We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful NimbleJingle Co. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with NimbleJingle below.

Hi NimbleJingle, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Being able to run a small business has meant the world to me. One of the missions that’s driving my business, is being able to show the world that it’s ok to not want to work a standard “nine to five” job. As a society, we are pointed in the direction of working jobs with long hours and repetitive cycles, leaving many with little to no free time to enjoy their hobbies, which can be hard for those who are creative and want to express themselves, whether that be in art, music, etc. My business allows me to express my creative side and making others happy with my products, while still making my own income.

I’m also a cancer survivor who sought out art as a creative outlet during my stays in hospital receiving chemotherapy. I received a lot of clients over the course of a few months while I was sick, and I truly realized the potential my creativity had to become a career for me. Cancer has left me with lung damage and neuropathy in my legs, making it difficult to work a standard nine-to-five job, which was one of the driving forces in starting up my own company.

Many people deal with chronic illnesses struggle to work jobs and be able to function in society, which is why I want to show others that being able to run a business can be possible, that there are ways to be able to enjoy what you do, while still working.

NimbleJingle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, my company name is NimbleJingleCo, and I’m an artist! I founded my company back in 2023, and I design products that mainly cater to those who love jesters, animals, and anything that’s cute, (though I’m beginning to delve into some horror/darker art as well!). Items such as enamel pins, stickers, air fresheners, coasters, and plushies can be found in my shop! I’m a 20 year old artist that has been doing freelance work for about 8 years now, and I specialize in digital art, realism pencil drawings, as well as designing pins and other products!

I got into the business industry about a year ago. Mind you, I’ve always been business oriented and have done commission work in the past. But a year ago was the first time I started designing products to be sold as enamel pins, stickers, etc. which is what my shop is comprised of.

What sets me apart from other businesses or companies, is that I’m very transparent with all my customers if they have questions about my business. In the past, I’ve had people ask questions about how I started my business, as they were interested in starting their own. I’d directly give them some of the manufacturers I use to produce my enamel pins, stickers, etc. to help them get going in their business. Most businesses try to be vague with the manufacturers or good marketing tactics they’re using, which makes it harder for beginners to know what direction to take when starting out being an entrepreneur. Many businesses don’t like the competition aspect, but I want to encourage as many people as I can to start their own business. I believe many are nervous to start their company, and look up to small businesses that are successful. I try to be that business that will guide new entrepreneurs when curious. I want to give off that friendly vibe, and not some sort of vague and absent company that is too focused on their competition and not their customers.

I am most proud of how far I’ve come. Starting off my business, I had no clue what I was doing, and sometimes I still feel that way. But with time, has come education and knowledge I’ve received along the way. New opportunities are popping up for me left and right, and I’m even making plans to start vending at conventions in the future. My work has begun selling in a physical store, which is something twelve-year-old me would’ve never even imagined happening.

I want my customers to know that my work has so much love and effort poured into it. Each design I create is thought out, and is cherished by me deeply. Every time I list a new item in my shop, it’s with the intent of bringing customers as much happiness as possible. Life can be especially tough at times, and sometimes receiving items from a small business that caters to their interests can make their day just a little bit better. As someone that’s battled and beat cancer 6 years ago, I appreciated all those times that I had received gifts from others, or bought from small businesses. Every time I’d buy something from one of the small companies I’d be interested in, It was like a light was turned on in the darkest of rooms, making my tough situation just a little bit brighter.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of new clients for me, has been through Twitter, surprisingly, and I highly suggest small businesses use it to start their marketing.

Many people don’t realize how easy it is for someone to retweet a post on Twitter compared to other social media apps such as Instagram, TikTok, etc. Being able to spread the word and gaining a following is much easier on Twitter, and is more convenient for new clients, as they can easily go back to their own profile and see the things they’ve retweeted. When your post gets retweeted, the reposter’s followers are more likely to see their reposts than other apps, making exposure a lot better for businesses.

Another great source for new clients for me is through word-of-mouth. I’ve received reviews on my Etsy talking about how they recommended my shop to their friends. This is a great way to get more sales and exposure as well!

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

Most, if not all my products are manufactured by a vendor. Every design and concept is drawn by me, but as far as turning the design into a physical product, I go through manufacturers. And I don’t stay with just one vendor for everything. I like to see each one’s quality and price differences, as it’s an important thing to do when managing a business.

I found the right manufacturers by asking other entrepreneurs about their own manufacturers. I also would receive messages from vendors asking if I’d be interested in getting items made with them. There were risks I took when doing this, but again, having a business is about taking risks, it’s how we figure out what works and what doesn’t, and it’s an important lesson that transfers to how we manage every day life.

When getting items manufactured, it’s always good to do research. Look into their reviews, or the amount of sales they’ve had. It’s very similar to how you’d go about buying something online and making sure it isn’t a scam. The same thing goes for looking into a vendor/manufacturer. Sometimes, despite a company having great reviews, the products don’t turn out the way you expected them to. And while it isn’t fun, and can be discouraging, it happens occasionally. I’ve dealt with bad manufacturers in my business, but it’s taught me to continue to really look into a manufacturer before getting a product made with them. It’s also good to research how certain items are made, as you might have to change your design to fit the way the manufacturing process works for them! Enamel pins and plushies are definitely one of those products where the design needs to be able to work with the manufacturer’s abilities.

Don’t be afraid to ask small businesses for recommendations! Many are very open to giving you links/names of their vendors!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nimblejingleco?igsh=cXZtNHpkemczYmg3
• Twitter: https://x.com/nimblejingleco?s=21&t=kgnhd7Nj-ngZ9bvpNAiCcw
• Other: Etsy: https://nimblejingleco.etsy.com/