Ori-Janel Creations Handmade Gifts & Crafts by Janel Connell

 

Building Bridges:  Tell us a little bit about you, your family, and what you like to do for fun!

Janel: I live in San Diego, CA and am the youngest of 4 children.  I grew up in Dallas, TX and moved to California 12 years ago.  I love to craft and started crafting jewelry as a teenager.

Building Bridges:  What other hobbies do you have?

Janel: I am also an independent vintage model and do various photo shoots and appear in various pin up magazine.  I love to sew, play with my French bulldog Cora, and go on Harley rides with my husband.

Building Bridges: Why did you choose the name of your business? Is there a special meaning behind it?

Janel:  It’s supposed to be like the word “original” in Ori-Janel, although sometimes it is confusing.

Building Bridges: Why did you decide to open your shop and why sell on Etsy.com?

Janel:  My sister also crafts and has her business on that site and so I chose it as my site to open up my shop as well, and do like it better than other sites I have mingled in.

Building Bridges: Did someone encourage you to start a business?

Janel:  I started with sewing items and wanted to sell them since I couldn’t stop sewing and decided to just open my own craft business once I got several items to sell, I needed to get rid of them somehow.

Building Bridges:  When did your shop officially open & do you remember your first product that sold?

Janel:  2008, I think in the later part of the year, and have had the shop ever since. I sold various sewing items, such as sachets with dif scents and designs, blankets and small square quilts.

Building Bridges:  Any current shop promo discounts, if so when do they end?

Janel:  Not at the moment, but I’m sure if a reader comes to my shop and messages me that they saw me on Building Bridges Marketing blog, I will be glad to give them a discount code of their very own.  I do at times have sales and promotions and you can see the codes posted on my Facebook Page.

Building Bridges:  Do you take custom orders?

Janel:  If it’s an item and I can reproduce, I will always take custom orders, some items I only have enough materials for one item, depending on what it is, but never hurts to ask me.

Building Bridges:  Why Make handmade products?

 

Janel:  I love handmade items myself.  Always something unique when you know it is made by hand in an assembly line time of the century.

Building Bridges:  What do you love or hate about selling?

Janel:  I love selling, I love getting the attention of my items and hopefully knowing someone will buy it and cherish it as much as I did when I made it.  The part I hate is that I wish I could sell more items because I make so many and in a site such as Etsy, there are so many shops, it’s hard to stand out at times.

Building Bridges:  What is your favorite part about owning your own business?

Janel:  I am my own boss in my craft business.  Nobody can tell me how to design, I just do as I wish and work my own hours as well.

Building Bridges:  Do you have a product that you prefer to design/create over others?

Janel:  I love my cigar box items.  They are original and nobody else in my area does such crafts.  I love hunting down the cigar boxes and seeing which ones I have and what the box will be for me to decide if it will be a purse or a deco box.

Building Bridges: Do you have any advice for other crafters who would like to start selling their creations?

Janel:  It’s easier than you think to get started.  I have learned so much over the years about selling in craft shows etc and they are also def worth the effort.  Don’t give up, follow your dreams and don’t let anyone tell you differently.

Building Bridges:  Best advice you received when you went into business for yourself?

Janel:  Don’t let anyone bring you down. If they don’t like your items, then there is someone out there that does.  Don’t get discouraged. 

Building Bridges:  We love to attend craft and vendor markets - do you?

Janel:  Yes I do.  I frequent a lot of craft shows at elementary schools.  They seem to be the best and it also helps out with the PTA and schools that put them on.  It’s also good for networking and getting your product out there.

Building Bridges:  What is your favorite part about the markets?

Janel:  I love the people.  They are always out there looking for that original item that just grabs their attention and support the local handmade groups.  I also love that a lot of the events/markets are for charity fundraisers and going for a good cause.

Building Bridges:  Do you ever get nervous the night before a big event?

Janel:  I was out of practice at markets for a while until I did one recently and was a little nervous.  But the show turned out great and got me back in the swing of things for next time.

Building Bridges:  Did you always see yourself becoming an entrepreneur?

Janel:  I didn’t.  I never knew I would own my own craft business someday, although it’s not full time, I enjoy every moment I can do.  It also makes me feel empowered for women and it’s important to be an influence and encourage others.

Building Bridges:  What is your most popular product on the market right now?

Janel:  My Cigar box items are most popular, because they are different.  I also make jewelry that seems to be popular because who doesn’t like jewelry. 

Building Bridges:  What is the favorite item you make and why?

Janel:  My cigar box items are, because they are my favorite to make.  I start with a cigar box and decide if I want it to stay a box or become a purse and then go from there on the décor that can be anything I want it to be.

Building Bridges:  Tell us anything extra you would like to be added to your feature.

Janel:  Ori-Janel Creations donates portions of proceeds in our shop to various animal charities once a month.

There are several ways that you can purchase Janel’s pretty jewelry and retro flashback items!! So head on over to her  website, Etsy shop,  & be sure to follow her on Twitter, & Facebook.

Customers can best reach Janel through her Etsy shop convo or they can email her at orijanelcreations@gmail.com with questions and custom orders!

Janel thank you so much for sharing your story with us! Happy sales to you and keep up the fantastic work!  Summer time is bidding us farewell and the busy gift giving season is soon going to approach! Be sure to keep Origanelcreations in mind this year for some memorable presents!!