We recently connected with Jessica Linenberg and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

I had sold a couple of my pieces to friends and family. Of course, people who are close to you want to support you. That was very special to me. I started to kind of believe in my work a little more and decided to showcase my work in a wire wrapping group. I told them in a post, that at that point in time, I had only been wrapping for roughly six months. My work went over really well with people showing all sorts of love for how well my work looked after only wrapping for that long. In this group, people were not allowed to make sales. However, there was no rule against asking a person to purchase their work through private message. I had someone ask me for the details of one of the pieces I posted. I was absolutely stunned! I hadn’t considered how much I would charge anyone or realized that my work was even sellable to people outside of friends and family. So I had to pause and think about how much to charge and wonder if it was a reasonable price (to this day I try to keep my work reasonable). It was a very exciting experience and I will never forget it!

Jessica, 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?

When I was in high school, I was fortunate enough to take a jewelry class. This class was absolutely amazing with the content I had learned. I excelled at soldering, so much so that my senior year in high school I came back as a tutor for that class. As an adult, life was busy, especially as a single parent. I lost touch with my creative endeavors. In 2017 I decided to go to college after working in the factory life for 16 years. Business managment was the major I decided on. During the pandemic (2020) I had then found myself on more of a spiritual journey, reawakening my Pagan roots and reestablished a special connection with crystals. I had also been reading tarot cards for many years previously and decided to start offering those to people who wanted them (at this point it was experimental). I decided it was time to find a “cure” for my creative hunger and start wire wrapping something I would love to hold close to me- whatever crystal I neeeded at that particular time. Not only did I start loving what I was creating, I also found it difficult to find a job that would hire me for my recent degree. I was tired…. and discouraged. I was tired of being told “no, you’re not good enough because you don’t have the experience we need to hire you.” It’s a bit hypocritical when being told that there’s a lack of experience but no willingness to allow someone the opportunity to gain the experience. I realized when people wanted to buy my work, it was time to say ” I will gain my own experience.” I haven’t looked back. I am a year in business and all I want to do is keep going forward. I love the work I do. It’s rewarding to hear someone say “I am going to treat myself to one of your pieces.” or see the joy, wonder, and amazement in their eyes as they eye up what I’ve created.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

So far, it’s been a little of everything. I have done some footwork on social media by showcasing my work in various groups. I also had to learn a little about how algarithms work. Once I did that I started getting more hits on my page. I was litterally selling products through messenger on Facebook. Just under a year in, I decided it was time to start up a webpage for a more professional approach to sales. The most effective source I do have though is honestly face to face. It’s vendor season now… it just started back up and I am loving it. This is where I get to interact with potential clients/customers. They look at me in amazement with a pendant in hand “Did you do this?” “Well, yes, I did.” and the look of astonishment they have is so worth all the work put into each piece. If they don’t buy from me on the spot, I encourage them to follow me on social media as they wil get dibs on any piece I put out there before the rest of the world. It’s really helped to grow my business.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I have quite a few repeat customers/clients. My jewelry customers that come back love their pieces. They are sturdy, made well and they get ALL the compliments while wearing the pieces they bought from me. These customers of mine buy pieces they see posted on social media right away. I do try to work with their loyalty and offer a discount on occasion. Most of them have requested custom work also, which I am not against at all. I find it challenging when someone else has a vision that they want me to replicate. It’s even more rewarding to hear the reactions of the finished pieces after I am done with that custom work. They are always thrilled! I appreciate them, and they know it! I always tell them.

For my tarot clients that come back, I hit something very personal with them. It’s private what I am uncovering but I can sense the emotions I am digging up and it truly forms a bond with them. I have many of them that come back and want to seek further clarity. I don’t talk much about my tarot readings as they are private and personal, and I haven’t really branded my business on the readings but more on my jewelry. The readings are essentially there so I can help people if they need it. The same thing will happen when I am ready to start offering energy healing to people outside of my circle. It’s something I am capable of and love to do to help others, but won’t ever be my primary focus.

In either case, I always keep the door open for my customers/clients. They know I am available and I think that’s what helps them to keep coming back.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.decemberflowertarot.store
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decemberflowertarotcreations/
• Facebook: http://wwww.facebook.com/decemberflowertarotandcreations

Image Credits
December Flower Tarot and Creations