We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Deanna Gerace of Moon Baby Crystal. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Deanna below.

Deanna, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

I wish this was a magical, poetic story telling you the deep meaning of my brand name, but it’s definitely not. I landed on the name Moon Baby Crystals in early 2019 after finally gathering the courage to turn my passions into a business. I had a few ideas for what to call my company, but nothing felt quite right.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved rocks. My fondest memories are going camping with my family, loading my pockets up with as many ‘treasures’ as I could fit. I loved cleaning them, sorting them, and just staring at them. I recall getting my first actual crystal from a gem mining bag and the obsession it immediately started.
In 2015 I began collecting crystals personally. This was the same year I began using glass, ceramic, and gemstone beads in my jewelry rather than plastic. I knew the word crystals had to be in my name. They not only represented my business, but has been my safe place since I was a kid.
I believe the moon has energy beyond its gravitational pulls, like how everything seems just a little funky on a full moon. I always cleanse my crystals under the moonlight, and when I do I enjoy sitting at watching the stars.
I used to think I was born on a full moon, later learning it wasn’t quite a full moon yet. A full moon is illuminated 100%, and the day of my birth was a 99% illumination. I decided although the facts weren’t correct, I was still born under the early morning moonlight and deserved the name Moon Baby.

Deanna, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve made jewelry for more of my life than not. In 2015 I began to take jewelry more seriously. My nanny passed on some of her materials to me. Leading me to the switch from plastic beaded bracelets to everything but that. 2015 is the year that began the pivot of what formed me today.

As I started my first year of middle school I fell back onto creating as a way to cope with my declining mental, and soon my physical health. I was diagnosed with anxiety in elementary school, and crushed by it in middle through early high school.

In 2018 I was diagnosed with a skin condition called Hidradenitis Suppurative or HS for short. HS causes painful welts in areas of your body that produce sweat. To spare any graphic details – it caused me to feel ashamed of my body.

My mental health was at an all time low as I navigated high school whilst battling depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. It was at this time I began really collecting crystals, taking music more seriously, and perfecting my craft to cope.

I grew up in a small town in Cecil County, Maryland. It’s an everybody knows everybody kind of town with not too much around. Our nearest Walmart is about 20 minutes away and was what I considered a fun outing in high school. Through choir I felt welcomed. It’s where I found people who had the same passion I did, and they were confident in it. I received praises for my singing. Acceptance from my peers something I craved for years.

My confidence began to pick up a bit, leading me to finally take the leap and share my other passions with the world.

In January of 2019 I created an Instagram based shop : Moon Baby Crystals. I began small with crystal bundles, beaded bracelets, and earrings. I sold mostly to friends, family, and classmates but had a few sales now and again to all over the United States. I worked hard to create a brand I was proud to stand behind. I believe jewelry is for everyone, and it should be created and priced as such. I create gorgeous and affordable jewelry for everyone because everyone deserves to feel confident.

A few months into branding on social media I was offered the opportunity to sell my jewelry at a local crystal shop called ION Massage. This was a turning point in my business as it gave me the confidence boost I needed to be better. I was honored to sell beside some of the best artists around. I was young, but I have never been scared.

I am now 19 years old and ever improving on myself and my business. Moon Baby Crystals underwent its first rebrand October of this year. I was honored to work with a friend of mine, Kara (@strawb3rry.lov3 on Instagram) to create the perfect logo to match my business card and encapsulate the overall vibe of my business.

My products are ever changing to include all I love to do. As of November 2022 I am proud to offer a variety necklaces, rings, earrings, bracelets, hairclips, crystals, minerals, keychains, and crochet goodies. I love creative freedom, but I also adore custom work. Bringing the customers vision to life will never get old; it’s satisfying every time.

Everyday I am reminded why I did this in the first place and it is a constant motivation to keep fighting. The little girl who started this all; wanting to share her passions, and show off what she loved is now an ever growing woman with the motivation and knowledge to make it happen. I want to create and share art until my last breath. I always have.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

I am an instagram based shop, but I also do business locally. Moon Baby Crystals is currently also working on a Facebook page, and website which we hope to launch by May 2023.

Beyond my business page I also advertise myself on my personal pages both on facebook and instagram.

Though I advertise well, I’ve found majority of my new customers are often referred to me by word of mouth. I have many connections locally, who have connections of their own, and it spreads from there. Many customers come to me after hearing from previous ones and then go to refer a friend.

It is very important to me to provide top tier customer service so I am able to make sales just by word of mouth. I am both very fortunate and thankful to have family, friends, and even locals I may not know on a personal level who back my brand.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

The market of handmade goods is one that is already very saturated. There is a lot of competition within it.

In the beginning it was important I was able to stand out from other jewelry artists and crystal shops in order to build clientele.

I believe my reputation in the industry stems from 3 things.
1.) Being a personable owner
2.) Quality product
3.) Top tier customer service

I believe it is important to connect with your customer. People feel more comfortable when they can connect to the face of the brand. I’m certainly not famous but people know my name.

Repeat customers come back because they like the owner, and love the product. All of my products go through a month long testing period before they can be sold. A tester of the product is made to see how it wears, how sturdy it is, etc. After the initial testing adjustments are made to the design before undergoing the second trial phase. Every new design must meet my sky high expectations before consideration. I will never sell a product I am not 100% satisfied with.

Additionally, within the first 30 days I offer free repairs to all jewelry. I am confident in the quality of product I sell and rarely utilize this policy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonbabycrystals_/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/moonbabycrystals
• Other: email : moonbabycrystalsco@gmail.com depop : @moonbabycrystals