We recently connected with Brittany Wisner and have shared our conversation below.
Brittany, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?
For many years I wanted to start a business and was convinced I couldn’t do it. Then, in 2019, I found polymer clay and everything changed. I knew clay jewelry was the thing I could and wanted to make a business.
I am a very cautious and methodical person, so I wanted to build a strong foundation before jumping in. I spent the better half of five months researching and absorbing as much information as possible. I knew I wanted to start out on Etsy, so I spent a lot of time on Pinterest finding blogs about starting an Etsy shop.
After feeling like I had a decent understanding of what was needed to make Etsy happen, I dove into small business podcasts and listened to them in my free time. I have tons of notes on my phone and in random notebooks with nuggets of knowledge I thought would be helpful.
Then it was a matter of jumping into logistics – taking product photos, writing Etsy listings, shipping, etc. to be fully prepared to launch.
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?
I’m a Black owned business and live in St. Louis Park, MN with my husband, Seth and our perfect dog, Gus. I also work full-time in healthcare compliance. I’m a lifelong crafter – I even made my own wedding invitations! When I’m not working, you can find me on a plane or at a concert.
I am a one-woman show who makes earrings and accessories from polymer clay. I lean into the fact that I don’t just make what’s trendy. My goal is to make it easy for women to look and feel their best. I create pieces that are both beautiful and functional, with the idea that you should feel confident when accessorizing, not overwhelmed.
I am most proud of the way I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone. As a true introvert and homebody, it’s a lot to do vendor shows and I now have dozens under my belt. It’s been such a great way to gain exposure and also provides an opportunity to meet my customers face to face. Although I might nap immediately once I get home, I love being able to interact with customers, other small business owners, and continue to share my art out in the community. It is never lost on me when someone chooses to buy something that I made with my own two hands.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Building a social media audience takes time and effort. Consistency was key in the beginning. I made sure to post often and interact with anybody who commented or followed me. As uncomfortable as it can be, I also was intent on showing my face. I knew it was important for people to get to know the person behind the brand because people connect with more than just a product.
Connecting with other small businesses to do giveaways was also pivotal in growing an audience. If you require follows for entry, it helps other audiences find your business and see what you’re about!
My advice for anyone just starting to build a presence would be to show up often and authentically. Share about your product or service, but also share your day to day life. Share the hard parts and not just the highlights. Interact with your followers – ask them questions, take polls, do giveaways, etc.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I always say the most rewarding thing is that people choose to spend their money on something I made with my own hands. I love when my customers share how and/or when they plan to wear my earrings, too! I recently was at a market and had a couple picking out earrings as gifts for people in their wedding. To know that something I made is part of such an important day in someone’s life is all I could ever ask for!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.etsy.com/shop/courageandclayco
- Instagram: @courageclay
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/couragenclay