Growing Homegrown

Use Your Resources: Marketing on Etsy March 22, 2018 5:08 PM A vital lesson I have learned in college and business is to  use your resources ! At Saint Michael’s we have so many opportunities around us if we just seek them out. Whether it’s free printing, access to your target market, or alumni relationships, college is full of resources that can benefit you in a lot of ways. I look at my business the same way, full of resources. Etsy is full of tools that help you succeed, as long as you take the time to find them.  Today I want to talk about a couple of resources Etsy has given me and my favorite ways of using them!              For those who don’t know, Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade shops. In their own words, “ We provide a meaningful space for sellers to turn their creative passions into opportunity. We enable buyers to discover unique items made with care. ” Creating my Etsy shop was a huge step for my business. I was able to have a store without the im

Marketing Overview: Price, Product, Place, Promotion, and Everything in Between March 5 th 2018 5:17pm As a small business it is important to market my products and brand in creative ways that will make me stand-out from the crowd. Up until this semester, I was a self-taught marketer, learning from experience and the occasional Pinterest article. Marketing can be a daunting and risky endeavor, but it is also necessary for a growing business. Here is a little look into ways I market and my interpretation of the 4 P’s of marketing.   PRODUCT             My product is the jewelry I make. This could be a necklace, rings, bracelets, or a pair of earrings. It’s important to me that I hand make as much of the jewelry as possible. Besides the actual metal, stones, and certain clasps, I make all of the components of my jewelry. As a small business it is important to have quality products that give you a competitive advantage over other businesses. PRICE             F

Q&A March 1st, 2018 9:00am Q: Hi! Where do you get all the material for the jewelry? The gems, the turquoise, all of it. A: I order most of my supplies through RioGrande.com, a huge supply distributor. They are based out of Albuquerque and always have super high-quality materials. I usually order my stones from Rio but I also buy a lot of them when I travel. I have around 25 stones just from my trip out West and even more from other parts of the world. Q: What’s your favorite piece of all time??? A: I have a lot of favorite pieces to be honest. Every time I make something new I get really excited and it’s my new favorite. Currently I’m obsessed with the new stuff in the Spring Collection. It’s like having kids; you can’t pick a favorite. Which is why my jewelry organizer is currently overflowing… Q: Mario Kart or Fifa Street? A: Mario Kart over everything, I’m always Yoshi and will 1v1 anyone, anytime. Q: How long have you been in bu