We recently connected with Lauren Ball and have shared our conversation below.
LAUREN, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?
When I originally started my business, I was only doing it part-time. I wasn’t confident then and I was unsure if running a business full time on my own would even be feasible. I was following a local artist at the time on Instagram by the name of Alex Gowan. I adored her art and was impressed by her drive and talent. Alex is the reason I fibally decided to become a full-time entrepreneur amd quit my “regular” job. I remember a post she made about her artistic journey and the decision to sell her art full-time. It inspired me and I thought, “you know what, why not?”. If Alex, can do it, so can I!”
I would definitely consider Alex to be my hero because of this.
Once I bagan vending at markets,, I was also able to actually meet Alex and become friends with her along so many other absolutely incredible artisans. We have such a supportive and vibrant small business community here in New Mexico. I am so glad I took the risk down this path. It was one of the best decisions I ever could have made for myself and I have to thank Alex Gowan for that extra push out the door!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Before starting my business, I was a Pastry Chef by trade. I had worked in the food industry through various jobs since I was fifteen. I was convinced that would be my career forever. I have met some of my best friends and the love of my life through restaurants and I wouldn’t give up that experience or those memories for anything. That being said, about five years ago, I was completely burnt out, over-worked, and frankly tired of the sometimes very toxic environment of the food industry. I longed for a change that would still allow me to be creative.
When I finally did decide to start my business full time it was like a whole new world of possibilities opened up for me.
I won’t lie, running a small business is tough and sometimes I probably work even more than I did as a pastry chef, but it has been so worth it. My designs and decisions for the business are completely my own. I get to be creative in ways I never dreamed of.
In the simplest form, my jewelry consists of nature-inspired designs using real flowers and botanicals that are preserved within epoxy resin. However, it’s so much more than that, because my work is ever changing, ever evolving. Just like the seasons, the designs shift throughout the year to reflect the different flowers I can grow, forage, or buy from small farmers. Although, I have some standard designs I always create, there are new flowers or themes I can take inspiration from. I often recreate miniature versions of full flower bouquets within a tiny piece of jewelry. Even when the same types of flowers are used the jewelry pieces are one of a kind because the flowers and leaves will always vary just slightly in regards to their colors, petal formation, or shape. I think that’s what keeps it so interesting for me. This jewelry is not mass produced, a perfect recreation of something you find at any retail store. It has depth, character and is reminiscent of the wild beauty you find in nature itself.
The goal I strive for with my art is to remind people of nature’s beauty and realize how important it is to care about the earth. If we want to continue to see those beautiful flowers, then we have to support sustainable growing practices, buy from local florists and farmers, and protect wild spaces where the flowers can grow.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
My best source for new clients has been through in-person markets rather than online sales. I think for my particular type of product, it resonates more with clients when they can actually see and touch the pieces. My clients are able to talk to me or my assistants directly and learn about the inspiration and process. They can see that this jewelry is made by a real person who has put their heart and soul into each piece rather than shoveling out some mass produced junk. It’s been a benefit to me as well because I tend to be a very shy and quiet person, so being at the markets and festivals gives me the opportunity to open up and connect with others. Learn their stories and see directly how my art resonates with them. Word of mouth is still so important for small business owners and my repeat customers are often the ones who bring new folks to my booth after sharing my art with their friends and family. I’m always so grateful for those connections.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I would say one thing I had to learn very quickly is that you can’t always predict how sales are going to go, especially if your business sells primarily through in-person events.
It can be really discouraging (especially for new vendors) to put so much time and energy into getting ready for an event to then have it fizzle out, with you barely making more than what you spent on the booth fee itself. The key is to keep trying though! Not every market is going to be your cup of tea in regards to the theme, the types of customers, the weather or how it may have been advertised to the public.
Also, there is a very important factor to consider, what made people even consider coming up to your booth in the first place? Don’t just throw your products on a table haphazardly and then scroll on your phone without saying hi or making eye contact with anyone walking by. You could have the most amazing products on the planet, but if your table looks sloppy or disorganized and you refuse to talk to anyone, of course your sales are going to be terrible.
My advice is to try to stand out from the crowd. Add height and layers to your display, have a theme to your booth or have a story to tell guests about your art or products. Why are your items worth their time and money? I can’t tell you how many times a simple hello and very basic description of what my products are drew in a customer who would have otherwise kept walking.
Of course even with all this advice, sometimes there will just be flops, but that doesn’t mean your products don’t have value. You have to find what works best for you and your brand too.
I tend to always do better at Renaissance festivals because of my nature themed items, but someone who is selling let’s say modern baseball caps and clothing isn’t going to do as well at that same event, Vice versa, I don’t tend to do as well at Beer Festivals. The point is to keep trying, look for new opportunities, connect with your fellow vendors and customers,, and always be willing to adjust if need be. Don’t give up!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.desertdognm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desertdognm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/desertdognm
Image Credits
Lauren Ball