We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jocelyne Garcia a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jocelyne, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

One of the biggest risks I have ever taken was opening my small businesses, Furevermade. The year was 2021, we were in the Covid-19 pandemic, and I was working front line at Urgent Care. I contemplated opening a “maker” business for many months before I did because I kept seeing small businesses shut down during quarantine and lock down. I thought to myself if they can’t make it how I could I? After watching endless tik tock videos on maker businesses, I was inspired to take the plunge and stop over thinking. I also thought the small business community needed more diversity. I originally started with making products with my Cricut machine which is a cutting machine. I made customized wooden door signs, personalized cups, t-shirts, tote bags and more. After seeing how successful the custom orders were, I wanted to branch out into making more items. Once I discovered resin, I played around with it for months before introducing it into my small shop. My passion for resin really grew when customers started asking for keeps sakes. I loved being a part of making a memory last a lifetime. Making with resin is very tedious and requires a lot of patience. I learned a lot about myself during the process and it has helped me a lot with my mental health. I get lost for hours when creating, especially when I am given the opportunity for creative freedom. I am glad I took this risk, as I was working in health care in one of the most difficult times. Two and a half years later, I have finally learned how to balance my Medical Assistant job with my small business. After making the decision to open my business I never looked back. I am a proud Mexican small business owner and love what I do!

Jocelyne, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Jocelyne, I am a Mexican American small business owner. I enjoy exploring the outdoors, spending time with friends and family, and of course, working on my small biz! The name “Furevermade” originated with my two dogs in mind, Charlie, and Jack. I am a huge dog lover and knew I wanted to incorporate that into my brand name which is where “fur” came from. Our Charlie boy gained his angel wings late 2021. Jack just turned four years old and his favorite thing to do is run free in the ocean. I use resin to make my products. Resin is basically a two-part mix that creates a hard plastic when fully cured. Depending on the resin used and type of pour, it takes anywhere from 24-72 hours for each layer to fully cure. If there is a mold, I can make it! My top sellers at pop up markets are trinket trays, phone stands and jars. I also have dried wedding bouquets to make keepsakes. What sets me apart from others is my attention to detail. I can be a perfectionist and I know my customers notice it and appreciate my attention to detail. I am most proud of how far I’ve gone and how much I have accomplished. I always say, “when there is a will there is a way” and that has helped me keep pushing forward.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I built my audience with consistency! I took advice from another small business friend who advised me to be consistent and share videos of what I was making. She told me “You are already doing it, might as well film it” After I took her advice, I noticed my following start to increase. I posted videos on both Instagram and Tik Tok. I was posting every day to stay consistent. My advice would be the same, to stay consistent and always share what you are working on! People can’t buy your products if they don’t know they exist.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

I chose to create my own website through Shopify. When I first started selling products, I tried Etsy and loved it. The reason I enjoyed selling on Etsy was because they help you reach a larger audience. I was getting orders from across the country! I made a few sales in the west coast and was extremely excited! After months on Etsy I realized the fees were too high and it wasn’t worth selling on there anymore. I grew a small following and thought I could sell though my own website. I have my products on Faire as well which is a wholesale website for small businesses. I enjoy Faire because you are selling to a fellow small business owner who will most likely have your products featured at their store front.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.furevermade.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/furevermade?r=nametag
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FureverMade-LLC-102296958687923