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

Alright, Jennifer thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Owning a metaphysical store has been a lifelong dream of mine. Dusk and Willow Designs had humble beginnings in my hometown of New Orleans where I began making jewelry with my grandfathers tools, who had been a bench jeweler for a well-known local jewelry store. I graduated to art markets and consignment shops, ended up in a retail store in the historic French Quarter, and was featured in local magazines. Spirituality has been a part of my life since childhood and would often influence my designs. So when I had the opportunity to open a brick and mortar store in the Summer of 2022, I knew right away I wanted it to first and foremost be a metaphysical shop for the community and secondly feature my creative designs, while hosting a smattering of local artists and their works. Up until the Summer of 2022 when I opened Dusk and Willow Designs, a full service metaphysical shop was a feature that was sorely missing in the upper Calvert County area and especially the Twin Beaches. The Twin Beaches has some spectacular energy healers and a thriving spiritual community – however a community education space and supply outlet was missing. This was something that I was able to provide, in addition to the spiritual healing I bring to the community.

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?

I am the owner of Dusk + Willow Designs. I handcraft certain items in the shop & meticulously curate each item that comes into the shop for sale. Born & raised in New Orleans, LA, all things metaphysical & spiritual were always a huge part of life in my family. I enjoy sharing this way of life with you through Dusk + Willow Designs. I am a Reiki 2 attuned practitioner & Phoenix Fire attuned energy healer.

Dusk and Willow Designs provides retail metaphysical goods, such as: crystals, incense, essential oils, tarot and oracle cards, books, candles, hand-crafted jewelry, and various other items for sale. We offer an array of items by local artists and host pop-up shops to feature them and their works.

Early 2023 I opened our sacred haven, The Chrysalis Room by Dusk + Willow. It is a transformative space that offers spiritual outreach in the form of services such as reiki energy healing, private tarot card readings and individual sound healing sessions. We also hold workshops and classes such as monthly sound baths, weekly guided meditation, spiritual education workshops, sip and paint style classes, and so much more!

The personal connections, spiritual support and sanctuary that I am able to provide through Dusk and Willow Designs have been among the biggest accomplishments that I have done, along with winning the Best of the Best SOMD award for Best Metaphysical/Spiritual shop just over 1 year after being open. Additionally, witnessing my vision not only come to fruition but continue to grow and evolve, has filled me with a strong feeling of gratitude and accomplishment. Right along with the shop, I’m continuing to evolve by completing several spiritual workshops and gaining certifications to further my own knowledge and experience.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

It has been a journey of fostering trust, authenticity, and delivering quality offerings that resonates with the community. I hold space for my customers and clients, truly listen, offer advice when it is asked for, and provide spiritual guidance to the best of my ability. I am honest about not knowing everything there is to know in this field, but I do my best to find an answer or refer someone trustworthy in the field they may be inquiring about. I believe this kind of down to earth authenticity is what has helped to build my excellent reputation.

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

After volunteering as a firefighter/medic for just over 10 years combined between departments, I decided to make Fire/Rescue my career in early 2019. I went through a rigorous training academy, finding myself 2nd in class academically, while working with a personal trainer to make sure I was able to be at my best physical performance. Just when I was ready to apply to the local departments, I found out my husband and I would be moving to the DMV area due to his military career. I had planned to begin applying to the city departments in the DMV area once we settled in, however, life had a different plan. Two weeks after moving to our beautiful new home, I found myself in the ER. Two months later I would have surgery and another two months after that the Covid-19 pandemic would shut things down. Being in a rural area where we did not know anyone gave me time to really do some reflecting on what I wanted in life. I began revisiting old hobbies and side hustles – photography, poetry, jewelry/leather crafting and making spiritual starter kits. My hobbies became pop-up shops and then I had an opportunity I’ve always wanted presented to me. I decided to take a leap of faith and almost 2 years later, here we are.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dusk-and-willow-designs.square.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duskandwillowdesigns/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/duskandwillowdesigns/

Image Credits
Jennifer Jimenez