We were lucky to catch up with BJ Hill recently and have shared our conversation below.

BJ, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The genesis of JibblyBitz was as serendipitous as it was a moment of clarity. As an indie author, I’m deeply immersed in the vibrant world of literary conferences and multi-author signing events. Swag has always been a hot topic among attendees and authors alike. As a researcher by nature, I embarked on a mission at one of these events to discover the various swag authors were giving away, planning for future signing tables of my own.

I vividly remember the friendship bracelet craze that swept through a previous conference. Authors and readers were exchanging these handmade pieces, each one a unique narrative. It was a beautiful community gesture, yet it came with its quirks. At the event where I was conducting swag research, I noticed an increasing number of authors joining the craze, crafting or buying beaded friendship bracelets to give away.

The drive home after the event was a time of reflection and inspiration. Recalling an article about Etsy sellers benefiting from the bracelet trend, and aware of the significant time investment required to create these bracelets — time I scarcely had — I realized there had to be a more sustainable, practical way to carry personalized tokens from our favorite authors and books.

Inspired by my children’s love for Croc-like clog shoes and their penchant for decorating them with all sorts of charms, a lightbulb went off. After arriving home, I scoured the internet in search of bookish charms and found none. That was the moment JibblyBitz came to life. I messaged two of my best friends and proposed, “What if, instead of crafting beaded bracelets, we traded shoe charms and wore them on wristbands?”

Their support was unwavering and only fueled my excitement. Beyond wristbands, I envisioned a platform where button charms could be a medium for sharing our favorite narratives, not just a fleeting trend. Hence, the JBz strap was invented — a durable, versatile way to showcase our literary loves.

Our product line quickly grew from this concept, expanding to include cross-body drink carriers, lanyards, and even wristlet keychains, all designed to hold our unique button charms securely. And of course, we couldn’t leave out footwear; our charms can also adorn Croc-like shoes, adding whimsy with every step.

JibblyBitz is more than a brand; it’s a celebration of stories and the connections they foster. We collaborate with authors and multi-author signing events to create custom charms for each occasion, giving readers a personal piece of their literary journey. Attendees can now collect, trade, and cherish these charms, creating a tangible tapestry of their adventures in literature.

Ultimately, JibblyBitz is about holding onto the stories we love, sharing them innovatively and nostalgically, and keeping the pieces of our story ever close. Welcome to our world of charm and creativity!

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?

Hello! I’m BJ Hill, an indie author, wife, mother, and the founder and CEO of JibblyBitz. My journey as a storyteller began with a desire to explore the complexities of human emotions and experiences. Through my writing, I delve into themes of redemption, love, and transformation, connecting with readers on a deeply personal level. My first novel, self-published via Kindle Direct Publishing, was a step towards establishing a meaningful rapport with my audience, and I’m currently immersed in writing my second book.

Balancing my roles, I also lead JibblyBitz, creating charms that resonate with book lovers. In all aspects of life, whether as an author, entrepreneur, wife, or mother, I strive to build connections and empathy through the power of storytelling.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

At JibblyBitz, the heart of our product line is indeed manufactured by us. From the initial conception of our button charms and stickers to the creation of each individual piece, we handle it all. The process to perfect the button charms was a hands-on journey of discovery, involving a lot of trial and error. But when I finally crafted the design that I envisioned, it was a game-changer. I discovered a passion for making each charm myself, with each design reflecting a story I wanted to share.

A significant innovation we’re proud of is the JBz strap, an original creation that you won’t find anywhere else. We designed and created the JBz strap from scratch, ensuring it perfectly complemented the unique needs of our button charms and provided a bespoke solution that could be adapted across various products. This strap is a testament to our dedication to craftsmanship and innovation, embodying our vision for a unique, personalizable accessory line.

We take great pride in the fact that we also sew the straps ourselves. Our approach is to keep production in-house, which allows us to pour our ethos of quality and creativity into every stitch. Nothing is outsourced, which keeps us intimately connected to every piece we create and every story we help tell.

As JibblyBitz grows, we look forward to the prospect of scaling our operations. There’s an anticipation that, in the future, we might outsource certain aspects like sewing and bulk manufacturing of our standard catalog. However, our custom work, especially that which is done in collaboration with authors, will continue to be meticulously handcrafted. It’s these pieces that carry the unique narrative of each writer, and it’s this level of customization and personal attention that sets JibblyBitz apart.

The main lesson manufacturing has taught us is the immeasurable value of a product that is not just a commodity but a piece of craftsmanship. Our commitment is to ensure that as we grow, every charm, sticker, and JBz strap that leaves our doors continues to tell an enchanting story, as unique and engaging as the books they are inspired by.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Certainly. The pivot in my journey occurred while working on my master’s degree, a time when I was deeply questioning my career direction and purpose. A significant turning point was a class in publishing, where discussions opened my eyes to the possibility of indie publishing—a realm I had never considered stepping into before.

This class coincided with an internal shift, a period of feeling unsettled and misplaced in both my career path and setting. The realization that one could create and share work independently was empowering. It resonated deeply with a revelation I had in church, a simple yet profound idea: “Paul built tents.” This biblical reference to the Apostle Paul, who supported his ministry through his trade, gave me a new perspective on vocation and using my passions and talents to build my career, rather than working toward a traditional 9–5.

Embracing this new mindset, I began exploring the world of literature beyond my usual fare of classics and theology. I immersed myself in the study of romance novels, seeking to understand their themes and the powerful emotional responses they elicited. This exploration became an extensive research project and an unexpected education in storytelling, character development, and the nuances of human desires and relationships.

The pivot wasn’t just in the subject matter but also in the approach to my career. I moved from consuming content to creating it, using my insights to develop stories that spoke of healing, growth, and the complex nature of love—themes universal and resonant, yet often overlooked in serious discourse.

This period of my life was a masterclass in adaptability, teaching me that to pivot is to grow. It’s about embracing change, even when it leads you down an unanticipated path. My journey to becoming an author and founder of a bookish flair business began with that pivot, reshaping my identity and work in ways I had never imagined.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jibblybitz.com
• Instagram: @jibblybitz; @bjhillauthor
• Facebook: JibblyBitz: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095177424664
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/Northern-Lights-Natural-Wonders-Book-ebook/dp/B0CCVVR963/ref=sr_1_1?crid=32IAGLP7WAJ2M&keywords=bj+hill+northern+lights&qid=1700010344&sprefix=bj+hill+%2Caps%2C429&sr=8-1