Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cody Cook. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Cody, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
Pursuing my small business full time was a huge risk in itself; we’ve all heard sad stories about those who create a company and fail shortly after due to a number of very real and unpredictable circumstances. Back in 2016/2017, I was unemployed, low on cash/savings but determined to bring my vision to life. I invested whatever savings I had into my business. I wanted it to be its very best. I spent time educating myself on the products I would be selling, so I could give my customers a knowledgeable purchase every time. I mastered my art, becoming more well-rounded with the services I could offer. What started with simple wire wrapping evolved into my work with lapidary/stone cutting and silver smithing. I’ve had the opportunity to connect with direct mining sources for gemstones and minerals, and learned from some of the most reputable names in the industry. Putting in the effort was the best payout imaginable. My small business has become my full, stable source of income for the past 7 years, and I wouldn’t change that for anything. I’m glad I took the risk, and if there’s any advice I could offer: it’s to just do it. Pursue your goal head on because you’ll never know what will happen if you never try.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
My name is Cody Cook, owner of BTH Gems and Jewelry LLC (Bless The Herbs) a Colorado based business. I specialize in gemstones, lapidary/stone cutting, jewelry and incense. I’m accompanied by my fiance and business partner Marissa “Missy” Miller who specializes in clay work and jewelry. When I first began my small business journey, I was primarily creating wire wrap jewelry. I progressed further by investing in my lapidary machinery which led to my ability to cut and polish stones. As time went on, I implemented silversmith skills learned from high school classes back into my jewelry. I’ve had the opportunity to self collect many of the stones in our shop/personal collection, adding “rockhound” to the list of many titles achieved in my time as a business owner. Missy took her love of sculpting into the shop when she first invested in her vast polymer clay set up. She’s created hundreds, if not thousands of intricate sculptures and jewelry pieces during our time together. I am extremely proud of the exponential growth of my brand. We have skyrocketed on social media to 15.8k followers on Instagram, our main selling platform. We offer live sales weekly, and love actively engaging with our clients. We’re really one big family of folks who share the same passion for jewelry and crystals.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy for growing our clientele so far has been offering free giveaway opportunities for our products. There are several ways we do this. Sometimes it will be a direct post on our Instagram page for followers to like and comment on. Sometimes we host giveaway opportunities live as well. It has been our way of giving back, and the payoff is always growing in clientele. All we ask is for a follow in order to participate, and in doing so it gets our name out to more and more people whose interests were already piqued in the piece we are giving away. Our hope is that they stick around for not only more giveaways, but as a potential future buyer.
The next great thing you can do to grow your clientele is get out and make those in person connections! Vending has amassed a large number of our customers over the years. When you get to meet and chat with folks in person, they can really get a more personal level of experience when purchasing that makes them feel reassured and taken care of. It helps to really know who you’re buying from!
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When the pandemic of 2020 hit, it was definitely the biggest test of my resilience. We faced many struggles. Vending opportunities were basically nonexistent with mandates, and finances for everyone were affected in some way or another. We had to work entirely online for our income, a task which was no small feat. With so much competition online, we really had to stand out in our service and commitment to quality. Our products truly speak for themselves. When you receive an item from us, no matter how small, we work diligently to make sure it is the best experience through to the end. From order placement, questions along the way and shipment, we strive to ensure top quality purchases every time. This level of pride and excellency is how we survived the pandemic. Our customer base is so loving and supportive, and kept coming back for more.
Contact Info:
- Website: blesstheherbs.etsy.com
- Instagram: @Blesstheherbs
- Facebook: facebook.com/blesstheherbs
- Other: Tiktok: @Blesstheherbs
Image Credits
Marissa “Missy” Miller