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

Floreine, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Has Covid resulted in any major changes to your business model?

It’s common for businesses to have had to adapt to the changing customer behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many customers have shifted towards online transactions, and businesses that were primarily brick-and-mortar had to quickly adapt their business model to meet this new demand.

During the first quarter of the pandemic most businesses are at a loss on how to resume customer interactions. Especially with artisan products like mine who are dependent on bazaars and seasonal events where we can be vendors. We made the transition to online transactions, created a website or e-commerce platform, optimized your digital marketing efforts, and created new processes for managing orders, shipping, and customer service. It was a challenging process to make these changes, but it can also present new opportunities for growth and expansion.

It’s important to keep in mind that even as the world recovers from the pandemic, some changes in customer behavior may be permanent. This means that even if we adjust our business model to meet the current demand, it’s crucial to stay agile and adaptable as the situation continues to evolve.

It’s interesting to see how the pandemic has also impacted the types of products that our customers are purchasing as well. With more people staying at home and looking for activities to keep themselves occupied, hobbies such as jewelry-making and quilting have become increasingly popular. As a result, customers have been more interested in purchasing jewelry kits and quilt fabrics so that they can create their own jewelry and quilts, rather than buying the finished products.

This change led me to consider tailoring my product offerings to meet this new demand. For example, I focused on procuring a wider variety of quilt fabrics, beads and stones to appeal to different customers.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

As a jewelry artisan, you have the opportunity to explore the unique properties of different gemstones and incorporate them into your designs in creative and meaningful ways.

I have been drawn to the world of gemstones and their meanings and healing powers, as they can offer a deeper level of meaning and significance to jewelry. Gemstones have been used for their healing properties for centuries, and many believe that wearing certain stones can promote physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. For example, amethyst is said to promote calmness and clarity, while rose quartz is associated with love and compassion.

Aside from gemstones, I am also heavily influenced by Native American seed beading. Most of my early pieces have this kind of style and pattern.
By incorporating these stones and style into my jewelry designs, I can create pieces that not only look beautiful but also have a deeper significance for the wearer. It can be a very rewarding experience to create jewelry that not only looks great but also has the potential to positively impact someone’s life.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

As a jewelry artisan I find the process of creating to be incredibly rewarding in and of itself. The ability to take an idea and turn it into a tangible form is deeply satisfying. I believe in jewelry’s transformative effect on a woman’s appearance and style. The right piece of jewelry can enhance a woman’s natural beauty, add a pop of color to her outfit, and make her feel more confident and put-together. Jewelry can also be a reflection of a woman’s personality and style, helping her to express herself and showcase her unique taste.

But it’s important to remember that jewelry is just one aspect of a woman’s overall appearance and identity. While it can be a fun and empowering way to express oneself, it’s ultimately the person wearing the jewelry that makes the biggest impact. So while jewelry can certainly help to transform a woman’s look, it’s important to remember that true beauty comes from within, and that confidence and self-expression are the most important accessories of all.

Finally, being an artist or creative can offer a sense of fulfillment and purpose that may be hard to find in other professions. It allows me to pursue my passions and use my skills and perspectives to make a meaningful contribution to society.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Yes, social media has been a very powerful tool in promoting my craft. I wish I had utilized it sooner rather than later to maximize my online presence.

Another one is Facebook groups. I get to communicate and exchange ideas with like minded people. We get to support each other’s small businesses. If I had known sooner, I would have joined these groups so that my journey would be a bit easier knowing there are people like me who go through the same experiences.

Contact Info:

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

Image Credits
All my photos are mine.