We were lucky to catch up with Freda Ross recently and have shared our conversation below.

Freda , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you share a customer success story with us?

“It’s not about the jewelry.” That’s a phrase a friend and I use to describe my business. Freda’s Fancy…a little jewel is a line of handmade gemstone jewelry and I often work with clients who have stopped wearing jewelry for a variety of reasons. Either they can’t find any that fits properly, or they are looking for a particular gemstone.

I will always remember when a co-worker asked me to make a turquoise necklace for his wife. They had just returned from a trip to Tuscon, Arizona where she had tried on multiple necklaces, but since she was a plus sized woman, the necklaces were too small on her. He said “they fit like a choker” and she was in tears. He wanted to make her feel beautiful, so we worked together and designed a stunning turquoise necklace with a teardrop pendant. She cried again when he gave her the necklace, but this time they were tears of joy. That’s when I realized the significance of what I do. Since then, I have worked with countless clients who have said they stopped wearing bracelets, and necklaces because they were too small or too big. I also make clip earrings so women who don’t have pierced ears can wear cute, trendy earrings.

Again, “it’s not about the jewelry” it’s truly about how it makes people feel.

Freda , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have always loved accessories. Even as a child I was more interested in purses and bracelets than I was in toys. My love for jewelry continued into adulthood and I started making jewelry for myself and my family. Jewelry making was therapeutic for me while I was going through a divorce and that’s when my hobby turned into a business.

As my business has grown throughout the years, I have loved discovering different gemstones and learning about their beneficial properties. Many of my clients look to the gemstones to aid them with mental and physical issues. When I first work with a client I get to know their style and find out what they want to accomplish with their pieces. I make custom orders and have a variety of bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings on my website. I mainly create one-of-a-kind pieces, but I have also made jewelry for special occasions such as wedding parties.

I love to make classic pieces that can be worn for years and passed down to the next generation. The trendy pieces will come and go, but a beautifully crafted piece will stand the test of time. I have people contact me to say they are still wearing pieces I make 8, 9, or 10 years ago.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

For years I have sold my jewelry online and at trade shows and markets. During 2020, when the pandemic hit. all shows were cancelled. I had plenty of inventory and had to figure out a way to sell it. At the time I had a website and a small email distribution list, but I wasn’t consistent with my emails. I knew that in order to have a successful year I had to make it work to my advantage. I took some online marketing classes and started implementing what I learned.

In addition to emailing regularly I also used social media to reach a larger audience. I used Facebook for sales and to talk to my followers about new collections. It was a bit scary and intimidating to go “live” on social media, but I gained wonderful skills that I still use today.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

I’m happy to say my jewelry business is completely bootstrapped. As I mentioned earlier, I was making jewelry for myself, when my hobby turned into a business. It seemed like out of the blue people started noticing the jewelry I was wearing and asked me to make them something similar. I would use the money I made to buy more beads and make more jewelry.

When I started, a co-worker was starting to build websites for businesses. He used mine as a prototype, so I even got on the web for free. Throughout the years I have been strategic with my sales and purchases, and I still haven’t had to borrow money.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fredasfancy.com
• Instagram: fredasfancy_jewelry
• Facebook: Fredas Fancy a little jewel-Handmade Gemstone Jewelry
• Linkedin: Freda Ross
• Twitter: @fredasfancy