We recently connected with Cristie Field and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Cristie , thanks for joining us today. What’s been the best thing you’ve ever seen (or done yourself) to show a customer that you appreciate them?

As both a business owner and consumer, I know that the customer wants to feel appreciated. They want to know and FEEL like their purchase was meaningful and I want the interaction from start to finish to be authentic.
As a small business, I have the opportunity to show my appreciation to customers from the moment they step into the door and provide a shopping experience that differentiates myself from the big box retailers. Whether you step into my booth at a market or walk through the doors of my boutique – I want customers to know that their presence means something to me. It’s important for me to acknowledge each customer and thank them for coming in – regardless of if they purchase or not. It’s important to identify if they’re looking for something specific or just browsing – and then provide recommendations based on what they’re looking for.
I want the checkout experience to be more than just a financial transaction. I want the customer to feel appreciated – and not just another dollar made. All purchases are packaged nicely – as if I was giving them a special gift. And I always make sure to welcome them to visit again.
Additionally, it’s important to me to continue to show customers appreciation through discounts or offers for future purchases, special customer appreciation events and giveaways.

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.

What’s interesting about my career journey, is that it isn’t linear. It’s been all over. I initially settled on going to pharmacy school, then pivoted to being an elementary school in Chicago Public Schools and somehow ended up in corporate training where I stayed for 19 years. In that time, I had roles in Human Resources, Leadership & Organizational Development, internal communications and brand marketing.
In August of 2022, I underwent a kidney transplant. During that time, I used jewelry creation as art therapy to combat the tremors and anxiety caused by the immunosuppressants I’d have to take for life. What I didn’t know, is that my creations would lead me to start a small business – Lucy + Lola Gem Creations.
Once I recovered, I returned to work and continued to use Lucy + Lola as a side hustle to make extra income and give me something fun to do. But it quickly grew into a passion. I got involved more in the small business community, met incredible business owners and makers. When I learned that I would be laid off due to a company buyout, I knew I wanted to do something different. I wanted to work in a space where my soul was fulfilled, and I could give back in the way that meant something to me personally. After all, I was given the most important gift – the gift of life. I wanted to give back in any way I could.
Financially, I know that I could make Lucy + Lola full time, but I wanted to do more than e-commerce and markets. I decided to pursue a storefront – but I wanted to do more than just sell my jewelry. The space I settled on would become Wild Alchemy: Artisan Boutique + Studio. It’s a space that features my Lucy + Lola Gem Creations, along with other local, handcrafted personal + home goods – most made or curated by women businesses. The studio portion is a place for classes, events, celebrations, networking and gathering. I envisioned a bright, earthy boutique with cozy nooks to read a book, enjoy a coffee or share some laughs with friends – while being able to purchase artisan goods. And I made that vision come to life.
I’m proud to share that 90% of my merchandise is purchased from small businesses, with 75% of those businesses being local. I’m one-of-a-kind boutique in my area and offer an experience that gives back to the small business community and provides a place for the community to gather and spend time.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

While I will try not to age myself too much, I went to school in the 90s. During that time, you were encouraged to finish high school, apply to colleges, get into the best you could, figure out your life and choose a career that made money and had a title.

At least that’s how I felt. I grew up in an affluent area that looked at success as being defined by how much money you made or what title you had. Part of the reason I stopped teaching was because I was offered a job in corporate that paid way more than what I was currently making. Plus, I’d be a boss babe in my big girl, corporate job.

While that job led me to hold a number of different positions, multiple promotions and the time and financial means to earn a Master’s degree with a “successful” paycheck – it didn’t fulfill me. Don’t get me wrong – I loved the roles that I had and the people I met and worked with. I worked for an amazing organization. There’s a reason i stayed 19 years! But ultimately, it didn’t offer me the happiness or flexibility I wanted.

I wanted to give back in a way that mattered to ME and affected MY bottom line. As a mom and kidney transplant survivor, I didn’t want to be tied to an office every day and a rigid 9-5 schedule. I wanted more and I wanted better. Having been an owner of Lucy + Lola showed me that. And taught me that success is not defined by the paycheck you receive. It’s the look on a woman’s face when your jewelry made her feel beautiful. Or the little girl who just got her first charm necklace who just beams with excitement. It’s the look on my son’s face when I showed him my store for the first time and his eagerness to be the one to unlock the door each time. It’s the countless customer referrals, the feeling I get when I give another disease survivor a bracelet or small gift to remind them to keep fighting. Even writing this – I tear up and all the meaning and beauty this business has brought me. All the designer handbags and shoes in my closet cannot hold a match to the joy and inspiration this new role and title brought me.
Succes is absolutely not defined by your paycheck. A lesson I’m so glad I learned

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One thing about me is that I’m not a quitter. I’m a fighter. And i’m often reminded by my mom that I have a story of resilience. I take rotting lemons and turn them into sweet lemonade.

When I was stuck in isolation after my surgery and struggled with anxiety – I took my negative energy and turned it into something beautiful – metaphorically and physically. As one of my best friends remind me – I was out of work and isolation, so I started a small business from my bed. And she’s not wrong.

When I found out I was being laid off. I spiraled a bit. I was losing the only job and company I had known for 19 years. I didn’t know how to interview anymore. I didn’t know what a new company would look like. And I knew my list of requirements for my next employer would be steep. But that forced me to sit down and dig deep about what I really wanted to do for the next phase of journey. I toyed with the idea of working a non-profit or consulting. But it didn’t feel authentic. It felt like what I was expected to do.

So I decided to take a risk. Invest in my business and invest in myself. If I had been successful this far – I knew I could continue to be. And that realization initiated a fire in me. This wasn’t an ending. It was a beautiful beginning of something new and exciting. The lemons weren’t bad – they just needed to be transformed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lucyandlolagemcreations.com/
• Instagram: @lucyandlolagems AND @wildalchemyboutique
• Facebook: Lucy + Lola Gem Creations, LLC AND Wild Alchemy Artisan Boutique + Studio
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristie-b-11055517/