We introduce Laurel the creative owner of Bead After Dark - Just the name alone intrigues us to learn more about her and her business! Let's jump in!
As
a native New Yorker who relocated to Southern California over 20 years ago, I
still marvel at the ‘perfect weather all the time’ scenario, and I am still
dealing with a sense of guilt over that fact.
Tell us a
little bit about you, your family, and what you like to do for fun!
My
family and I enjoy hiking in the San Gabriel mountain range and we are regular
visitors of the grounds at Huntington Gardens where every year the blooming
cactus display is breathtakingly gorgeous. Proud parents of our dynamic and exuberant
son, I decided to launch my ETSY shop this past March when my husband and I
became empty nesters. I am expecting
some pointers as my son’s education progresses as he has chosen to study
business…
Why did you choose
the name of your business? Why did you decide
to open your shop and sell on Etsy.com?
So
until recently, I could never set aside enough time during the day to devote to
sharing my earring designs beyond family and friends. For the past 15 years or so, my creative
‘quiet time’ was relegated to the moments I could steal at the end of the day,
hence the shop name bead after dark jewelry… I had been an active buyer on ETSY
for over 5 years before deciding to become a seller. I have such admiration for
all the creative talent on the site with such unique craft and supply items,
and I wanted to be a more integral part of that handmade community.
Since
I have offered my earrings for sale, one of the more memorable orders I have
had came from a lovely bride-to-be who chose to wear the pair she purchased on
her wedding day! She kindly shared a
photo, and I can’t tell you what a thrill it was to know she wore them for such
a special occasion; it was the ultimate compliment!
Do you take
custom orders?
My
earrings are made with secure lever back and French ear wires, but I can
convert almost all for non pierced ears if needed at no extra cost; just send
me a convo and it will be done!
Why make
handmade products?
I
began to create these earrings when I set out to custom color accessorize an
extensive vintage scarf collection acquired over many years…When the numbers
got out of hand, I decided to support my obsession by making several additional
copies for sale. I still keep one pair
of each design for myself even though there are not enough days in the year to
wear them all! My earrings are fashioned
with a loving attention to detail as are the logo/stickers/gift packaging I created
and assemble as well. I have future
plans to vary box and ribbon colors with the seasons and holidays.
What is your
favorite part about owning your own business?
It
became clear to me that owning a business means constantly working to improve
the product, display, and marketing both on line and in the real world. I enjoy the challenge and I am thrilled that
opening my shop has made it possible to share my heartfelt creations beyond the
scope of friends and family!
What is one
of your favorite items to make and why?
I
just love the idea of repurposing petite and vintage buttons for custom jewelry
as earrings; it seems such a natural transition and the results are often so
charming!
Did you
always see yourself becoming an entrepreneur?
I
can’t say I ever pictured myself running my own business, but now that I can appreciate
the potential to grow my customer base and profile with all the social media
sites, my goal is to work at expanding to capture the wholesale market. I also plan to interact with more potential
clients at local shows and fairs, as there is really no substitute for the satisfaction
of personal contact in the real world.
Laurel can be
found many evenings working late into the night happily and intently sorting
baubles and bending wires with the under counter LED illuminating a treasure
trove of sparkling beads and findings waiting to be transformed…
She can best
be reached via ETSY shop convo(you can also send her an email at
beadafterdark@gmail.com)! She is all over the web – don’t miss out and
go follow her here, here, & HERE!!!! --> Etsy,
Instagram,
Facebook, Twitter,
Pinterest,
WeHeartIt,
Wanelo,
Craftori, & Google+. Thanks so much for the Interview!!
Have an amazing fall!! Your work is gorgeous and can’t wait to see you blossom!
Thanks so much Elizabeth! ...and to fill in the blanks, check back later as there will be a number of new items posted this week at my ETSY shop:)
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