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

Andria, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.

I struggled to make any sales for the first six months. It wasn’t until I attended my first pop-up market that I finally made my first sale. My inventory sold out completely,

I realized that my online business was suffering from a lack of exposure. I simply wasn’t reaching enough people. Attending pop-up markets and big events helped me connect with potential customers and showcase my products in a more personal way. I also started to focus on social media marketing and building an email list to keep in touch with my collector’s. Fast forward five years in business and I just recently opened up my first storefront.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Growing up in Arizona, I found my passion for creating jewelry while spending time with my grandmother when I was 10 years old. What started as a hobby quickly transformed into a lifelong passion for crafting unique wearable pieces of art. Through the years, I explored the art of jewelry making and taught myself a range of jewelry-making techniques, including hemp weaving, wirework, silver smithing, stone setting, and epoxy resin.

My dedication to hard work and attention to detail sets me apart in the world of jewelry. My ultimate goal is to design high-quality and functional pieces that are both one of a kind and compliment my collector’s individuality and lifestyle.

The opening of my very first storefront is an achievement that I currently am most proud of. The support from my collectors that has followed me over the years has been nothing short of a blessing. Markets have always been something I was good at but rather than focusing on markets and events, I directed all my energy towards enhancing my online and in-store presence. With the extra space, I am now able to host markets for my community, offer workshops to pass on my knowledge, and even provide repair services to my customers.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Yes, my side hustle evolved into my main career. Initially, In the beginning I balanced two jobs. One covered my personal bills, while the other served as my “business loan” for gradually acquiring inventory. I started small, purchasing limited supplies bit by bit. Key milestones in my small business journey include selling out my collections through email and online channels. The pivotal moment arrived with the opening of my first physical location, marking a significant step forward in the growth of my jewelry business.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

All my social media followings grew organically, without any paid advertising. While I was at a pop-up I encouraged people to check my Instagram if they like “behind-the-scenes” reels/videos. Everyone who came up to my table was a potential customer. Whether they bought something that day or not I left them with a brief introduction of myself and business and handed them my card. Early on I locked down my brand name then created a website along with making all my social media platforms with the exact brand name to establish a foundation.

During the COVID era, I focused on creating engaging videos, providing intricate details about upcoming collections while ensuring that the content was both interesting and entertaining. Years later I’ve gotten better at making videos, some things take time and practice to master.

For those starting to build a social media presence, my advice is to prioritize authenticity. Share genuine aspects of your creative process, engage with your audience, and consistently deliver content that aligns with your brand. Video content should be viewed as free marketing and should be leveraged as an opportunity to connect personally with your customers. I’m a big fan of gorilla marketing, like printing flyers and distributing them. Think about the places your ideal customers are going to hang out and start there. Depending on your business try posting up at a busy coffee shop and simply talk to people about your business.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.andriastienda.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andriastienda
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Andriastienda
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@andriastienda
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/andriastienda