We were lucky to catch up with Andrea Ester recently and have shared our conversation below.

Andrea, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your business and how did you resolve those issues?

Thank you for giving small businesses the chance to share their stories. We all have unexpected issues that come about, especially since the pandemic. My small business is ran by myself. I am a one woman show. I make jewelry, and sell online as well as at events and a few stores. Being a one woman show, I am the one who makes the jewelry, price, tag, photograph, edit, post, take orders, ship, and anything else that may need to be done. All of that is just in house. Events like pop-ups and festivals are also done by myself. I sometimes have help with set up and breakdown from my husband, family, and/or friends, but again its just me. Inventory and shipping to the stores, also me. With saying that a lot of unexpected issues arise, from sick children, sick parents, flat tires, you name it. I think the biggest issue I have is an ongoing health issue that has become worse for me. In June of 2022, I was diagnosed with Sjögren’s Syndrome. Sjögren’s is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the entire body. Along with symptoms of extensive dryness, other serious complications include profound fatigue, chronic pain, major organ involvement, neuropathies and lymphomas. Events with my condition can be taxing on my body.

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?

My name is Andrea, owner and designer of Bijoux de Delone. I am a wife, mother of two, and owner/ designer of Bijoux de Delone, LLC. I have been making handmade jewelry and other accessories since 2003. My work has been used in weddings, photoshoots, local magazines, and on movie sets. Bijoux de Delone, LLC is a home based business located in New Orleans, LA, but sells online, at local events, and a local stores.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been current clients. My business is a product, so when people buy and wear my handmade jewelry, it catches the eye of others and they may ask my clients where did they get it from, and they send them my way. The majority of my clientele in the beginning just happen to be family and friends, but has now grown to other states.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Right before the pandemic I told myself that I would stop doing as many in-person events to sell my jewelry. Well the COVID made me, like a lot of other people, we were forced to take it easy. This gave me time to think about how to not do so many events. So, I decided to sell in more stores. Selling in stores gives me the ability to be in more than one place at the same time and is way less physical work for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bijouxdedelone.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/bijouxdedelone
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/bijouxdedelone
• Other: www.etsy.com/shop/bijouxdedelone