We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gloria Martinez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Gloria thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I am a self-taught jewelry maker with a passion for learning and an “everything can be figured out” attitude. Since I have no formal training from metalsmith schools, I rely on jewelry making books, industry resources, jewelry classes from local shops, and my own research. In the 4 years of being in the industry, I have enjoyed the journey of discovering new techniques and seeing the refinement in my work and process.
Gloria, 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’m Gloria – the maker behind LuxeAndAlloy, a jewelry brand based in New York. I began taking an interest in the craft in 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic. I needed a creative outlet, and making jewelry also solved an issue I’ve been dealing with.
I founded LuxeAndAlloy inspired by my own personal struggle in the search for high-quality, timeless jewelry with a modern approach that is both sustainable and attainable. I create modern and minimalistic jewelry that is gentle on the skin, utilizing meticulously sourced metals, pearls, and other gemstones. The pieces I create are made to be worn for years to come because I use higher quality metals that are cost-effective, making them attainable for most.
As a one-woman team, I run every aspect of the business and personally ensure that each piece is crafted and shipped with care and meticulous attention. I am grateful for the support of the community; it brings me great joy when I see first-time customers become repeated customers.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Starting my business online during a time when online sales were the only option for most really kicked things off to a good start. This allowed me to reinvest the profits into the business. However, sales dropped post-pandemic due to the instability of some sales platforms with their ever-changing algorithms and the demand for products in my category switching from online to in-person. To keep my business afloat, I invested in market displays and joined local craft markets. This added sales channel has not only increased revenue but also helps me interact with customers, which I love.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
Like I mentioned before, my business is self-funded, and I reinvest the profits back into my business. I wish I had known about grants before; this tip may be basic for some, but I recently learned about them. I’ve made it a goal to research and apply this year. I hope I can bring the topic to the minds of starting businesses so they can learn about them sooner than I did.
Contact Info:
- Website: LuxeAndAlloy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxeandalloy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuxeAndAlloy
- Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/LuxeAndAlloy
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LuxeAndAlloy
- Other: Etsy Shop: https://luxeandalloy.etsy.com Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/LuxeAndAlloy