We recently connected with Gayla Minor and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Gayla thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
I initially came up with the idea in 2019 and launched some products. I came up with the idea to coincide with my blog at the time. I was honestly just adding another source of income and didn’t think about anything business-wise.The first steps to starting my business were guidance. I asked one of my cousin-in-laws to show me how to customize drinkware. She taught me the beginning steps to customization with tips and advice. She even decided to bless me with my own Silhouette Cameo machine that I still use today. I’m forever grateful for the guidance she gave me to start something I never thought will be what it is now. After I started customizing items, I begin doubting myself due to no sales and no support so I stopped posting and creating. The following year, I sat down and literally told myself, “you’re not going to give up again.’ My days, months, and hours were full of orders and looking for new products to customize. I was shocked at how confident I was in customizing. During those moments, I was trying to run my business and learn the foundation of business. Things such as business licenses, business accounts, and anything business-related I was trying to teach myself without getting overwhelmed. If I had to do it over, I would definitely plan my entire business out so it’ll be less stressful for me. Without a plan, I just did things as time went past. I had no desk and worked off the floor. I had no website and was juggling orders, and order of what to do next.
Gayla, 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 got into customizing by someone giving me a chance. Someone took the time to teach me and show me something I wanted to do. I never wanted or thought about being a crafter. I always said I didn’t want to be one of the obsessive people who are consistently in the craft stores, but now I’m that person. I get excited about customizing new products. I always try to be different than others who are in the same industry as me. I always ask myself, “what can I do differently than other businesses are doing?” I always dare to be different, but true to myself. I create products that I would like or put myself in someone’s like or views and create what items may attract that person. I love making my customers happy. It gives me joy seeing them smile at something they envisioned and me actually creating it. I offer a variety of drinkware such as wine glasses, tumblers, shot glasses, and also customized home decor.
I want my potential and future customers to know, customer service is a priority at Love, Gayla Creations. Customer service is what makes the customer happy and satisfied to come back and shop with you! My work is inspired by the things I see and even create myself. I even find inspiration from women, young ladies, and mothers I see working hard. I have customers that simply just love drinkware or even items customized to their liking. I create what you want and what inspires you on a daily basis.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
The most effective strategy for growing my clientele would be social media, definitely. When I post my products, I have loved ones and people who support me and share my posts and products. Like I mentioned before, I try to be different with my products and I know each time I post new products, it’s going to be responsive to what my customers like. I also participate in pop-up shops and also grow my clientele through networking with potential clients and also other business owners. I’m always open to learning and also collaborating with other business owners. Another strategy that is probably the main source of my clientele would be word of mouth. The majority of my customers tell their family and friends about the products I do and then I have new customers. I appreciate my customers because they are Love, Gayla Creations. They keep me being different and keep my creative gears grinding.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Something that illustrates my resilience would be going through depression and anxiety. I first dealt with it in 2017. Fast forward to 2018, I experienced it through grief and losing people. I was a totally different person and I didn’t recognize myself. I ended up withdrawing from school the following year and also experiencing a time of learning who Gayla was. In 2021, I decided to seek a psychologist and psychiatrist. I’m a huge advocate for mental health and believe it’s ok to seek help. Life is not easy and you don’t have to go through it alone.
While going through depression and anxiety, I birthed my business. So, even through all my good and bad days, I found happiness and joy through creating products. That’s how I know I’m doing something I love and it’s not just a hustle, but a business. I didn’t expect my business to be what it is today, but due to my resilience, my business and creative mindset are unbelievable. I can be driving or doing something random and have several ideas regarding new creations and products. Sometimes I surprise myself with what I can do. To know what I’ve been through and where I am now mentally, I’m grateful.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://lovegaylacreations.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovegaylacreations/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovegaylacreations
Image Credits
Photos by: Lia Burnett