Tag: small business

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Introducing myself and my handmade products

Woman smiling and holding a wine glass up to the camera

Hi, I thought I should probably introduce myself and tell you a little bit more about my business and how I started it.  For the past fourteen years, I’ve actually had a different business that I started from scratch, as a mobile dog groomer.  I bought my converted van and started up in August 2011.  At the time, I was desperate to get out of my teaching job at the local college.  My business took off far more than I ever thought it would.  However, by 2020 my van was starting to spend more time off the road and in the garage, so I decided that I really needed a second income, so that whilst the van was in the garage generating huge bills I could still be earning money.  That’s the downside to being self-employed, if you’re not working, you’re not earning.  On a weekend away in the New Forest (my favourite place on earth) with my lovely sister, she bought a lovely necklace for herself and bangle for me.  Both were silver, my bangle is set with a large amethyst (my birthstone), and her necklace was made of large, geometric, brightly coloured shapes.  It was those two pieces of jewellery that set me on this journey.  I found myself wondering if I could make something like them.

I did my research and found a course in silver clay with the lovely Emma Gordon and the Silver Clay School.  I did the free pendant challenge – and was absolutely hooked! So I signed up to her course and haven’t looked back.  I absolutely love working with the silver clay.  It can be worked, molded, cut and sculpted just like ordinary clay.  Then when I fire it – I still hand fire with a blow torch which adds a whole new level of excitement to the process as I quietly pray that I don’t burn down the kitchen lol – all the organic clay burns off leaving 99.9% pure, fine silver.

I also love the fact that the silver is recycled from the film and photography industry and there is absolutely no waste.  If it goes wrong during the first stage, I can just roll it up and start again.  If it goes wrong during the dry stage, I can just grind it into powder, add water and turn it into clay or clay paste.  If it goes wrong after I fire it (I have melted one or two pieces), I can send it off to one of my suppliers and they recycle it into sterling silver chains, earring posts, hooks and scrolls.

There is nothing like the feeling of someone liking something that I have designed and created enough to not only part with their hard earned money, but to actually wear it on their person.  It’s amazing and the joy of handmade is that every piece, even if the same design, is different and unique.

I have also now branched out into resin homeware and gifts, which is enormous, messy fun, but more about that in another blog.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I hope you like my designs.

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Why Choose Handcrafted Jewellery

Here at Relic, you will find handcrafted sustainable eco-conscious jewellery. We are a UK-based independent business. 

So, why should you choose to buy handcrafted artisanal pieces?

Special Pieces Made with Love, Intention, and Soul Purpose

At Relic, all pieces are hand-crafted with the utmost respect for the process. Each and every piece is unique and has its own vibration and energy. While creating these pieces, ceremony and ritual are used to create a reverent process with intention and love. These vibrations are then a part of the piece.

If you are ordering a Made to Order item and you would like to make a special request for a specific intention to be imbued with your piece during the making process, please get in touch on the contact page.

Ethical and Sustainable Considerations

In many ways, the process of designing and making a piece of jewellery is as crucial as the final product. Creating from start to finish fosters a deep connection to each piece through the creative process, and means that each element of the business can be tied together under the same core values. 

Put simply, big commercial sellers source factory or machine-made jewellery which does not have the quality, beauty, skill, or love that a handcrafted piece has. Often those items will not have been sourced fairly or equitably, and will have a detrimental impact on the planet. 

Designed and Made in the UK 

You’ll often see jewellery described as “designed in the UK” — but that usually means it’s made elsewhere, often in large factories overseas. At Relic, every piece is both designed and handcrafted in the UKusing traditional techniques and mindfully sourced materials. It’s a slower process, but it means fair pay, lower carbon footprints, and transparency from design to delivery. The result is jewellery that holds real depth and intention — not just in how it looks, but in how it’s made.

Quality and Value

Handcrafted jewellery will typically last much longer because of the quality of the materials and craftsmanship which went into making it, and will therefore keep its value.

The dedication to designing and making jewellery as an ancient craft results in timeless pieces of jewellery, crafted with precision and care. Precious metals and stones are carefully selected. 

Recycled Metals

The use of recycled metals helps protect the planet by decreasing the demand for new mining, and offering metals a chance to be cherished anew. 

Your Piece is Uniquely Yours

No one piece of handmade jewellery is ever truly the same as another, nor can it ever be ‘machine perfect’, and therein lies one of its most beautiful and inspiring aspects – the uniqueness and the human touch which you can only find in handcrafted pieces. 

By purchasing handmade jewellery, you are guaranteed something special. Even if a design is recreated, it will always be unique due to the creative process. It will be made with care, and love. 

Your Support is Genuinely Appreciated

You can be sure that there is so much gratitude for every purchase of a handmade item from any artisan, and whenever you support an independent business.

Thank you for valuing the craftsmanship of your jewellery and selecting ethical, sustainable, handcrafted pieces created to promote heart-centered living, to be cherished for years to come. 

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Twelfth December and a Happy Business Anniversary

Business Birthday offer on The Chestnut Tree Book by Jenni Robson

Hello again and Happy Birthday to my little business!

 

Tomorrow, twelfth December is the anniversary when I launched my business 8 years ago and I thought I’d celebrate with you by offering one of my biggest achievements – my rhyming picture book, ‘The Chestnut Tree’ at a discounted price of £6.99 but just for one day only. So you will need to be quick if you want it at this price. It will make a lovely Christmas stocking filler for young children.

And I will still be donating 10% of the profits to tree planting.

 

 

It’s a rhyming book of loveliness full of colourful pictures of Charlie Chestnut Tree and his wildlife friends suitable for young children or those with reading challenges. The idea for the book came from my walks in a fabulous little park lined with trees near my home in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, UK. They are beautiful old trees that kids (and adults too) love, especially when the chestnuts drop to the ground. The rhyme came first and then I thought I’d do a few watercolour paintings and got completely carried away. It seemed only right that I created a book.. and here we are!

The book gave me immense joy to produce and I hope that you will see the love and attention on each and every page. I’ve taken it into schools, local libraries and given talks on my book journey. A great adventure for sure, long may it continue.

 

Till next time

Jenni x

 

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Supporting Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday – Small Business, Big Difference.

 

Small Business Saturday is a grass-roots, non-political, non-commercial campaign that encourages people to support small businesses in their communities, both on the Saturday itself and beyond. The campaign also aims to support, inspire and promote small businesses all year round.

 

On Small Business Saturday, you can help to make a real difference by choosing to shop small, shop local and shop independent.

Supporting my small business 

For me it’s all about helping to fulfil the dream. When you buy from an independent maker, like me, it means that you recognise the dream that I have nurtured and the hours that I have spent exploring and experimenting with my craft. It means that you appreciate the skills that I have honed and the love that I have invested in the piece that you have chosen. It gives me a huge boost to know that someone else can see the value in my work, and in turn it gives me the confidence to continue to grow my small business. In return, I hope that you enjoy the piece that you have chosen, whether that is for yourself, or whether you take pleasure in the act of gifting it to someone else.

 

If you have bought something from me, thank you. 

 

There is no big budget marketing campaign, or team of employees helping to run my small business. It’s just me. I am a self-taught designer and creator, buyer, photographer, marketing manager, accountant, blogger, packer, delivery driver, sales manager and general spinner of plates!

 

I truly appreciate your support.

 

Why I’ll be Supporting Others

 

It’s so important to support independent businesses, artists and makers, and those businesses who try to support them. There is such a diverse wealth of talent in this country and we should be celebrating all that creativity. Supporting small business means supporting your community and the ripple effect which that can have in generating positivity, well-being and goodwill is so vital to the survival of, not just the businesses themselves, but their area as a whole. It’s self-fulfilling, if I buy from my local independents, they can buy from someone else. Maybe they open a shop on my local high street and that in turn encourages other new business and visitors to the area. Investing in my local independent artisans and producers means investing in my local community and that has to be good for everyone.

 

 Supporting each other in our handmade community, here at The British Craft House is something we are all really proud of.

Did you know that Susan Bonnar, founder of the platform, is one of the

Small Business Saturday UK Small Business Heroes!

 This year, I’m doing my bit for Small Business Saturday by supporting some of my favourite British Craft House fellow makers.

Godrevy Textiles

 

Sarah is a weaver/maker based on the beautiful Lizard Penninsula in Cornwall. We met for real whilst I was down on holiday this year! Sarah produces her own exquisite hand-woven cloth on her cottage loom, and the transforms it into wonderful home accessories and gifts.

 

RedheadWondering Hand Bound Boooks

Lizzie is a wonderful wordsmith and loves to encourage everyone to record their thoughts. She handmakes the most beautiful Coptic bound journals with incredible cyanotype designs, each inspired by nature. These books are perfect for journals or diaries, for sketchbooks and photograph albums, or for whatever you might want them to be.

Sally Thake Jewellery

Sally has the most nimble of fingers, creating the most intricate pieces of jewellery using a myriad of tiny seed beads and her work is influenced by the impact of the seasons on the surrounding countryside of the Cambridgeshire Fens.

This year’s Small Business Saturday takes place on December 4th.

Please support your favourite small businesses. 

 

Thank you. 

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Have you signed up to my newsletter?!

Signing up to a small business’s newsletter or mailing list is a great way to show your support for them, without spending a penny, and there are usually plenty of benefits for you too!  

It’s a great way to learn more about particular businesses and makers, and what really goes on behind the scenes and into making all their fabulous products.  You’ll also get to be the first to hear about new products, special offers and upcoming events before anyone else.  Plus as a thank you for showing your support, they often have special deals or discounts they only share exclusively with their newsletter subscribers, so signing up is a win win really!

You can sign up to my newsletter at the link below…and I promise they’ll be plenty of all the above! Starting with a discount code you can use on your next order as a thank you for signing up!

Sign up now to get your discount: http://eepurl.com/hiU7ob