We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Erin Grimm. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Erin below.

Erin , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Looking back, what’s an important lesson you learned at a prior job?

As someone who has worked in all types of industries since I was 14 years old, there have been many experiences and lessons that I have learned throughout my professional career. This story stands out to me in particular as one of the important lessons that has shaped me as a business owner and how paying it forward makes such a difference.

I took a winter job at a retail store to help make some extra money through the holiday season. The store that I worked in catered to military members along with their families and veterans. It was the night before Christmas, and this elder gentleman (a veteran) wanted to make a purchase for a watch as well as a new pair of shoes. To help paint the picture, he had very worn clothes and shoes with holes in them and he mentioned to me as I helped him through the store that he saved enough money to buy himself a pair of shoes and a watch to help him tell time.

When it came time to purchase the register his card kept declining, and the cashier said that there was nothing that we could do to help him, and I was not going to take a no as an answer. I ran into the back room where I kept my belongings and grabbed some money to help pay for the watch and the pair of shoes this man desperately needed.

I came back to the register where the man and the cashier were standing and offered to pay for his shoes as well as his watch. During this time, the store manager (who was my current manager at the time) did not let me pay for his items because it was against policy and there was nothing that we could do for him.

With much determination and persistence, the manager gifted the man the shoes and the watch. At this time, it was about 45 minutes past closing on Christmas Eve. My manager said that we would be discussing this after we returned from the holiday. In my head, I was thinking all of the worst things, am I going to be written up, suspended, or worst case, fired?

We returned to work the day after Christmas and I was called into the office by my manager, expecting all of the bad things to happen, but the only thing that I could think of was that the veteran had shoes to wear to help keep him warm, and a watch for him to be able to keep track of time and whatever happened to me I will deal with the consequences.

I walked into her office with her having a big smile on her face, thanking me for what I did for the man on Christmas Eve. She explained that if it wasn’t for me standing up for him to have these essentials, none of this would have happened and that she was grateful for me and what I did to help him.

Standing up for yourself and what you believe in can have a way different outcome than what you could imagine. That is why within our business we always try to pay it forward. I will never forget that man and how he was so thankful for what I did for him.

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.

Aloha everyone! I’m Erin, the owner and founder of The Dainty Forces Company. I am a military spouse of an incredible husband and mom to three huskies. We are currently stationed on the beautiful island of Oahu where we have been for the last 4 years.

My journey for my business came unexpectedly during a period of transition in my life. After dedicating over three years to the role of a diamond sales specialist—a job I loved for all of the special moments it allowed me to be a part of —I decided in late 2022 to pursue a career aligned with my degree in Hospitality. However, shortly after taking on this new position, I found myself unexpectedly unemployed due to budget constraints in what I had perceived as my dream job. I did not have a plan or a vision and was confused about what my next steps in life were. Reflecting on the time I spent working in fine jewelry, I knew that I had a passion for helping people tell their stories through pieces of jewelry. But to me, jewelry is more than a piece of metal, it’s a moment, a story, a meaning and I wanted to make a difference.

Being a military spouse, there are so many leaps and bounds you conquer while your service member is away, and that is why I started to create meaningful pieces of jewelry that bring joy to whoever wears them and create a special meaning behind them. My mission is to enable individuals to share their stories with the world, one beautifully crafted piece at a time.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Being part of the military community is an extraordinary experience, and you might wonder why it’s so special. Beyond the opportunity to make a difference within the community, there’s a unique ability to empathize with others’ experiences. As a military spouse, we encounter challenges that many may never face, such as deployments, frequent relocations, potential overseas moves, adapting to new careers, and much more.

Establishing a reputation within the military community for my business was a natural progression once I began building my brand. I could connect deeply with my niche market, sharing the daily struggles and triumphs of military life. Through sharing photos, stories, and videos, I not only reached my target audience but also forged lifelong connections with spouses worldwide who shared similar experiences.

Through my business, I aim to not only share my own story with the world but also to inspire others to do the same. Each story within the military community is unique and beautiful, and by sharing them, we can uplift and support one another.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Navigating social media can feel overwhelming with questions about timing, content, and platforms. However, my top advice for beginners is to take the plunge and start posting.

In our business strategy, I find it beneficial to focus on three key topics: relatable content, educational material, and trending topics within our niche. Creating content that resonates with others or sharing valuable knowledge not only keeps viewers engaged but also encourages them to return, share, and interact with our content. Another great way to help grow your engagement statistics is by incorporating a call to action in your posts. It could be as simple as prompting viewers to comment on their favorite cheese or share related a story on “how this happened to them”. It’s about creating a connection with your audience and inviting them to actively participate in your content. And the most important thing to remember is to be authentically you.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thedaintyforcesco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedaintyforcesco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedaintyforcesco/
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thedaintyforcesco?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Spouse-ly: https://spouse-ly.com/store/the-dainty-forces-company/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thedaintyforcesco/