came up with the idea of making my own, I had no reason not too, after all, I did have the skills. For my final dress fitting, I had to take accessories with me. The lady who owned the store was very impressed and asked if I had considered making them professionally. I said no but she insisted I should consider it and asked me to make two for her to display in the shop. I did and they both sold within a week. NuJoolz was born. Since then I have regularly supplied the store with tiaras, necklaces and bracelets.

 

What do you love most about your business?

 

I love making people happy. It gives me such a buzz on a Monday morning to open the local paper and see a page dedicated to those who married the previous week. I often spot things I made and seeing the bride look so happy and radiant fills me with joy. It is always nice when someone compliments your product.

 

What would you like to change?

 

I want to expand.. ideally I would like to attend wedding fairs more often and possibly have a dedicated studio. Like many women who set up a business, I work from home and that does not help with the work/life balance. I have considered getting a small summerhouse to give me somewhere to work and also meet customers to discuss their needs and wants.  I also would like to work on my ability to photograph Swarovski beads - for some reason, I can never get the lighting correct and pictures are always either blurry or too dark.

 

What is your aim for the next year?

 

I have several aims for the next year, Firstly, we will be moving premises - to be able to work and grow, I need my own workspace, ideally with the facility to meet new clients. Secondly, we will be expanding our range to comply with requests for a slightly less formal but still delicate range to suit more informal weddings, engagements and weddings abroad. Our fun and funky range 'Sweet and Simple' will soon be available in some independent stores in Tayside. Finally, I would like to have our website performing beautifully, giving those who are not local to us the chance to buy one of our pieces.  The overall plan is to expand and grow while still providing a one to one service

 

Where do you ultimately see yourself?

I just want to be happy. I would love to have my own store or concession and for my two daughters to follow me into jewellery making and have a true family run business. I would also love for some of my work to be featured in a national bridal magazine. I would love to open a "bricks and mortar" shop with some friends to provide what could only be described as a one stop wedding shop. Planning, dresses, accessories, invitations, cakes, favours ..... basically everything under one roof.

What are your Top 5 tips for new Business Women ?

Tip 1 Never underestimate or dismiss legislation. It is there for a reason and if you chose to ignore it, it will return to bite you on the bum. Never underestimate the power of the taxman and other legal bodies!

Tip 2 Make use of your local business support group/Business Link. The people who work there have literally seen hundreds of business startups and are best placed to guide you. Many also offer free book/record keeping courses or networking events

Tip 3 Internet - do not underestimate the power of Facebook/Twitter and other forms of social networking. Over 53% of the population of Europe has home internet access and with the vast amounts of free publicity available online, you would be silly not to be exploiting it.

Tip 4 Networking. This is linked to Tip 3 - you need to get your business name 'out there'; it needs to start to be a recognisable brand name. Blogging, Facebook and Twitter pages all help with this as does networking within your local area. Get to know those setting up just like you, get to know your suppliers especially local ones.

Tip 5 Have patience. This is the hardest one but you need to sit back and let your hard work filter through. Everyone has slow periods and, in my experience, usually slow starts. Just keep plugging away and soon the sales/bookings will be coming thick and fast.

A few last words - How do we contact NuJoolz?

You can follow us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/NuJoolz, our blog can be found at http://nujoolz.blogspot.com/, our Twitter page is http://twitter.com/nujoolz and, finally. our website address is http://www.nujoolz.com/.

Thank you so much Alison for chatting with us today - your love of jewellery making for special events really shines through!

Next Friday, we look forward to featuring Susie Mc Kinstray of Pot of Gold Crafts!