Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Crystal Webster. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Crystal, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today 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.

Honestly, the concept of Sharing Solace hit like a bolt of lightning. It hit so hard and so fast that the only way to explain it would be my daughter, Madelyn Elizabeth, was looking down on me saying ‘It’s about time Mom! I’ve been dead 5 years – quit feeling sorry for yourself and start healing already…and help others do the same too would ya?!?!’ It was then and there that I knew what my purpose in life was – and how to honor my daughter’s legacy and memory.

Because here’s the thing about death, loss, and grief: logically, our brains may be able to comprehend that we’re not the only person to have experienced such pain….but our hearts can’t even begin to understand that. We feel like we’re the only person in the world to have ever had to suffer like this.

If I needed that gentle (and physical) reminder that I wasn’t alone in my grief…then I knew others did too. If I wanted to know there were others out there like me but didn’t have the energy to get out of bed to actually go looking…then I knew others were out there wanting to do the same. While I wanted my story to be ‘the best’ I also wanted it to be uniquely similar to others as well. And that’s what Sharing Solace brings to the table:

Sharing Solace helps grievers grieve and lovers love their griever through technology-elevated, pass-along-able gifts wrapped in a community of strength and support so you can always ‘Remember. You’re not alone.’

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

Sure! I lke to give myself a lot of titles: (co)founder, author, creator, speaker, mentor, entrepreneur, but the title I hold above all others is mama to Madelyn Elizabeth. When Madelyn died in my arms just hours after she was born, I wanted to die too. It took me years to learn to want to live again – mostly because I realized my Maddie wouldn’t want me to live the rest of my life waiting to die.

Sharing Solace was founded from that love, loss, and hope:

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

I have never manufactured anything in my life! Going into this I had no idea what I was doing or even how to get started….other than good ol’ Google University… And that’s exactly where I started:

Google and phone calls and Google and more phone calls…

“Do you know how to make this?” “No? Ok. Do you know someone who does?”

One thing that really helped me was going to the national jewelry convention. I spent HOURS walking up and down the expo floor stopping in every booth, looking and asking  LOTS questions. I got design ideas, manufacturer questions answered, packaging figured out…pretty much everything.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

This fall, October to be exact, I took a big leap of faith. I took a solo 5,000-mile, 27-day road trip to Baltimore and back to exhibit Sharing Solace for the first time at a national convention. The trip stretched me both personally and professionally.

I had the opportunity to meet dozens of people IRL that I’d only spoken to online or through zoom, make wonderful new connections, and do some selling too!

While conventions like this take LOTS of follow-up and I’m still working through all the people I met I hope to be able to make a big announcement next month!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sharingsolace.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharingsolace/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SharingSolace