We were lucky to catch up with Sarah Jones recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sarah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

Starting my business began with a simple idea: Could I combine my creative abilities with my favorite game (Dungeons & Dragons) to start a business? It began with creating digital content that other players could download. Soon I moved onto physical products. Now, five years later, I have my own workshop where I produce original products and curate products from vendors to sell online and in person. It took years to do – finding suppliers I could count on, figuring out what to do when things went wrong – but once I got started I never looked back.

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?

Holyxseis sells novelties for the unique geek, ranging from handmade items like shot glasses and dice bags to curated products in themes including fan-favorite movies, TV shows, and video games. My love of all things nerdy brought me to the idea of founding a business allowing nerds to enjoy their favorite fandoms in every facet of their life. It started with my D&D inspired Ability Modifier Shot Glass Set and has slowly grown to include in-house production of coasters, mousepads, and jewelry and retail items like lanyards, enamel pins, and plushies. While I may not enjoy every anime, video game, card game, TV show, or movie, I keep my eyes and ears open when working with customers so I can learn more about what they love and want to see more of. As much as possible, I try to provide at least one item that includes new and upcoming media so everyone can find something at Holyxseis. Staying on top of my game and learning how to create and supply new items with custom artwork and designs, plus doing research on new, fun products for my customers helps set me above and beyond similar businesses.
I’m most proud of the spark I see in my customers’ eyes when they find something perfect for their collection or a product from their favorite show, game, or movie. It’s such a great feeling to provide the nerdy community with a great place to find novelty items and accessories that fit their fandom.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

While I make a tidy little profit from my online sales, I wanted to find customers in my local area. My small town doesn’t have many places to buy items like what I sell, so I began attending events to see what local feedback was and to become more involved in my community. The response was enormous! I ended up finding many new customers who ordered from me online after they purchased something at the shows. Since then, I’ve continued to set up at shows and always invite customers to find me online and follow us on social media.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I first started my business, I was determined to ONLY sell items that I made. I wanted authenticity, but it wasn’t long before I realized that there were many things I simply could not make. Part of that was due to the manufacturing and production process, but a major reason I had to partially pivot was because I have never and will never produce anything that violates copyrighted or trademarked content. In the end, I’ve been able to marry my handmade work with my curated inventory to provide customers with as many great products as possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: etsy.com/shop/holyxseis
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holyxseis/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holyxseis
• Other: This is a private Facebook group I made to sell Holyxseis products: https://www.facebook.com/groups/holyxseisshop/

Image Credits
Sarah Jones, John Davis, Nicki Salaiz